D&R Question: Art in the Bedroom

[FoxInFiji]

I wrote a post about this this morning on the nest but it has disappeared...reappeared...and disappeared again. So sorry if it's a repeat for some people.

I'm looking at the art we might want in the master bedroom. We'll have a lot of big blank walls to fill in there and because of limited space we won't be able to put furniture on two of the walls so the art work will be the only thing there. First we have the wall opposite our bed. It's a small awkward wall between our closet door and the "hallway" into the space. We want to hang a TV on it but to be centered with the bed it has to be hanging on the edge of the wall and fairly low for a good viewing angle. To help balance the space I thought we could do a gallery wall with large prints that have some weight visually.



The TV is in the middle on the right. There would be a panorama on top and three matted photos around the TV.

On another wall I was thinking a big 24x36 print + matting to go over the our new massive 6' dresser.



Originally I wanted to lean a canvas painting and layer some other artwork around it but DH was not liking that idea LOL. I found a big framed painting at a garage sale for $10 last weekend whose frame is this size. So I was thinking new print, new matting (the current artwork is an odd size), and a fresh coat of paint on the frame.

On the opposite side of the room I was thinking two symmetrical prints on either side of the master bathroom door. This is a long wall that is part of the entrance hallway to the room (not pictured to the right). I'm planning to not hang anything there since I don't want to draw attention to the narrow space.



The last wall has our four post bed on it flanked by two windows so I'm not planning to have any artwork on that wall for now.

So what do you think? Too much artwork or not enough? Suggestions are welcome.

Second question: For the gallery wall I was thinking of using vintage photography in sepia tones. I'm thinking because there are only 3 other pieces of art besides those that maybe I should stick with vintage photos for the other 3 as well. Should I stick with photography or mix it up?

PS. These bigger pictures are awesome! The nest only let you get up to 360 px wide before you had to scroll.

[sb]

That's a lot. Especially around the tv. I'm one to prefer bedrooms to be calm visually, so I don't see the need to fill all the wall space.

Our philosophy about art is to not buy anything to fill a space, because when we've done that in the past we haven't been happy. We buy things we like and find the space for them, and we're much happier in the long run.

I would start out with the piece above the dresser, and then collect over time if it were me. If you want to get everything now, then I would pare down the gallery wall you're doing around the tv.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I like it. I think I might put black & white photos on the tv wall instead of sepia (if that's doable) ... I think since a tv is black when off, sepia might make it stand out. But then, I'm having a hard time imagining it 100% ...

[sratsey]

I love the idea of a gallery wall surrounding the TV AND I also love the fact that the TV wouldn't be centered on the wall. What program did you use to sketch those pictures up?

[kaylie]

I like the configuration but am probably not the best judge of too much/not enough. I like the idea of doing the gallery wall as vintage photography, but I would mix it up in the other areas. It might be too much if you keep it that consistent. I would do anything very modern, though.

[sratsey]

Have you already picked a television? We just got one that only comes out about 2 inches or so from the wall which would be perfect as part of a gallery. It's by Samsung.

[decoraholic]

I really like gallery walls around TVs especially when the gallery coordinates with the TV, such as black frames, or at least a mix of frames with some being black (assuming your TV is black). I feel like the wall with the dresser needs something else. Are you putting lamps or anything else tall on/around the dresser?

[sb]

What color are your walls?

[emjacobs]

What about incorporating a mirror into the wall with the TV?

[FoxInFiji]

Wow lots of quick responses! I used CAD to draw everything up.

We're thinking of a very bright neutral colors scheme in the room. We have some amazeballs furniture that is Amish built solid cherry in a light stain so we want that to be the star of the show. I was thinking of having lots of creams and tans with lots of texture. Ivory or cream colored walls...but I'm picking out that paint color after we have a rug picked out. White duvet, patterned tan and white sheets, a tan quilt...I'm blanking on the name for this style but something like this would be awesome. The light we have in the box is this:



Which matches the black iron hardware we're getting for the dresser and nightstand. We want to try to find a persian rug with tans, creams, and pops of bolder colors like red or sage green. Or second choice is something with a craftsman feel like this:



We sort of have a TV picked out and yes it was one of the slim Samsungs! ;D

This is all very early though. Currently we just a plywood underlayment and we won't be able to get to the hardwood floors until sometime later this year. I was just coming up with ideas on how to use the frames I found this weekend. The ones on the gallery wall would have to be custom though. I agree I think black would work much better around the TV but I'm not a fan of black frames. Dark stained cherry color maybe but white or cream frame with the same color matting was what I was thinking. Some of the photos I was looking to have printed do have dark areas...which would be a dark brown in the sepia tone.

[FoxInFiji]

May 10, 2012 15:44:41 GMT -5 decoraholic said:

I really like gallery walls around TVs especially when the gallery coordinates with the TV, such as black frames, or at least a mix of frames with some being black (assuming your TV is black). I feel like the wall with the dresser needs something else. Are you putting lamps or anything else tall on/around the dresser?

Probably not lamps since we have those on the nightstands that are a few feet away (on the right in that picture). But I was thinking a taller potted plant and maybe some other little tabletop frames or something. It's a big space on top of that dresser so I can do a lot. I definitely want one or two of those flat glass display boxes with brass edging...do you know what I mean?

[FoxInFiji]

May 10, 2012 16:01:39 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

What about incorporating a mirror into the wall with the TV?

To replace one of the pictures or to go over the TV? I would love one for over the TV but I don't think that would be in our budget. LOL. I forgot to mention we're considering a convex mirror over the bed instead of artwork...probably going to DIY this if you can believe that. Of course we'll have to attach the crap out of it to the wall so it can't fall on us.

[emjacobs]

May 10, 2012 16:18:35 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

May 10, 2012 16:01:39 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

What about incorporating a mirror into the wall with the TV?

To replace one of the pictures or to go over the TV? I would love one for over the TV but I don't think that would be in our budget. LOL. I forgot to mention we're considering a convex mirror over the bed instead of artwork...probably going to DIY this if you can believe that. Of course we'll have to attach the crap out of it to the wall so it can't fall on us.

I may or maynot have originally read that to be literally over the bed, and then you turned into a really kinky Fox just from switching from the Nest.
I was thinking one over the TV, I really like mirrors and FI likes them a lot in bedrooms. Now that your the kinky Fox I'm sure you'll be able to figure out why FI likes mirrors.

[FoxInFiji]

OK so here's some of my ideas for the vintage images. My mom works at the histroical society so she can get me a good discount. The images on the art wall I was thinking of using some from a famous photographer in our area from the early 1900s. I've always loved his work and he was a pioneer in photography on so many levels. All of the images are of rock formations in Wisconsin Dells just north of us. We love to kayak up there and it's neat to see all of these exact same rock formations today. I could get a photo of them from anywhere but part of why I love his stuff is that he mixes in people dressed outfits of the day.













See so I have more than enough to pick from for the gallery wall. I was thinking the one with the empty canoe might look nice above the dresser. It doesn't have any people in it and just looks like a calm photo on the river. You wouldn't even know it's vintage until you looked closer. That one is where I'm the most unsure though because when everything is in the space it might need some color and that lone artwork on that wall would be a good spot to put it.

The two prints on the other wall I was considering these shots but in a sepia tone:





Very similar to the others but taken by a different photographer. These are of one of my favorite hiking spots right near my parent's house. I've never seen vintage prints of it before and neither had my mom! Apparently the park used to go by a different name but in the description of the photos it gave the current name. I have I don't know how many shots of myself and my family next to that curvy old tree which looks very similar only bigger now.

That said I had previously found a print of a painting that I really wanted and thought would work great with the color scheme of the bedroom. I'm kind of obsessed with it.


Originally I thought that could go on the wall with the two vertical prints instead. Not sure if it goes with the vintage prints...I'm admittedly scared to mix too much because I kind of like that more structured look. DH suggested we put the owl print in the bathroom which has a similar tan and cream color scheme...I measured and it would fit nicely size wise.

What do you think?

[sb]

Okay, I think we definitely have some style differences, because u prefer a more collected, mixed look. But I LOVE that first set of photographs especially. I think they'd have more impact if they were contrasted with something completely different, like an abstract painting. But I think you'll be happy with them, definitely. I don't like the owl with these, and I think you'd be better served putting it in the bathroom.

Would you consider mixing the frames within the gallery wall or at least throughout the room?

[FoxInFiji]

May 10, 2012 16:23:13 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

May 10, 2012 16:18:35 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

To replace one of the pictures or to go over the TV? I would love one for over the TV but I don't think that would be in our budget. LOL. I forgot to mention we're considering a convex mirror over the bed instead of artwork...probably going to DIY this if you can believe that. Of course we'll have to attach the crap out of it to the wall so it can't fall on us.

I may or maynot have originally read that to be literally over the bed, and then you turned into a really kinky Fox just from switching from the Nest.
I was thinking one over the TV, I really like mirrors and FI likes them a lot in bedrooms. Now that your the kinky Fox I'm sure you'll be able to figure out why FI likes mirrors.

ROTFL!! OMG Em get your mind out of the gutter! You really think I want to decorate my new space with a mirror on the ceiling like a Vegas hotel room?

I was thinking something more like this:



I really like the round shape because artwork over a headboard with a four post bed can be tricky to get to look right. The posts define the whole space above the headboard and it needs to be filled in proportionally or the artwork looks too small. Exhibit A:



What we had previously was a nice size and shape but the posts make it look tiny.

[FoxInFiji]

May 10, 2012 17:02:10 GMT -5 sb said:

Okay, I think we definitely have some style differences, because u prefer a more collected, mixed look. But I LOVE that first set of photographs especially. I think they'd have more impact if they were contrasted with something completely different, like an abstract painting. But I think you'll be happy with them, definitely. I don't like the owl with these, and I think you'd be better served putting it in the bathroom.

Would you consider mixing the frames within the gallery wall or at least throughout the room?

Aren't they amazing? I've always wanted to own some of his work and now that my mom gets a discount and I have a house I need to fill it's the prefect time to get some. I'm not dead set on getting the other two photographs I was more excited to find them in the 70,000 images they have online.

It's funny that you suggest an abstract painting because that is exactly what I wanted to have leaning on the dresser. I don't have the inspiration online but the painting I liked is a vertical one so I'll have to find something else I like. If I had an abstract painting over the dresser do you think I should try to find two paintings or watercolors for the other wall? Keep the vintage photos all in one spot?

[sb]

I think having a leaning painting on the dresser with the large photograph above would be seriously amazing. Those photographs will make the room, seriously.

If you're not butt crazy in love with the second set, I would just start with the large one for above the dresser and the ones for the gallery wall. Then give yourself some time to live with it and see what you might want for the other space, if anything.

Also, I see zero problem with sepia photos and the tv. The tv's not going to disappear even with b&w photography around it. So choose what's best for the piece. And in this case, that's sepia I think.

[housegeek]

Love the photography, and I agree, think about dropping the second set or putting it elsewhere. They detract from the amazingness of the first set Are you going to frame them, or do like, canvas gallery wraps?

[FoxInFiji]

I slept on it and I agree the second set just isn't going to compare to the first. I'm glad everyone likes the first set and thinks that will look good as a gallery wall. My mom talked to the digital lab people at her work and they said she might be able to get a slightly bigger discount if she's ordering a bunch of prints so that's good news. The digital lab lady also said that his work looks best in sepia and she recommends I stick with that for his pieces. They can adjust the images so that they are all the same color tone as well.

I'm going to have them framed. I like gallery wraps but canvas hides some of the crispness of his photos and it's more modern than framing and matting. Plus the photos aren't all standard sizes so wraps would be hard to do. Matting can easily be cut to any size. If you look closely at the first CAD image I was thinking of having no mat for the panorama because it would add bulk and make the gallery wall really tall. It would be 12x40" or there about of the overhang. Then I would have one horizontal 10x14 (an 11x14 cut down a little) not sure which image I like better for this one...leaning toward the guy in the fishing boat with the oars. One horizontal 16x20 of the two men in a canoe. And one vertical 11x14 of the steamboat with the Victorian ladies. The last one with the rock over the guy in the canoe I wouldn't use then. The big 24x36" over the dresser could be the empty canoe one but I want to see that image in print in person first because it looks a little fuzzy online.

I think we'll definitely wait on the two pieces on either side of the bathroom door. Those could be anything really and I could have more over there. I just didn't want to have too many pieces or it will compete with the gallery wall. And I could always get a few more of the gallery wall artist's prints. By far the most famous picture of his is this:



It's of a popular rock formation that you have to jump to get to. They of course don't let you do that anymore. It's all fenced off. : )

[floridakat]

That last picture makes my butt pucker, LOL.

I really like the photographs, and I like the idea of the gallery wall. Personally I wouldn't overdo it, though. I would probably keep them in just one area of the room, and contrast it with some artwork with some color to it.

[pickle123]

I've seen really nice gallery walls around TV on pinterest....they can be done really well!

pinterest.com/pin/78320480989225554/