Do you remember these puppies that we picked up at a yard sale last year for $10 a pop? They’re old professionally framed prints of the berries and wildflowers of Alaska, which we thought were sweet since we honeymooned there.
So we spray-painted the frames (and mats!) and hung them on either side of our bed. If that doesn’t jog your memory, perhaps this old pic from that post shall will.
Well, recently they’ve – say it with me now – come together.
Here’s how it all went down. Actually, speaking of going down – it kinda started when a certain ram went down during our book shoots.
Since neither all the king’s horses nor all the king’s men could put Ramsey back together again, the space above our bed has been a devoid of anything for a couple of months. We’ve contemplated tracking down a similar animal head (an idea Sherry practically salivated over) but you know we like to use what we have, so we decided we should just try rehanging the prints we already had there. Before making any unnecessary holes, we took them down and just propped them up like this to try to visualize them there.
We originally thought the chandelier might block too much of them, but it looked promising so we decided to just got for it. But this was no easy task because those heavy suckers need two anchored screws to keep ’em in place. Plus we had to be careful to get them centered within the bed and level with one another, all while not putting too many holes in the wall.
Thus began our not-so-scientific, but no-less-intricate system of rehanging them. It started by connecting my existing holes (which I had meticulously measured the first time) with a piece of sewing thread taped to the wall to create a nice level guide.
Just to be sure, I checked that it was level before basing all of my marks on it. Phew. Level it was!
Now that we had the height marked, we had to figure out where the holes needed to go side-to-side so that the frames were roughly equidistant from each other and the bed posts. So I drew a sketch and unleashed my inner math geek. Yep, I think that what I did qualifies as Algebra. Well, except for the part where I solved “X” to equal “7-ish.” Sorry Mrs. Montgomery.
Knowing how far apart everything should be allowed me to start marking. The hole that the ram hung from was my center guide, so I measured out 13.5″ (half of 7 + half of 20) on either side to mark the center of each frame (#1 in the pic below). And since we hang these guys by two screws (it not only supports the weight more, but keeps it from hanging crooked) I made marks a couple of inches out on either side (#2). Sherry wanted the frames to hang slightly lower than they did before (since we no longer had to clear the table lamps and didn’t want them to be blocked too much by the chandelier) so I also marked down a bit using a taped guide on my level (#3).
Confused yet? Me too. So let’s just skip ahead to the after pictures. Okay? Okay. We ended up tweaking things a bit so the frames were a smidge closer to each other, so the space between them is about 5″ and the space on either side is almost 8″.
We’re digging the change so far. We feel like they fill up the space nicely – much more so than the ram ever did (not to speak ill of the dead or anything).
Although the chandelier does overlap them when you face the bed at normal height (these pics were taken with our tripod, which is only about four feet tall) it’s a nice layered look. Nothing too crazy or cramped looking.
Wish we had thought to snap a pic at our height for ya from head-on. We did get this guy from the side though. And there’s always next time.
But yeah, this room is so not done. Look at it wide. Um… we have a lot to do before it makes any sense. Seriously, I know you guys are staring at this bed in a sea of emptiness and wondering what the heck we’re doing. But in the words of $herdog: we got planz for dayz.
In fact, we have a few other things planned this weekend- and you know we’ll keep you posted! What do you guys have going on this weekend? Any house stuff on the agenda? Have you ever had to do math to hang pictures? Or tried using string to keep a level line on the wall? It actually worked surprisingly well.
Psst- We announced this week’s giveaway winner, click here to see if it’s you.
Betsy says
Was kinda worried you were hanging pictures of the Beatles when I saw the post title….I like the new placement too!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I do love me some Paul…
xo,
s
Megan says
Love the change! And I’d never thought about spray-painting the mat before!? Great idea when it’s such a huge size and you can’t just buy a new one at the craft store.
Alison U. says
Happy weekend! Just wanted to say something positive after seeing some of the, let’s call them, less than positive comments on here from Bob. Not that you guys need to hear it from me, but thanks for always being entertaining :)
Evin says
Seems perfectly normal to use a tapemeasure, string and tape for all picture hanging projects. We have apartment walls so no unnecessary holes. Trilled to see these two prints showcased more. They are beautiful and love the sentimentality that they remind you of your honeymoon. Charming inspiration for bedroom artwork! Hmm, this weekend? Sewing some bunting to hang in baby’s room and figuring out how to hang a stuffed dragon from the ceiling. Important stuff, I tell you. Have fun with your projects. Can’t wait to read about them.
Kate says
I love them above the middle of the bed instead of above the nightstands!
This weekend I might take a bit to rearrange the new bookshelves we got. We got four new Billy bookcases from Ikea last weekend (three 11 in deep and one 15 in deep since that wall had an odd little couple inch bump to it since it’s a basement). Right now everything’s on there all jumbled and a mess, so I’m hoping I can organize a little! Eventually I want to screw the Billys together and then add trim and moulding to make them look a little nicer, but for now at least they can be orderly.
yadira batres says
I love how they look like that I actually like it better.
i think I saw one just like at that at the goodwill by my house.
i just wanted to say that I recently got into blogging and I found your blog and I been following since them, I actually stared mine but it seems kind of complicated I guess I just need to get the hang out it =( anyways ya have a great day.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Yadira! Happy blogging!
xo,
s
karine says
Love it ! we moved in our current house 18 months ago so we have plenty to do yet inside and outside !!! thanks for the inspiration !
have a good week end ! long week end here in France like explained ariane on page 1 !!!
YoungHouseLove says
You lucky French folks!
xo,
s
Ann says
I like the change. However, when you used the phrase “speaking of going down” directly under a picture of your bed it made me snort laugh like a teenage boy. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, no he didn’t.
Just checked and he totally did. And I proofread it and didn’t catch it. Haha.
How we missed that I’ll never know!
xo,
s
Michele says
it looks AMAZING! no disrespect to Ramsey (may he rest in peace) but i love the height of these photos when framed by the bedposts so much more. well done improvising with what you have!
that said: i literally had to skip the paragraph where you discussed the math used to mark the holes, as my brain started cramping. ;)
have a good weekend!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- I’m the proofreader and I had to skip it too! I just said “hope there’s not a typo in that!” and scrolled right on by. Haha.
xo,
s
Cambria says
Funny story that I thought you guys might get a kick out of. I have read your blog for a while ( I think after I saw you on NATE) but never commented, anyway, I was in HD the other day and was going to get some ORB spray paint. I wanted to try it on some door knobs. So I ask the paint lady where the ORB spray paint is, we go to the spray paint section. hmmmm….no ORB spray paint. She is like “I have never heard of that.” I said “No, I read this blog and they use it all the time, maybe they got it at True Value or Lowe’s.” So we ask a different paint person, again, Never heard of it. I said “No, it has got to be here.” So I look again and I really hunted and finally saw- Oil Rubbed Bronze. DUH!!! I said “Look! Oil Rubbed Bronze! ORB!!!” They just stared at me like I was crazy, even though I felt like I had won the spray paint jackpot. Yeah, I am a dork. Well, it made me laugh to myself anyway. The door knob is sprayed and it looks ORBalicious! Thanks for all the ORB tips they are great! And I am sure you have mentioned a million times that it is Oil Rubbed Bronze, but ORB just always stuck in my head. haha. have a great weekend.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so sorry! I’m so confusing! I need to start spelling it out at least once a post to clarify that the real name isn’t ORB. Haha.
xo,
s
renee says
Happy Weekending! Here’s a Pinterest board you Youngsters are sure to enjoy:
http://pinterest.com/shonetworks/dexter-the-kill-room/
HA!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah- I love it!
xo,
s
Jenna at Homeslice says
I actually like them more there- great idea :)
Felisha says
Great job. They look great! Since I HATE hanging things, the best solution for me is those peel and stick Command strips. No holes in the wall and if my eyes deceive me, I can just peel the velcro apart and start over!
Elizabeth says
OMG! For some reason none of the pictures are showing up! They worked earlier today while I was at work (and quickly glanced – I swear I was working!), but now none show up :( Am I the only one?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm sounds like you’re the only one, but perhaps try clearing the cache/cookies/data and see if they come back? We haven’t changed a thing about how we host our pics for the last two years, so sometimes something is just glitchy (sometimes an anti-virus program will block them for 48 hours and then they’ll mysteriously come back)!
xo,
s
Briel K. says
That looks so much better! Not that it didn’t look okay before but I like how much more balanced it looks. :)
Sally says
I love all the song references in your post titles. I’m going to be singing all evening!
Maggie says
That looks so adorable! This is why I have to rely on blogs like yours – I would have NEVER picked up those pictures if I’d seen them. Yet, all one needs to do is modernize the frames to make them look absolutely spectacular!
Amy@healthy grits says
Definitely like this look better! Maybe Ramsey’s demise was serendipitous.
Chrissie says
This change is fantastic! And isn’t it good to know that Ramsey’s death wasn’t in vain?
I think I lack the patience for hanging pictures like that – I’m more of a guestimator (is it just me, or does that sound like a really bad z-grade horror flick. The Guestimator. I would watch that and probably laugh at it too). Bad movie titles aside, I really admire your patience and perseverance, not to mention your maths skills!
YoungHouseLove says
Ha! The Guesstimator: Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Worse…. You Guessed Wrong!
-John
Chrissie says
Best tag line EVER! I think we are definitely on to something here.
Carli says
Love this switcheroo! Looks great :)
Melanie says
The pics look great! I picked up a couple botanical prints last weekend and was wondering if I could paint the mats. I’m glad to see it can be done!
Asia says
Oh, I agree. I think it looks alot better. I am not sure why, but it just fills the space up so much nicer. Nice job!
Christy says
I’m liking this SO much better!
RebeccaNYC says
Thank goodness! That Ram freaked me out hanging over your heads. This looks much better… xxoxoxo
Rachel says
I love that you measured to 7 ish. I do that all the time when I hang things at the house (and I even write out the algebra too). I love that you guys are so open & honest about how you do things. It’s great! And I love the picture move… they look like they were made for that spot!
Brenda says
I did like the ram, but this configuration feels really balanced. It doesn’t seem crowded at all. And John, I laughed at your 7ish comment. :)
Kiki says
It’s fun to see some black frames in your house! Or, ORB-ed ones. You guys have helped convince me that white frames are okay. More than okay! But it’s still nice to see something new, and I think they look crisp and great and still fresh, even if not white. :)
lisa says
Someone may have already said this, but … An easier way I’ve found to hang pictures in a grid or just level with each other is to put 2″ painter’s tape on the wall and use a level to draw a line or grid. The wide tape gives you plenty of margin. You can then drill or hammer through the tape. Very little math needed. I use the same method to hang floating shelves and brackets. The tape is nice because you can use a thick sharpie to draw your line. Also, the tape “holds” your drill bit or nail so they don’t slide along the wall. I hope that helps.
lisa says
Also, I wanted to say that I love your blog and the positive and friendly way you respond to comments. I also like that you save for your projects and make choices that are both budget-conscious and beautiful. Best of luck.
brandi says
I love the change! The prints are really nice.
Stefanie says
We are overly ambitious this weekend (just bought our first home) there will be lots of yard working, making a sand box, planting a garden. And scrapping off wallpaper, lots and lots AND lots of wallpaper. wish us luck!
YoungHouseLove says
Lots of luck!
xo,
s
Cecelia says
It looks better.
The prints are quite the compliment to the striped pillows and it all makes for a tighter focus on what is a beautiful bed.
Don’t mourn Ramsey’s fate too deeply. Perhaps he wanted to be with the dog…
Sofie says
Oooh, I like it!
Cecelia says
BTW… some us may be old… but not so old that we aren’t completely dirty minded enough to get the double entredre and be embarrassed over it…
Figure THAT out…
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha!
xo,
s
Marty says
Love it better too camp. Never got into the ram thing. I’ve got a real one on my living room wall I’m not so in love with! I’ve lived in Fairbanks for 35 years, and puppy will be moving his head to Idaho when we move this year. Yeah?! I’d love a larger bedroom, the 10’x9 after all these years, cozy not! How’bout one queen and one side table! I can’t wait to see what you do more with it, as I love everything else Young House Love’ems have done, jealous! BTW, love those prints, think they’re worth more than the $10 you paid for’em! Alaskan art is still available tho with the economy many galleries have closed, google Alaskan art and you might find a trove of stuff. Yard work for me this weekend, raking, just leafing out here, been a cool May. Warm please!
Jane from Australia says
Wow, I’d even go as far as to say it looks better than before! Such a gorgeous bedroom. As always, love your work.
betty in munich says
Not too sad about the Ram. The pictures look TERRIFIC!
Leslie says
That looks amazing! I never would have thought to place them that way over the original way you placed them but it looks ten times better and so professional and great!
Judy says
See things happen for a reason. I also like it better. It feels more peaceful :)
Nothing against rams— I’m a “ram” myself!
Amanda says
It has been a good weekend for us so far! We took your lead and added a pop of color to our formerly dull door. It was the same color as the shutters before… http://i50.tinypic.com/14ifn08.jpg
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!
-John
Zuzanna says
I must say I think these babies look much better in the center. Too bad for the ram though…
danielle says
i think it looks beautiful! i love that you spray painted the MATS… genius!
Elizabeth says
You might have already answered this but, any more book updates? Like a release date? I want to pre-order! Cannot wait to get my hands on it!
YoungHouseLove says
It comes out this fall (final date TBA) but its available for preorder on amazon.com! Just search Young House Love. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kathi says
I didn’t read all the other comments so sorry if someone already said this. I think it is much, much better without the ram. I have never understood the attraction out in blog land for those white animal heads:\ I figure it’s just not my style. To each his own. Just found your blog last week and really enjoy it.
Naomi says
I love the prints of the Alaskan wildflowers :) Sentimental touches are the best. And poor Ramsey…
?Naomi {Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups}
Natalie says
No offense to Ramsey, but I like this look even better! :)
Sarah M says
As a high school math teacher, I am proud of your Algebra skills! I kinda want to bring this post into my class and show my students how useful algebra can actually be.
And, 7-ish is a perfectly fine answer :)
Heather says
We had to use string to line up/level the two new towel bars (different lengths!) with the existing picture-hanger-hook that needed a new piece of art on it. It worked like a charm! Hung the string on the hook, made sure it was level, taped it down below. Marked the center line of the two towel bars, then marked where the bars’ holsters needed to be, and then their screw holes since half were hidden. Whew! Lots of marking but it all came out great!
I recommend using yarn. It allows you to make a lot of those marks on the yarn rather than the wall, less to clean up later.
YoungHouseLove says
Such a great tip!
xo,
s
Ashley says
As a math teacher, I must say that I’m impressed with the planning that went into hanging the pictures. :)
They look great!
Meredith says
Just wanted to say kudos to you guys for always being willing to change things up if they don’t seem quite right (even if you already thought you were done with the project). I generally love all the eye candy you guys post for your readers, but I must say that I wasn’t the biggest fan of a few things: the original brackets in your kitchen floating shelves, the bright green rug in the living room, and the (now gone) horse picture and ram in your bedroom. Since it wasn’t my house, I never commented, but I find it interesting that you reevaluated and changed every one of those decisions. Not because I in particular didn’t like them, but because I’m not sure if I would have been motivated to make those changes even if they were in my own home. I am impressed and encouraged by your ability to tweak and re-tweak until you find arrangements you love. Keep up the great work!