Take Your Gallery Wall from Boring to Glamorous

Gallery walls first became popular in the early 2000s, and even more than 20 years later, they are still a feature many homeowners love and want to incorporate into their homes.

However, there is no reason a gallery wall has to be a traditional collection of photos. The Lisa Gilmore Design team has created many gallery wall installations, but always with a creative twist.

Here are a few ideas for giving traditional gallery walls a fresh and modern twist. 

6 Creative Gallery Wall Looks 

Child Artwork

Display your child’s favorite masterpieces on your gallery wall. Swap the pieces out every so often to keep your gallery wall fresh.

Travel Postcards

Relive your travel memories every day by placing postcards on a gallery wall. You can add other travel-related items to your gallery wall too, such as ticket stubs, maps, and currency.

What better way to remember your loved ones than to display family mementos. Things like recipes, handwritten cards, and war memorabilia keep your loved one’s memory alive and foster conversation with guests.

Mirrors

We all know that mirrors reflect light and make rooms feel larger. Mirrors also invite energy into a space and add dimension to a gallery wall. And, you don’t have to stick to a traditional, rectangular shape. You can look for a mirror with a funky frame or shape to add interest to your wall.

Creative Framing

Speaking of different types of frames, there are so many options to choose from, but it is best to commit to one style for your wall. You could go with a wild and whimsical vibe or pick frames that are more stately and grand.

Non-Traditional Items 

Think outside the box when it comes to selecting items for your gallery wall. Non-traditional items like hats, shallow baskets, and plates add interest and texture to a gallery wall.

Installing a gallery wall in your home is a great way to add interest, and, at the same time, display objects that are meaningful to you. When creating your wall, think of yourself as a museum curator, and consider what type of art you might like to add to your collection. The possibilities are endless.

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Unexpected Use of Purple in a Home Office

It’s no secret that the Lisa Gilmore Design team loves injecting bold and bright colors into our clients’ homes.

But, even more important to us is giving our clients spaces that are reflections of their unique personalities and lifestyles. 

And, on some projects, those two things– client desires and bold colors– combine to create something really special.

That’s what happened on this project. The homeowners had spent 12 years living in Singapore where the style was all-white and minimal. When they purchased a 1,522-square-foot condo in downtown St. Petersburg, they were ready for a change. In fact, the homeowner said, “I told Lisa we wanted bright and colorful, and that if [my wife] went behind my back to ask for off-white, to please report back to me.”

Our team kept this in mind when approaching the home office. 

There were two rooms in the house– the office and the primary suite– in which we didn’t use the client’s existing art. At first, it was intimidating to not have a prized art piece for direction; it was true open design! But then we found the Erin McIntosh piece and knew it would be perfect over the sofa. 

And, for the space adjacent over the desk, we selected a beautiful embroidery piece stitched on handwoven silk canvas made by Akiko Kotani in the 70s. It was the perfect delicate, but bold, piece to complement the geometric sofa and drapery.

Photo by Native House Photography

When it came to paint color, we wanted a color that set a playful tone for bold art and fabrics but didn’t look childish. We looked at many colors, and honestly questioned if we were pushing the limits too much with Benjamin Moore’s Softened Violet, but instinct kept bringing us back to it. It feels fresh, happy, and soothing all at once. When you walk in the room, you instantly feel the happy, artsy energy!

This room intentionally throws color in your face. And, the clients were thrilled with the end result.

Photo by Native House Photography

Photo by Native House Photography

If you like purple and violet hues, there are many ways to incorporate them into your home. If painting an entire wall or room purple is too bold for you, consider incorporating purple through upholstery or drapery fabrics. Or, find an older, vintage piece of furniture, and give it new life with fresh paint. Imagine a lovely bookcase in this striking, happy color!

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

The homeowner works from home and frequently has Zoom calls, so having a pretty background was important.