Hey! I am pretty excited about what I have to share with you guys today! I am always searching for unique ideas to display our prized family photos on gallery walls. I have a whole box of Portland newborn photography photos lying around from when I had the kids that I would just love to finally see hanging up on the wall. It's where they should be, and I don't know how I haven't got around to hanging any of them yet. I'm just excited to see them in pride of place because they're so gorgeous, but I've had these printing trays lying around for almost 6 months waiting for something to be done with them, so now is the time!
When I visit home design client's homes, I am often surprised by the fact that there are no family photos on display around their homes. Most of them might usually have portraits associated with their religion (check out this Islamic Wall Art here as a reference) or some may even choose to hang plain art. Hardly a few could opt to hang their family pictures. The walls are bare and the space looks sterile and dead, with no personality or character. I think family gallery walls are an easy way to add instant personality and homey vibes to any space. If a family has no photos to put up, I always suggest having a Newton Family Photographer (or a similar one closer to where they live) plan their family pictures and take them. I know that when people come to visit me, our family photos displayed on various gallery walls are always a major topic of discussion. People love to know YOU, and gallery walls filled with family photos are an easy way for them to get a feel for your personality and who's home they are in. This is even more crucial if you've just welcomed a new member t the family, as it will allow them to see they belong somewhere as they grow up!
For this particular gallery wall idea, I used finds from one of my favorite local vintage markets. I've talked about Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market on my blog before, and if you live in the Phoenix Valley I'm sure you're familiar with this market. I grabbed these vintage printing trays from a cute old man's shop there and knew instantly that they would make really cool picture frames, I knew I needed a couple of them to really make an impact in a gallery wall and now I wish I even grabbed more than 4.
What I loved most about these trays was the chippy emerald green paint around the outside, and the perfectly weathered wood on the inside of the drawers. The opening fit an 8 x 10 photo perfectly, and I just used thumbtacks to secure them believe it or not. So easy I feel a little like an imposter even posting about them, but I just loved the instant character that they added to my office space. I like to find new ways to display art around my home, most recently I used some old fruit drying racks to make regular picture frames look awesome, you can see that post here.
I love having a pretty space to sit and work, since I spend my time dreaming up inspiring places for other people... working in one just makes sense. I feel like these antique wood pieces add so much more than any regular store bought frame in a gallery wall would. Once you start using salvage pieces around your home it opens a whole new world of imagination when designing spaces in your home.
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