Hatrack River Forum: Make my living room fab-u-lous!

This is topic Make my living room fab-u-lous! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Okay, after a marathon week of watching home improvement shows on cable, I'm trying to add some 'color' to my 'living room'. I've managed to make these frames out of some cheap pine and some bright fabric, and I'm ready to put them up on this wall!

I actually have three more of the frames, same as the three in the picture, so six total to put up on that wall. Or maybe split them up on the blank wall next to it, I don't know.

My original idea was to just put all six in a straight line, but the frames are 2 feet square, and the wall is juuust under 12 feet long.

So, any suggestions?

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Oh! And also!

I don't have anything on the windows but white mini-blinds. [Razz]

Now that I've chosen these three colors, what should I do with the drapes? Make them out of one of the colors, maybe the blue? Or try to find a pattern that incorporates them? (I've been looking, haven't had any success....)

And for two long windows side-by-side, would it be better to go with curtains that totally cover them, or like a valance and some panels or something?

So many choices! [Big Grin]

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

Rig them staggered in two rows, like this:

code:

  

 ---    ---    ---
|   |  |   |  |   |
|   |  |   |  |   |
 ---    ---    ---
    ---    ---    ---
   |   |  |   |  |   |
   |   |  |   |  |   |
    ---    ---    ---

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Like this? (The last blue one is still drying)

Are they staggered too far/too close? Is it imposing? And how would you arrange the colors?

This is definitely making me feel the need for drapes. And something lower and longer than the bookcase that's there.

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

I think you should just use three on that wall, and make it look like windows (so, same height). Probably do yellow-red-yellow. Then on another wall, do blue-red-blue.

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Ooh, I like that a lot. But I also like the way that this staggered pattern fills the wall (especially now that I've removed that bookcase). What if I went and made another three for the other wall, for a total of 9? Overkill? It's just so much white wall....

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

I'm concerned with how crowded the frames look vertically. You could also experiment with putting three or four frames on the wall in a "haphazard" manner. It depends what feel you're looking for.

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

Oooh. If you take a picture of the wall blank, you could photoshop some designs so you don't have to put in a dozen nails.

Post a blank wall and we (me) can play with some patterns.

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

I have room now to lower the bottom row... I'll give that a shot.

I like this grid a lot, maybe two of them on the next wall with small color squares in between.... but it's $60+shipping for one, and I can build something with that look for more like $15... If I'm willing to take on another project. I still have to finish and start another pillocase for the throws.... [Eek!]

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Actually, there's a blank wall photo in the first post! And I usually hang things with thumbtacks, so no biggie. There's already a million holes in the walls, I can add a few more. [Wink]

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

Mkay. Here are two examples: I'm still playing =)

here
and here

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

omg! that's fantastic! [Big Grin]

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

The last one looks good, but I still like the whole wall being filled with the zig-zag pattern. You could play with it, but it makes a really bold wall to have all 6 there.

Dagonee

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

here is another. I'm thinking, but the few others I tried didn't look that good. I'm leaning towards "haphazard" but if you don't like that, I can try more symmetrical designs [Wink]

Pardon the mediocre quality... I'm using a really lame program b/c I don't have anything better on this computer [Smile]

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!

you can't put 6 frames on that wall!

*pulls hair out*

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Well, technically, I can... I'm looking at them. [Big Grin]

I don't know, I'm really torn. I really like the symmetrical wall-filling staggered look, but I also really like dabbler's random 4 design. I really think I'd be happy with either one... I'll try out the random 4 and see how it looks....

This is fun. [Big Grin]

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

yeah I think my favorite so far is the random-4 one.

I have a 6-frame one here... I'm not super-excited about the color placement, but it's alright.

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Random 4

I could use the leftover two on the next wall, over the couch...

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

And here is the torture-your-guests group:
Just one...
So close together!
Ow. (perspectives are very funky in this one)

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Ouch, that second one looks painful! [Big Grin]

I'm not allowed to paint the walls, but if I were, what color do you think would work here?

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

I dunno, I'm not a colorful-wall person. I'm pretty fond of white, off-white.

I like the new wall. Do you think you'll keep it like that for a while?

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Yeah, this feels right, and I do like using the other two frames on the other wall. Though I miss the Color! of the staggered 6, that seemed to work well, too.

Fortunately, square frames on thumbtacks are pretty easy to rearrange on a whim. [Smile]

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

how about this?

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/flounder90404/detail?.dir=/7794&.dnm=9a7c.jpg

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

"The file you are looking for is inaccessible"

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

this might be nice too.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/flounder90404/detail?.dir=/7794&.dnm=85cb.jpg

I definitely think the "haphazard", not busy (not all 6) is the way to go.

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

darnit! sorry [Blushing]

viewable now?

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Yeah, that works!

I like the arrangement, but it leaves a lot of white space on the wall... and I'm not much of a white wall person. [Big Grin]

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

I think if you matched the colors a bit, you wouldn't notice the white wall in contrast.

get rid of the blue frame and match it with the sofa color. get the reds a little closer. the orange, next to the light is nice, I think.

adding wall color is just going to make this busy affair even more busy.

paint the wall and put ONE good frame smack dab in the middle and you're done.

[Big Grin]

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Two walls

This is really working for me. The living room is feeling so much more grown-up! [Big Grin]

You guys are wonderful! I really need these ideas... I can build things, but good design is something that always seems just a little out of reach. Thank you!

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

good work on the frames!

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

OooOooo..

BTW, I think the iBook makes it particularly lovely [Wink]

*continues typing away on her iBook*

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

Z,

regarding the 2 walls. whoa whoa WHOA! don't get carried away with the sqare frames (got square pillows on the sofa there). think about the viewing space on the walls (long rectangle above the sofa or a series of small fames) and the nice spot on the other wall next to the lamp.

a single red frame with the single red couch pillow is a nice motif!

fallow

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Thanks! I've spent so much money on picture frames over the years, and I had no idea how easy they were to make. Never again!

Yeah, I love my iBook. [Wink]

If you look closely, you can see Hatrack open in the background. Truly a Hatrack project! [Big Grin]

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

thanks for sharing your project. reminds me how much my apt needs a makeover. and bad! (got a big apple-green wall with nothing on it)

[Frown]

have fun!

fallow

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Yeah, in my four years of apartment life, I've never really made a concerted effort to "design" a room. What I needed was for my fiance to be gone for a week, leaving me to be indoctrinated by the 24/7 design shows on HGTV. It totally brainwashes you.... *must.... paint... walls!* [Big Grin]

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

Okay. I wanted to keep playing with the pictures of your wall... so when I got home, I made this.

I hope you don't mind I went poking around for things to put in.

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

!

*imagines how many blog entries Sun would have to go through to get all those pictures...*

*calls police*

[Big Grin]

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

Aja, the "two walls" look is very, very nice. Leave it. [Smile]

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

Hi again.

and another because it's such a nice procrastination technique...

Well I was so frustrated at the weenie draw program I was using on dabbler's iBook that I needed some good photoshop practice. [Smile]

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

Very nice, Suneun! Are those photos that I took? [Big Grin]

You've definitely got a knack at perspectives... They really look like they're supposed to be in those frames!

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Two walls, two walls.

And...Zeugma is Ayelar is Aja?
Egads, clueless once again.

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

Heh, she did an annoucement thread last week, don't feel too bad. And to confuse matters more, dabbler is Suneun.

Zeugma: The latest one all came from the same photo. It's hard to tell, but they're in the exact places in relation to each other in the photo.

I'm enjoying my photoshop newb-skills. BTW, those frames are really pretty. Mind posting the directions on how you made them? [Smile]

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

I'd love to!

You need:

• Some kind of wood glue, I used Gorilla Glue from Sears for $4.
• A miter box or miter saw for cutting perfect 45 degree angles. This plastic one was $8 with the saw at Home Depot, and seems to work fine.
• A band clamp for applying even and really solid pressure while the glue dries. This was $10 at sears, and totally took all the work out of this project. [Big Grin]

• Your choice of lumber... check out the mouldings aisle at Home Depot for all sorts of awesome patterns that would make great frames. I was on a shoestring budget, so I used one 1"x2"x8' piece of pine for each frame. Cost $1.80 for each piece.
• Squares of fabric. These were each about $1.50 at Joann, I tried to find the cheapest solid-colored fabric they had.
• Picture-hanging wire and eye hooks. I got a whole box of these things for about $2, and they make the frames a lot easier to hang.

So all you have to do is cut the pieces to length (as precisely as possible), glue them together and clamp them down with the band clamp, and wait for 4+ hours. Then take them out, staple the fabric to the worst of the two sides while pulling the fabric taut, and attach the hanging wire and screws. Pine is so soft, you can just press the little eye screws in and twist.