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**

As Seen On Fixer Upper {The Nut House}

Forget about a countdown to Christmas!!  I have been counting down the days to new episodes of the FIXER UPPER on HGTV!!!

The season premiere of FIXER UPPER aired this past week, and as most expected, we were not disappointed with the amazing remodeling skills of Chip and Joanna!  So let's get to it....

The Nut House

(as they called it)

I love to feature the remodels we all swoon over from HGTV's FIXER UPPER, for many reasons.  But the biggest reason is to show people that it is easy to create a similar look and style in their home.  People think "Oh, that looks so pretty, but I could never have that.  I am sure it is expensive.  I am sure I can't find those same decorative pieces.  I could NEVER do that!"  We all watch these design shows and think our homes can never look that good.  But it can.  And it is all about dissecting the style and choosing similar pieces to create Joanna's popular farmhouse style.

I love that they are sharing the floor plans of the homes in the new season.  It really helps people get an idea of how the rooms are laid out in the space overall, and how each room relates to one another, and the size of the spaces.  And see all the walls Joanna ordered to be torn down!

The Kitchen: the heart of the home

these doors though!!!!!  

How-To Recreate the Eat-In Kitchen Area:

I loved this eat-in kitchen area just on the other side of the island.  Here are some tips and ideas to create the same look in your home!

FARMHOUSE TABLE  //  ESPRESSO DINING CHAIRS  //  SHABBY CHIC CHANDELIER  //  WHITE RUSTIC BENCH  //  WOOD CRATE FLOWER VASES  //  HANGING VASE  //  STRIPE PILLOW  //  FLORAL LINEN PILLOW

This table is very similar to the classic farmhouse style they chose for this kitchen.  Joanna chose to do a white painted built-in bench on one side, however, you can choose a bench like this to create the same furniture layout.  The chandelier I chose is a similar 6-light shabby chic style.  The wood crate from Save-On-Crafts, one of my favorite online places for farmhouse style decor, is a great table centerpiece for holding flowers throughout every season of the year.  Joanna used a lot of these hanging flower vases in lieu of artwork.  And a couple of throw pillows for the finishing touch!

The Entry/Living Room/Dining Room:

this is a great shot of all of the rooms

every guy wants a worn-in leather couch like this!

Navy blue is the perfect accent color to camel colored leather sofas like these.  These vintage looking over-dyed rugs are very popular right now.  While they can be extremely expensive, this one is reasonably priced from RUGSUSA.

Ship lap in the bathroom?!? Yes, please!

Was anyone else almost in tears when Chip got all choked up during his anniversary surprise to Joanna?!?!  I know I was!  This is why I LOVE this show.  Not only is it a fantastic design show, but this family is so real and so incredibly sweet!!

To see more pictures of The Nut House and to shop some of the product from the episode from Joanna's shop Magnolia Market, check out her blog here.  (all photos from www.magnoliamarket.com)

As Seen On {Fixer Upper is back for a 3rd Season}!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year......BECAUSE FIXER UPPER SEASON 3 IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

Forget about a countdown to Christmas, I had a countdown to Season 3 of Fixer Uppper!

With a new season and new episodes, this means a new series I'm calling As Seen On the Fixer Upper, where I will be bringing you all of the design and decorating details each week from the show.  We see decorating shows like this on HGTV all the time, but it's hard to try to take those ideas we all love from the shows, and bring them into our homes.  So, each week, I am going to break down my favorite decorating ideas from the show and show you how to create a home like Joanna Gaines.  I will showcase some of my favroite decor items from the show and let you know where to purchase the same or similar items to help you create your very own 'fixer upper.'

Miss the As Seen On the Fixer Upper posts I did from Season 2??  Check them out here, with the links below!  

The Messy Mid-Century Modern House

The Faceless Bunker

The Raggedy Ranch

The Overgrown Ranch

As I sit here, now, watching the very first episode of  FIXER UPPER, I am beyond excited to post about all of the design details of the first show of Season 3!!

Just look for this image, on the right-side bar, to catch my blog posts each week about HGTV's Fixer Upper.  Where I'll talk about decorating, remodeling, and Chip's goofiness!!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my blog followers and clients -- I am so grateful for each and every one of YOU!

Without you, I wouldn't be able to be living my dream job! 

I am grateful for all of you, letting me into your homes and becoming part of your family.  It isn't just about interior design for me, it is about the personal relationship I create with each family and client.  as I create a special place for their families!  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

(and I PROMISE to bring you more blog posts this month!  the last few months has been my busiests ever, and I can't wait to show you what I have been working on!)

Progress Report of "Masculine Bathroom" {Client Design}

I designed this bathroom a few months ago for a client and it is *almost* complete, so I wanted to share an update on how it was coming along.

One thing to understand when I design for clients, there can always be minor changes along the way.
I always suggest items that I think will look best, but of course when the time comes to purchase that lighting or the accessories, there may be some changes along the way.  Whether a lighting fixture gets changed or a mirror, my design boards are created to create a mood for the space, and the details of the room can actually come together quite differently.  Either way, the bathroom looks fantastic!  And is almost *completely* finished!

I love how this bathroom came together!  It is just the mood we were hoping for -- with the industrial, masculine feel! 

The master bathroom from this home is also coming together smoothly!  Hoping to get more pictures of the after project soon!