Vintage Inspiration Friday # 75 A Gallery Wall

I think I'm finished with this little "project"!
(and what might this project be?, you ask)
a gallery wall...

and I've realized that putting one together,
is a little harder than it might seem.

I started with this shabby rectangle mirror. I've had it for ages,

and toyed with selling it, but it never seemed to make it to the booth.

I've tried using it here at the house before, but it never did work out.

So, when I realized I had a good 4x4 space to play with,

what do you think I dragged out...

yep, my shabby, chippy, old mirror.

I think I've tried about 20 different elements before I finally decided on this,

 the finished product, and that was about an hour ago.

(that's why I had so many nail holes...trial and error)

I've Googled and checked on Pinterest for "gallery walls",

but most were of photographs or paintings,

not many were a mix of objects AND art.

I found I had to stay with the golds and creams to make it work,

I had a lot of beautiful prints that were within the subject matter,

but they were either the wrong size, color, or shape.

It was harder to find the balance in all that, than I imagined.

My advice for creating a gallery wall would be to gather all your possible elements first, trying to keep color and subject matter complimentary. Find your larger pieces to anchor your arrangement, then you can build around it.(them). On this light wall and with this shabby white frame, I found darker pieces, or ones with too much color just didn't look right; they were too "jarring" and very distracting. I wanted this space to flow.

Plus I tried to stick with "vintage".

That's the feel I am going for; vintage and a little bit French.

hmmm...looks like there's some extra space at the bottom.

I'm sure it won't be empty for long!

More bathroom photos coming up...

and just so you know I'm not a fibber,

the Sunburst Mirror post took a back seat, 

once the paint fumes took over!

Let's see what was happening last week.

Andrea from the Opulent Cottage showed us how Victoria Magazine

inspired her to create a winter themed potting bench.

Mary Alice from Chateau Chic, has a wonderful garden theme

 going with some Springy inspiration in her study. 

Eileen from Cottage Beach House shares a window display

 she did for an antique store, 

where her coffee filter rose Valentine Heart takes center stage.

Eileen will be doing a tutorial post on making this coffee filter heart,

be sure and check back on her blog for it!

Nita of Mod Vintage Life has a beautiful home and some fab ideas.

Check out her use of silver casserole servers that she has turned into

amazing spice racks...calling all magazines!! 

And Andrea from Town and Prairie

has a frozen winterscape of her garden elements.

just beautiful!!

Hope you'll join in for the party today,

so many of you do vintage related posts,

I'd love for you to come link up!

Please be sure that you have a visible link within your post,

and I'd love for you to join Common Ground as a follower.

Also, would you like to share the fun with this image for your sidebar,

and invite everyone to join in for the Valentine Party coming up?

the rest of the bathroom next post!

I'm joining in for these great parties:

Creative Things Thursday at the Vintage Farmhouse

French Inspiration at the French Cupboard

Farmhouse Friday at LaurieAnnas

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

French Inspiration at The French Cupboard

xoxo,