HOW TO CREATE A GOLD MIRROR GALLERY WALL FOCAL POINT

As much as I love to make seasonal decor changes in our home, sometimes I'll find that one change I like so much, I keep it. One such change I made here in our living room is the focal point behind the sofa. Last year, I had changed the images from NYC images, to coastal images in Summer, to horse images for Fall. But for winter and holiday, I was looking for a more simple approach and decided to create a gallery wall of collected mirrors. Most of the mirrors I already had (from HomeGoods & JCP), but I needed a few to bridge in some gaps and fill the wall. Thrifting for those last few mirrors at GoodwillAZ and Savers thrift helped to fill the gaps while staying on a small budget, but I was really wanting all the frames to be the same: gold. Although some mirror frames were already gold (and I left them that way), the ones that were black or silver I painted antique gold. This one small change made a huge difference and I haven't had to change the wall since...

 

Love the look of the gold mirrors on the dark grey wall.

Here is how I made my mirror gallery wall....

 

I started with a vision and a plan...

 

I used the garage floor first to layout the mirrors - like a puzzle...

 

I double checked the width to ensure it would fit in between the windows and above the sofa plus table...

 

A 'quick' spray of antique gold in the back yard...

 

A quick clean up with mineral spirits and a razor...

(Sometimes pre-cutting paper and taping takes too long and some paint comes through anyways) After soaking the mirror with mineral spirits, I was able to scrape the excess paint off with the razor - and not scratch the mirror + come close to the edge for a crisp clean finish.

 

Good as gold!:)

 

Ready to bring inside to hang...

 

Supplies all pull together on my work tray (old cookie sheet)

Chalk (because my walls are dark), level, tape, nails -- and yes: nail hole filler and paint to repair prior holes (remember: I'm renting)... 

 

Space cleared and I used some foamcore boards to re-layout the composition I had done in the garage...

 

Started from the top and across... then worked my way down the wall...

 

I really like the mix of gold shades vs being all one...

It was nice with the B&W images of NYC for a while, especially since we had just moved to AZ from the east coast. But as in Florida, I've since relocated the NYC to the home office (another time when something just worked and felt right.) Here is a look at the subtle changes, mostly coming from switching pillows on the sofa, but all working with the gallery wall focal point -- especially the mirrors...

 

Spring 2012 

 Mirrors mixed with images..

 

Summer 2012

 

Autumn 2012 

 Holiday Home 2012 plus see more photos at

Holiday Home Tour 2012

Spring 2013 

Bold B&W prints with Tribal Maze and Houndstooth...

Autumn 2013

Yes - in Florida I did more with color, but here in AZ, it just feels right mixing plaids (windowpane, glen plaid, and houndstooth) - especially in Fall paired with leopard...

 

Autumn 2013 

I'll probably go back to greens and whites for holiday this year, maybe with a few touches of red, but I really liked the green and white last year. Since it does get really cold here in the winter, many leaves die off tress and everything gets REALLY brown and overcast. Funny how three of these mirrors started off gold (back in the 90s) and I painted the silver (remember "JOY" for the Christmas bedroom I did?) and now they are back to gold. 

Everything old is new again - except me - I'm just getting older!! lol

Thanks for stopping by...

A different type of gallery wall: Frames Wallpaper

While out touring some local shops last week, I visited a great little recently opened shop called Design Lab (more about them later). While visiting the store, I spoke with a very pleasant associate (Jeanie) who was dressed with a white lab coat. I asked if I could take photos of the shop to blog about it  - and she not only said yes, but she eagerly showed me a hidden gem in the shop: The WC (water closet - aka bathroom). Why would she be showing me the bathroom with such pride? It was to share the decor in the space: Black & White Frames Wallpaper highlighting miniature icon chair designs. (loved it!) I snapped a few pics, but forgot to ask about the brand of wallpaper. While on Olioboard this week, I stumbled across a source for the paper: Layla Grayce. Here is the product name + link: Taylor & Wood Frames Black & White Wallpaper. 

 

Layla & Grace

 Taylor & Wood Frames Black & White Wallpaper

As for the miniature chairs, I remembered seeing them at DWR and they are still available: DWR The Miniature Collection. There are also a few other sites who specialize in miniature icon furniture... and even a blog featuring a movement. They also have miniature mid-century dollhouses (This just blew away my Barbie dream house - with its yellow elevator & plastic orange sofa & chairs!

 

DWr - Design Within Reach

The Miniatures Collection

 

From Mid2Mod Blog

 Bennett dollhouse

brincadada.com

 

From Style & Scale blog

White Mid Century Chairs 

(only $14.99 ea)

The wallpaper need not only be to feature a collection of mini mid-century madness - it can be used in a multitude of ways to feature or highlight your own favorite collectibles to create a wall gallery unique to your style & story. Another adorable way to use this wallpaper to create a gallery is to highlight the artwork of your future little Picasso - or let them create their own gallery right on the wall...

See more

KIDS ROOM & NURSERY DESIGNS
using products from Wayfair...

 

DABLET DOES OLIO - NURSERY

by Kate Sessoms (aka Dabble in Chic) 

"So happy to create a little design inspired by my little girl "Dablet"! Finds from some of my favorite brands, and Etsy stores!" 

 

OCEAN THEME NURSERY

by Olivia Millwood (aka SWAYGRL and NicheByDesign)

Inspired by a day at the beach!

GENDER NUETRAL NURSERY

(by me NYCLQ)

Surrounded with numbers, architects compass lamp, green and some sustainable pieces, this nursery is set for a future green building architect! Mom & dad can rest comfortably in a pair of printed club chairs + put up their feet on the ottoman. Sconces at the changing table give enough light for the changing task, while baskets & a concealed amoire help organize the rooms necessities.

 

KIDS COLOR ZONES 

(by me - NYCLQ)

Sisters (or brothers) can sleep, play, and learn in the fun colors of the Kids Color Zone. Low open storage shelving lines the back wall below the focal point alphabet mural. Bunk beds help utilize the space for one of the three activities: sleep. Moms glider/rocker from the previous nursery has a modern style that transitioned into this growing space. A simple dining table gives plenty of space to spread out activities, play games, or do homework, while a play zone is still available near the window in the room.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rental ReStyle: New Place - New Mix Gallery Style

Happy Monday! How was your first weekend of the new year? Did you try a new food? A new look? Or a new project? Or did you just sit back, relax, and take a deep breath now that the seasons holidays are all over? Sometimes time to STOP is just what ya need to recharge and get re-inspired. I've been wanting to put up some of the collections & photos I had up in our other place, but I wasn't feeling inspired. So to at least get a start on it, I cleared some space on the floor in the living room, and started playing around with some new arrangements...

 

Regardless of what a frame had in it, I first started trying out compositions...

 

When I found the right balance & mix, I measured to ensure the arrangement would fit into the planned space...

 

Since I don't have up any window panels, but planned on adding a few, I allowed space for the panel. (I like using chalk to make my markings on dark walls)

 

The arrangement just fit... Now for the other side and adding in the panels...

 

My assistant, sleeping on the job :)

 

From packing up in Florida...

It's challenging to imagine new arrangements in a new place for me - because I keep comparing it to what I had - but it can work. It's funny how all the pictures, prints, and photos were previously located in about 5 different rooms in the old place...now they are all coming together in the new place for a new look...

 

A collected mix from thrift, HomeGoods, PierOne and old visual properties...

Re-arranging them here into one space - but not just one blank wall... 

a wall with windows and working around them...

 

The other challenge is working with an actual "wall" behind the sofa vs. the soft-wall of curtain panels I had before. I couldn't do a gallery behind the sofa - but I did have them in the dining room and bedroom. Since I don't have a dining "room" here, I'm experimenting with an arrangement for behind the sofa... But I see I need to re-stock on paint to give a new finish to some of these frames...

 

In the meantime, the vertical arrangements are giving more emphasis to the height within this space. And mixing in the mirror + framed fabric with the B&W photos helped to give give interest to the new mix in our new place. At least the sides of the living room sofa wall are done, and the focal point is in progress :)

Thanks for stopping by!