Remember when we mentioned snagging these old iron keys for $8 in an antique store in West Virginia while visiting John’s grandma? Well I finally got around to painting them and hanging them in our hallway frame gallery (see how we made that here). Where did we squeeze them in? Well, see that card stock placeholder key? That was, well, just a placeholder.
I could have easily spray painted them for a quick makeover but since I love to use no-VOC paint whenever I can (especially since I have a huge gallon of white paint around at all times), I opted just to brush on a few coats by hand. It’s the same semi-gloss Olympic Premium No-VOC paint that I always use for trim and doors in off-the-shelf white if you’re wondering.
Then I decided that the spot on the wall with my card stock placeholder key might not accommodate that big ring of keys as well as three separate keys hung in a row, so I used some lady power and a hack saw to cut the iron ring and free each key to hang on its own.
After touching up some of the white paint for a pristine finish I waited for them to dry and used twine from our junk drawer to string up each one at varying heights for a balanced but not perfectly symmetrical result.
In the words of my imaginary BFF Bethenny Frankel (I know she’s not for everyone, but I love her), thar she blows:
I love glancing over at them through the wide doorway in the kitchen…
… and gazing at them as I walk from the front of the house to the back (or vice versa)…
So that’s the newest addition to the big hallway frame gallery. If only we could get our act together and start on the other side of the wall. You can see that in it’s planning stage – all covered in newspaper – here. And in this video, still covered with newspaper. Maybe tomorrow…
Wow, is this post really only 354 words? That might be a record for a chatty kathy like me. I kind of feel like a slacker. But what more can I say about the keys? Painted them, sawed them, twined them, hung them, took a bunch of photos, professed my love for said keys. The end. Wait, I know what this post needs. An on-the-subject haiku:
Little iron keys
I painted you white (surprise)
Wait, no one’s surprised.
Ok, now we’re over 400 words and there’s some poetry going on. Sherry out.
renee says
Sherry – did you hear the Flip camera is all done??!
http://mashable.com/2011/04/12/rip-flip-camera/
Sad face.
YoungHouseLove says
I know. Such a bad call!
xo,
s
Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com says
<3 it! so classic and gorgeous! Maybe you can start a key collection for every member of your growing fam! (Burger included!) :)
YoungHouseLove says
It’s true, I need one more! I’ve actually always wanted to make one with clay. Maybe for the other side of the frame gallery!
xo,
s
Miss Walker says
Loving this idea and your gallery is stunning! Miss Walker xoxo
kristen f davis says
love em! the hanging arrangement is perfection :)
Melody says
I do love a good Haiku…and a good skeleton key. I’ve got skeleton key shadow boxes in my house, on etsy, and a nice little basket of them that I like to take out every once in a while and sigh over.
Ali says
Love the keys! My husband and I have been talking about doing a collage on one of our walls, but we’re not sure what exactly to put up to fill all of the space. I’m pretty sure if we had a kid if would be a lot easier, but since there can def be too many pictures of us, i was wondering what you guys filled your wall collage with?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ali,
Just follow the link in the first paragraph to the post about our frame wall for a lot of details about what we framed! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Relevant Notes says
Love the keys… and the haiku! You’re hilarious :)
Tammy says
LOVE LOVE LOVE…soooo sweet! Sherry, which white exactly do you keep on hand? There are so many to choose!
Love you guys!
xo,
Tammy
YoungHouseLove says
It’s Olympic Premium’s No-VOC off-the-shelf white in semi-gloss. Just straight from the paint aisle (no mixing necessary).
xo,
s
Alina says
I heart the keys and Bethenny! I got so excited when I saw where she and Jason stayed in Montreal… I stayed there three years earlier! She makes me LOL and so do you, Sherry! :)
Kate Armbruster says
You just make my entire day. Great post and the keys look spot-on!
Katie says
Did you think about maybe just leaving one key up there and using the other two on the other side of the gallery wall? I like it now, but I also really liked the look when it was the one fake key thrown in there… but regardless, glad you guys are enjoying it :)
YoungHouseLove says
We like keeping them all together for now, but who knows how the wall will evolve and change!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
I love BF too! She’s really down to earth and hilarious and that haiku is hilarious Sherry.
Bethany says
Creepy, everyone on this forum is talking about me … OK, well I do spell it differently. ;-)
Great post Sherry. You should write haikus more often.
Kristina says
I remember Bethenny as the runner up on Martha Stewart’s Apprentice. They only did one season of it, but I LOVED it.
YoungHouseLove says
Totally saw that! It’s when my love of all things Bethenny began. Although she really hit her stride in the first two seasons of NY housewives.
xo,
s
Sarah says
Love the keys! When glancing at your wall of frames (which apparently you do VERY often :) are you bothered if they tilt and aren’t perfectly straight? With that many frames, do they shift around much or did you tack them down so they don’t move? I feel like I would be straightening a frame every time I walked by.
YoungHouseLove says
They all seem to stay pretty straight (I’ve never been that bothered by imperfect frame angles) but we do have a project to stabilize them and keep ’em straight/secure (especially the ones that are low to the ground for kid-safety). Details soon (I hope). Haha.
xo,
s
Ellen says
This is my most favorite recent haiku:
I see you driving
Round town with the girl I love
And I’m like – haiku!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha.
xo,
s
Michelle "Chaos Caretaker" says
I am hoping this is the appropriate place for a question. I love gallery walls. I specifically love your gallery wall that combines photos, art, items of interest, etc. In contemplating a gallery wall there are three questions I have:
1. How do you know when it is too much or too little…achieving balance without going overboard?
2. How do decide if frames should be all white, all black, or a mixed bag of different frame styles and finishes?
3. How do you keep all of the frames so straight? It seems I am constantly straightening frames around the house the idea of fiddling with a whole wall on a regular basis gives me the heeby jeebies.
I love your insight and perspective. Keep on keeping on!
YoungHouseLove says
1. We just eye it. Follow the link in the first paragraph to see how we did that with newspaper.
2. We own all white frames- just love the look. So it was easy to go with all white for us. But we’ve seen mixed frame arrangements that look awesome too. Just find an inspiration image that “speaks to you” and go for it!
3. Again I just eye it. Strangely enough it’s not too hard to get them all to “look” straight. Not sure if they are, but they look it and I’m not that bothered by a little frame imperfection from time to time. Haha.
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather says
I put a lill’ bit of sticky tack on the corners…cause I’m paranoid if they aren’t straight. Hubster is a finish carpenter and notices everything…thus…I do too! Sticky tack has become my bff for photo frames. :o)
Penny says
Gosh you2..It was amazing to find your blog (got stuck here for few hrs)..love your homes and the wedding was simply romantic and best i’v seen..just awsome guys, will be back for couple more hrs one day soon…..cheers
Krysta @ Domestic for Dummies says
Love the keys and Bethenny!! I think I would stop, look and read everything over and over again on the wall everytime I walked by it. For sure my favorite thing you all have done!
Kristen says
Love them – and the haiku!
My jewelry box is actually a standing mirror that opens (sort of like this: http://www.amazon.com/Powell-Company-Cheval-Jewelry-Wardrobe/dp/B0025TT6UY ). I’m going to be making a shadow box that has hanging keys so I can store the jewelry armoire’s key in there. Maybe I’ll paint a few white…
Kathryn says
in order of how much I love things in this post:
cute keys < hilarious haiku < you share my imaginary bff love for Bethenny
Melissa Jackson says
I just want to say that you guys have totally inspired me to create a wall similar to yours. My husband and I have dated since senior year high school…so for 11 years we have been together and we have so many memories that I have saved throughout this time. From high school, to college from me and military and college for him…our wedding, vacations, and now our precious little girl and a new baby on the way…we have a wall that could tell a story. Also..may I say that I am a HUGE Bethany fan…I am hoping the talks of her getting her own daytime show are true!
Lori and Ethne at wom-mom.com says
I love the photo wall–and am totally inspired. Now I need to find a wall in my house that has space for such artwork! Keep it up.
PS: I love Bethenny Frankel too!
Lori
http://www.wom-mom.com
Margaret says
Love the wall and the keys….your house is coming along so beautifully! :)
Shannon says
Great job. They look like yogurt covered pretzels! YUMMY KEYS!
Allison says
Yes, they do! I couldn’t put my finger on it before. Yumm yumm!
Lindsey says
I LOVE this idea! Sometimes the smallest items can have such a big impact..
Ps – Bethenny is my imaginary BFF as well! And from what I can tell reading the other comments, she has lots of them haha!
Shelley says
They sort of look like yogurt covered pretzels at the top. Yum! You’re makin’ me hungry! Super cute though. My Grandma has a whole mason jar full of old keys. I should do a collage or something. Hmmm…
Kasey says
They look perfect on that gallery wall. I love keys, all kinds of keys… especially the skeleton keys. I recently framed a house key that belonged to the house I grew up in. It was sentimental because that home burned down when I was 17 but all these years I kept the key in a safe place and finally framed it and put it up on the wall :)
Michelle N says
I love the keys but I think I might be a little crazy. I had to stop looking at the pictures because of the one that’s facing a different direction. It’s driving me crazy, lol. looks great though.
I love the Bravo Network and I love Bethenny Frankel!!
Katie Rose says
I totally <3 Bethenny Frankel as well. She is a friend I'd love to have!
Amy @ larryspearslive.com says
Just want to say that it made my day that you included a haiku in this post. I LOVE haikus and try to incorporate a few into my daily life…even though people look at me funny at work when I’m counting syllables on my fingers while composing emails. :)
WittyWife says
Ok, so I know this isn’t about the keys…but…looking at your wonderful wall makes me have to ask.
I have a ton of prints (I’m a bit of an amateur photographer) that I need to get up.(Baseball themed.. Go Nats!). I’ve envisioned how I’m going to lay everything out, etc. And my husband is thrilled that I love baseball as much as he does, so he’s totally down with my project.
The problem: Where can I get a ton of picture frames at an affordable price? My husband is totally NOT down with my project if it’s going to break the bank.
Thoughts?
YoungHouseLove says
Thrift stores and garage sales can’t be beat! You can get them for a buck each and spray paint them! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Bob says
Sherry, dear. I hate to say it, but this is why I don’t totally buy into your art background as being applicable to art-like situations. The keys are anything BUT balanced. The keys form an implied square. The bottom right corner of the square is empty. Not only that, but it’s empty just above the space between two frames, creating an even bigger void. As a result, the keys feel as if they are pushed into the upper lefthand corner of the square (string and key both hold visual weight). The simple solution would be to switch Key #1 with Key #3.
This is basic composition that would have been covered in Art 101.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Bob, it’s only decorating. And I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: to each his own. May you find three keys that you love and hang them however you’d like in your own house! And for the record, if you switch key #1 with key #3 the keys bump into each other in an ugly way- I just went with what looked best to me (which is also Art 101 – trust your eye)!
xo,
s
Nancy says
I think you need to frame the Haiku.
Nancy says
Manners 101, Bob?
Bob says
If they don’t bump together now, then why would they bump each other if they were flipped? Unless maybe your nails aren’t at equal height…
So it’s “only decorating” now? OK, glad to have that cleared up. Sometimes it’s Art, other times Design and now it’s Decorating. I like how things keep changing.
Finally, you are right about trusting your eye. Unfortunately, not many people have good eyes. There may not be a right answer when it comes to this stuff, but there is certainly a better or worse answer. I’m just trying to help you out.
Bob says
Nancy,
My apologies. Please allow me to amend my comment in the following way:
Sherry – OMG!!!! You are like so amazing!!! This key idea is like totally awesome and I think you are the smartest, most gifted and talented person ever!!! I would have never thought of this idea on my own and now I am going to copy you exactly and put up keys on my wall. Thank you so much for sharing your awesomeness with us. I want to be just like you!!!
Is that better?
YoungHouseLove says
Not gonna go back and forth with you today Bob. Too busy for that! From now on assume everything I say is “just decorating” and take it with a grain of salt!
xo,
s
Liz says
Why do you bother following this blog, Bob? You’re constantly bashing this poor couple. Clearly you’re not a fan of their work, so go look somewhere else where you can be among the rest of the snarky people.
Lynn says
Bob, why are you here? Really, what is the purpose of your negativity in a place people look to for inspiration and community? Please find another place that better suits your taste and appreciates your pontification.
Bob says
Liz,
I think Sherry would even agree with this, but I’ve probably been 50/50 on my positive and negative comments here. The positive just gets overlooked in a sea of positivity, while the negative is focused on since no one expresses much criticism here. This is the nicest blog I’ve ever visited.
I don’t think I bash Sherry/John and I think they would agree. I provide constructive criticism that is sometimes harsh and yes, sometimes snarky. But trust me, I wouldn’t spend my time doing this if I didn’t think it was worthwhile. I truly think Sherry can learn some things from me. Many of my suggestions have already been implemented (though I can’t claim it was MY suggestion that prompted a specific change).
Sherry doesn’t like me, and that’s ok, but I do think that she continues to read and respond to my comments for a reason. She will see that there is a better or worse way to do things. I truly… hope it helps.
Tanya from Dans le Townhouse says
Short post = short comment: LOVE it.
Rachel Kabukala says
Sherry, those keys are delightful! Seriously, just looking at your wall makes me happy, and so tempted to try something similar myself…maybe with another little item/trinket? I am also INSANELY tempted to pain my Craig’s List occasional chair after yesterday’s post. You guys are such inspirations!!!
Carrie @ Hazardous Design says
I love this idea. The white paint is a great way to integrate them with the rest of your gallery wall. I’ve been on the hunt for vintage keys myself, I’m hoping to find some that I can actually use in the original doors of my 1800’s home. Kind of like finding a needle in a haystack :)
buen says
Hello from Spain! Awesome idea! Maybe you could paint the nails white so they don´t stand out. First time commenting on your site. I spent the past 3 weeks catching up on 3+ years´ worth of posts!
YoungHouseLove says
Great idea! I’d love to paint them white or the wall color!
xo,
s
Katie says
I am doing a little beatnik snap at my desk for your awesome poem haha. Keys look great!
katie says
Sherry, I love that you say no one is suprised you painted them white. My boyfriend thinks im nutty for wanting to paint everything white! But I love it– it makes everything feel so crisp! I also love that you love Bethenny Frankel! She is halarious!!!
Christie says
To quote our mutual BFF, your blog is “amazeballs” and I totally heart you guys. :-) The keys look great on the gallery wall.
Barb says
As usual Sherry…..A CLASS ACT!!!! Who would of thought that 3 measly keys were so special. Bravo to your crafty skills.
And on to Bethanny….Love her to death. But I also think her husband is adorable, so patient to put up with her!!! Talk about a CLASS ACT!!! No, I am not stealing husbands…I am old enough to be his mother. Just think he is more than part of the package. Love her, Love him….Love them together. Don’t you?
P.S. I must add that my husband “CRINGES” and leaves the room when she comes on. I don’t get it…do you?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, John doesn’t love her, but he tolerates her because I love her. And that’s what love is all about. Haha. As for Jason, yes. Best catch ever! I rewatched some of the first and second season of NY Housewives and she was with that bald “other Jason” and it made me love this Jason a million times more.
xo,
s
Katy says
Looooove the keys! seriously can you check out the key rug? I think it’s meant to be, no? I know, I know, I’m such a rug nerd, I need help.
http://www.rugdesignblog.com/2011/04/rug-fluence-foreign-accents-key-rug.html
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so fun!
xo,
s
Allison says
The keys are a nice extra little layer in the frame wall. Actually I think that’s what I love best about your frame wall—that not everything is framed. Makes it look a little more, “Oh this wall? We just kinda nailed some stuff on the wall and it turned out beautifully” instead of all planned out. I want one.
Wendy M. says
Do I spy a map of places you guys have been on the wall? Or am I imagining things?
I’m sure it’s been asked more than once, but I thought it was worth flinging out there…
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, it’s a vintage map from Ebay that I got for John a while back (more on it here). We put pins in it for all the places J and I went together, and then Clara came along and we marked all the places that the three of us have been with different colored pins. So much fun!
xo,
s
Wendy M says
Aw that’s adorable, guys! I should do that with my boyfriend. You and a couple of other bloggers have kinda convinced me (along with the procurement of a new townhome) that I need to line one of my walls with photos of my family and my cats and myself and boyfriend. I’m actually sort of excited for it… I think that’d be a great addition! :) How exciting!
Ashley says
The tops of those keys look like yogurt covered pretzels… yum! Snack time!
Candace D says
What a coincidence, Bethany’s my BFF too! The keys look awesome on your photo wall–very interesting combination of elements. Very inspiring!
Did you watch Bethany Monday night? I feel no shame, I just love her…and Jason will probably be nominated for sainthood any day now!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! If she’s on, I watch. I even own her books. I’m die hard.
xo,
s
KTmurphy says
Sherry you make me giggle every day. The haiku got me good.
Jill says
I LOVE Bethenny Frankel (but don’t so much love that she fit back into her size 0 dress three weeks after giving birth….). I always thought that she was MY imaginary BFF, but whatever…maybe we can share her. :)
Love the keys, and the photo wall. You inspired me to do a photo wall of sorts in my son’s sports-themed room. I love it!
WendyMI says
Love the keys.. they are so artsy-crowny. Tres cool!
I love grouping things in threes, but I’m surprised that you didn’t just hang two keys to represent your two houses. ;)
I’d love to know more about some of the documents that you have hanging up. I can’t quite tell what they are, but they give such an interesting look to everything. Have I missed a post showing more of the maps, or in particular, that dark grey text below the keys?
YoungHouseLove says
Check out the post that we linked to in the first paragraph with details about stuff that we hung when we created the gallery wall. We owe you another post with even more details – soon!
xo,
s
Beth says
we have been unearthing treasures from the late 1800’s on our property and we now have 4 old keys! as soon as i saw the first one, i knew that i needed to find a way to display them. i think i need a picture wall to incorporate them into:) yours looks amazing!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s fascinating!
xo,
s