Fill a large wall with trim and art
April 11, 2010
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There are a few toughies when decorating any space, and one of those is what to do with long, empty wall space. They are everywhere, obviously. Above sofas, down hallways, transitional areas from room to room.
When it comes to these empty spaces, I usually go to my tried and true -- molding of any kind. Why? It’s cheap. It’s easy. And it creates BIG impact.
The Bub’s room is a long one – with two large expanses of wall. When I decided on the navy blue paint, I knew I wanted to keep the room bright by breaking up the dark color with art spaces on the long walls.
When I painted the walls a few weeks ago, I left some of the wall unpainted. On one wall, my idea was do to a series of three prints, framed out with molding. To start, I cut out paper the size of the frames to figure out my measurements for the molding:
Ignore the one that fell off the wall, and the one on the way off. Just
imagine three, K? :)
Once I had my measurements, I started cutting and nailing, my two favorite things to do. Nothing quite like using a compound miter saw and a nail gun to make your day.
The result was this:
I usually go to Lowe’s for molding, but Home Depot has a great selection too.
I grabbed this stuff for about $4 (for eight feet) – that is a great
deal. It’s an mdf composite. Cuts like buttah. But everything cuts like buttah
with my saw. (Swoon…)
For the art, I ordered vintage airplane prints from art.com. They were all 9x13 and were only $3.99 each! Awesome!
Because of the odd shape, I knew I’d have to have mats cut (expensive!), try to cut them myself (annoying!) or just do what I always do, and do a fake mat.
I started by trimming off the white edge around each print:
I just use my level to get a straight edge. Works great every time – just make sure to put a lot of pressure on the level so it doesn’t move around when you cut.
I just use my level to get a straight edge. Works great every time – just make sure to put a lot of pressure on the level so it doesn’t move around when you cut.
The mats that came in my Target frames were already white, so they would have looked great as is, but I wanted to tie in the wallpaper I used in the room. I used spray adhesive on the mat, covered it with the wallpaper, then used double stick tape to stick the art directly to the mat:
I painted the insides of each box with white semi gloss paint. I usually use
high gloss for a project like this, but I got the Behr Ultra (paint and primer
in one) for other areas in the room so I wanted this to match to the other
spots (those are coming soon!)
I was initially going to do white frames, but I realized the white frame would get lost on the wall. I found these nickel frames at Target for $20 each – a lot for me – but they work perfectly with other accents in the room.
I hung them on the wall and hot glued the ribbon so it looks like they are hanging – I’ve found if you actually try to hang a frame from a ribbon, it can stick out from the wall a bit.
I don’t know if you can tell, but my favorite little detail on this wall are the $2 knobs that spell out “FLY”:
See how I use cabinet knobs to hang art here!
If you can’t tell by now – the
theme of this big boy room is airplanes. :)
On the wall above his bed, I had a similar project in mind – I was going to take pictures of a vintage airplane and frame them out in a big molding box on the wall.
But I couldn’t find the vintage airplane that I was seeing in my head. :) And, I kind of forgot that Stink Eye Sister found an awesome airplane print for the Bub and gave it to us at Christmas:
So I knew I had to use it or she would totally pull the stink eye on me and
the stink eye is totally annoying. I absolutely LOVE the print – we adore New
York City and can’t wait to take the Bub there, so the photo really is special
to us.
I just framed it out on the wall and put a piece of acrylic over it (from one
of the big poster frames):
Then I painted it all out in the semi gloss white:
It is soooo freaking cool. The acrylic does slide out, so we can change this
out eventually if we want. I LOVE how it looks built in. And I love how it’s
not what I initially planned but I love it so much more.
Then I painted it all out in the semi gloss white:
It is soooo freaking cool. The acrylic does slide out, so we can change this
out eventually if we want. I LOVE how it looks built in. And I love how it’s
not what I initially planned but I love it so much more.
So two huge, long walls are now filled. The total cost of the molding for both walls was about $40. My time was the investment. And there is no room I’d rather invest in. ;)
Before:
Classic navy blue and white afters:
I adore them. And I can’t wait to show you the next step in the room. :)
I adore them. And I can’t wait to show you the next step in the room. :)
Totally love it, it looks so Magazine good! Love thet knobs spelling out FLY! that molding just frames it all perfectly.. WAY TO GO! IF YOU WOULD LIKE... stop by Larsenloves.blogspot.com... I am having a giveaway! NIGHT! JGG
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, love the knob detail and how you took the time to frame out the area to hang the images in, it takes it all to another level!
ReplyDeleteJanell
Crazy CUTE!! Lala LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love these! And once again -I will be un-original one and use your ideas! I should be mad at myself for that but I don't care - you do such cute stuff - its like you get me! Ahem.... sorry for getting all sentimental on you...
ReplyDeletelove love love!!
ReplyDeleteI am working on transforming my little boys room too - thanks for the ideas!!
How did you make the acrylic slide in and out?
Cuteness!! I can't wait to do my son's room. You have no shortage of ideas or energy, LOVE!!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThat is the same theme in my oldest room, let me know if you find some great/cheap wooden/vintage looking planes to hang from the ceiling. :)
ReplyDeleteoh wow! You are totally awesome! I have 3 boys and Im trying to do some fun stuff to their rooms and Im so bored with the usual "sports" theme that i see everywhere. this is a great idea! I cant wait to see the rest of the room!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE!!!! The airplane theme is so fantastic! Great job so far, and I can't wait for the big reveal!
ReplyDeleteThat. Looks. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteWAY COOL! How sweet of Stink Eye, eey? Love the navy. Wish I had a room to use it in. Hope Bub loves it.
ReplyDeleteOMG. Where do I start? I love the colors and style of vintage art work and this is fabulous or should I say so cool for a boys room. Love the dark blue walls and the white molding. Wonderful way to make a big statement on the wall. Looks like you spent a fortune. The door knobs are just too cute spelling out fly. Now I want to do a boys room. I should have been a decorator but you do need to be good at it like you, hee-hee.
ReplyDeleteHugs...Tracy :)
you now have two walls with high impact and with very little $$ upfront - congrats on a very creative venture!
ReplyDeleteAh, this is so beautiful! I'm thinking a person could use this same idea in a rental home by buying the right molding with a little edge like the inside of a frame. It could be attached to very thin plywood, painted just as you have done and hang it on the wall.
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing artist! I love your ideas.
That looks really good! You are always so good with the little details. You d'master!
ReplyDeleteMy three year old bub has a vintage airplane room too. Except, despite some moderate effort, it doesn't even come close to how amazing your sons room is. Someday, maybe I'll redo it and copy lots of your ideas. They are all fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLove, love vintage travel posters! We have two Hawaii themed ones in our living room which is travel based. Such neat art. Love what you did.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so great! I love the contrast of the white with the blue. This is what I should do in my master bedroom on a wall that I don't know what to do with. It's dark teal, and I have lots of white in my room. Throughout this post I kept seeing this in my room :). Great job, I can't wait to see the whole room!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great idea! This looks soo cool!
ReplyDelete-Bekah
Oh my... this is gorgeous Sarah! What a lovely unique wall mounting idea!
ReplyDeleteLove the vintage touch. :)
Donna
I'm blown away, but should I be surprised? Once again you prove why you are ranked so high and have so many followers.
ReplyDeleteSarah...this is awesome! I know your son must be loving watching his room transformed into a big boy room. The blue and white with the silver accents is beautiful...ahh, I mean handsome. :-) I love it!
ReplyDeleteWowzers!! This is fabulous!!! I'm thinking of doing this in my daughters room!! LOVE IT =) But then again, I love all of your ideas!
ReplyDeleteI know I'm "challenged" in more ways than one, but I don't get the "screwing the knob in the wall". I thought you screwed knobs in from the other side of the object, which obviously you can't do with a wall! PLease help me out, as I LOVE the look!
ReplyDeleteOooh, how did you do the whole moulding and acrylic slide out thing for the poster? Would love to try it.
ReplyDeletePerry - I believe she just screwed them in like... Stick the knob in the wall a bit and turn it until it goes in. Hope this help! It'd be similar to screwing in a lightbulb. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Everything I am thinking has already been said....so ditto to everything above! Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great, Sarah! You are so good at molding! I'll have to keep some scrap wood on the side and practice. I think I tried it once years ago and it wasn't a pretty sight.
ReplyDeleteI always love the molding projects you do! I love the detail of the knobs "FLY"! In the single pixs in the beginning I thought maybe it was your little ones initials. Ha ha So Cute...So creative
ReplyDeleteThey look awesome!! When I redid my son's room...(about 5 years ago) We had a airplane, trucks, boats, and train theme going on....his toddler bedding had all of the above on it. I found perfect prints at art.com and I bought cheap unfinished frames.....and just had mats cut. I need to update the pictures now because they are a little to young for him....he's almost 8! Anyway, I also found some vintage plane wooden models that you can build and paint at the craft store and hung a couple from the ceiling. You can paint them to match the room. It was the perfect finishing touch!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing art wall. I love the way the knobs spell FLY !
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fantastic! I love that you can switch the pictures out, especially on the large single one. Very cool and very inspiring, I think I just may do this to the big empty wall in my dining room. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI have 18ft walls and I have been STRUGGLING - this is a great idea! Life saver! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
party inspiration
It looks great!!!! :) I love the "double" frames. I think vintage airplanes are a great theme for a big boy's room. :)
ReplyDeleteI looks fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteit does look great - i think i might have to steal it for the space above my bed. Forget the boys' rooms - it's all about ME sistah!
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job - it looks wonderful! Stopping by from BNOTP.
ReplyDeleteThat molding looks incredible! And I LOVE those colors, there is nothing more classic than navy and white! (I even had them as my wedding colors! ;) )
ReplyDeleteWOW Sarah! I LOVE everything about this! The color scheme, the molding, the knobs, the prints. Oh my gosh! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteAmber @ www.itsgreeneroverhere.blogspot.com
The molding and art look incredible! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! The room is really coming together. I'm going to have to add this one to my files. Something fun for a girl's room would be covering canvases with cute fabric and hanging them with ribbon. I just did a similar blog post about fabric-covered canvases, but you've given me a great idea for our (hopefully) future nursery.
ReplyDeletehttp://photocraftbook.wordpress.com/
That is such an adorable idea! Love it!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute!! I have seen alot of big boy rooms going with the airplane theme. Its just so perfect & I love your idea on how to take up most of the wall...gotta use this fro my living room...without the airplanes of course.
ReplyDeleteGREAT JOB!!!
fantastic. love it!
ReplyDeleteFab work! We used miles of molding to bring down the ceiling in our higher-than-it-is-wide dining room. We still get compliments after 10 years. Molding is so wonderfully classic. But how did you screw the knobs in the wall without a backing board? Double-ended screws? Oh please, do tell.
ReplyDeleteLove the blue but I've been afraid to use a color that dark. I think the big white blocks make it work so well. My boys might actually get their blue bedroom they have been wanting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Your pictures are just wonderful. Very creative. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteLooks great...wish I had your creativeness!!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea and great job! I love it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Met Monday!!
xoxo
Janie
HOLY CRAPOLA!!! This little project of yours looks amazing!!!!!! I am so impressed and can't wait to see the whole room.
ReplyDeleteLOVE them! Great project. The framed effect is awesome. Planes...my son would have loved it! He's 23 now and loves photography...I think he should do this project in his home (he's in a rental now tho). Creativeness.
ReplyDeleteClever use of white space!
ReplyDeleteFabulous ... love the FLY knobs.
ReplyDeleteAw man, ANOTHER thing I must steal from you. Add it to the list...
ReplyDeleteI really love it-I struggle with filling up a wall. I hate that I have to find the size of the prints/pics first, then see what I like. Now, fixed!
Only drawback...20 bucks per frame at Target? Ouch! Have you taught us nothing? :)
Excellent. Really. Honestly. Just plain excellent.
ReplyDeleteAnd so BIG BOY. You rock, Mom.
It looks great , love the knobs with the photos.
ReplyDeleteJoy
Sarah, this looks awesome!!! Could you post on how to framed in the picture where you could still have the acrylic over it? I'm so confused at how you did that and I am TOTALLY IN LOVE with how it looks!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is utterly amazing! I am totally stealing this idea for the design-abyss I call my daughter's room. It would add some much needed form to the space.
ReplyDeleteUm, WOW! You are so creative and clever! This project turned out amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love it! My twin boys room is currently a disaster. It needs MAJOR TLC, I will have to do something like this when they get their "big boy beds". Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOk, I confess- I've been snooping around on your blog for a few weeks now and as you say I LURVE it!! Love the writing style, love your ideas and the fact that you post your decorating successes and failures. Keep it up and oh, today's room...koouuute!
ReplyDeletethat.is.awesome!!! so clever & so amazingly good! love this :)!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Stacey
I love it! That orangish one you have on the left though draws me to it.I would put it in the center.It distracts from the "overall" of it.That is probably and my OCD.lol
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! This is such a great idea for any room and any wall! Thanks for sharing! Oh and PS I love sleeping too :) but shhhhh
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! What fabulous ideas. =)
ReplyDeleteHow were you able to make it so the sheet of plastic could slide in and out??
PS>I love your blog and check it everyday. <3
You did a great job! I love that framed look and the images that you chose to put inside. :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE it! What a fantastic and creative idea!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThe room is looking good! I love the "outside of the box" thinking with hanging the art from ribbon. Very cute!
Lindsay
A Design Story
This is Amazing!! Truly Amazing, I just love the way it turned out!
ReplyDelete~Elisabeth
Awesome!!! Can you explain the how molding and acrylic slide out? I can't figure out from the pics how to do it :(
ReplyDeleteYou're INSANELY INCREDIBLE. I glean so much inspiration from this blog. Thank you so much for inspiring me to make my boys' room kick-ass, too.
ReplyDeleteTotally love it. Totally linking this post to my blog. Thanks for all the great ideas!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a decorating GENIUS! They both look so great. Love the FLY knobs! I've been racking my brain as to what do with the blank walls in our bedroom - something beyond just picture frames everywhere. Now I have my inspiration. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's FABULOUS!!! I have a 6 month old son who is still making the most of his precious nursery space. Me. Well, I've already begun tucking ideas away for his big boy room and this is going in the file! It's so creative and polished...very masculine, but classic. I absolutely love it!
ReplyDeleteI really love this! It looks so professional! I don't know where or when, but I will so have to steal this idea! Another fabulous post!
ReplyDeleteI just love what you've done! You continue to inspire me. Can't wait to see what's next. :)
ReplyDeleteI really like this project. I was just at Lowe's and saw that they have pre-made molding for wainscoting. Someone that's not as handy with a saw could purchase those to do this project. Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!
ReplyDeleteJane
I am all over doing this with chalkboard paint and trim. Thank you for the tutorial. As a color consultant, I can recommend these ideas that you share, good inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI have a question...did you use a nail gun with this? Can you get a clean finish without a nailgun? We have one,but I'm soooo scared to use it...and hubby is out of town...but I really want to try this....just wondering...ok, I'll stop babbling now.
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful! I love how the trim frames the pictures and gives them more substance. Great work.
ReplyDeleteWow Sarah! I love this. I can't wait to see the entire room transformation:)
ReplyDeleteLove that last print! Great job (as always!)
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteYou are the freakin' bomb! That's all I've got to say about that.
Traci
It looks truly amazing and so custom. You are good girl!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! I'm lovin' it! I have a million ideas running through my mind! I would also "LURVE" to know how to get the acrylic and picture to be interchangable. I'm also wondering about the knobs screwing into the wall? I've never used molding, but I'm beginning to think a trip to HD would be great!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog!
Thanks for sharing
-Nicole
Super Cute!!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou have outdone yourself sista! It turned out more amazing than I could imagine. Absolutely big boy perfect!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely GORG, my dear! what a fantastic idea for a big expanse of wall. In the words of one of my favorite people......Luuuurve It!
ReplyDeletexoxoxoxoxoxo
~Amanda
THAT has got to be my favorite project so far! Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI just had to comment on your son's room - I LOVE it! You are truly talented! I love the little touch of the knobs that spell 'fly.'
ReplyDeleteOh my GOSH! You never cease to amaze me! Totally AWESOME! I would have never thought of it!! Looks great! Love the Navy blue, it looks so crisp and clean against the white.
ReplyDeleteWho won??????
ReplyDeleteWOW...it has the WOW factor. Will keep in mind for my 3 wk old grandson! Guerrina from Ledyard
ReplyDeleteThis looks SO fantastic!! You always, always amaze me. What is great as he ages he can switch out the theme of the room without losing your original vision or artistic touch (just thinking like sports stars etc? stuff like that).
ReplyDeleteEver since I saw your large cloche that you got at HobLob, I have had cloche envy! I finally found one but it is only the glass part. Did yours come with a bottom or is that something you made?
ReplyDeleteDebra
Well i can say it is awesome home decoration tips and tutorials great speech for all the steps.
ReplyDeleteI love love love this! You are so talented at creating something. The molding, the matting....to die for. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I swear you are the queen of molding!
ReplyDeleteI am going to feature this one on my blog, even though I know that all of my readers probably already read your blog! ;D
FYI...Our target has vintage propellers (sp?) right now that would look great maybe over a door?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post! The pics are beautiful and with your step by step, I think I can do it too. I'm hoping to totally copy this idea for my living room this summer...I hope you don't mind!
ReplyDeleteI love that boys of any age love anything with wheels underneath it. OR wings on it. My hubby has a picture of the C130 airplane he flew in on his wall and also an unfinished model airplane on a table in his office here at home. OH, and I also love that boys never grow up.
ReplyDeleteThe bedroom colors and wall pictures in your son's room are da bomb!
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
Love it, love your show...
ReplyDeletewe are moving next weekend and our sons room is much bigger than his room now, so we will have walls to fill, this idea will def. work! Cant wait to try it. Thanks for all your great ideas. Even though we've never met, I feel like you are an old friend sharing great tips. Blessings to you!
LOVE this! What a wonderful piece of art you've created. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYou should come link this project up at on today's Bargain Brag Wednesday: http://www.bargainshoppingparadise.com/2010/04/bargain-brag-wednesday-414-420.html
Thought you might like to know that I was at Target today and I saw the cutest wooden airplane propeller for $29.99. I thought of you and thought it would be so cute in your son's room.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Saw those knobs at Hob Lob myself and it killed me not to buy them!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to be famous! That looks AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is how you put the acrylic over the big airplane picture? You say that you framed it on the wall, correct? The acrylic slides out...guess I am just not following how.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Sherri
Really love your blog! Just came across it!! Love people like myself that love thrifty and yet still pretty decorating!!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
BudgetBlonde
Oh My that looks awesome!!! I might have to do that in my son's old room. His walls are about the same color and I haven't had the desire to paint them since he moved out! This would be like...baby steps...not to mention look amazing too!
ReplyDeleteRene'
I was searching for ideas for boy airplane rooms and found your blog. I have been here before I follow you. I have a few of your blog posts bookmarked. Thanks for sharing some great ideas. Off to see the rest of the airplane room photos and posts.
ReplyDelete