Affordable Framing and Easy DIY Picture Rail

<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I love family photos - especially candid ones. They make a space feel so personal and home-y. But the ease of digital photography is such a blessing and curse, isn't it?! I have a million photos of my kids, but I so rarely get anything printed, and even more rarely framed. It's a pain to deal with, and it's impossibly expensive to do it well.</div></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5765.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5765.jpg" /></span></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I wanted to make a family photo wall in our bedroom on the wall opposite <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/diy-scenic-mural-panels.html" target="_blank">the desert murals</a>, but I wanted something a little different than the standard gallery wall. So I headed to Ace and picked up a few supplies and made a picture rail using <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ucFkHVQW7r/?modal=true" target="_blank">just plumber's chain and two brass rods hung on cafe curtain brackets</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5882.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5882.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It's a pretty simple set up for displaying my newly printed family photos in some of the prettiest custom frames I've ever seen! I partnered up with a new-to-me company called <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/" target="_blank">Framebridge</a>, and to say I was impressed with the simplicity, price and quality would be a huge understatement!<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5814.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5814.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5900.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5900.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #222222;">To print, frame <i>and ship</i> a photo from my Instagram account was only $39 with <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/" target="_blank">Framebridge</a>! They have <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/framebridge/id890652433?mt=8" target="_blank">a really great app</a> that makes it a breeze to order. (How's that for removing some of the anxiety of the upcoming gift-giving season?!)</div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5872.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5872.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;">I ordered a handful of <a href="http://instagram.com/jennykomenda" target="_blank">my favorite instagrams</a> in a mix of different frames. They have <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/t/frame-style" target="_blank">25 really beautiful frame options</a> - all of them simple, classic and high-quality. I'm <i>obsessed</i> with the <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/products/cairo-burlwood-frame" target="_blank">burl</a> and <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/products/jambi-wood-frame" target="_blank">tiger</a> wood options.</div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5239.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5239.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><span style="color: #222222;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5788.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5788.jpg" /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;">The frames come ready to hang with kraft paper backings, felt feet, saw tooth hangers and even nails! I removed the hangers and screwed in little brass hooks to hang the frames on the plumber's chain.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5748.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5748.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5865.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5865.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5839.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5839.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love how the simplicity of the rail and chain let the frames (and photos!) be the stars of the show. Hardware store hack success!!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5798.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5798.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to the great Instagram deal, Framebridge has <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/pages/how-it-works" target="_blank">really straight-forward pricing</a> on bigger, even much bigger, prints that you can upload for them to print out or you can send in. Like this gorgeous Nicole Cohen print I had them frame. They sent me a prepaid mailing tube and I got this beautiful burl wood beauty right back. I LOVE it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5713a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda049/IMG_5713a.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The art print can be <a href="http://www.nicolecohenart.com/products" target="_blank">purchased here</a> (along with a ton of really cool images from the uber-talented Nicole!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5732a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda049/IMG_5732a.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5722.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5722.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;">I love discovering companies that make it painless to finish projects for my house! After getting burned one too many times at the arts and crafts store framers, I feel like I've found a resource that I'll be using for a long time to come.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5703a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda048/IMG_5703a.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><br />A big thanks to <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/" target="_blank">Framebridge</a> for partnering with us on this post! And this just in: use the promo code 2INSTA50 to get two framed instagram prints for only $50! Super sweet.<br /><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px;"></span></div>

Affordable Framing and Easy DIY Picture Rail

I love family photos - especially candid ones. They make a space feel so personal and home-y. But the ease of digital photography is such a ...

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Angela's Citrus Print

A few of you were curious about the citrus print in the photos posted yesterday. Good news! My talented friend, Angela is now selling a digital download of the image on both a black and a white background <a href="http://shop.angelahardison.com/collections/all" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Citrus-Black-_AngelaHardison-web.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda044/Citrus-Black-_AngelaHardison-web.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5658.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda044/IMG_5658.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We had ours printed to fit the largest Ribba frame (somewhere around 30x40") just by emailing the file to my local friends at Kinkos. We know each other well at this point - I'm there a lot. I think the total was about $50 and took 24 hours to get back. Not bad at all for a print that big!<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5647.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda044/IMG_5647.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Angela's Citrus Print

A few of you were curious about the citrus print in the photos posted yesterday. Good news! My talented friend, Angela is now selling a digi...

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DIY: Scenic Mural Panels

<center></center>Remember those beautiful <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/02/chinese-wallpaper-in-acrylic-frames.html" target="_blank">hand-painted Chinese wallpaper panels</a> I had hanging in the loft? I'd been keeping them in storage while we lived in Brooklyn and had planned on putting them in our bedroom of our new house. As <a href="http://domino.com/jenny-komendas-southwestern-home-makeover" target="_blank">the Domino shoot</a> deadline crept up, I was starting to get a little nervous about finding the panels. I hadn't seen them since the move.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_29312.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_29312.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>We did everything we could to find them before the shoot - we turned the house and garage upside down, we called movers, we called NY neighbors and family that had helped us pack. No one had seen the panels. So I had no choice but to start from scratch with the bedroom and decided to make my own panels at the very last minute.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_5700.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/cIMG_5700.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I looked online for some artist's paper in pretty colors, but everything felt too bright and too flat. I wanted the color to be soft and sort of mottled or worn-in looking. Then I saw this box of rosin paper in the paint section at Home Depot. The color, size and price were all perfectly perfect.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6565.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_6565.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I went back online to figure out what to paint for our murals. This was about 48 hours before the shoot - and I wasn't feeling particularly creative or patient. More like exhausted and majorly nauseated from morning sickness. :) Good times. I think the panels came together though! I ended up deciding on a desert scene - it felt appropriate for this house. The older I get, the more I love and appreciate the beauty of the desert.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5702.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_5702.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are so many cool shapes in the plants and, surprisingly, a huge range of really beautiful, soft colors in the desert. Just to keep things simple for me though, I used only white paint for the mural.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5715.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_5715.jpg" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_5709.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_5709.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I free-handed it, and it ended up being a pretty quick project. Just a couple hours all together. Part of me wishes I had had more time to spend on these, but I sort of like the simplistic quality. It does the job of dressing up and bringing in the big, long wall of our bedroom, and I think the soft mauve color is so pretty against the dark, moody Knoxville Gray walls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4801.jpg" border="0" height="440" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4801.jpg" style="text-align: start;" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4787.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4787.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Just like with installing the Chinese panels, I measured and marked out the spacing on the bed wall and hung the panels directly to the walls with picture hanging strips, and then screwed in the plexi sheets on top using pretty brass screws. It's a simple job, but definitely requires two or three helpers. Those plexi sheets are heavy and awkward!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4878.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4878.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4864.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4864.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">DIY to the rescue again! Someday my life will not be so crazy and I'll have more time to plan these projects out a bit more thoughtfully. That's the goal, anyway. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4895.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4895.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4824.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4824.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

DIY: Scenic Mural Panels

Remember those beautiful hand-painted Chinese wallpaper panels I had hanging in the loft? I'd been keeping them in storage while we liv...

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DIY: Monochromatic Photo Print

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I love putting up old family photos in my home. They're fun reminders for us of people we love and have been inspired by. The challenge has been figuring out interesting ways to display the photos.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_3719.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3719.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I've always thought this image from Elle Decor of a child's room with giant pink print of Elizabeth Taylor was so cool:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo glamourai_garcia5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/glamourai_garcia5.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The image (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2008/07/top-design-revisited.html" target="_blank">and this idea too</a>) came to mind when I was printing out a photo of my great grandma in front of her home in Sweden for our playroom.<br /><a name="more"></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo grandmaj.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/grandmaj.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It's easy to change a photo's color in Photoshop, and I'm sure other programs. Also, there's probably better ways to change hue, but here's what I did. In the Image menu, under Adjustments, select the Color Balance option.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-09-25at80858AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/ScreenShot2014-09-25at80858AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I turned up the Red, Magenta and Yellow all the way on both the midtones and the highlights.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-09-25at81012AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/ScreenShot2014-09-25at81012AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>And then I played with the Curves tool a bit to brighten the whites in the photo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-09-25at81254AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/ScreenShot2014-09-25at81254AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>When I was finished, I cropped the photo and saved it to be the right size for printing and emailed the file to my local Kinkos. It cost about $60 to have it printed to 30x35, which was the size I needed it to be for a pretty brass frame I found at a thrift store.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3807.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3807.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The existing matting in the frame had been dark brown, so I painted it orange with a couple light coats of acrylic craft paint, and then I mounted the photo print right on top of the mat with permanent double-sided tape.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3722.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3722.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I think it's a really fun part of our playroom and I love how it looks with the other art we have hanging in the space!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3636.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3636.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3756.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3756.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3621.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3621.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3617.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda037/IMG_3617.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Here are a few other posts and links on the things in these photos:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/11/chalkboard-kids-table.html" target="_blank">Chalkboard-painted kids table</a></div><div>Kid chairs <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007A2OEC6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007A2OEC6&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=CBACUX5TKBZSMRCP" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007A2OIR2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007A2OIR2&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=L75ICBLEOTK5IJPU" target="_blank">here</a> </div><div><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/one-ottoman-three-ways.html" target="_blank">Red storage stool</a></div><div><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/12/diy-concrete-topped-office-credenza.html" target="_blank">Concrete-topped vintage credenza</a></div><div><a href="http://www.postercorner.com/Favor-scooter-girl-lipstic-Bellinger-Poster-p/00489.htm" target="_blank">Favor poster</a></div><div><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/02/twos-collection.html" target="_blank">Vintage gouache paintings</a></div><div><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/framed-butterflies.html" target="_blank">Butterflies</a></div>

DIY: Monochromatic Photo Print

I love putting up old family photos in my home. They're fun reminders for us of people we love and have been inspired by. The challenge ...

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Why Don't You: Hang a Picture Ledge

Now that our house is in a more comfortable place, I'm turning my focus back on to the site (redesign almost done! huzzah!) and to my design business. I've picked up a couple new clients this month that I'm excited about. <a href="http://instagram.com/p/r3HSHhQW-3/?modal=true" target="_blank">I flew to New York</a> last week to meet with one of them and to help the other style her home after a big move. One of them has about a million framed family photos - and they are beautiful! So homey and personal. None of them are formal portraits, just sweet candid shots, lovingly blown up and framed. I came home inspired to tackle the monumental task of sorting and organizing and printing our favorite family photos. (still working on getting to that one!) :/<br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo b4b6c7fb6c852345c7f502cc32fb2367.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/b4b6c7fb6c852345c7f502cc32fb2367.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.domainehome.com/higher-education/" target="_blank">Domaine Home</a></i></div><br /></div><div>You all know I love a good <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/one-ottoman-three-ways.html" target="_blank">gallery wall</a>. I think it's a great way to display a collection of art or photos that are different, but work well together. I've been thinking of other ways to display family photos besides the traditional nail-in-wall method (something like my friend <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/10/house-tour-emily-and-todds-dining-room.html" target="_blank">Emily's picture rails</a>), and I am finding myself so drawn to picture ledges that look like these below - simple, mostly monochromatic, and really artfully curated.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><center></center></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo e3fc725ba337165a34fbff88d2dc7c57.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/e3fc725ba337165a34fbff88d2dc7c57.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">IKEA sells a simple <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50152595/" target="_blank">4' ledge</a> for only about $15. It would be so easy to make your own version too, with a few pieces of glued and pinned together lengths of wood.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 7f7ac78cc81eadf23bd94a9659d110d4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/7f7ac78cc81eadf23bd94a9659d110d4.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/351843789608250728/" target="_blank">image</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 09f18de6cff584196fa5fd4b0c17562d.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/09f18de6cff584196fa5fd4b0c17562d.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/417849671648555652/" target="_blank">image</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo e2bbf1cce13dcd056742ae0037038eb2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/e2bbf1cce13dcd056742ae0037038eb2.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/367887863283876915/" target="_blank">image</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 304a192fe41f9298ef72ab8932250bff.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/304a192fe41f9298ef72ab8932250bff.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://indulgy.com/post/zb6z6BgqM1/shelves-instead-of-nails" target="_blank">image</a></i></div></div><div><br />I really love India Hick's family photo ledges in her dining room. I'd love to do something similar in our dining nook. It makes me happy to think about seeing all the faces of people we love and have been inspired by every day, at every meal! And what a great conversation starter for dinner guests!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8777.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda032/IMG_8777.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have you seen any cool/different ways to display family photos lately?</div></div><div></div></div>

Why Don't You: Hang a Picture Ledge

Now that our house is in a more comfortable place, I'm turning my focus back on to the site (redesign almost done! huzzah!) and to my de...

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New Frames and Tiger Chest in the Library

<center></center><center></center><center></center>I love coming up with ideas for inexpensive but still good-looking framing options (I included a link list at the bottom of this post), but sometimes it's fun to drop off art at a framers. I happened to noticed a couple of really pretty gold frame moldings at Michaels that were on clearance a few weeks ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5436.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/IMG_5436.jpg" /></div><br />I found both of these paintings at local junk and thrift stores in the past year since we moved here and I LOVE them both! The colors and subject matters are so beautiful to me, and they were both pretty inexpensive, so it was worth it to spend some money on pretty frames (I think the smaller one came up to about $45 and the larger was $75).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5433.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/IMG_5433.jpg" /></div><br />I have them hung over my favorite tiger chest (that was a Housing Works find in the city) in our front room/library area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LR25.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/LR25.jpg" /></div><br />I wanted to keep all the colors in the same family here and I love how they all work together with the color of the new curtains too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LR26.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/LR26.jpg" /></div><br />The Sonneman lamp was a recent purchase I got during a work trip at Olde Good Things in New York. The <a href="http://www.cb2.com/stainless-steel-spheres/f3192" target="_blank">metal sphere</a> is from CB2. The girls pretend it's some sort of gazing/crystal ball situation. It's pretty unbreakable, so I mostly just think it's hilarious when I find it in the playroom at the end of most days. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LR11.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/LR11.jpg" /></div><br />The leaning abstract was another vintage find. There is some sort of interesting back story about the artist, whose name is simply Harley, but I don't know much about him. Antique Gatherings in Scottsdale has a ton of his work right now though. I'm sure it was an estate purchase.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LR8.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/LR8.jpg" /></div><br />I love this little spot in our home. :)<br /><br />And as promised, here's a list of some cheap framing/matting options:<br /><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-picture-frame.html" target="_blank">DIY Frames from Bigger Frames</a> (photos below)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/02/huge-prints-for-only-4.html" target="_blank">$4 Giant Prints and Mounting on Foam Board</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/07/antique-prints-in-ikea-frames.html" target="_blank">Antique Prints in IKEA Frames</a><br />"Gold Leafing" Old Frames <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/02/magic-of-gold-leaf-pen.html" target="_blank">with Markers</a> and with <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/06/diy-gold-leaf-art-frame.html" target="_blank">Legit Leaf</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/04/adding-detail-to-frame-mats.html" target="_blank">Adding Hand-Drawn Lines to Existing Matting</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/10/dining-room-projects-part-i.html" target="_blank">Bias Tape Designs on Matting</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/01/colorful-matting.html" target="_blank">Colorful Mats</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4076.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/IMG_4076.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 22DSC_0010.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda022/22DSC_0010.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY WEEKEND!!! Woot!</div>

New Frames and Tiger Chest in the Library

I love coming up with ideas for inexpensive but still good-looking framing options (I included a link list at the bottom of this post), but ...

Read more »