Black and White on Your Walls

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .


HGTV

I've always thought of using black and white images framed in white mats/black frames as a great solution to the wall art dilemma. 

Why?

1. It can be an inexpensive option:  because you can take the photos yourself, whether they're family photos or any other subject matter that inspires you.


Designer Sherry Hart Southern Living

 You can also use artwork from old calendars and books or a variety of other sources, and black frames/white mats are typically available at reasonable prices.

House Beautiful  Photo Jose Picayo

2. You can use it with any color scheme. 
It's sort of a no-brainer that black and white art would work in a black and white room,

myhomeideas.com Photo Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

but it really works well with any color scheme. From neutral spaces...

myhomeideas.com

 to more colorful ones.

BHG.com

Country Living Photo Keith Scott Morton

It can be used with cool colors

Country Living Photo Keith Scott Morton

 or warm colors.

HGTV

3. It goes with any decorating style. Whether your style is modern, traditional, country/cottage, or anything in between - it will work in your space!

House Beautiful  Photo Jose Picayo

spaces design

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And for those of you who just can't deal with all black and white art, you could mix it up a bit by swapping out the white mats for colorful ones to match your color scheme like they did in this image from marthastewart...

Do you use black and white photography or artwork on your walls?

I also have another post on TV Gallery Walls since I know some of you were interested in more information/inspiration on that topic. I may wait to post it until after the holidays when everyone's more focused on "regular" decorating vs. Christmas. What do you think? Preference?

The $220 CSN Stores Shopping Spree Giveaway ends tonight!

TV Gallery Walls

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

A TV is just sort of one of those "things" that you have to work around when you're decorating most homes, but having a TV just sitting all by it's lonesome on a TV stand or console or hanging on the wall all by itself can get pretty boring. 

A really great way to keep the TV where it is, and make a design statement at the same time is to build a gallery wall around the TV. 

I originally posted about this in September 2009 using the above image from diyideas.com.  Since a lot of you weren't following me at that time, I thought I would revisit the idea again today and include a few more gallery walls to inspire you.

This pretty gallery wall is in the home of Emily A. Clark and she talks about the process of putting it together in her post Building a Gallery Wall Around Your TV...





Tammy at In Stitches was so inspired by Emily's wall that she decided to do her own. She decided that she would only use artwork that had to do with their interests and hobbies. I love that idea!

This one shows you a version that's filling the wall a little more vertically than horizontally, which fits this space better. Just another example of how the idea can be adapted to fit your space...

eclectic hall design by media and blogs Desire to Inspire

A little different concept here since the TV actually has a spot built into the wall. It's an excellent idea if your home would accomodate it!

Delson or Sherman Architects via Desire to Inspire via Driftwood

What do you think of TV gallery walls? Do you have one or would you/could you use the idea if you don't?

Decorating with Silver Trays and Two New Giveaway Winners

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .


Real Simple Photo Lucas Allen



If you're looking for something a little different to accessorize your walls, using silver/metal trays is a nice idea..  Gives you a little shine, but  not as reflective as a mirror. This could be a fairly inexpensive look to achieve, too. 

• Find them at inexpensive sources such as Goodwill, flea markets and garage sales, and check with friends and relatives to see if they have trays in their stash that they no longer use or want. 
• Use any trays that you already have, even if they're not silver/metal and spray them with one of those fabulous metallic spray paints that are out now.

Even though the trays below are clean and simple, I think they work well on their own in this room. If  you felt you needed a little something more hanging them from ribbon would give more dimension.

I like the idea of using trays as a backdrop. There are many ways you could do that, but a simple one would be to attach a picture frame to each one.



BHG.com

 

Here's another possibility: Picture the 3 trays above with the following changes:

• a square picture frame centered and attached to the top left tray. It could be empty or filled with a family photo or a graphic print paper, for example.
• a large painted letter attached to the large round tray on the right,
• a plain shelf (in scale with the tray) attached to the bottom left tray and  accessorized with a little something(s).



In this reader project showcasec on Ohdeedoh, the trays were painted with chalkboard paint to create a cute nursery wall display...

Have you accessorized your walls with trays?  If not, is it an idea you would use in the future?

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NEW GIVEAWAY WINNERS

I didn't hear back from Sunya or Heather, so I chose two new winners for the BHG magazine subscription and iPad app. 

The new winners are:

New Every Morning : It's almost a tie between the decorating and the cooking {and eating}, but I think the decorating wins out.  Thanks for hosting such a fabulous giveaway!

Peggy: I love everything about the holidays except shopping. Thank goodness for the internet and small, independently owned shops!

Congratulations!  I have both of your e-mails so I'll contact you directly so that I can get your prizes to you.

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Update:  I was determined to take a break from anything Christmas in this post today, but when I saw this cute and simple idea from Chris (which is really winter, not Christmas) I just had to post it on my facebook page.  Check it out HERE...

Unexpected Art and Art In Unexpected Places

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

So what did you think of the whole Wordless Wednesday thing? I'm not typically super chatty Kathy anyways (at least not on this blog :-) ), but I have to admit it was hard not to say ANYTHING at all!

Moving on.

Unexpected Art. This image below really appeals to me for some reason. I'm absolutely sure it's the gallery wall at the head of the bed that's doing it for me, even though I really like the pillow and the pops of pink too. I also really *like the way they balanced the right side of the grouping with the longer... okay here's the question, the longer what? Is it actually a piece of art or is it a white board with squiggles? I'm thinking it's a white board. Right? If you're not into white boards, I still think this whole gallery wall layout is one to copy. (*to clarify, I like the way they used a longer piece on the right to balance the left, but I'm thinking my personal preference would definitely be to use something besides a white board to get the same balance.)

Getty Images from ivillage

Art in unexpected places. I saw this image on Family Circle's website, with the suggestion to hang your photographs or artwork in unexpected places, like a door. I like it!

Photo David Prince

The Amanda Nisbet image at the beginning of this post is from my Art In Unexpected Places post that I did last October. Check it out if you're looking for more inspiration.

Hope you have an outstanding day! (trying to come up with different words besides good or awesome or fabulous. Open to suggestions :-) )

Unique Ways to Display Family Photos

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

I saw this idea in the September issue of Country Living and thought it was a great alternative to the countless picture frames that can accumulate on all of the surfaces in your home when you have lots of photos you want to enjoy. You may have all already seen it/done it, but I thought I would share it just in case.

You can upload your family photos to blurb.com and create a professionally bound coffee table book to enjoy! A great gift idea too. Please tell me I'm not the only one who hasn't done this yet.

Country Living also suggests enlarging and printing a favorite family photo on canvas using a company like Canvas Art. I like the way they've leaned this one against the wall versus hanging it.

Here are some other ideas that we've talked about in previous posts but they're from last fall, so some of you may not have seen them.

Clipping favorite photos to your fall branch display. They can be rotated depending on what's going on (family celebrations, holidays, special guests and occasions, or just the every day happenings of life)

BHG.com

Of course Pottery Barn always has creative ideas and this is still one of my favorites!

Remember this image from this post, where I talked about "wallpapering" your walls with photos? I think this would be a great way to enjoy a variety of family photos and make a design statement at the same time. Normally this idea would be a little busy for me, but they've used all white mats and the frame colors are consistent with the colors used in the furnishings and fabrics in the room which keeps it from getting crazy.

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PHOTOS IN A BOWL

If you're like me (not a scrapbooker) and have old photos stashed away in cabinets (or a bunch on your computer that you never see), why not purchase a large decorative bowl, basket or tray for the coffee table in your family room and put all of the loose photos in it? It's a good conversation starter, adds another level of texture and interest, and is a nice way to be able to enjoy your photos when you're just hanging out. (I already know that the mom's with little ones who constantly have sticky fingers are questioning this idea, but I had to bring it up. :-))

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I posted this one not long after I started blogging and I still love it (via Small Place Style)...

How do you display/enjoy your family photos?

Decorating With Letters, Words and Numbers - 2

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Happy Sunday!

I know there are a fair amount of you out there who like to decorate with letters, words and numbers, so here are some more images for your inspiration files. Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

Traditional Home

Traditional Home

Style At Home

homelife.com.au Photo Scott Hawkins

Country Living Photo Keith Scott Morton

Creative Decorating Ideas - 12

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

If you're going to have a TV in your bedroom, this is a good way to disguise it somewhat. I believe this one may have been purchased this way, but you could also modify an existing dresser as a DIY project...

BHG.com

We talked in this foyer/entry ideas post about using an accessorized bench in your entry instead of a console table, but using two stools the way designer Timothy Whealon did here is also an interesting way to mix it up...

Elle Decor Photographer: William Waldron

I could be wrong, but it looks like they used a rug on this bench to give it a nice pop of striped color...

Elle Decor Photographer: Simon Upton

I like the way they took a phrase they loved and divided it between the two canvases. Simple, but it makes a statement. Another inexpensive way to decorate with words/letters when accessorizing your walls.

Living Etc.

Here a red shutter becomes art while cleverly hiding the fuse box. If shutters aren't your thing, think outside the box on what else you could use to make an artistic statement while covering an unsightly element in your space.

Southern Living Photo: Jean Allsop

Creative Decorating Ideas - 11

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

We saw a long lumbar pillow in this creative decorating post but here is a smaller one used in a different way with other pillows. Still loving the idea...

styleathome.com

Rather than hanging a bulletin board, make a statement by upholstering and framing a large cork board and leaning it against the wall...

marthastewart.com

"Wallpaper" your walls with photos. Normally this idea would be a little busy for me, but they've used all white mats and the frame colors are consistent with the colors used in the furnishings and fabrics in the room which keeps it from getting crazy. Notice how they've also done a version of the color block by leaving a wide white border around the wall color...

houseandhome.com Photo Donna Griffith

Turn a closet into a cozy reading nook with a built-in twin bed...

Coastal Living Photo Tria Giovan

If your room is feeling a little too neutral and you don't want to make a big commitment to color, hang inexpensive artwork in colorful frames. When you're tired of the color, swap out the artwork and paint the frames a different color or go all neutral again.

House Beautiful Designer Eric Cohler Photo Roger Davies

We've talked about painting ceilings before but we haven't shown the idea of using using high gloss white paint on the ceiling like Alex Bates, the creative director of West Elm, did on the ceiling in her beach cottage to reflect the natural light...

Country Living photo credit: William Waldron

She also used chalked lines to turn the family's deck into a game board for oversize chess pieces. Fun!

Hope you're having a great day!

Turquoise Art and a Design Tip

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you've had a good week. It's been a busy one for me without much time for posting or blog visiting, but I at least wanted to get this little random post out today in time to tell you HAPPY WEEKEND!

I saw this art by Hope Smith at Target this week. I really like it and am thinking I need to find somewhere to use it in my house. They're only 12 x 12 so they would even fit on a bookshelf. I went to Target's website to find the images for this post, but they evidently only sell these in their stores. Luckily allposters.com sells them as well, so these images are from their site...

On a completely unrelated note... a while back I bookmarked a post on Apartment Therapy that had design tips from designer Kenneth Brown. The design tip that he was demonstrating with the photo below was: "Each room should have at least one unique piece that has a special meaning to you (even if it doesn’t match the decor of the room)." Great advice, and I love the unexpected element of the rustic table in this room!

Hope you all have an awesome weekend!