"Spring into Action" the reveal

 ***UPDATE***

 I just realized, based on some of the comments that it seems like I did the entire room in two weeks. I absolutely did not. Much was already in place, I just wanted to show the evolution of the room as whole. This project was about framing and/or hanging eleven pictures, moving things around, and adding the little bar for an overall zhush. Sorry about the confusion. Carry on.

It is not modern. It does not have a sassy mix of styles or anything all that clever but I loooooove my dining room. It has a decidedly masculine feeling but I think that is fabulous in a horsey, cigar and brandy sort of way.

Let's take a minute to recap.

The dining room started as a blank canvas.

We painted it a chocolate brown and added this trim to separate the two rooms that share a wall.

I made a huge mess.

I also bought a bunch of prints to frame and had some that were framed but not hung.

This was my inspiration.

Here is my interpretation of that.

I went with a more symmetrical arrangement because I had similar frames and my husband can't deal with the haphazard look in my inspiration photo.

In this last photo are all of the prints I framed. The two I had originally hanging on this wall belonged to my grandparents and at the last minute I decided to frame them like the others.

Anyone have a cigar?

I am so glad I did. I think a great-great uncle framed them in the 30s or 40s and gave two to each of his nephews and nieces, including my grandfather. Let's just say they needed a redo.

There was a caption taped to the back of each that I saved and will mount to the backs under acetate to preserve them. I have not done this yet.

You can see that their coming into contact with the wood inside the frame had drastically discolored the edges. It was well worth the added cost to reframe them.

Speaking of cost here is the breakdown...

Open back frames 50% off $9 each                                             7 @$9 = $63

UV glass $7                                                                                    7 @ $7= $49

Mat board $5 with coupon                                                                            $5

Foam board                                                                                                     $4

Miscellaneous hardware                                                                                $10

Total                                                                                                         $131

I dug out a receipt from last year when I had something framed. It hadn't dawned on me yet that I could do this myself. It was a comparable size and frame and I paid $52. The regular price was $139 but with a sale and a coupon it was only $52. What I am saying is that even with a sale and a great coupon, having all seven of these framed would have cost me a minimum of $364!!!!

If that doesn't convince you to do your own framing I don't know what will. Even if you have the store cut the mat if you do the framing you will save.

If you did not see my mat cutting and framing tutorials on video they are HERE

In all, I custom framed seven prints and cut mats for two more and used ready-made frames. Then I hung them all. I moved a few things around and grabbed that antique folding table from another room to set up the little bar table. My dining room is now the first room in my house that I feel is "done". I would like an antique huntboard and hardwood floors but that is so far down the road I don't count it as being undone.

Don't forget to check out all of these other great "Spring into Action" projects

  Suzy – Saved by Suzy
Tiffany – Living Savvy

Kerry – Design du Monde (me)

Laurie – Traditional & Modern

Cathy – Room Rx

Carrie – Hazardous Design

Lisa – A Room with A View

Sam – The Junk House

Becca – from Gardners 2 Bergers

Jean – Flower Hill Design

Nancy – Powell & Brower Home

Linda – My Crafty Home Life