Stair Gallery Wall PIPs

[susieq]

Here is what I started on our steps.  The last pictures that I hung were from when DS#1 was 18months.  That was 2.5 years ago!  I just dont like how it looks.  I really liked a picture of a gallery wall that Fox posted a few weeks ago and want to try to create something similar on my steps.

I can do two different sizes of frames.  These templates are if I were to do 24" frames matted to 8x10.  I would like to keep the large family portrait hanging on the wall if it will look ok. 



View from the bottom of the steps.



View from the living room. 



View from the top of the steps.  I think I need to raise the top picture so that it is eye level when you are standing on the landing to the steps.  The boat picture in the hall is hung at a comfortable level.  However I cannot raise the picture on the bottom as it will interfere with the crown molding that we are planning on (someday) putting up. 

The other option is to do 19" frames matted to 8x10.  I could then do 6 frames. 

Opinions? 

[Susie]

Are the blue rectangles the size the photos would be? To me, the proportion of photo to mat looks too small. I would say either smaller frames or bigger prints would look better. You don't want it to look like just small snapshots in giant frames.

[susieq]

Mar 18, 2013 14:00:40 GMT -5 Susie said:

Are the blue rectangles the size the photos would be? To me, the proportion of photo to mat looks too small. I would say either smaller frames or bigger prints would look better. You don't want it to look like just small snapshots in giant frames.

Yes the blue rectangles would be the 8x10.  There will be about 1.5 inches of frame taking up the perimeter of the lighter square.  The visible mat would be 6.5 and 5.5 inches on either side of the 8x10. 

If I did 19" frames the visible mat would be 4" and 3" on either side of the 8x10. 

[FoxInFiji]

Here this is what she's referring to:



I like being able to swap out sets of pictures and not have to put a new hole in the wall if I go from a horizontal to a vertical frame. So I went with a square frame and a rectangular picture. To make that look OK and not completely off balance you need a bit of white matt. Mine are about 19" square (was that right susie?) with 8x10 pictures.

I don't know I think it looks good. The gallery is for when you're walking up the stairs not to be viewed from afar...like it might be in a completely open stairs. The people looking at those pictures in detail will be walking up and down the stairs so 8x10 is a good size for that.  Besides going with anything bigger than that in theory is a good idea but realistically how often is she going to be changing them out if she has to special order some enlarged size?  Not very often.  8x10s are cheap and easy making it more likely you update the pictures.  I think I'd prefer if they were all a little higher because your crown molding won't be that deep but other than that I like it.  It's a lot more balanced than what you have now and has a nice bold look to it without being too cluttered.  

[TBM]

Mar 18, 2013 17:01:01 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

I don't know I think it looks good. The gallery is for when you're walking up the stairs not to be viewed from afar...like it might be in a completely open stairs. The people looking at those pictures in detail will be walking up and down the stairs so 8x10 is a good size for that.  Besides going with anything bigger than that in theory is a good idea but realistically how often is she going to be changing them out if she has to special order some enlarged size?  Not very often.  8x10s are cheap and easy making it more likely you update the pictures.  I think I'd prefer if they were all a little higher because your crown molding won't be that deep but other than that I like it.  It's a lot more balanced than what you have now and has a nice bold look to it without being too cluttered.  

I agree with all of this...especially the bolded part.

I do think 11 x 14 would be a better size for viewing, but 8 x 10 isn't bad for viewing from that close.

[susieq]

I can bump them up about 6 inches and think that will look better also.

What about doing multiple prints in each frame if I go with the 24" square frames? I can do 6 5x7 prints or 4 8x8 prints. That might make more of a visual impact rather than one 8x10.

[TBM]

I think single, larger photos have more visual impact than multiple, smaller prints.
Smaller prints = visual clutter