First things first. Weren’t we talking about how foxes might be the new “it” animal (as in, move over birds and giraffes)? Well, I think this video might be proof that we’re all on to something.
Now that that’s out of the way, on to our regularly scheduled program…
Sherry and I have always been fans of the idea of hanging art around a TV just to soften the big black rectangle that it creates on the wall. And since we have quite the collection of frames to wade through (128 to be exact) it wasn’t exactly a speedy selection process. But after more noodling than I care to admit, we officially hung this house’s first frame collage.
Here’s the bare wall that we started with:
Sherry actually did most of the noodling (credit where credit is due) and she used the floor as her work surface. The big gap in the middle is the space she measured for the TV. In addition to paying attention to the size of the frames, our main goal was to choose art that wasn’t too “visually demanding” (i.e. not too bright or high contrast). We don’t want it stealing the show from the, um, TV shows.
Once the arrangement looked good on the floor, we started transferring it to the wall – starting with the frame right in the middle and being sure to center it on the TV. For some reason even though Clara was sleeping we had Little Einstein on. Nothing like a little Mozart in the background to make frame hanging a joy and a pleasure.
We slowly built out from there on one side, just holding each frame up and eying it. We wanted to maintain somewhat consistent spacing between everything, but weren’t crazy careful about it. We like a bit of imperfection in a frame collage (plus, there’s always time for tweaking later). For example, after taking this photo we noticed that the frame directly to the right of the TV was too close to it, so we made a mental note to inch it out a little after we finished the other side.
Here’s what it looked like with almost everything up on the wall. Well, everything except for the bottom frame on the far left because [insert facepalm here] we forgot to account for the light switch. And that little screw up made us realize that [get that palm ready again] we totally should have centered the TV on the ceiling beams first. Oh the things you don’t realize when you map stuff out on the floor…
We were less than pleased about the miscalculations, plus I was having deja vu. But having foreseen something like this happening, we thankfully had only hung things with small picture hanging nails at this point (i.e. I hadn’t broken out the anchors and screws for some of the heavier items) so it wasn’t a big deal to shift everything to the right a few inches (eight to be exact). All but one of our erroneous nail holes got covered up in the end, so we were only disgruntled for a short time.
If you scroll back to Sherry’s initial “rough draft” layout on the floor, you’ll notice that everything stayed the same except we opted for two larger frames on the outside edges instead of three smaller ones. It just looked cleaner that way when we eyed things as we got them on the walls.
This room is certainly far from being done, but it really does feel more personal with some of our favorite stuff on the wall. Everything from wedding photostrips to the lot drawing of our first house and a map we brought back from Hawaii last year made the cut. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if we update a few of the frames down the road just for fun.
We were most glad to finally hang our pin map in a place of honor (we briefly hung it in the foyer but this art looks better in there). And Sherry’s giddy that she got not one, but two faux white taxidermy items up there. Hopefully the deer that congregate out back aren’t offended.
So that’s the story of two screws, two anchors, thirteen nails, and twenty nine holes in the wall. Any one else put some holes in their walls recently? Hopefully fewer unintentional ones than us…
Jennifer says
That video had me rolling on the floor laughing and questioning where on earth you found this!! Pure awesomeness!!
Love the frame wall, as always you guys rock it out!
YoungHouseLove says
John loves Buzzfeed and Facebook so at night he plays around on his phone and finds the weirdest things!
xo
s
Greta S says
I just did this in my living room! Love it around the TV… makes me think I should have done that instead! :)
http://livedresscreate.blogspot.com/2013/09/hangin-around-gallery-wall-is-up.html
YoungHouseLove says
Looks awesome!
xo
s
Nancy B says
Who would have ever thought that a bunch of white framed art would make such a lovely difference?
Jena says
Where did you get the framed map?
YoungHouseLove says
We made that! If you click the link in the post it’ll bring you to a write-up that includes how we did it :)
xo
s
Betsy says
Speaking of hanging art…I would love to see that amazing white mirror you put up in the foyer against Black Pepper in the bedroom – talk about a killer shape to contrast that wall!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that sounds pretty!
xo
s
Bonnie says
Looks good. Can’t wait to see it when all the wood trim is painted white. This also gives me the courage to finally hang some frames above our flat screen… I just didn’t know if it was “done” and/or if it would look good or be distracting. Guess I’m breaking out my hammer and nails this week. :)
I also note a distinct lack of pins in or around the KS/MO region. If you haven’t been to Kansas City, you should add it to your short list of future destinations… I will be attempting to create something similar to this map for my family. I’ve always wanted to do a pin map, but pictured something bigger. This mini version has given me a fresh perspective and is much more feasible and design pleasing. Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Bonnie! Good luck with your frame wall and your map art! And as for ending up in the KS/MO region, we’d love to!
xo
s
Robert says
I love that video, and my daughter just burst out in giggles anytime its on.
Karin / Going Dutch on Decor says
It looks great! I especially love the white turtle back ( if that is what it is btw :-)
Thank you for making me laugh almost every morning. It is a good start of the day for me.
psst, don’t we all love Little Einsteins?
Greetz from overseas
Julia @ cuckoo4design says
I love the layout and all the different items you chose to hang up.
Jordan says
Maybe this’ll help you feel better … I have had a little plaque sitting on the counter in my kitchen since I moved into my new place, and last night I decided to hang it. I eyeballed the middle of the space I wanted it to go in (assuming that one nail in the middle was good), and put a nail in the wall. I then turned the plaque over to discover that it has two holes for the nails to go on either end and no holes for nails to go in the middle. Facepalm indeed!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, we’ve totally done that!
xo
s
gayle says
I didn’t read all of the comments but I think this is one of the first entries I have read that has garnered so many comments with differing opinions on what you have done! Great to read everyone’s ideas and the fact that you make US want to give you our thoughts. It shows we are invested in YOU! Now my thoughts: I think the arrangement is too low, glad you are thinking of hanging the tv. I think all white frames are too much white. Do you ever watch Scandal? Kerry Washington’s clothes in shades of white and creams are gorgeous, try shades of white, but the suggestions of black frames is good, too. I find the gallery walls around a tv never compete with the tv screen and what is showing. I have lots of color in my frames. love you guys, G.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Gayle! We love all the ideas!
xo
s
Joseph says
I love that turtle shell!
I did actually put some holes in the wall recently, and I was only hanging one thing…
http://littlehouseblue.blogspot.com/2013/09/our-personal-painted-pallet.html
Question for you: Did you ever do any TV stand modifications or are your various components still chillin’ on the floor?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, here’s that post for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/2013/03/hiding-the-cable-box-sealing-the-deal/
xo
s
Joseph says
Oh cool. I don’t know how I missed that one.
Jen says
So odd that you posted the Ylvis video! My husband just showed it to me last night! Talk about serendipitous! I personally love “Stonehedge” by them. Hysterical.
Susan H says
Thank you so much for my belly laugh of the day! I don’t know where you find these crazy videos, but this fox one just made my Monday so much better, and made me laugh until I cried! My co-workers were not as amused.
Kristin says
I’m noticing a big space on the map in the western states where no pins currently reside. Namely the Denver, CO area. Me thinks you should visit! :) ?
YoungHouseLove says
Methinks we’d love that!
xo
s
Megan Poletti says
I am…….. so confused about that video. LOL.
Paula says
Just saw on cnn.com that the Fox video has “gone viral” and “may be the next Gangnam Style” – which I assume you can take all the credit for =)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that totally wasn’t us (John saw it on Buzzfeed of Facebook, but it was already sweeping the nation at that point). We’re just on the bandwagon!
xo
s
Amanda says
My sister is a huge follower of your blog (I too am a fan) and told me that she gave you a link to my little blog showing our recessed tv (we live in an old, 13 ft wide, 60 ft long rowhome), I thought you might like the link to the how-to that I posted (rather than just the finished product): http://ourslice.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/for-your-viewing-pleasure/.
I really think a recessed television on your wall would look great with your photo arrangement–you guys always do such a great job photo arranging and wall placement–I am often resourcing your blog when it comes time to arranging things on our walls… ’cause good lord we have a TON of it.
Keep up the awesome work–Cheers!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s amazing! Thanks for the link!
xo
s
Meagan says
I agree, foxes are becoming the next hot animal. And I think maybe animals-wearing-people-clothes are, too. I’ve been seeing them a lot in art, lately – like this alligator I found on etsy that I LOVE: http://etsy.me/GQkPZh This artist has a little mouse wearing a vest, too. Anyway… :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it!
xo
s
Rachelle says
I have been obsessing over faux taxidermy lately and was wondering where you got your deer antlers?
YoungHouseLove says
Those were from Hobby Lobby a few years back (they were black but I painted them white).
xo
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