A Gallery Wall...Before and After...

You might remember when I recently found this painting at the thrift store.
I loved the colors and the look and it inspired me to go
in a totally new direction with my living room re-do project.

We have a very long wall in our living room, which stretches out over our stairway. I always tried to center an arrangement over the sofa...and I've been unhappy with everything I've tried. I've also been unhappy with the yellow paint and taupe wainscoting...the room always felt dark.

The before...

And the after...

The painting inspired me to create a gallery wall of all of the paintings I've picked up over the years. We are loving this wall, and have more paintings to add to it, to cover the length of the rest of the wall (not in the photo). We painted the top of the wall Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter and the wainscoting is Behr's Swiss Coffee. The room is incredibly bright now.

As a vintage dealer, I have a collection of paintings found at thrift stores and garage sales, and a few vintage sales.

The painting below is my favorite, an oil portrait of our pug, Bailey, done several years ago by our daughter as a Christmas gift. She is a talented artist,

and we love having her art around the house.

We are looking forward to adding more to the wall...it is the first thing people notice now, a real focal point...and I finally LIKE the wall!

I am joining~

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Tweak It Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday
Thrifty Life Thursday

Until next time...

33 comments

Vintage Market PlaceMay 26, 2014 at 9:37 PM
Love it Linda.
The colors and subjects are so great against the neutral wall color.
It all pops and is so intriguing. It pulls you in.
Great job!
AMy
Blessed SerendipityMay 27, 2014 at 12:17 AM
I love your new arrangement too. It's very colorful and interesting to look at. Enjoy your newly decorated space.

xo Danielle
Vickie @ Ranger 911May 27, 2014 at 5:35 AM
You've got a wonderful mix of paintings in your gallery wall, Linda. And your daughter's painting of Bailey is a real treasure! She's a very talented artist!
Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsMay 27, 2014 at 5:41 AM
It looks great, Linda. I love the mix of art you have used in your gallery wall. I think that is the great thing about gallery walls ~ they are open to using whatever you want to display whether it is pictures, artwork, monograms, whatever.
Carlene @ Organized ClutterMay 27, 2014 at 5:45 AM
Brighter and far more interesting! Love the pug painting!
OliveMay 27, 2014 at 6:24 AM
I love your gallery wall. I find them fun and it is a bit difficult to stop once you start!
Curtains in My TreeMay 27, 2014 at 8:19 AM
Of Course my favorite painting on the gallery wall is that sweet pug Bailey
I have 2 pug painting on my gallery wall also
camp and cottage livingMay 27, 2014 at 10:39 AM
Linda
I love it! I like your collection of painting, especially your sweet Bailey.
It's made such a difference.
juselig@cox.netMay 27, 2014 at 11:21 AM
Love it! Your daughter is very talented...such soulful eyes.
DonnaMay 27, 2014 at 12:48 PM
Gorgeous! I love what you did with the wall, Linda. I've always liked hanging lots of art in one area, in fact, I've got art all through the house. Love the pug painting. Your daughter is very talented!
Christy KMay 27, 2014 at 1:16 PM
That looks GREAT! I just love it - so fun and so much interesting art. Love the painting of your pug. I think I should commission one of our Cocker Spaniel! My goodies arrived today and my daughter and I had fun looking at everything. We laughed because we own that set of flashcards and still use them! Thank you! I love all of it.
Pam KesslerMay 27, 2014 at 7:44 PM
Oh, I like it too! And Bailey's painting is adorable.
ReviMay 27, 2014 at 10:26 PM
What a fun change - and it suits you so well! I have thrifted art, too, and I prefer it to prints. Your daughter is amazingly talented! That painting is wonderful- very, very well done.
Deanies StashMay 28, 2014 at 3:40 AM
I love the gallery wall. The new wall color is also very nice. Your daughter is an amazing artist. The painting of your pug is a real treasure. Great change in your living room! It looks very inviting.

Hugs, Dianne
Faye May 28, 2014 at 4:03 PM
Your wall looks so nice. I love all the artwork. I thought of you when I discovered an almost empty 5 gal. bucket of Swiss Coffee in the shed in AZ. All the walls in that house are painted that color! It's a nice color too!
Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresMay 28, 2014 at 8:07 PM
I love it! It looks so "collected over time" and not forced. Every painting is so unique, but they all work so well together.
UnknownMay 28, 2014 at 8:31 PM
love it!! looks just like the pages of the country living magazine collector's article!
DonnaMay 29, 2014 at 1:09 PM
Adore the transformation! And the pug painting is just precious.
Ivy and ElephantsMay 29, 2014 at 6:56 PM
So much brighter! I love the mix of prints and frames, a designer touch!
Love it!
Hugs,
Patti
CeciliaMay 29, 2014 at 7:25 PM
It looks fabulous! I love the painting your daughter did of your pug too! Like the new colors for the wall also...it makes the art work really shine.
AnnMay 30, 2014 at 2:00 PM
The living room redo looks wonderful. The grouping of paintings is fun, interesting and unique. Your daughter is a talented artist, indeed.
BlissMay 30, 2014 at 5:37 PM
OK... the after is sooooo much better. Art gallery comes to mind.
Ceekay-THINKIN of HOMEMay 30, 2014 at 9:49 PM
This is lovely....and your daughter's art is fabulous. Those eyes on your doggie look so real....Wish she could do one of my Bentley!!
Vicki@MorePowerfulBeyondMeasureMay 31, 2014 at 7:28 PM
Love it Linda!!! Your daughter did a wonderful job on Bailey's portrait. Portraits of animals are a bit difficult to do.Your grouping flows and looks great together. I collect vintage portraits of people I don't know:-) and hope to one day be able to create something similar on my large living room wall. Best, Vicki
The Boston LadyJune 1, 2014 at 12:03 AM
It looks great, Linda! I love the inspiration picture that started this idea, but the beautiful painting of Bailey is priceless. Great idea! Ann
sandyJune 1, 2014 at 10:04 AM
Wonderful transformation! The pictures are lovely! Looks like it really brightens up the room!
DebbiedoosJune 1, 2014 at 5:03 PM
That is fabulous Linda! Love the portrait too, it is fantastic.
Mimi SueJune 1, 2014 at 11:17 PM
Well, I love the wall Linda! Great job. Mimi
MelanieJune 2, 2014 at 1:30 PM
Oh my goodness, I LOVE it! So much brighter and full of personality. Your daughter is a very talented artist!
Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJune 2, 2014 at 3:47 PM
Love the Gallery Wall!! So glad that this style of decorating is coming back!! I hate the minimalist style!! My walls are covered!!

Hugs,
Deb
K J DJune 5, 2014 at 4:41 PM
I LOVE the wall :) and especially the wonderful painting your daughter did of Bailey. So cute.

I think I told you before my daughter is a bit pug obsessed... they seem to be everywhere over here at the moment ;) I have a pug card on my desk waiting to be sent to her!

I love seeing your home decor .....

Karen x
ReviJune 6, 2014 at 4:17 PM
I will feature your gallery wall tonight in the belated Thrifty Life Thursday at Revisionary Life!