Come into our guest bedroom.
That could be a really creepy opening line if you say it right.
But seriously…get your butt in there and tell me what kinda weirdo puts hoops on their walls and then just leaves them for a year.
Oh right.
So it was time to woman-up and get some real frames on the wall. The empty hoops weren’t cutting it.
Seriously y’all, I’m gonna call myself out right here and now. That ‘abstract hoop art’? Yeah. As is? Not really blog worthy. Just saying. I do think it could be the start of something cool…but not empty like that. It was seriously lacking in the sophistication department. (not that I have a whole lot of that in general). So I decided to bite the bullet and start actually nailing stuff up on the wall. What am I so afraid of? tiny holes?
My plan of attack – a grid of botanicals in frames. I bought a dozen of these frames at Walmart for $3 each.
I found this Herbs book at Goodwill…$2.50…and yes, I like to pronounce herbs all breathy with the H notsosilent. Makes it fancy.
I picked out some of my favorites and slapped them in the frames (I had to forego on the mats because the pictures of the herbs were so big) and then I laid out a grid of them on the guest room bed.
Okay…so here’s my special technique on hanging a grid. It’s very complicated. It’s very technical. It’s called…drawing lines on the wall. Actually I draw lines on the Frog Tape on the wall because then I can remove the pencil marks without a gigantic eraser.
I start off marking the first hole for the center frame and then put a levelish piece of Frog Tape across the wall. I just eyeball it. Then with a level, I draw a very straight line on top of the tape.
In order to get the right distance between marks, I simply measure the distance between the centers of both frames with my desired space in between.
Then mark them all on the tape on the straight line.
Then I repeat that a couple more times.
On all my marks, I nail in the hole and then remove the nails and the tape and put in the hooks.
My lovely grid of hooks. Does that make the opening line creepier? Come into my guest bedroom that is full of hooks.
And hang.
Sorry about the crazy lighting. I did this at night. It’s the only time I get anything done.
Here she blows during the daylight…
I love it. So so so much better than abstract 10% done art.
Plus, I learned more about herbs. Always a plus.
The rest of the room still needs some work. I did find a giant mirror for $10 at a thrift store that matched the dresser almost perfectly. The scale of it was good too. But I still need to hang it and put some more stuff on the walls.
I also need to make some window treatments. Right now all our guests have only a thin blackout shade blocking their scantily clad bodies from exposure. I was thinking a fixed shade…like a roman shade that can be removed and laundered. I even bought a clearance curtain at Pottery Barn ages ago that I think I can cut up and make work for all three windows.
Oh and then there is the abyss of nothingness. I’m a little stuck on this wall. I need something REALLY narrow…maybe a console table?…and then put some stuff on this wall too. We shall see. It’s a work in progress.
So that’s the state of affairs in the guest bedroom. And how I hang a grid of frames. Well worth the money for large impact framed prints…I spent about $40 for the whole shabang. Have you guys been hanging frames lately? Or maybe that’s what you asked for for Christmas – framed art? or perhaps you just wanna say how late at night is the only time you get anything done around the house too?
p.s. This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape for Bower Power’s Frog Tape Fridays. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.
For the record, I really liked the hoop art! Love this too though! You so crafty!
I really liked your abstract hoop art. Not that I don’t like the herb prints, but I kind of miss the hoops. I think they would look awesome if you spray painted them bright colors that match the decor in the room…or maybe spray paint them bright colors for little mans new room???
I so need to do this. I always hear about people finding books at Goodwill and framing the pages as a collection. I think I just need to suck it up and do it! Maybe this will be my kick start!
frog tape friday…LOL
haven’t you seen Sherry’s no-sew faux roman shade handiwork over at YHL??
I love, love, love this….it looks sooooo pretty!
Love the herb – or erb – art!
This looks so much better! I love it! It’s calm and serene.
I think the botanicals grid is gorgeous! I love how you took pages out of a book – so creative!
I really liked the hoops, but your right, there was something about them that wasn’t quite right. The new prints and grid layout looks great!
I like the frames! But I should also say that I liked the hoop idea, unfinished though it may have been. I think it could be fun to use hoops to wallpaper a full wall. In a kid’s room, it would be like a wall of bubbles!
Yes – but they can’t be removed, so I’d prefer to have something else…mostly because our house produces mass amounts of dust and I have to constantly launder things.
xo – kb
There is something so innately appealing about delicate prints of plants framed and gathered on a wall and I love how you transformed this room. And that you got the book at Goodwill and that it was such an affordable project! Very nice!
Maybe I’m just a weirdo (yes, I am…) but I kinda liked the hoop frames. Don’t get me wrong, I like the frame grid better. Maybe for now you could put the hoops on the empty wall until you come up with something better.
I really dig the hoops. Maybe you can send some my way if you don’t want them anymore!! 🙂
I love it….and I really love that they are a grid!
I LOVE it! I did like the hoops, but I love these frames:) And yes, at night is when I accomplish things too. I have a 2.5 yo and a 6 month old, so NOTHING got done until about 2 months ago when I had finally adjusted to having two…hardest things I’ve done in my life and I have really easy kids, no jealousy here just like with Will, but it’s still the hardest thing I’ve ever done!
Just found your blog the other day and well, love it! I’ve been starting up some DIY stuff again and this blog will be inspiring! You guys have great taste, and the herbs look great. Oh and I’m currently trying to talk the man into DIY our kitchen white. Yours looks so fresh and so clean, clean 🙂
Have you thought about a floor length mirror for the blank wall?
Something a guest will like to make use of 🙂
Looking good! On the blank wall, what about a bench? Would work for suitcases like the suitcase racks you have now, and would be nice and narrow. My MIL did that in a guest room and it worked like a charm.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your genius 🙂
Have you listened to the short story “Click-Clack the Rattlebag” by Neil Gaiman? Because for anyone who has heard it, your “Come into my guest bedroom that is full of hooks” line becomes instantly extremely creepier than it otherwise would be! Seriously, you should listen to it. Here’s the link:
http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Literature/Short-Stories/ClickClack-the-Rattlebag-A-Free-Short-Story-Written-and-Performed-by-Neil-Gaiman/46647
Thanks to you, I’m now a full fedged member of the ‘I heart Frog Tape club’. It’s real. It’s amazing for painting and oh so strong. We actually used it to tape the doors shut on some of our furniture when we moved a few weeks ago. Amazing.
Loving this new plan!! I am definitely copying you and putting this above my living room couch… we’ve lived in our current house less than two months and I’ve had about 3 different things above the couch and don’t like any of them. I actually wanted “grid art” but figured it was too expensive for that many frames. Not now!! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
I love the idea of taking the pages out of the book, so creative! I did kind of like the hoops though 🙂
I like the hoops idea! I think I want to do something similar in my craft room with a bunch of neat fabric inside. I do like the botanical prints for the bedroom though – very nice and a good use of the book!
Youre seriously hilarious. Can’t take it.
oooh i love that “sunken” window. You could get a piece of wood a few inches wider than the ledge and stain it dark to match the rest of the wood. It would serve as an awesome book ledge and be totally custom!
A very big improvement….along with some invaluable hanging tips. Heart! Glad you’re not dropping the ‘h’….or should I say “aitch”?! Most important! 😉 Hx
Great idea Georgia…except it’s considered to be bad Feng Shui having a mirror directly opposite a window. All the ‘good’ chi is seen to be redirected out of it, when what you want to do is keep it all in. Just me wandering about wondering! Hx
Oh, I just love it. We have a few big walls in our bedroom (and others) to fill and this would be a great idea. (Think I might also steal the console table idea!) Is the space large enough for a small desk?
I have a 2.5 yo and a 6 month old as well. It took me a few months to get beyond just surviving and on to actually accomplishing things like cooking dinner that didn’t include the words mac and cheese in the title. Thank goodness for Netflix or I wouldn’t get a shower most days! lol
I actually have a little book of flowers I bought for $.25 several years ago that would be perfect for something like this. Consider me inspired! Oh, and I only accomplish things at night too … but I don’t have a good excuse like being a busy mom. I just stay up way past my bedtime 🙂
Hi! Maybe I missed it, but where did you get those awesome luggage stands? Thanks!
Thanks for the info on how to hang grids, I have never gotten it right!
I really liked the hoop art. How about filling those hoops with some fabric scraps and putting them on the huge ol’ blank wall? You could even embroider individual letters in them to spell out something. “Bower” “Welcome” “Bacon,” what-have-you.
If you aren’t just set on the window treatment inside the recess, just come outside with a long rod, clip on some fabric, and viola, easy for your guest to open and close and easy to pop off towash.
So much better! The 10% done project (not gonna lie – my place is full of them ) obvi wasn’t meant to be. Those lovely sophisticated herbs WERE meant to be!
We got them at a place in Chattanooga called Southeastern Salvage.
xo – kb
I LOVE THIS. I also love that you learned about herbs, my specialty! I want to do this in my office when I open my practice! Brilliant work, Katie!
Love it! I saw some botanical drawing postcards in ikea and was thinking of doing something similar with those.
Just on a side note, in the uk pretty much everyone says ‘herbs’ with a strong h rather than ‘erbs’ so you aren’t alone haha.
I have a mild addiction to those $3 frames from Walmart. It’s not healthy, especially when you’re schlepping them from the States in a duffle bag to your home in the Mediterranean. Most people get peanut butter when they go home. Me? I buy cheap frames.
Oh man! I love love love this! I love what you did with the hoops, too. And I love your simply hanging technique! Can you tell I’m sending you love?? <3
I love it! Such a good idea for hanging frames – I’ll have to use it.
Where did you get your luggage racks? I’ve been on the hunt for one or two since we bought our house but everywhere I look they are waaaay more than I want to spend.
n/m I just read your response to another reader, my bad!
Still love the frames!
Huge fan of your bedroom wall color! Frames look brilliant.
i love the hoop robot picture! i actually just worked on our gallery wall this weekend. still need a few more prints before I share the results, but it’s so nice to finally have the bare wall getting dressed up!
i literally laughed out loud when i saw that picture of you! hahahahaha! i loved those hoops though. maybe they’ll find another home someday! the herbs look good too!
I totally forgot about the hoop-robot pic and it’s hilarious all over again. I just now noticed Will’s little hand at the very bottom. Somehow that makes it even more awesome.
There’s no way you could know this about me…but, maybe I have empty hoops hanging in my bedroom. To add the complexities of my brain and home, I also have blank canvases and empty frames hanging up. My house has this oddly finished yet completely unfinished look about it. I’m weird and completely okay with it. I plan to fill every single last one, when something strikes me as worthy. 😛
where is the dresser from?
Maybe I missed it but did you paint the walls in there or did the house come like that? If you painted – what’s the color? Thanks!
Laughing my tail off after seeing you sporting the hoops. Somehow reminded me of Edward Scissorhands? I don’t know why but you are one funny gal!!!
Pottery Barn outlet – we got it for $250 I think 🙂
xo – kb
The house came with that color. I want to have it colormatched one day 🙂
xo – kb
I love the paint color, what is it??
I have no idea – it was here when we got here 🙂
xo – kb
What color paint is that on the walls? I love that blue!!
I have tried to find it to no avail:(
Absolutely gorgeous! There’s nothing better than a botanical gallery wall. I have one too and I love it! What a great find that book was!
I don’t know…wish I did. It was here when we bought the house.
xo – kb
LOVE this idea. I want to start fun traditions like this with our little ones! So great! Thanks for sharing.
Good job on the herb art! It looks great. I am also adverse to tiny holes in the walls too… for no reason : )
For the wall that you’re stuck on and need something narrow: how about a bench? A backless one could work. Good luck!
Love that idea but I’m only afraid it wont be functional for what Ior my guests really need.
xo – kb
I actually like it just how you have it… I like that it doesn’t seem too over done. I wouldn’t put much more on the walls. It looks great 🙂
I actually like it just how you have it… I like that it doesn’t seem too over done. I wouldn’t put much more on the walls. It looks great
This looks awesome Katie. Honestly I think your guest bedroom is my fave room in the house because it looks so hotel-esque. I want to try this frame grid in my living room behind the couch and add more frames to it – do you think that would look too busy?
I don’t think so. As long as the scale is right for the room and the couch, it should look awesome!
xo – kb
LOVE this idea!!! It’s so quick and easy and beautiful. A little pop of green always looks good too. That mirror was a fantastic find, and I agree, I think a roman shade would look wonderful in that beautiful large window. You other large wall is so full of potential! Maybe two huge framed prints? I have a similar large space to fill and I’m thinking two blown up pages from a favorite book. Thanks for the decor inspiration!
This look so much beautiful. I really liked your abstract hoop art. I loved it. I also want this.