Going for Gold
May 14, 2010
When it comes to decorating my own home, I’ve always been a traditional gal. I adore French style, but despite my affection, I wasn’t really into decorating with gold. I believe my objections can be traced back to all those bright brass fixtures the late 80s and 90s – they made me fearful to ever go golden again.
But I eventually got over my phobia and I realized that gold is truly timeless ! You can see from my latest attempt at displaying art in our living room that I’ve come all the way around on my anti-gold stance.
This experiment began with the new wainscoting, and my desire for a gallery wall having seen so many of them in magazines and around blog land. Of the few pieces of fine art we’ve collected over the years, all of them had been framed in gold. It was not my decision, rather it was the original artist’s choice. But instead of painting the frames, or paying a hefty sum to reframe all the art, I decided just to roll with it.
So glad I did ! I love the black mats and frames too, because they coordinate with the piano across the room.
This adventure all started around dinnertime the other night when I began by taping a rectangle to the wall to form the outline of my display. My devilish plan included hiding that thermostat behind a canvas (which we only use for heat December through March).
I raided the kids’ art supplies, then cut out craft paper the size of my own artwork and taped it to the wall. I began to cause serious wear and tear to my floor with my pacing back and forth with a furrowed brow, trying to decide what would go where.
The sun began to set. The natives became restless with hunger.
I had to set the project aside for the night, but yesterday, I was finally able to complete the wall.
Me likey !
Our art ranges from original paintings and drawings collected on our travels, to prints found at antique fairs, to inexpensive DIY art projects.
For example, I made this silhouette art by framing a $3 dollar vintage embroidered tea towel with an inexpensive frame from Michaels.
A tiny black frame, some vellum fleur de lis paper, and script chip letters create this sentiment.
And I took these keys I found at a salvage shop. . .
. . . and simply hung them on the wall because I love their shape and size.
The inexpensive black sconce got a coat of white spray paint and some crystals.
I keep all the art straight on the wall with this little kit available at the home improvement or framing stores.
But you don’t need to bother spending the $3 dollars on this kit, no sirreee. A flat thumbtack and some glue dots will accomplish the same thing. After you hang your art where you want it, use the glue dot to fasten the tack to bottom corner of your frame, then press into your wall. The tack acts as a stabilizer so your artwork won’t budge!
Y’all remember that sideboard I picked up from the local thrift last year ? I’ve debated what to do with it for awhile now. Should I stain it dark ? Shellac it black ? There’s two reasons I hesitate. One, I do like the existing wood tone but the piece could use some new hardware.
And two, I secretly covet the Azure sofa from Crate + Barrel for this wall.
I have for many many many moons.
Someday, I dream of placing it right here . . .
*** Extra Large Sigh ***
A girl can dream, right ?
Hey, the picture is almost as good as having the real thing.
Meanwhile, I’m very happy with just the gallery wall !
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Tags: art wall, gallery wall
Love the vintage keys!!!
Yes a girl can dream, but I love the arrangement. Planned very well.
My walls are 1m thick old French barn walls, so any display just does NOT sit straight! It kindda adds to the charm, I guess…
Oh, I do have large chunky keys too – totally inspired by a PB picture I saw once! They just add a touch of … je ne sais quoi, huh?! :)
Great job!
Hi Kate-
I just love what you did with the wall – a mix of classic elements = time and money well spent as you created a timeless scheme. Tweaking it from time to time will be so easy, not a total re-do. The sofa will add the soft textural element. Your vision of Someday is beautiful. I have a list a mile long of those wishing for items, too
I also throughly enjoyed your caption with your son wanting his dinner. We can all relate. Hope you have a great weekend.
My best-
Diane
I think its great that you didn’t do all black or all neutral art. I love the combo here and the keys thrown in are great!
Your wall looks great. I think it looks great just as it is .. without the sofa – the sideboard really balances it all. Thanks for the hanging tips and the idea of taping out your framing area – I would never have thought of that!
~Sam
Fantastic and absolutely beautiful. I have a hard time swallowing gold and am trying to get over it so your post definitely pushed me in the right direction. ;)
Fantastic and absolutely beautiful. I have a hard time swallowing gold and am trying to get over it so your post definitely pushed me in the right direction.
I love your wall! You have a real eye for placement, among other eyes you have for color, etc. Ok, that was a weird statement, but I am moving on. Lovely wall! :)
Really, really nice arrangement of pix. I’m doing the same thing now in a room w/a mediocre sized wall. It’s so much easier to move around sheets of craft paper!
I can only hope mine turns out as nicely as yours. The keys add a very nice dimensional touch.
Thanks for sharing.
And maybe someday you’ll get that sofa!
I love the wall. It turned out beautiful! I also really like the keys.
Oh… that sofa is delicious. It would look very pretty in that spot.
Ya know… speaking of brass… my home was built in Fall ’97 and we have many brass fixtures (lights, hinges, nobs) and lots of oak (floors, cabinets, trim). I loathed them and found myself green with envy over anyone’s home that had brushed nickel (or ORB), painted trim and anything but grainy oak… until just the other day. I’ve decided to just let it go and live with them. They aren’t THAT bad… they are all clean and they work fine.
I am very lucky to have the things I do. Maybe they aren’t exactly what I’d pick out now, but replacing them just because they aren’t the height of home fashion would be silly and very wasteful.
So… you’ve inspired me to embrace a little more gold… to go with my brass. :)
I {heart} your blog… thanks for sharing so much!
The wall looks absolutely FABULOUS! And I really like the sideboard the color it is now. It really adds some warmth to the space.
Love it! Your gallery wall looks positively amazing!!! You’ve balanced it all so nicely…it looks like it was always meant to be there :) Thanks for the tips on how to do it! I’ve been contemplating one in my own home, and to be honest, the thought of getting it done was a little daunting. Now I’m inspired!!
Thanks!
OOOOh I love this wall. I have been contemplating a wall like this , i wanted to use all old family pictures. I think you have inspired me. Perhaps I will do this in the living room…. thanks for the inspiration!
Your gallery wall looks fantastic, but I’m loving your genius idea to hide the thermostat. I have one in my dining room that sticks out like a sore thumb. Great solution.
It looks great and i LOVE those keys!!
I likes it a lot too! Well, I love it! Oh and that sofa, yeah its been on my list of things to get too!
I’m totally using your wall and Janells wall as inspiration! You Gals rock and you know that ;-)
That long vertical piece of art on the top near the left side really makes the wall! Throwing that in with all the traditional shapes really adds some nice visual appeal. It’s looking good!
Love it, looks really beautiful, I may even do something like this with our new home!
Oh, and I’m loving “gold” and brass. It is timeless. I’ve started using it in my bedroom (dresser hardware, curtain rods, nik nacks on the bedside tables, etc) and next I’m thinking about using them in my kitchen when its time to redo it!
I can’t wait to see what else you come up with for this space!
Have a great weekend!
Love your gallery wall. I haven’t been a fan of gold frames either, but I really like your gold frames mixed in with the other frames. Guess it is time to reconsider my like/dislike of gold. Thanks for the inspiration. Love that sofa too. :-)
“Me likey” too!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous! I think it looks fantastic! You pulled off gallery style without being messy!
You’ve done it! You’ve created a gallery wall but you have included symmetry and balance! I love the way you’ve placed these things in sort of a free-form grid. . . the straight lines at top and bottom make the whole thing look less busy and more purposeful. One of the things I like less about gallery walls is that they make my eyes tired–I get a headache looking at them and never get to appreciate any of the elements. You’ve created a casual but cohesive whole. Well done!
And good luck on getting your sofa. It’ll be wonderful there.
Your gallery wall looks fab! I think the addition of the iron keys really “took things up a notch” by breaking up the artwork and keeping your eye moving. Love it!
This looks incredible, great tip for not having frames move and I have also wanted the Azure sofa ever since C&B came out with it. Seriously considered it for our home, but for our family room I’d need two…that wasn’t going to happen!! I hope yours comes home to you soon!! Janell
I love your gallery wall! I loved how you used not so typical art and items. And that sofa is amazing!
It’s beautiful! I love the glue dots & thumb tack idea! I have such a hard time getting things to hang straight but do the tacks & glue dots really keep in their place? I’d be afraid that they’re too tiny & the frame/art would fall. :-/
Love the keys!!
I love your wall! The gold and black together looks awesome:) Those keys are fabulous as well. Thanks for the inspiration, I may just have to try something similiar. So many wall to fill in my new house!
Sigh…swoon…my heart is going pitter pat.
Gorgeous! What a neat touch to add the sconce… you never cease to amaze! I personally love the sideboard where it is, although don’t know what else or the purpose of the room. Great job and thanks for the inspiration… now I just need to find myself some of those cool keys!!!!
It’s the perfect setup! great job on arranging it. And I love those keys, it adds character to a wall of frames! Love it!
You know, I’ve never liked gold wither, but I haven;t thought about it as a reminder of the brass from the past. I sure didn’t like that brass. Thanks for the therapy. LOL! The wall looks great. I say paint that credenza! Lisa~
I love your gallery wall. It looks fabulous and I think the touches of gold are the perfect thing to give it more character. Great job. I love the buffet chest too. It looks fabulous. If you want it a little darker, one thing is to just wax it with Dark Paste Wax. You’d be amazed at the character this gives a piece. Hugs, Marty
I flippin LOVE your gallery wall. I feel the same way about gold. It is classic, but I’m still afraid of it. Ha!
Hey CG, this is my first time commenting but I’ve been following for months–love your site! I had to comment because I’m loving the ice blue and gold combo lately and also throwing in some black, white, and silver for a two-toned effect. If you like the two-tone too, maybe silver leafing that sideboard would be fabulous! I came across this great tutorial from Little Green Notebook just last night, so it’s kinda been on my mind…
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/12/silver-leaf-dressers.html
Anyway, just tought I’d share. Thanks again for sharing all your decor brilliance!
Ooooooh!!!!!!!!!! I REALLY want me a gallery wall now. Where to put it…
Way to go for the gold! Was that too corny? And though you did not ask for advice, and my opinion is just that, an opinion…I would swap places with that gold-framed chair in the top middle with that black and gold-framed piece on the bottom right. The latter piece has such a heavy visual weight that your eye is pulled right and downward. If it were to go up and more centered, it would act like the peak of a triangle, with the lighter matted pieces helping to keep it grounded.
Gee thanks. Now I have a whole host of inspiration (read here – to do’s :) to start off my weekend. It looks great by the way. I like the sideboard where it is. But that’s just my 2 cents…
Love the wall!!! Those keys are amazing! I’d try new hardware on the sideboard first and then decide if I wanted to change it any more.
that is beautiful, and balanced, and intriguing! Just loveit.
Re: the sofa – have you ever wanted a thing so long that by the time you could get it, it was ‘old’? “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.”!
The sofa is lovely, but I think your sideboard is absolutely perfect!
As always, you’ve done an amazing job.
Rita
Kate, your gallery turned out great. Love the way you filled the wall!
You’re a pretty darn good Photoshop-er! You’d never know that sofa didn’t live right where you put it!
Absolutely lovely! Now you have me re-thinking my living room.
great gallery wall. it is an art to put things together, a fine balancing act. I love the trick with putting the papers up first!
A+ again -fantastic, I love it!!!
Ok i have to admit Im a symmetrical kind of gal- but boy does that look awesome! I may have to change my ways. AND LOVE LOVE the C&B couch- so sexy!!!
really like it – love that you left lots of open space between items – keeps it from looking cluttered AND provides some “fill in” space if you find a little trinket to add later.
One note… Hiding the thermostat is great, except that it likely won’t pick up the temp changes in your house as well now. The temp gauge for the room is inside the device. So, you may find that the house will get much cooler or warmer than your thermostat is set to keep it. You may have to find a way to provide it more breathing room if it gets to be a problem.