DIY Gallery Wall

The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted my DIY project on Instagram feed couple of days ago. It was one of those snowy weekends when I crack open most DIY decorating ideas. However, let me confess, I am really not much of a DIYer but my appetite for crafty projects has skyrocketed ever since this project yielded great results with little to no frustration. 

After going through many "foyer wall" dilemma that I had, this simple, cost effective with high impact idea suited my purpose.  Inspired by the framed 'prabhavalli' that I got it done from a local framing guy on my last year's India visit (see here), I took some creative freedom to do the same with old frames and extra brass accessories. Undertaking this project however did not need any special knowledge or expertise and moreover the result thrilled me. 

Here is the step wise process (luckily I snapped few on my phone) for those who are novice like me to help you understand better.

Few tips:  

• I used the left over frames (from Walmart) that I had in the home but the thrift stores are the best bet to score few frames for this project.

• You may use any kind of unused fabric (I used extra left over silk blouse pieces) However, intense color will elevate the whole look with brass. 

• I ironed the pieces before attaching to frames for an even and smooth look.

• I removed the glass from the frame and used Fevibond (Synthetic Rubber Adhesive) to attach fabric to the cardboard of the frame and the brass accent. 

• You may want to give extra support behind frames to hold up the brass weight.  

• If you don't have brass accents, plain colorful fabric in brocade, ikat, or just about any kind of fabric that speaks to your like or love will equally give you good results.

Now the wall shows my creativity through what I choose to display in my home. The brass bells (another great find of my husband from India) on far left has been with us since two decades but it never looked this attractive. The frames now add the much-needed color and style to this small nook. The pair of two carved elephants is a gift from our cousin from India that he scored from an antique dealer. 

The frames, behaving like a puzzle pieces, are now adorning this nook as if they were meant for it. With a reflective glamour, it now rivets attention to anyone passing by the foyer. And given an opportunity, I wonderfully smug about having it all done by myself :).

Hope this DIY post will bring your hidden creativity to the shore. Feel confident with your style and have courage to experiment. Mix and match - textures, patterns, color, shapes together to create a visual treat. I personally feel this is an excellent alternative to a costly painting or a print.

Until we meet again, enjoy your weekend and stay connected on my Facebook page or Instagram feed for your regular dose of décor, toodles!

My Home - My Pride (Tour of Family Room)

I know, I know...today's post is admittedly overdue, but hey,  I was busy trying to tie up loose ends at my end, besides, better late than never. Moreover, I have a special surprise of a complete home tour :) real soon and you know I am good at keeping my promises. For now let's switch off from the world, as I steal you for a moment to take you on a tour of our handsome Family Room. 

As Gore Vidal once coined, " Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn" can be thrown perfectly to term our Family room. Room being our total chill out zone and tops up bearing lots of traffic yet it’s restful and comfortable for our recreational needs. A homely room for our fervent teenager to whisper gossips over the phone or a place for our cheeky cheery pre-teen to play a win –win game of chess with daddy or just for “us” snatching much needed comfort after a long-gone hectic day. Practical and peaceable style is brought to life by maintaining soothing feel in our family room.

Multihued stone accent wall creates a deep, warm envelope in this room. Winter feels whole lot warmer when you melt down and cuddle as close as possible by the warmth of the flames with a hot chocolate. Eye catching and impactful fireplace screen is a gorgeous focal point in the room to give the classy look. The same fire place mantel, where I exuberantly shake off my seasonal décor itch.

I am big on pictures, specially family pictures. Our previous home, the stairs were jazzed up with our memories of the places we have loved and lived. New home is also smartened with the wall of family portraits and is definitely a colorful personal strike in our personal room. 

The strong thought of  adding drama and excitement to the room, by exhibiting these portraits, was deep in my visual before the wall was even up ;) Though, we could actually execute the happening in last October as we waited for a perfect "Fall" season to capture these in our own ravine. 

These amazing clicks were captured by a very talented gentleman, who happens to be a brainchild of E-Motion Photography. Now, they lend added sparkle in the room by being on a primary wall, where you catch a quick glance as soon as you walk in the room. 

Some happy mix of my old signature collection and few new ones (which caught my fancy while new home shopping) overwhelm the abode. 

Though, I often change my perspective by changing and rearranging things we have had for years to take on a different look. I highly stroke on stirring things around the home to make the same place feel fresh and new.

The sectional couches are insanely comfortable with 2 detached ottomans. Numerous clever variations can be persuaded to organize the sofas. With an abundance of friends, ottomans multiplies the sitting ability in the room or they get dragged down by the fireplace or wherever needed. 

Necessity of a coffee table in our family room was never essential as ottoman topped with trays converts a place to serve and when not in service, those tired feet are rested on them. Oh yes, also a same place where all my cheerful desi twists on coffee table nurtures. 

Bank of windows not only frame the outside nature in the room but also manage to direct the perfect flow of sunlight to brighten the room. The one, by the window, is my coziest spot for a hot cuppa to perk me up when I listen to my favorite "saavn" music to quieten my soul. Overlooking the spectacular view, across the distant pond and its watery reflection on sunny days with increasing brood of ducks/geese, demands the focusing attention to suspend working against the clock, pause and love the moment.

New home commands confidence at times and leaps of huge trust while decorating but we didn’t get much trapped in thinking about how the home or room will come together, we assembled the room pieces by pieces like a puzzle and by adding some of our own design punches to fall perfectly in the rhythm we favored. 

Hoping that you could steal some inspirations from our family room to add some zest and spice up your family room! After bits and pieces, a complete home tour is ready for you. If you may please, take the pleasure of visiting the rest of our home here. Stay connected on facebook page until we meet again, toodles!