Our Gallery Wall
Gallery walls are quite popular and have been for quite some time, but I am finally getting our’s finished up. I still have one picture left to fill in and maybe a couple more tweaks before it is “perfect”, but I am so happy with how this project is turning out. It’s got almost everything that I love in it…my family, some of the most beautiful scenery by my favorite, Ansel Adams (Canyonlands and Grand Teton National Park), my brother’s plane (more family momentos) and my childhood piano (music). It is adjacent to the US Map corkboard that I mentioned in another post. The frames that you see here (with the exception of 2) were either painted and re-purposed, gifts, from TJMaxx for under $5, or garage sale finds. The L-O-V-E blocks that you see I found on clearance for less than a dollar after Valentine’s Day, and the cork board (as mentioned in another post) was at an auction for $1. I think that one of the keys to a successful gallery wall is figuring out how much space or how many photos you want to include and then limiting yourself. I had other frames and pieces of decor that would have worked here, but I didn’t want it to get overly crowded, so I purposely left them out. However, if you want a more eclectic look, then adding more pictures, with less space in between could work out great.
I have always been drawn to modern, geometric designs and my vision for our home was ultra-modern. A black and white kitchen, sleek countertops, a black and white dining room, no wood finishes (besides the floor), etc. you get the idea. However, as with all existing structures and our limited budget, the house began to take on it’s own style. I realized quickly that light fixtures and paint were the easy fixes, but furniture, artwork and trim (oh, Lord!) were neither cheap, nor easy fixes. So, I started adapting my vision and style with the existing style of our home to achieve the “perfect” look for us. It doesn’t include much of an industrial look, or have that “ultra-modern” feel, but while I was online daydreaming, I found a few pieces that I think would really bring it together. They are from two of my favorite home stores: West Elm, and Crate and Barrel (CB2).
Both have a rustic style (in the color) and are modern (the clean lines/geometric design), but the thing that really draws me to them (especially the rug) is that it combines the modern black and white style with the tan/ochre/cognac color that we have in our woodwork and in the piano. The colors complement the existing colors in our older home while adding that modern look that I love. I also think that the combination of the two patterns, keep in mind that one is small (table runner), and one quite large (8’x10′ or 9’x12′ rug) would help downplay the juxtaposition of the two patterns. Since they will be in the same area, I definitely don’t want to crowd the space or get carried away. At the same time, my decorating style is pretty simple and minimal, so I wouldn’t add to much clutter or tabletop accessories and I don’t think it would make the space overly busy.
Both this rug and table runner make me think of the Southwest. The patterns and weaving remind me of Navajo rugs and serapes, and the color palette (although quite modern) makes me think of the desert and Spanish tile roofs, which are some of my favorite things! In the future, if I ever open up a store called “Erin’s Favorite Things” these two would definitely make it into the window display! Unfortunately, I probably won’t be seeing this combination in person without taking a 2nd mortgage, so for now, these are just fun daydreams and keep my design wheels turning. If anyone does have either of these two items in your home, I would love to see more pictures.
Xoxo!