Gallery Wall {Client Design}

Gallery walls are one of my specialties these days, as I have now installed over 20 gallery walls of all sizes and shapes.  The first thing I ask my clients is what style of gallery wall would you like?  An ECLECTIC STYLE GALLERY WALL or a UNIFORM GALLERY WALL?  Or, maybe you are looking for something a little IN BETWEEN.

ECLECTIC STYLE GALLERY WALL

UNIFORM STYLE GALLERY WALL

MIX OF BOTH STYLES GALLERY WALL

With the eclectic style gallery wall, there really are no rules!  There is no rhyme or reason of how you hang the collected items together and the fun thing about this style is that anything goes!  You can hang your favorite deer antlers next to your favorite family photo.

A gallery wall with a more uniformed style to it, you should really keep all the frames the same size and shape to create a grid-like space.  You can use any number of frames to create your collection, any style of frame, and black and white or colored pictures.  This style creates a more formal approach to the gallery wall. 

Most of my clients choose a mix of the two, which is also my favorite.  They typically like to hang mirrors, word art, and artifacts with their framed photos and have a mix of frames.  Most people like a little uniformity, like in the last photo.  You can see there is still an overall 'collected look' to the last photo above, but it is installed in a very stylized and planned out way with keeping some of the frames in line with each other.  This really gives you the best of both worlds!

For this client, I decided to do more of an eclectic style gallery wall, where no frames line up with each other and they are all laid out in more of speratic manor (but in a very planned out way, of course), if that all makes sense! 

I started the design of the gallery wall on the floor.  Yes, on the floor! I like to lay out the gallery wall design on the floor, before any holes go on the wall.  

panoramic shot from my phone

I actually determined this layout from one of the options in the DIY Gallery Wall books from Hobby Lobby.  

  

I chose the above Eclectic Gallery Wall layout with some of my own modifications.  This books is full of great gallery wall ideas, as well as over 30 card stock prints to frame in your gallery wall. 

I don't trace all of the frames onto craft paper and then put the craft paper on the wall to figure out where each frame will be hung.  Once I have everything laid out on the floor just how I want it, I take pictures with my phone.  Lots of pictures.  Then use that as reference.  I start in the middle and work my way around the first picture.

I framed some of the pages from the DIY Gallery Wall book until the homeowners can fill all of the frames with their family photos.  I wouldn't typically frame this many 'word art' images together, but wanted some of the frames to be filled until then. 

To keep an eclectic gallery wall stylized and not looking too busy, it is very important to keep a similar style to all of the frames.  I chose four white Pottery Barn frames in two different sizes.  Two brown frames with mats from Home Goods.  I really like frames with mats more than without to make the photographs stand out more.  Three matching rustic, gray frames also from Home Goods.  And a couple of miscellaneous frames that are in coordinating rustic wood tones. 

Sources:

mirror from Hobby Lobby

custom arrow from JlM Moments and Designs (my sister)

'Home Sweet Home' art from For the Love of Letters (Hobby Lobby)

white matted frames from Pottery Barn 

all other frames from Home Goods

wall paint is Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige

**if you would like a gallery wall installed in your home, email me with inquires.  I can shop for all of the materials and install the frames in any style.  jessicastoutdesign@gmail.com**

Collins on Zulily

I've posted and preached and shouted from the rooftops how much I love the work and art of FOR THE LOVE OF LETTERS a local artist and shop created by Erin Barrett.  I always get SO giddy when her signs go on sale at Zulily that I just HAD to share what I purchased today!

What to know about For the Love of Letters on Zulily.......

-->   the sale will actually be from Collins.  This is the manufacturer (I think) of the signs.  So on Zulily, look for Collins to find these signs.

-->  you can get email notifications a day in advance for your favorite Zulily brands.  I am fairly new to shopping with Zulily, no kids!  So, I was pretty excited when I figured out the 'heart' next to the name of the item saves it to a favorites list and emails you a notification when that sale is arriving again!  Thanks for the heads up! 

-->  not everything on the Collins sale is created by Erin Barrett from For The Love of Letters.  I know her handwriting style by now, I have bought so many of her pieces, so I can usually tell if it is her work or not.  Look for her initials on every piece if you are unsure.

-->  i am a zulily affiliate, so you can always shop through my website! :)  zulily banner is always on the left-hand side

What I bought today on Zulily from Collins!!

Gold Arrow Wall Sign

"Be Brave' Wall Sign

"She is Clothed in Strength' Box Sign

'Rise and Shine' Wall Sign

"Wash Your Hands' Box Sign

These will all be for clients and projects that I am currently working on....not sure which ones yet, but they will be put to good use.  I have a couple of kids' rooms and nurseries (yes plural!!) so these signs are going to be perfect for all these rooms I am working on for the little ones! Can't wait to show them in the spaces!

I am also loving some of the brand new product For the Love of Letters has introduced......such as these banners!!  

Shop the COLLINS sale HERE or zulily anytime HERE!  

(i am a zulily affiliate and get compensated for sales, but i love their products and do not get compensated for posting and sharing my favorite items)

Things I Can't Live Without...this Holiday Season

Here is a little compilation of some of the things I just can't live without and really help me get through the holidays.  And I don't mean "through" like I hate the holidays.  Because I don't.  It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!  I just mean they make life a little easier during the holidays!

Everyone is putting together a "Gift Guide" which is great and really helpful!  But I thought instead of another gift guide, I would do something a little different.  These items could still make great gifts for your loved ones or for yourself!  These are things I use often, especially during the holidays and just simply some of my favorite things!

1.  Coffee:  I think this is a no brainer!  No one can get through the holidays with this little gem!  My go-to coffee is an iced coffee these days.  Cold weather or not, I am a sucker for iced coffees!  I purchased this black burnout tee recently from JessicaNdesigns.  It is SO me!

2.  Herringbone Vest:  This was the "it" vest of the season!  Originally from J.Crew, I started swooning over this lovely last year.  And I snagged mine online for a quarter of the price from GroopDealz.  I am sure there are a lot of differences in the quality.  J.Crew has great quality clothing and I do buy quite a bit of my clothing from them.  But anything that steeps over $100 usually won't end up in my shopping bag.  So the cheaper version for only $30 will have to do.

3.  Kraft Paper Roll:  This is something I use year round for multiple projects, but I get even more use out of this during the holidays.  I use my Kraft paper as wrapping paper.  You can paint on it, draw on it, stamp on it, or leave it plain for unique, one-of-a-kind wrapping paper.  I use it as a table runner under food while entertaining.  You can draw the name of each food item straight onto the paper and it makes for really easy cleanup.  And I have even used it multiple times as a DIY photo backdrop for parties.  It is multifaceted!  You can find this at a lot of places, but I purchased mine from Lowe's Home Improvement Store.

4.  Sally Hansen Miracle Gel:  I have spent disgusting amounts of money on nail polish in my day trying to find the best brand, the perfect color, the longest wear.  And nothing compares to a professional gel manicure.  I am really rough on my nails -- painting, spray painting, scratching off sticky price tags, and lots of computer typing.  So at-home manicures never really worked for me.  I love having my nails painted but it's not really in the budget to pay $30 for a manicure every 2 weeks (unless it's a special occasion).  During the holidays, there are so many Christmas parties and activities, that I really like to keep my nails painted.  And I think I have finally found a solution to a great at-home manicure.  Don't expect this to stay on perfectly for 14 days like the commercial suggests, but so far, it has surpassed any other brands I have used.  They have an array of colors to choose from (I bought Wine Stock, a dark berry color) and then you apply a top coat that gives a high sheen to the nail.  I have read that you can use any brand nail color underneath the top coat because it's the top coat that really gives it the gel strength. I have yet to try that, but I love this polish!

5.  Christmas Music:  Pandora is my go-to app for music.  I am lucky enough to have wireless surround sound throughout my house.  So you know I am blaring some Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You throughout the house the entire month of December!  Looking for a holiday Pandora station?  Look no further than Mariah Carey holiday!  It is everything you need.

6.  Notes App:  Basically, I can't live with out this app every single day of the year, but I especially use it a lot during the holidays.  Every list, note, idea, thought, gets added to my Notes App.  It's really handy to have.  If I think of a Christmas gift for someone at the most inopportune time, I always have my phone on me, so it gets added to the "Christmas gifts" list.  Because I will most likely forget it once I am actually home to write it down.  I have lists on here that range from blog ideas, new blogs I want to look at, to party planning and entertaining during the holidays -- recipes, grocery lists, things to do.  It keeps me really organized with so many things on my mind!

7:  For the Love of Letters Artwork:  I've talked about this artwork quite a bit on my blog, but with hand-lettering being all the rage right now, I just can't get enough!  If you are looking for some For the Love of Letters artwork for your home or to give as a gift this year, now you can find it at Hobby Lobby, Home Goods, and even Zulily sometimes.  If you are local in Indianapolis, you can also find these lettered signs at Oliver's Twist and Dottie Couture.  They make the perfect gift for anyone on your list.

8.  Mahogany Teakwood Candle:  My new favorite candle is from Bath & Body Works.  I recently picked up a few candles here for gifts, and one for me when they had a huge sale on 3-wick candles for only $8!  And let me tell you friends, this candle is AH-MAZING!  It smells exactly like Restoration Hardware!  I wish I would have bought like 10 more of these!  "A cozy blend of fine mahogany, cedar, oak, and relaxing lavender" as they say.  And it looks pretty too!

9.  Christmas Movies:  Love Actually.  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Elf.  There are lots of great, classic holiday movies but these three are my favorite.  They are on my must watch list every year.  Pop one in while Christmas decorating, wrapping presents, or on a cold winter night and you are instantly in holiday mode.

10.  Rabbit Wine Opener:  Throw out your chintzy little manual wine opener and go out and buy one of these!  It is the best, easiest wine opener out there.  I received this Rabbit Wine Opener from Crate & Barrel as a wedding gift two years ago and I was simply amazed at how easy it was to open my wine.  No more blood, sweat, and tears opening your wine bottle while entertaining this year!

Hopefully at least one of these items will bring a little less stress to your life this holiday season.  What are some things you can't live without during the Christmas season?!?

{This is NOT a sponsored post.  Just some of my favorite things!}

2014 Christmas Home Tour {Part 1}

What's black and white and green all over?!?

My Holiday Home tour!!!

Welcome to my holiday home tour {part 1} because there are just too many pretty photos of Christmas decorating inspiration to show all of them in just one post!

Last year, I went with the traditional rustic red Christmas decor.  Which I loved!  But if you know me, I can't decorate my home for Christmas exactly the same every year.  That would just be way too easy.  

I love all things black & white.  So this year I have tried to add in a bit more of a simple color pallet with black & white & lots of green!  And of course a little red thrown in there too because I didn't go out and buy all new decorations.  I use the things I have in new ways and maybe not use everything every year. And lots of gold and sparkle too!! 

 Okay, so I have to admit, I did buy a few new things to add into my holiday decorating this year!!!  I fell in love with this Pottery Barn "All is Calm All is Bright" Pillow Cover but I couldn't justify the $30 price tag.  So when GroopDealz offered it online for $10.99 I was SOLD!   And it totes-adorbs!

 I also bought this For The Love of Letters sign .  It was $5 at Home Goods so I couldn't pass it up!  She is my all time FAVORITE local artist and it doesn't hurt that she is the sweetest person ever!  So I always buy her artwork when I see it.  I posted more about it here. 

I also bought this deer head to add to my collection of holiday deer head decor from World Market!  I am obsessed with it!!!  I also may be a little obsessed with deer heads in general right now!! I just have to figure out where I am going to hang this guy after the holidays.  He is too handsome to hide away in a box for 48 weeks of the year.

I also purchased this Smith & Hawken boxwood wreath from Target.  I have been eyeing this wreath for my front door for quite some time.  So when the sales rolled around and coupons came in, I snagged it up!  I have shopped around for a natural, dried boxwood wreath for a while, so I knew I was getting a great deal on this one.

 I do a lot of DIY projects for my Christmas decor.  Which saves me a lot of money -- not so much time.  But that is okay!  I think that is what Christmas is for -- fun crafts and homemade decor!!  It just makes it that much more meaningful!

My "NOEL" banner was made last year out of burlap and white ribbon.  I hand-lettered the artwork on craft paper and stapled it to the back of these rustic frames that I already had hanging here.  More on that later.

And now for the tree...

I have to admit....decorating the tree is my least favorite thing to decorate in my house.  I always leave it for last.  And this year I left it up with just the lights on it for over a week!  I was really dreading decorating it.  I don't know if it is because I am such a control freak and the thought of not being able to control the placement of each limb and each little light gives me anxiety or the fact that I know how long it takes just to decorate this little tree of mine, but I always leave it for last!

 Once the tree is finally decorated, I love how it looks!!  The twinkling lights, every special ornament hanging on the branches.  At night, it is definitely my favorite thing to see my glowing Christmas tree in the corner of our home.

What's up next on the Christmas home tour..........dining room, kitchen, entry way, guest room, and all the fun little areas in between!  

You can see how I made these DIY tree vases here.

All of the details of the DIY tree slice ornaments are here from my craft day.