Several weeks ago we had a mountain of framed art and photographs in a pile on the floor. I should have taken a photo for you but I didn’t think of it. (Bad, naughty blogger!) Since my baby brothers were coming to visit we needed to transfer these items from the floor to the wall — and fast.
I’m a creator. All you creators out there understand me when I say creative genius cannot (and should not) be rushed. Rushing a creator can only result in emotional breakdown. The Scientist, being a scientist, does not understand this concept and did not appreciate that even though we were about to have house guests and there was nowhere to walk in our apartment — let alone put down an air mattress — that I just “wasn’t ready” to hang anything in the staircase.
The Scientist wanted it done and he forced me to do it. He stood on the stairs with me the entire time and, every time I stopped to cry and say I didn’t know where to put anything, he said I did and to just hang another one already. It was awful and I will never forgive him. At least that’s what I thought until he took me to a fancy spa for the weekend to recover. I decided to forgive him about halfway through my massage.
I showed you a sneak peek of my staircase a few weeks ago as I was starting to get some of our frames hung on the wall. Now that I’m finished I thought you might like to see the finished product! Well, as finished as it can be without a fancy ladder for stairs.
Here’s what my empty staircase looked like before…
And here’s what it looks like after all that mental and creative abuse!
We have some of our favorite pieces up on this wall. There are lots of wedding and travel photos, art we’ve pick up on trips, a print from one of my favorite Etsy artists, and a portrait of The Scientist’s grandfather painted by a fellow soldier in France during WWII. Below are two of my favorite photos. One is of my grandfather walking down the street (and looking pretty awesome doing it) and the other is of my grandparents together shortly after they got married.
Apartment Envy 
This is on my list of things to do in our house, but I #1 am too lazy to print out my fav photos, #2 am too indecisive to decide what photos are my favs, #3 too cheap to buy frames for everything, and #4 not ready to think about it!
I also had this problem! I got most of my frames from IKEA, but also got lots from Amazon.com and Target. And choosing photos was very hard BUT I finally realized that I should just order all the photos I like (I use Costco because it’s so inexpensive but still high quality) and then switch them out periodically. Then you don’t have to pick favorites!
Oh, good idea to switch them out. I was also thinking I could paint some of the non black frames I have to match the black ones I already have. So many ideas…so little time!
Yes, spray paint is even more awesome than regular paint. You can even paint fur-babies with it!* Great idea to use what you have and make it work!
*Do not spray paint fur-babies.
Love this! It looks great! xoxo Kristin
Thank you! :D
Beautiful!! We have a gallery wall too and it took us forever to get the layout done so Bravo! It’s a lot of hard work. Love the history additions and family photos!
Thanks! I’d love to see yours. Is it up on your blog? If not then please send me a photo!
I haven’t yet!!! We’ve done so much to the house that I haven’t even been able to find the time to blog about. Once garden season and birthday party madness is done I promise I will.
Can’t wait to see it!
OMG this is awesome too! I am so jealous! Come do my house, now!
LOL Send me some photos and I’ll put you on the blog! :D
of my empty wall?! lol
Yes! Your empty wall and the things you’ve collected. I can give you some ideas of how to place things, then you can do it and send me “After” photos! Magic :D
Love love love it!
Thank you so very much! :D
Stumbled upon your blog during a random image search, and I just had to say that 1. your staircase gallery wall looks fantastic 2. I would have every wall of mine be a gallery wall but I think that would be a little much? no? 3. I had to laugh at your description that creative geniuses cannot be rushed, as I’ve had frames laying all around my living room/dining room floor for…months…and now Thanksgiving is coming and my husband is rushing me to hang them. Hopefully mine turns out as well!
Ha! Thank you! My entire apartment is basically one huge gallery wall, so maybe I’m the wrong person to ask ;) Good luck getting your project finished before the holidays come up! You can do it!!!