Hallway Photo Gallery

I don't think I've blogged about this little project before.  If so, my tired eyes couldn't find the post as I scrolled late into the night.  So here's a quick look at the hallway update I've made in the last few months.  (Please ignore any frames that are a little askew, I'm not that far down my to-do list, people.)

This little hallway space is a high traffic area and it it was so plain without a table, art or something to jazz it up a little.  So I decided to do a photo frame gallery.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but there are three small wall spaces that I wanted to fill...

I hesitated to hang much at first because I spent most of my time blazing through there, not stopping to look.  But, guests often do.  They come in the front door and have a clear view of this:

From the laundry room and back door you see this:

And from the downstairs bathroom you see this:

All frames are white, some have several sizes of the same design, but no grouping has any duplicates.  I used mostly color photos, a few black and whites, and a smattering of other things (stationary, post cards).  I hope to someday add a few objects that have meaning to us...  like a "Z" or double hearts.  The gallery is basically done, though there is room for just a few more things.  But it is also kind of fun to change out a few photos once or twice a year.  I guess it will never be complete : )

I started with placing and hanging the empty frames to be sure I'd like the arrangement before getting photos involved.  I painted some frames I had on hand, and picked up the rest on the cheap since, say Christmas?  So I had a bunch.  For placement, I'd trace the back of the frame onto newspaper.  Cut out.  Then lay the cut out over the back of the frame to mark where the hanger was positioned.  Then I placed all my newspaper cut outs on the wall with tape, rearranging until I was happy with how it all looked.  Then I hung my frames by installing the hangers right through the newspaper.  Then I ripped the newspaper down and hung the frames.  Instant gallery!  Minus the pictures that is.

I had several photos just waiting for this opportunity to shine, but other frames went blank for many months.  Last week, I had to get prints made for the kids' preschool class.  So I decided it was go-time for finishing another phase of the hallway gallery.  I got all the last prints I needed to fill the existing frames.  And all that's left is to find a few more frames, as I happen upon them, and fill them.  That will finish out the few blank spots I still have.  I'd love to fill them with kid's art.  A graphic design.  Or maybe a monogram using some fun material like buttons.  But inspiration will have to hit first.

PS  The morning after I filled those last empty frames with current photos, Addison walked into the room and stopped dead in her tracks.  "Look at da new pictures Mommy!"  "Dat's A'son at da pool!"