Aw yeah, we’re living on the ledge. We’ve been waiting to hang our postcard shelves from our first house’s office for over two years and we finally found the right spot for them. Ba-dow:
We detailed the whole how-we-made-them process here (you should click that just to see how tiny Clara was) so here’s how we adapted them for this space:
- we measured how wide the dresser that would sit under them was (we thought they’d look top-heavy and odd if they were a foot longer, which they were at first)
- we lopped off the extra length on a miter saw, so they were all 2″ narrower than the dresser that sits under them
- we hung the first one (the lowest one) 16″ above the dresser after holding it up in a few different heights and deciding it looked best there (using a level to be sure it wasn’t wonky)
- we used long-ish screws (2.5″ guys) in three places to hold them nice and securely (anchors would be necessary for shelves with heavy items on them, but for small light shelves that hold small items like postcards, screws can easily do the job). Oh but we already had predrilled holes in the shelves so the screws could go right through them and hold them in place. So for more info on that click here for the full postcard-ledge-hanging rundown.
- there were some high-fives along the way
- we taped a yardstick to the wall (we used a level to be sure it was perpendicular to the floor) so we could use that as a guide to hang the left edge of all of them
- we hung each shelf on the wall with 9″ of space between each one (there was more bean-help and a few more high fives).
- we stepped back and enjoyed the view…
Then I broke out two things I’ve been hoarding saving for a nice long time.
Clara loves both of these boxes of flash cards, so I’ve been waiting not-so-patiently to hang the postcard shelves and rename them as… flash card shelves!
It’s a crazy easy way to add inexpensive art/color/interest plus there are even letters and words on them, so it’s a subtle little learning zone for Clara. She already gets a kick out of counting the number of animals on each shelf, finding specific ones that John or I call out, and even learning the first letter in many of their names (she woke up the other day and said “F is for Flamingo!” loud and proud as I lifted her out of her crib).
One more picture. Because I’m a flash card ledge fiend.
What are you guys cutting/leveling/hanging these days? Do you like to hang things from your first house in a different way or put a new twist on old art/shelves/ledges in a new space? Not gonna lie, it’s pretty fun to tweak something you already have for a whole new room and function. And I’m also pretty proud of myself for not droning on and on for once. 493 words in this post. Wooot! $herdog’s keeping it klassy koncise.
Debbie says
totally random question – what color nail polish are you wearing? love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! It’s Maura by Zoya.
xo
s
Brooke says
Do you have trouble keeping the cards from curling in the dry air? Maybe they’re sturdy enough but that is one of my pet peeves about loose photos….any hints? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah they’re super thick (think heavy cardboard with poster board on the front) so even if you try to fold them they don’t bend. If you have something thinner you can back it on thick cardboard or foam core with spray adhesive though. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Kristi - SimplePrettyThings says
Oh now see, that’s just cute. That upped the cuteness factor by a lot. The room is coming together so nicely!
Laurie says
What a great blog! So helpful! Love how you decorated the shelves, too. I’m thinking vintage postcards — M.C.M. — for the rec room. Now I too, yes, even ME, will be able to put up shelving without hating life! A yardstick! You guys are just too clever and truly helpful!!! Thanks!
Lora Claus says
Sherry!
Could not finish reading to the bottom of your post because blammo, I see Charley Harper art and I get really excited. Has anyone clued you in to the best Charley Harper deal on the internet? The government bookstore (yes, apparently our US government has one) is selling posters they commissioned via Charley Harper… for get this, under $20 including shipping. I first saw the link on this website:
http://retrorenovation.com/2011/09/29/charley-harper-posters-straight-from-u-s-government-original-stockpiles-cheap-free-shipping-no-tax/
And then the link to the posters:
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GeneralSearch.do
use ‘Charley Harper’ for search terms
I bought all the posters and they are huge and amazing in real life. Currently DIY’ing the frames (thank you, Jeff Claus) and getting the assembly and plexiglass done at Michaels.
So definitely pick some up for yourself before you post info on this because I’m guessing with your readership you might sell out the stockpiles.
Also, fun fact, I was mentioning your blog to my sister several months ago, and her response ‘yeah I know about it, I used to sit next to John in band class.’ So go figure, TJ and french horns, small world!
Love the blog – I am a daily reader!
Lora
YoungHouseLove says
Oh wow, what a great find on the Charley Harper posters – they’re beautiful!
And who’s your sister? That is a small world!
-John
Lauren says
I love this idea! Husband and I are currently working on some ideas for our future jellybean’s nursery, and considering my massive collection of postcards, this speaks to my heart. Also, Charlie Harper and Eric Carle are brilliant, another reason why I love this. I will definitely let you know if this comes to fruition in our nursery.
Alejandra says
OMG! It looks so adorable. Two days ago my hubby gave me a copy of your book as a Valentine present (I don’t know how he got it, because I tried to order it here in Mérida and it was impossible), I’m gonna keep reading and try to figure out which is gonna be the first project, I’m loving every page. You are amazing!
XOXO
YoungHouseLove says
So glad to hear you’re enjoying it! A big thanks to your husband for making us part of your Valentine’s!
-John
Katie says
Did you two see you got a show out on Emily Henderson’s blog today? She wants her blog to be like yours and hopes to win ” the homies” like you kids.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! We were crazy blushing because of it. She’s too sweet.
-John
Caitie says
Love love love! Y’all are way too clever! :)
I have a huge favor to ask! We recently bought a new bedding set that I ADORE ( http://www.target.com/p/threshold-print-comforter-set-gray/-/A-14081438#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=Threshold+print+comforter ) with yellow sheets, but I need help figuring out how to decorate the rest of my room around it! I need color! My walls are unpainted, we have no curtains, furniture, or really any accessories. What would you guys do if you were to decorate a room in your own house around this set? I’ve been tossing around the idea of adding some aqua, mint, and or coral.. I just don’t know! What do you think? Thanks :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I think aqua and mint layered would be so pretty with that! Juts a few pops with art and accessories and even a pillow or two will go a long way! Have fun!
xo
s
Maria @ Inspiration Affirmation says
What a great idea! I love how much color it adds to the room and how it also functions as a learning tool for your sweetie. You’ll have to tell us about any other loud-and-proud exclamations she says when it comes to letters and such upon exiting her crib — too funny! ;-)
Lauren says
This looks absolutely incredible. I am in love. Hmm… Now to work out how to do something similar in our rental with minimal/no drilling. A girl can dream, right?
Lauren x
Gordon + Gold
Lou says
This is a nice idea. I have a huge postcard collection and have spent the last several years trying to find a way to frame or display them. Mine are regular postcards, though, so I do think they would bow over time on a nifty shelf like this. Hmmm. I’m baffled. I’ve been collecting the cards for years and years and some of them are amazing. Wish they weren’t still sitting in a shoebox…
YoungHouseLove says
I would back them with something to make them thicker and not allow them to bow (maybe you can use delicate surface tape to tape them to foam core or cardboard so they still can be removed but have more heft while they sit up there?
xo
s
House Crazy Sarah says
So cute with the “high-fives”! What a lucky little girl! The other good thing about those shelves is their versatility – good to display kids books too! Or maybe even photos eventually?
YoungHouseLove says
Exactly! I love that they’re so versatile!
xo
s
Sarah says
Those are really super cute shelves! Clara is a lucky girl to get to help put together her big girl room! I must add that I am from Finneytown, Ohio, which is a very small suburb of Cincinnati. Charley Harper lived there with his wife Edie, who was also an artist. I grew up with his art in our house, and I now have some in my own house. My grandma played bridge with Edie! And, the Hamilton County Park system, which is where Cincinnati is, embraces his artwork on many of the playgrounds and in their gift shops. If you are ever back in Cincinnati, you would love the art on the playground at Winton Woods. So, that is my roundabout way of saying that I am happy that Clara has Charley Harper art in her new room!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool!
xo
s
Aly says
I’m sure you guys have already considered this but I think since that dresser is so nice the way it is and adds warmth and age to an otherwise very bright young room it’d be adorable if you painted the hardware navy blue and left the dresser as is. What else is adorable you ask? That picture of John and Clara.
Kimbercrafts says
This looks awesome! I definitely think that a collection of small art like this can make a big impact! I have a clothesline display of postcards in my dining room that I like to change up every once in a while: http://kimbercrafts.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/dining-room-art-update/.
YoungHouseLove says
Really cute!
xo
s
Béa says
Can one fall in love with a project?
Love love love everything about this. the dresser, the cute helper high-fiving the flash cards, Charley Harper, the bright colourful modern against the classic, the lamp revamp etc.
Magnifique!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Bea!
xo
s
Emily says
Super corny (and I don’t know if anyone else has said this yet) but you should have totally called this post “I’m on the ledge of glory”. Not that your current title isn’t fun :) And great project!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahah! How did I miss that?
xo
s
Krista says
So fab! Have similar “tool” alphabet cards waiting to go up in my 2 year olds ‘big boy room’. Was thinking of hanging them with a jute twine “clothesline” and cute pegs but might change my mind now… love your blog!
mribaro says
Clara’s new ledges got shown on the Apartment Therapy today:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/kids-room-diy-idea-flashcard-shelvesyoung-house-love-184085
Yey!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh sweet – thanks for the heads up!
-John
Matt says
Safety first! I hope you are staging the photos because both John and Clara should be wearing protective eyewear.
Sassafras says
The ledges look awesome!!! So glad to see Dad letting Clara help – my Dad did that with me…I feel so confident with tools that I’m pretty sure I could build a building on my own as we often built barns and such together. Yeah for sex-tool-neutral Dads!! Hope that came out right! :D
I’ve been leveling and hanging a cool vintage chalkboard that I got off Craigslist. Someone had taken a bed footboard and sawed off the bottom lip of the legs and chalkboard painted the middle panel. Whooo-lightful!!!
Today I have my yardstick out gridding off a canvas for a painting for a friend. Neat use of the yardstick you guys did there!
In moving we had bought a ginormous painting for staging in the master bedroom at the old house. At the new? Since it was rather abstract to begin with we hung it in a different room and used a ketchup bottle to fling a few drizzles of red paint on it to make it match the new bedding. Ta-da! Now it matches in here.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love it!
xo
s
Painting Sunny, Dani P. says
These are so sweet, and such afresh way to display sentimental art! I can’t wait to make something similar soon :) In the meantime, I included it in a round-up moodboard of unique ways to hang art in a kid’s room. Thanks for the constant inspiration! http://paintingsunny.com/2013/04/26/art-for-the-kids-hang-it-up/