I don't know about you, but I have always LOVED the look of a staggered frame look on a floating shelf. I am super traditional when it comes to wanting to get my family pictures taken every year, and of course I love having them displayed. This gallery wall is a perfect way to have a more artistic and modern take on the family picture display... Creating this was such a pleasure!
We moved into our home last fall and this project has been in the works for that long. I wanted it to be perfect AND affordable so I took a lot of time pricing out different framing places. The winner you ask???
Frames By Mail via the internet was the cheapest way to do a custom frame job. I highly recommend them. Their customer service was great and I like their online platform a lot. The only problem I had was when they asked the size of the hole in the matte I gave the exact dimensions of the picture, they cut it out those exact dimensions, which they of course should have. I just didn't think to adjust to make the center a few centimeters smaller. So you can imagine it was tricky with my double sided tape getting the pictures to stay. (live and learn...)
I picked the contrasting black and white for drama and a subtle back drop for the vibrant pictures. I went with a 1/2" frame. I wanted different heights in the pictures so I ordered the standard 5x7, 8x10, 11x14 & 16x20. So they didn't look too odd all displayed together I made the mattes very similar to each other.
- The two square looking ones are 4" top, and 3" sides.
-The 11x14 is 4" top & 4" side.
-The 16x20 is 5" top and 4" side.
I had to just eye ball and guess what would look good, but I love how it all turned out!
I found this gorgeous ottoman at Homegoods of all places. Love its lines and curves and the contrasting black and white with the nailheads.
A trick when grouping frames like this...
Always make sure the frames come out to an odd number. "Always group in three's" is a rule of thumb with design, and grouping in odds is just as important.
I searched a lot of stores for the perfect floating shelf. This ikea one with brackets couldn't have been more perfect! I really love how the white give the frames the perfect display and doesn't take anything away from the focus, just the perfect compliment. Because of the brackets setting the frames on it make a gap. I used poster wall putty under the frames to even them out and also the top corners against the wall so that the pictures didn't slide or fall off the shelf. It worked like a charm!
I didn't plan on these 2 smaller frames, but the collection needed them. Instead of ordering more family prints, I decided to frame a subtle black and white scrap book paper. It give such a nice accent and doesn't take away from the pictures at all.
I had my photographer print the pictures in metallic finish. I had never heard of it before, but I am so glad she suggested it! The fall leaves look like they have an overlay of gold leaf. The colors are so vibrant and the pictures pop so gorgeously!
Spray paint is my best friend. I use it almost in every design I do. The gold vase on the other side needed to be balanced. So I bought this little white clock from Walmart for $2 and used the Rustoleum metallic gold paint and I am so please with how it turned out! I would have paid over $20 for the same clock!
I of course wanted some decorative details on the ends. I didn't want loud color since I have so much going on with the throw pillows. Silver and Gold was the perfect choice and accent for the sofa and fall leaves. I knew I need height on one end and that both sides needed color balance.
So there ya have it! The tricks to the perfect shelf gallery wall!!!
