Happy Tuesday, friends! I have a little house update to share today 🙂 .
Back in October, I decided to update the gallery wall of the kids’ photos that runs down the hallway. I am SO PLEASED with the results!! That being said, it was a bigger project than I intended, and I’m pretty sure Andrew rolled his eyes at me at least a dozen times. (Agh!) I wanted to share the update since we just finished it on Thursday (and by we, I mean Andrew…), but I also wanted to share that if you’re considering doing this, please note you do need an Andrew in your house too (ie: super type-A, very handy, has a level and loads of patience).
Here are some pictures of “before”…
…over the years, we had hung 1½ inch canvases on the wall and then each year, added to the collection.
After the house flooded, and we painted everything lighter and brighter, when I hung the canvases back up, they didn’t look right too me. They looked too heavy for the space…so in October, I found Custom Touch Store on Etsy and loved his acrylic frames, so we measured, counted, measured some more, drew it off on paper, eliminated some of the canvases we currently had and then decided to order 19 of his 20×24 frames.
Here are pictures of the final product…
I am SO PLEASED!!!! I think the whole aesthetic looks so much cleaner, brighter, fresher and more tidy.
I know you might have some questions if you’re considering this, so let me break it down:
1: When we took down the canvases (I think we had 30), there were nail holes everywhere, so we had to repaint the entire wall (insert Andrew’s first eye roll here at my “easy little project”). Our home is painted Sherwin Williams Moderate White.
2: Next, we measured and decided to make rows that were nice and tidy, so including all of the outlets and such, that gave us space for 19 (20 x 24) frames. The frames are this size, but the photos I ordered online to go inside the frames are 16×18.
3: Speaking of that…I bought my photos off of Shutterfly and had them delivered to my house.
4: Andrew really did everything from here…he measured, pulled out his laser level and then we added the photo and meticulously hung each one. The Etsy shop owner was SO AMAZING, but it did take us three tries to figure out the right size of the screw to get it to be long enough to go all the way back to the wall. He sent us three different boxes of hardware until it worked.
I asked Andrew to share his notes on hanging these, and he typed out this below:
Tips for hanging frames
Use a vertical/hortizontal laser level. I bought mine on Amazon and although pricey they are worth the money. I am usually pretty good about hanging pictures and getting them level, but these have to be exact because of the hole locations. You might be able to rent one at the Home Depot. I’d loan you mine if you lived close!
First know how far apart you want them spaced. The hole location on ours to vertical center was 1 inch. 2 inches of spacing, and then add another inch to the next center hole. The frames center to center on the hole was 17. So you would start on one corner, measure 17 inches, 4 inches, 17 inches. That will give you 2 rows of frames. Laying them our horizontal it’s the same process. You already marked the starting hole. Using the laser level mark over 21 inches (our frames holes center to center), then 4 inches, 21 inches. This gives you a grouping of 4 frames.
From there you drill a small hole about the same size as the anchor. Hammer the anchor in the wall. From there, screw on the hardware and install the frame. I would lay the picture and get it centered and hold it tightly with my hands until I got one screw in the hardware. Here is a pro tip though. Don’t tight the frame all the way down until you get all 4 screw thread started. Sometimes if you are off on your holes by just 1/16th of an inch you have to push/pull the frame to center the hole. Just do that very lightly as to not damage the drywall anchor.
Best of luck!
THIS HERE is the laser level we bought for this project.
All in all, I am so happy!
Whether you want to hang one or nineteen, I wanted to share mine with you since I love them so much.
Don’t forget, if you missed our other recently added/renovated rooms, they’re right here…
That’s it for this Tuesday! I’ll see you tomorrow! xx
molly says
Love those frames! Where did you print the photos off at?
What did you do with canvas pics? I never know what to do with all those!
Mix and Match Mama says
Shutterfly is where I ordered the photos! Right now, they’re in storage…but who knows how long they’ll stay there.
Lindsay D. says
The photos look fantastic!!
Jody says
Looks wonderful Shay! I would LOVE to know where you got that picture by your kitchen table? Artist? I’ve been searching for years for one like that. By the way, we leave tomorrow for our Disney trip planned by Mix and Match Travel and have been SO impressed by everything you have done for us. Thank you!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwww! In Nantucket. We bought it from the artist himself but unfortunately, he’s since passed.
Carrie says
Just gorgeous…I love this new look. I did a canvas wall at my house after seeing yours. I get so much inspiration from your decor.
MelanieL says
WOW! Love what you did and your eye for changing things up as needed! I bet the kids love seeing these hanging! 🙂
Shelia Maxwell says
OMG…Love it ❤️
Can I ask the wall color???
Mix and Match Mama says
Sherwin Williams Moderate White!
Allison Diano says
Absolutely beautiful! Changes the look completely! Simple, light, airy and bright! LOVE!
Cris says
Kind of a weird question, but what did you do with the old canvases? It’s hard to let go of things like that…
Mix and Match Mama says
Right now, they’re in storage!
angela ware says
these are stunningly beautiful 🤩! such a nice way to display your kids ❤️❤️
Teresa says
That really looks nice! Absolutely made a difference.
jennibell says
Beautiful! And after reading Andrew’s instructions, a definite labor of love 🙂
Here is another way to measure and hang. . .not as specific but for things that just need to be “almost” perfect (or your kids want to “do it themselves”) — put a piece of painters tape on the back of the frame and mark where the nail/screw hole should go. Take the tape off the frame and stick it to your wall as a template to nail/screw.
I just got a gallery wall hung on Sunday too and am so, so happy with it!! I love that I’m married to a very precise engineer and don’t have to figure all this stuff out myself :/
Mary Ellen says
LOVE it!!!
Kelly says
Love it!! Just curious what you did with the canvases now? Just put them in storage?
Mix and Match Mama says
For now, that’s where they are!
Debbie says
They look absolutely beautiful!
Brooke Richardson says
I was literally checking out your new galleries here when you called me! They look incredible! I don’t think this is a job for Tyler though. 🤣🤣
Mix and Match Mama says
You need Andrew to come over! hahahaha!
Allie Seets says
Ok, we recently took down our wall canvases too and replaced them with picture frames. My question is, what did you do with all the canvases? Im so torn between saving them (which takes up a lot of room!) or just tossing them!
Mix and Match Mama says
Right now, they’re in storage…I don’t know where they’ll end up though.
Debbie says
Looks so good!
Bev says
Looks amazing! You always come up with the perfect solution! I must admit, Andrew’s process gave me anxiety, I am terrible with numbers! I don’t know how you choose the photos! Each one is SO cute and I know you have many more to choose from! 💖
Heather says
It looks fabulous!! (and Andrew is fantastic too!) What did you do with all the old canvas prints?
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re in storage right now!
Andee says
You could also gift them to family members too! Just an idea. 🙂
Love the new frames. Sometimes changing up our living space a little can breathe new life into our homes. Looks amazing, Shay!
K.K. says
These are really beautiful! I like the colors in these photos as well, and it really looks awesome with your home’s color palette. Great idea!! Love this!
Alison says
Shay, those look really chic and beautiful in your bright space! Big props to Andrew for his precision and his patience. 😉
Darcy says
These look AMAZING!!!!
Cathy says
Looks amazing! Proud of you guys for updating. My house is a bit frozen in time. Need to do some updates.
Danna F says
I love the acrylic frames. Yes it does take a patient, mathematically strong hubby to accomplish this! Looks awesome!
Have a great Tuesday! Summer is almost here!
Molly says
Looks great! Now I’m inspired to do this! Random question – what do you do with the old canvases?? I’d feel guilty throwing them away but also just adding more to storage doesn’t seem like a great option 🙃
Julie says
Shay! I LOVE THESE! Realtor over here, so basically I get a “free home decorating show” almost every day of my life. But I have never seen these before and they are amazing. I totally agree they lighten the space! So tell Andrew (in my professional opinion) he nailed it. (Get my joke!). No seriously though, A+ job. Love it! And how much happiness it must bring you to see those smiling face when they’re at school.
Jamie says
I love the way that turned out!! As you get updated photos taken, will you just swap them out, or add more frames?
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m going to change out the photos as the years go by and we get new photos taken.
Kit says
Love this! We have photos in black frames but I like the clean lines of these. Also, could you give me details of your necklaces you are wearing in stories? Thanks
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re both Kendra Scott. The initial one is new and the coral one is several years old.
Cynthia THurlow says
Did you share which Etsy shop helped you with these frames?
They are lovely!
Mix and Match Mama says
I did! I linked to him at the top of the post!
Lizabeth Kaiser says
Love the update! The built in bench in the third picture- was that custom built or bought? I love that and want to do something similar! Thank you for sharing your home with us!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s custom built in to my house. Thank you so much!!
Becky Carl says
Would need to “rent” Andrew to do this at my house. Beautiful job!
Tina says
Love!😍 Did you buy more frames for the future prints?? When I do something like this I always worry something will get discontinued by the time I need more. Love these frames!
Mix and Match Mama says
No, I am just going to replace the photos as needed as I update. I like the organization of them now, so my plan is not to add to it.
Sheaffer says
Okay, so now I know I’m not going crazy! When I went to throw my bag in your guest bedroom on Thursday night, I was like WOW! The pictures look AMAZING! I don’t remember them looking THIS AMAZING!!!! WELL DONE!
Anna says
Looks WONDERFUL! Were your prints 16×18 or 16×20? I have some long walls upstairs and I’ve wanted to do a gallery wall. Now you’ve given me inspiration! Is it hard to get the pictures in the frames to stay straight?
Mix and Match Mama says
I have all of the sizing in the post towards the bottom. This part made me nervous too!
Lovely says
Your gallery wall looks beautiful! The frames are cool.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Sandy says
Your gallery wall is a history of your children’s lives told as they became a part of your very special family. One cannot help being touched by the pictures of your children and the love that created them.