Monday, September 19, 2016

big-screen tv gallery wall

Hello, and welcome to my wall! I like to call it the vomit wall, but I thought you might not have come for a visit had I called it so.

I'm quite sure you're all familiar with the gallery wall concept. I'm not plowing any new ground here, except for that in my own home. If you're unfamiliar with this ingenious design concept, you won't be for long.

If you are a minimalist and hate this type of design, continue at your own risk. You've been duly warned.

The purpose of this project was not to hide my big-ass TV. Or even my big ass. I've read quite a few posts on TV gallery walls, and the reason for their gallery was to "hide, camouflage, or disappear" the flat-screen.

Unless you hang a whale on the wall in front of my TV, you're going to see it.

Personally, I don't mind the big black blob on the wall. It helps me see Chris Hemsworth better. I do mind the endless space around the big black blob. It's a blah blob.

Bob Loblaw Law Blog. You, sir, are a mouthful.




Did you spy my chalk-painted chair sitting prettily in the corner? Me too!

Here's another angle in case you didn't get enough the first time. It looks like the whole room is about to tip over.



No 60" flat screen can be enjoyed without a proper sound system, right? The speakers in the ceiling were already installed, but the wall speakers were only wired. This meant cutting holes in the drywall. Yay! Phil loves cutting holes in finished drywall. Just ask him. I triple-dog dare you.

This is the only picture I could find with a hole.



Eventually, there were three holes cut and filled with speakers. By the way, that wall is fifteen feet across. That's a big wall. In a big room. In a big country, dreams stay with you . . .



Where was I?

The TV was placed back on the wall, and it got a new piece of furniture to live beneath it. Isn't it cool? No, we didn't make it, but I did spend a few nights on the street to pay for it. You'll also notice all the hanging wires from the TV are now neatly hidden inside the wall where they belong.



Once I replaced the other items that live in front of the wall, I started my design. You can tell by the snowman sitting on the chalk-painted chair that I started this project a really long time ago. And once again, Winter is coming.



I have quite a collection of decor from our previous home. Many are pieces I would not necessarily purchase today; however, I still like them, and I wasn't ready to put them all up for adoption just yet. Thank goodness I have a huge wall to fill; otherwise, I'd have no idea what to do with all this stuff. Start my own hoarding show, I guess.

I knocked the spider webs off all my old decor (and some new!) and picked out the pieces I wanted to use. I took pictures of them, printed them out full-size, and taped them to the wall. 



Doesn't PBS have lovely tomatoes?

Of course, the designed evolved a bit from its inception, and it was a very slow-moving process. While Phil is a DIY master, he despises hanging things on the wall (unless it's me--by my neck). I think he'd rather have his nose hairs plucked with tweezers.

Which I have definitely done for him.

Here's how it finally turned out.



See that rocking chair to the left? My mom gave that to me when my first child was born. I spent countless hours rocking both my babies in that chair. I can't wait to spend some time there with my Grandnugget, Reese.



OMG she's so fluffy I'm gonna die!!

Okay, back to the wall:



Let's talk about stuff from the right-hand corner outward, shall we? If this is getting boring, feel free to click off at any time. I won't hunt you down and boil rabbits on your stove. As far as you know.

We already established that you may be familiar with my chalk-painted chair



You should be even more familiar with this furry little bum sitting on it.



Up in the top corner is the wedding date sign I made recently so we can remember when we're supposed to celebrate each year, along with a couple Charles Wysocki plates.

It makes me sad knowing there will never be another piece made by that wonderful artist.



That middle set of plates below is also by Wysocki. While I'm not going down in the annals of history as the biggest lover of cats who ever drew breath, I am a lover of books.

And clocks. And coffee.



Next up, we have a sweet little terrier print I found in Nashville last year. He's no Eddie, but he was so completely adorable I couldn't leave him behind. I've had those pewter plates forever. I'm pretty sure my previous mother-in-law gave them to me. And that cross-stitch? That is so old, the original name and date were from my first marriage. Oops. Talk about your all-time repurpose.



Another clock. Because I may be as obsessed with clocks as I am with owls. And Mickey Mouse, because I've always been obsessed with Mickey. He's so fine he blows my mind hey Mickey.

More coffee as well.



Recognize F the Cork Monogram? And a couple more of those pewter plates . . .

Apparently, I'm special.



I don't do a lot of cross-stitch anymore, mostly because they take SO FREAKING LONG! At least I only have another 3,254 patterns I want to create.



I really do love these two pieces, though.





And let's not forget the sign I made for Philly for our Adversity Day last year!



And finally, some more Charles Wysocki. Can you tell I had a serious fling with him at one point?



I especially love the lighthouse plates.



I realize this post has been terribly long, so let's make it even longer, okay? This shot gives you reference from my amazing buffet with which I'm completely smitten. There's a sofa behind the buffet, and the buffet faces the kitchen island, so it's one big, open room.

Great for living in, but bad for photographing.



I realize that wall looks very full, but this room is huge, and in person, it doesn't look cluttered. At least, that's what I tell myself.

And you should totally believe me, because boiling rabbits.



Why do I care if you think it looks cluttered anyway? It's not your house and I'm not making you live here.

I am, however, very happy you came to visit. Shall we take another look? That's what we're supposed to do on the blog, right?





Now go and have yourself a wonderful day! I'm off to hunt some wabbit.


30 comments:

  1. Which reminds me... we still haven't wired in our speakers after living here almost 2 years.

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    1. Love,love,what you did with the wall! My friends say your blog sounds like me! Proud to be a smart ass!! More,publish more!

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    2. I'm posting as fast as I can, Cap'n!!

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  2. I love it! And I like that you have seating for "the hearing impaired"! I know if my husband and I ever came to visit, he would definitely need to sit in your painted chair, or rocking chair and watch tv! hehehe And I didn't know if I liked the new table at first because I loved the one you already had a lot, but I do! The whole room makes me smile! Great job!! :D

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    1. That original one was just an old dresser we re-did a couple years ago! It never would have worked as a console without tearing it apart completely. Now it's in the basement holding my book hoard. =D

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  3. I'm going to begin my own gallery wall...some day. Yours looks great. What looks better though, are those little cheeks!I want to squish them.

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  4. Thank you for spelling annals correctly.

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  5. Bliss . . . :o)
    I love this wall. It is not crowded, it is soothing. It is a colorful neutral. How DID you do that?!? I keep going back to see if I can figure out why it appeals to me so much, but I can't decide why. It apparently is the overall effect or something. LURVE it. And can I just tell you I think I have every Charles Wysocki jigsaw puzzle sold? They are my very favorite and I work them over and over.

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    1. Isn't Bliss a riot? I do love the wall. And my husband has even come around. ;) Love everything Wysocki!

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  6. I like it! I am in a new house and I was going to arrange my living space the same way but you cannot watch tv while sitting in either of the chairs. On the other hand, your planning of this wall is incredible; printing out pictures of each item? I've never heard of such a thing. Amaze and carry on...

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    1. It was a very long time coming, but it looks pretty awesome now. =D

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  7. I love the wall because it is personal and filled with things you love. Of course, I love the red buffet, too. ;) Great job. Smart to cut them out of paper first to see where they would fit...small adjustments later. Nice! :)

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  8. Andi, first of all...Reese! She's so cute! When is she coming over for her rocking session? Will Phil initiate her to the house with his speakers?
    Gallery walls are not easy, but you did it! My favorites are the terrier, the cussing sign and the cross stitches. Because if I spent 3 months stitching one of those, they'd damn well be on the wall, too. I did spy your painted chair and still love it- especially with my sweet Eddie lounging in it. I hope you aren't distracted during your next Chris Hemsworth viewing. Fingers crossed.
    xoxo, T. P.S. I posted for the first time in three months so come over right now.

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  9. Absolutely awesome! And such a great idea to use print to find the perfect lay out!

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  10. Just let me say....taking pics and printing them off, taping them up for placement.....brilliant beyond words, girl!!! I'm so stinking impressed! And ya done GOOD! Dona

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    1. Thanks Dona! Yep, I pretty much love how it came out. =D

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  11. Wow! That is jammed packed with amazing, like the perfect fit tetris master of wall decor! Thank you for upping the incredible by including Eddie and grandnugget!

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  12. I do like the end result, a wall to be proud of but then I am not a fan of bare walls

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  13. I'm sick of homes that are all white, and have no personality. Thank you for sharing your pizazz with us.

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  14. I LOVE it. I am trying to sell my house and of course, everything has to be packed away. It echoes in here!! I miss all my stuff! I am going to take some hints from you, if I EVER get out of this big house and get to move to a smaller one! Thanx for sharing!!

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    1. Thanks Pam! Best of luck with your sale and your move!

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  15. Willy Dunne Wooters would march out and carry protest signs in front of my house if I put a bunch of cool stuff on the wall behind the TV. He's so easily distracted that I can't even have my Winnie-the-Pooh clock with my name on it hanging near the TV. I'm amazed that he can remember I'm there when we're in bed. Well, not that amazed. I'm still so jealous about the baby that I'm starting a rabbit hunt for you. Wait till you see what's on the stove when you get home from work. Apparently we share the same profession.

    Love,
    Janie

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  16. Willy Dunne Wooters would march out and carry protest signs in front of my house if I put a bunch of cool stuff on the wall behind the TV. He's so easily distracted that I can't even have my Winnie-the-Pooh clock with my name on it hanging near the TV. I'm amazed that he can remember I'm there when we're in bed. Well, not that amazed. I'm still so jealous about the baby that I'm starting a rabbit hunt for you. Wait till you see what's on the stove when you get home from work. Apparently we share the same profession.

    Love,
    Janie

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  17. I absolutely love it!!! I love to decorate with pieces that speak to me and my family as opposed to just some random pretty expensive things.... although I'll take any expensive thing that someone wants to give me and make it special... lol! I want to make a photo gallery wall on my stairs but I can't decide if I want framed or canvas prints.... so it might be a year before I get started on it...anyhooo....not sure how BACK I am BUT I'm trying... are you on IG? oh my... it's amazing... share a pic...get feedback.. quick and easy! I'd love to see you there... Have a great weekend!

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  18. Replies
    1. I'm so glad you like it, because I was brutalized on Hometalk!!

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  19. You crack me up. I laughed my way through this. Totally got the Big Country reference and loved it (also love Chris Hemsworth!). And the new piece of furniture that you spent a few nights on the street for? Perfect! And I gave up on x-stitch, too, with just as many projects planned and waiting for me to get my mojo back. You have a new follower! Just please leave my rabbit alone.

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  20. Love the "After" TV Console, where did you get it?

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