One of the last projects in my old house was a photo gallery wall at our staircase leading to the lower level.
Well over the weekend I decided to fill up the staircase leading to the second floor in the new house with the same frames. The only problem… half of them broke during the move. Luckily my local Walmart had the same frames still in stock so I scooped up what they had left with the hopes of finding more later.
So since I knew I was buying the additional frames from Walmart, I decided to just go ahead and order some prints from the same location.
Early Saturday morning I head out to pick up them up and the woman checking me out in the photo department said there was a note on the package… I need a copyright release form from the photographer. The only problem? I was the photographer. And they somehow needed proof that I actually took the photos. Uhh… how does someone prove that?? Bring up my laptop? Take some photos right there of her and show how I can capture all the beauty in overhead florescent lighting?
I tried to explain that I just have a pretty good camera and know Photoshop well enough to fake somewhat good photos. I have a blog. I’m a graphic designer. I basically take photos daily.
The worker asked if I had a business card to prove my blog, but of course I didn’t. I told her I could pull up my website on my phone to prove it, but she said it had to be a business card or a signed copyright release form on letterhead. URGH. So I left the store with new frames in hand, and zero photos to fill them.
I ran home to grab a business card just to run back up to the store to try and prove I took those photos. But luckily my husband had to run some errands and said he would swing by Walmart for me, business card in hand.
Aaaaand… they didn’t even ask him for it. Nope. They straight up gave him the photos, no questions asked. No copyright release form needed. No business card to prove my blog. Let’s just say it was a long Saturday morning and I will now go back to ordering all of my prints online.
So… back to the project.
Since I knew I would be regularly changing out the photos and adding some new ones in the short future, I went ahead and used the Command Brand strips to hang the frames.
And 10 minutes later my staircase looked like this…
We also installed some mahogany bamboo natural shades on the large window at the landing.
And I want to almost double the amount of frames. Is that too many? I just love displaying family photos though and think this is one of the best places in the home to have a gallery wall.
So at least we’re making a lot of progress in this space, but there’s still two more projects I want to tackle: install a valance like this one from Wayfair and change out the pendant lighting.
Would it be weird if I used our old dining room chandelier? Remember I found the new one at Costco for $100? Well our old Oil Rubbed Bronze chandelier is just sitting in the basement and I think it might look really good with all of the dark elements and fill up the space a little better.
Your thoughts?
Is a dining room chandelier too big for this space?
Ariel @ One Life To Build says
Your gallery is beautiful! I’m sorry that happened to you at Wal-Mart. How frustrating…
howtonestforless says
Thanks Ariel! Yes, definitely frustrating…
Wendie Waldman says
The chandelier looks wonderful, as do your pictures. I think I would write WM management.
howtonestforless says
Thanks so much Wendie! I understand the WM policy and I’m sure photographers appreciate it. Just frustrating when you can have quality photos with any good camera these days! I should at least write them to say that!
kw says
yes—put up the old dining rm chandelier!!!
it looked great in your photoshopped pix. it’s more contrast & warmth to the space….will look great!
[then keep the one that’s up now…never know when another recycle project will come up!]
the cornice you put in the pix looked good too!
howtonestforless says
Thank you!! Ok… now off to find a really really tall ladder!
kw says
🙂 i hope you love it when it’s up!
howtonestforless says
Me too 😉
cj scanlon says
a friend of mine used one picture eye level on each stair going up each step, so u could see each picture one at a time. if next time u change out ur pictures,just a new thought. have a good day and keep up good work
howtonestforless says
Ooh, that’s very smart! Thanks for the tip! We’ll definitely be rearranging as I get more frames.
Jill says
I think the dining room chandelier is a better size for the space actually. One suggestion on the valance though… I would hang it as high as you can so that the bottom of the valance just clears the top of the shade headrail by a few inches. That way your window will look bigger and taller and will accent the bigger light better as well.
Megan says
I love the window treatment on your stairwell window! I have that same huge window in my stairwell (and it looks right into the neighbor’s huge window!) and I’ve been stumped on what to do with it. The bamboo shade with valance looks fantastic. I found your site via Pinterest, and was surprised when I saw photos of your house, because I think we may have the same house plan (or very similar) – ours is a McBride Nottingham.
howtonestforless says
Haha, ours is the same plan!! We modified it a little bit. I do love the bamboo shade to block out our neighbors. Also blocks the harsh sun during the day that streams in through that window. Too funny that you have the same plan… and small world!
Megan says
Definitely a small world! I came here for the Reese’s Gooey Butter cake, and found a house twin 😉 We didn’t build our house, but it was only a year old when the original owners sold to us – so it is brand new but certain things are not quite what I would have chosen. I love your white kitchen, and I especially love your butler’s pantry. We have that same desk in the breakfast room, but nothing above it, just a HUGE empty space. I thought about adding cabinets, and it was great to see how nice it looks in your house.
I definitely notice the changes in your plan – we don’t have the hearth room, and I think your second floor is different? I can’t quite put my finger on how, but when I look at the pics of the bedrooms they don’t seem to match ours.
howtonestforless says
Ha, seriously too funny! We did the extended master bedroom but made the sitting room into a huge master closet. Then gave the original His & Hers master closets to two of the other bedrooms. And cabinets above to create a butler’s pantry is my favorite part of the house. Lots of storage! Glad you could see what it looks like if you ever want to add them 😉 I might be coming to you for additional design ideas for strange areas in the house… like the loft area! 😉
Melissa says
Love the chandelier in the stairway. Your home is coming along beautifully.
howtonestforless says
Thank you Melissa!