Jan 25 / Erin

Taking the plunge

As I mentioned on Monday, a key element of my entryway update involves taking the plunge…into the scary world of gallery walls.

Really, there are so many scary things about gallery walls. Will I space things too close or too far apart? Will I choose the wrong frames? Will the end result meet my way-too-high expectations? Will my husband ask, “What is a gallery wall?” once I’ve gotten too far in to stop?

The answer to all of those questions is probably yes, but I went for it anyway. Why? Because all of my inspiration photos just couldn’t be wrong. Right?

So, instead of stressing about pulling together all the right pieces, I just went frame crazy. I dug unused frames out of our closet, then raided Goodwill (I think I spent less than $25 for about 15 frames!). I ignored what was currently in the frames and got busy laying out just one wall (there are four small sections of wall space above our new entryway coat racks that will eventually be covered!).

That clock that is featured front and center is my inspiration for the whole gallery wall. It is actually a tide clock with a map of the island in Maine where we live. It was a wedding gift from my sister and brother-in-law. I love it and I’ve been trying to find the perfect spot for it in our home for years, but the clock has two things that are rarely found in our house…a natural wood colored frame and a coastal theme! Seriously, every other frame in our house is black or silver, and I’ve tried to keep our house from screaming Maine…but not anymore. The entryway is going to represent warm wood tones and a coastal Maine feel on behalf of the rest of the house. I’m excited to mix it up a bit.

Anyway, once I laid my one wall of frames on a piece of brown paper the same size as the wall space, and measured and marked where each nail would go, I taped the paper to the wall, hammered away, and then pulled the paper off. Thankfully I had snapped a picture first because I was having a hard time remembering what went where!

I am going to pick something to go in the empty upper left corner, but it’s okay for now.

I was feeling so energized by my progress that I attempted wall 2 after Ike went to bed. I used the same measuring and placing method, and ended up with this:

Remember, the artwork is not final…it will all be replaced! And ignore the 9 p.m. lighting…it doesn’t do anything for the hideous Goodwill artwork. This whole hot mess will look SO different once the frames are filled with the right things. I promise.

Can I make a confession? I put these pictures in Polaroid format with captions just in case someone pins them on Pinterest. I don’t want anyone to think this is my final result (gasp!). Isn’t it funny how Pinterst has changed how bloggers think!?

So, this is where my gallery wall stands. Chris is totally skeptical and I am still scared. But I am encouraged. Hopefully next weekend I can finish the other two walls, and then I can focus on pulling together all the various art to go in the frames. But let’s be real…they may stay empty for a few months!

If you’re interested in my inspiration photos, just check out my entryway board on Pinterest.

And feel free to add in your two cents on this whole thing. Please. I need gallery wall therapy.