A “gallery” in my home.

Do you have a wall space that’s crying out for character, warmth or whimsy?  I did.  The long walls of the stairway leading down to my gameroom so seemed closed in and drab. But who buys artwork for their basement stairway?  Solution: My daughter’s art camp projects and some off-the-shelf frames from Target. Not only is it a great way to brighten up a wall space, it’s the perfect way to display her best work.

A few hints for creating your own gallery with your kids’ or grandkids’ masterpieces:

• If you’re hanging a number of pieces, stick with the same or coordinating frames.  All white or all black frames work best.
• Make sure you include a white or light-colored matte; it will really show off the art.
• Or, try “floating frames.”  (Also available at Target.) These are two panes of glass held together by the wood frame.  They’re great because you simply press the artwork between the panes and the wall color serves as the matte.
• It’s okay to trim down the artwork to fit the frame.  The mommy-guilt of altering your child’s work will go away after you see it displayed so nicely.
• Do NOT clean the glass that touches the art with Windex or household glass cleaner.  It will eat away at the artwork over time. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away smudges.
• When hanging multiple pieces, lay them out on the floor first to create an appealing layout.
• I have absolutely NO hints for you on measuring and leveling artwork when hanging it on the wall: I simply use a combination of eye-balling it and re-hanging if it doesn’t look right.

Happy framing!  

Love Your Home,
Sue 

I love this colorful photo by Casa Latina

The painter has left the building. Or, you and your husband have just completed a three-day painting project. The color looks great. The last thing you’re thinking about is future touch-ups. But a year later when your four-year-old rides her BigWheel into your dining room wall, you don’t want to be searching through bulky, half-empty, partly dried out paint cans looking for the right match.

So when the job is complete and before you pack up your supplies, follow the advice of HouseCall’s Ron Hazelton:  store your leftover paint in used water bottles.

1. Set a clean, dry bottle inside a ring of masking/painter’s tape to stabilize it then use a funnel to pour the paints (have paper towels on hand.)

2. Label the bottle(s) using a Sharpie. Make sure you include the paint’s number and the name of the room where it was used.  (May seem obvious now, but down the road it may not.)

3. If you have them, throw in some marbles. They’ll do a great job mixing the paint with a few quick shakes. (genius)

4. Check with your community on how to dispose of the paint cans in an environmentally friendly way. If you’ve got lots of unused paint, you could also donate it to local nonprofit agencies or churches.

Photo by xkpxfatassxx

This paint storage idea is one of my favorite home improvement project tips. Wish I could take credit for it.

Love Your Home and go ahead, let them ride their BigWheels in the house,
Sue