If you read the title and you’re a DIYer, you know what I’m talking about. Most of us have wish lists waiting to be completed and piles of supplies waiting to be turned into that finished project we’ve been dreaming about. There are times when those lists and piles are too overwhelming and I would just rather get sucked into a show on Netflix and pitter about on Pinterest. Then, there are times when I’m plowing through the list, trying to find the non-existent end. What I have found with some projects, is that I just need to do what non-DIYers do on a regular basis – just buy the darn thing and get it finished. But, if you’re a DIYer to the core, you know that’s hard to do.
I have been wanting to frame family pictures for years. YEARS! I have had a “to-frame” pile for, seriously, about 10 years. Maybe more. I have a mat cutter. I have mat board. I have frames and glass. And I have beautiful black and white pictures. All the components are there. And yet, there the pile sits unfinished and walls are empty.
My desire to DIY is preventing me from getting this done! I’ve just decided that DIY should stand for “done it yourself”, even though that is terrible grammar. After all, what’s the point of being a do it yourself-er if the project you want to do never gets done?
I’ve been working on the boys’ room for the past few weeks and I arrived at the stage in the process where I needed to hang stuff on the walls. Ugh. My ten year unfinished DIY project is once again brought front and center. Enough is enough. These pictures are getting framed.
When I was Christmas shopping at Target last week, I decided to just buy the frames (mats included). I knew that the mats weren’t the right size for the pictures (which is what made me want to cut mats myself in the first place), but I also knew that I could figure something out and it would look great. At $12.99 for the 5 x7 mats/frames and $19.99 for the 8 x 10’s, these definitely cost more than my DIY version, but again, that’s all pretty useless if it’s in a pile in my studio. I spent very little money on the rest of their room, so I didn’t need to feel bad about spending $92 on frames and mats.
Since the pictures were smaller than the 5 x 7 window in the mat, I decided to back the pictures with some paper. My stash of pretty papers is at the studio (and I wanted to get this done), so I dug through the boys’ art supplies. Ah, ha! Black construction paper would be perfect. Most of these pictures were out of an old photo album and mounted on black paper, so it actually looked like they were lifted from the album, paper and all.
(Update – it’s been pointed out to me that construction paper could be pretty damaging to the old photos, so I’ll replace it with some acid-free, photo-friendly black paper. You get the general idea, though.)
I taped the back of each picture to a piece of the black construction paper…
I used only a couple of pieces of tape, so the picture was allowed to lift a little.
And I taped the top of the construction paper to the mat, making sure the picture was centered in the window.
And they look so good! I was able to finish six pictures in about 30 minutes and they were hung and done. Gloriously done.
And their room is looking so great! I painted the walls in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy, which is a rich, gorgeous blue. It’s definitely dark, but it brings out the floors and furniture beautifully.
When we finished painting the room, we tried bunking their beds. The boys loved that they could clip up blankets and make a fort, but we decided to unbunk them. The ceilings in the upstairs of our 1 1/2 story 1940’s cape cod were just too low. It felt like a massive piece of furniture wedged in the room and the head space (or lack thereof) for the person sleeping on the top bunk was ridiculous. And don’t even ask Jeff about making the beds changing the sheets on the bed. I think he needs a couple of weeks before talking about that ordeal. So, we took the beds apart and made them into two single beds and I gave some more thought to the furniture arrangement.
This room is a decent size, but the shape is very awkward and the sloped ceilings along with the doors to the attic eaves really limit the furniture placement options. Arranging the beds, so they flank one of the windows worked the best.
The beds are then front and center in the room and it frames out the window nicely. The felt Virginia banner belonged to my Opa, who graduated from UVA after WWII. (Our oldest son is named after him.)
You can see one of the Target frames holding a picture of him in a group at UVA. (Not sure what the group is…maybe his fraternity?) Many of the vintage tennis racquets are from his attic in addition to ones I collected over the years at yard sales and thrift stores for a few dollars each.
My mom made the quilts at the end of the beds for my brother when he was a boy and the ticking quilts are the Calhoun quilt from Pine Cone Hill. I’ll show more of the room and the bedding down the road. I still need to make some window toppers and I’d like to find a few more accessories and finishing touches for the room before an official reveal.
I always wanted a Christmas tree in my room when I was a kid, so I decided we would give the boys their own tree this year. They could pick out the lights and ornaments and decorate it themselves. When it came to decorating their tree, more was more. As the poor little tree started sagging under the weight of the colorful mish-mash of ornaments, I resisted the urge to “fix” it. This is their tree and it is about them, not about me. So, there are blinky colored lights and two different kinds of garland…
…and three tree toppers (their compromise), but it melts me every time I see it.
After they decorated it, my youngest son looked up and motioned me down to his level. He gave me a kiss and said, “Thanks so much, mommy, for getting us our own tree.” Aww.
When I showed Jeff my progress on the room after hanging the pictures, he said the room looked great, but commented that it might be better for me than for them. Their preference would probably be for a Star Wars mural or something.
Maybe Jeff was right. Was I highjacking their space to make it to my taste? But the boys walked in and looked at the room and they loved it. They climbed on their beds and their faces lit up. They thanked me and said it looked great.
I told Jeff it was all a part of my plan to train them to allow their future wife to decorate without being questioned. She’ll thank me for it. (Just kidding!)
I thought about their contentedness with allowing me to decorate their room… I think they see that this is my thing. I’m always decorating, rearranging, painting, fluffing and creating and now I’m doing it for them. I think somewhere in their little boy brains, they get that.
As I said, I’ll share more on their room, including some tutorials on things I plan to make…
28 Responses
I’ve instituted a no projects rule in my house. I get bogged down with all my ideas and possibilities and nothing gets done. I’ve purchased a kitchen valence I could have easily made (but never got around to), Christmas stockings out of burlap (which seemed outrageous spending money for such a cheap material), and ordered a new bed skirt from etsy (again which I have the skill to easily make but apparently not the time / energy). Just a few examples of my “get it done” attitude instead of “do it yourself”.
I also bought Christmas gifts this year. Most years I make the gifts and end up stressed and running around at the last minute finishing things up. I will also take store bought appetizers to my holiday gatherings instead of making them. They might not be as good or as impressive as I would have made, but hopefully my friends and family are excited to see me, not just my appetizers!
Yes I am spending more money than if I did it myself. And no I don’t really have money sitting around to spend. But with the money I save on all the supplies (and supplies I buy just in case but end up not needing them) and the time and stress saved I think I am coming out a winner.
It feels good to give myself permission to not have to do everything my self.
Kathleen I need to take a page out of your book! By the time Christmas comes I am so stressed out and usually sick so that I have come to loath December. It is so true that DIYing is not necessarily cheaper–I have a basement full of supplies for projects I just never seem to get to or for “just in case”, that somehow multiplies on its own except of course for the thing you really need! So kudos to you! You are very wise.
Wow! Thank you for writing this. Well said! Well done! Smart of you to lower your stress level. Congrats to you and Ms M.S.
I have decided that I am a DIY supporter! I try to purchase their things..!!!
I love that they have their own tree! I do the same with my two boys. I’m not going to lie, I like my tree. I like it matching the rest of my house, and I love my collection of ornaments. But I did at one time feel guilty about not having a more traditional kids-decorated-this kind of tree. I felt sort of like how your husband did about the room… Like I had kind of made it more about my personal tastes. But last year I had an idea. Why not allow my oldest to pick out his own special tree, for his own room, and decorate it with all of the beautiful decorations he’s made himself. He loved it! He proudly hangs all of his ornaments the same way, and while it might not be exactly how I would do it, he always asks what I think of it, and sits there beaming. We both win! But as for themed sheets, or a mural, I draw the line. That just simply will never happen.
I just got the same frame from Target, a size larger to accommodate 11 x 14″ print, and I love it! Your family photos look great in those clean lined white frames& mats. I’m an artist and recently sold a few of my original artwork that were part of my TV gallery display. I felt like I had to create an original pieces to replace them and I kept the frames empty for a while. Then one day I realized it doesn’t have to be original artwork or even my own artwork at all! For now I fill the blank frames with my art prints, but it’s much better than staring at the incomplete gallery wall! Sometimes we get stuck with our own idea and doesn’t even realize that’s holding us back. Your boys’ room looks great with the dark walls. It’s wonderful that they get to enjoy those precious family pictures every day 🙂
Beautiful…they are young enough to allow and appreciate this. Wait til they hit their tweens…but with a TINY bit of guidance, their individuality will be wonderful. I tried decorating my daughter’s room while she was at camp one year…she was about 14…it was BEAUTIFUL…she walked in and immediately said “I hate it.” When she said she wanted “grey chalkboard” walls and a “fail whale” I thought she was crazy. Turned out totally awesome! I would have NEVER imagined a room decorated like that but it really is awesome and she still loves it 3 years later! Embrace this age…eventually their little “individuality” will come storming out! In due time….
I’m with Beck above. My tweens have distinct ideas of what they want in their rooms and I give them full reign. Enjoy this time when you can do what you want rather than just offer suggestions. But allow them their individuality when it surfaces.
love the color and love the vintage touches- the banner is awesome! my brother is a wahoo!
Is there anything more sweet than a child’s Christmas tree decorated with their own hand made ornaments? We went to Longwood Gardens last year for their Christmas exhibit and they had a group of small trees where all the ornaments had been made by the children from area grade schools.
The old black and white photos really pop in the white frames!
I love this! My husband is always suggesting that I have our son decorate his room, but he is four and decorating is just my thing. I get such joy out of it. My son would decorate his room with a plastic fire engine bed if I let him. While that would be very cool for him, it might kill me a little to have a plastic bed in his room, so I’ve compromised and used old fireman accessories with vintage furniture. He doesn’t seem to mind and I have to agree about the future wife comment (too funny..hee hee..but I agree! Train them while they are young! 😉 Your boys’ room looks great!
I love their tree!
i was just thinking that another cool idea would be to do a whole page of photos on your matt black paper with the black corner holders for each photo, and frame the whole page. your black paper reminds me of the old photo books… – karen
Love your idea of the black corner holders!
Your story seriously hit home! I also have mat board, a mat cutter, and lots of photos. That are currently NOT in frames for the same reason you mentioned, probably for the same length of time, too! And yes, lately I have been scoping out our local framing galleries…. somebody has to get it done. :). And I also have the same affliction as Yuko mentioned above…. doesn’t all art have to be original art? Can I seriously spend money on a print or reproduction? Gotta let it go….
Your boys’ room looks fabulous. I can’t wait to see the total reveal! And I’m happy that you and they are finally seeing those wonderful photos every time you walk in – they look great. (But I second the comment about acid free archival paper…. don’t delay…. a temporary solution can turn into one of the most permanent things around!)
This is so sweet! I am sure my boys would love a Star Wars mural, too. But, I also think they appreciate that I put a lot of thought and time into how their room is decorated, and of course, I ask for their opinions and would not include something I knew they did NOT like. 🙂 I’m working on room redesigns right now. Bunk beds are in our future. I am not thrilled with the idea, but we have a third boy on the way, and so my two older boys are losing their playroom. With all their furniture, clothes, books, and toys being consolidated to one room, there’s just no way around it. Bunk Beds are a must. So, I’m wondering what the ceiling height is in your boys’ room? Ours is 8′. I have measured and re-measured, and there are a couple of bunk beds that are low enough to give the upper bunk ample headroom, but not without sacrificing a lot of headroom in the lower bunk. Anyway, just curious. 🙂
These beds would be perfect with 8′ ceilings. Ours upstairs are probably just under 7′, since I can literally reach up and touch the ceiling (and I’m 5’5.)
I just have to tell you… I fell off of a bunk bed once while attempting to change the sheets. The bruises were so bad I was asked several times, by several strangers if I needed the phone number to a woman’s crisses hotline. Ha! So embarrassing! I sold the bunk bed, found a Jenny Lind on Craig’s List, painted it and now happily change the sheets!
The room looks great! I think a room that the boys will love AND mom can live with is important. Not going too themey allows it to be changed up as needed. Hale navy is one of my faves. So rich!
Marion: Love everything about this room…their own tree, the bedding, the room arrangement. Looks like a boy’s room out of Architechural Digest or at least House Beautiful! I am with you on projects that don’t ever seem to get done and have been known to “go out and buy it” just to get it out of my head. But as you say, that is hard to do; I think the “DIY” gene takes over and makes you get to it. Congratulations on this great room for two darling little boys!
{{HUGS}}
Joy of “theoldefarmhouse.blogspot.com
Looks great and very cozy…..
I was NOT into princess décor or any such thing for my girls. When they were little, they were too little to know or want an input. When they got older (like 5, for the “big girl bed”) we decided together. And our children love what we do in their rooms because they know we did it for THEM–the work and thought put into it–although it may not be Star Wars or Disney Princesses.
My youngest redid her room when she was 10. I knew what the space needed and gave her choices of desks that would work in the space. And she loved my idea of using the nook for a “daybed” space wrapped in bead board. I think they get a sense of our style and go with it. My 15 yr. old is redoing her room now. She likes what she likes, but we are working together. I suggested a plank wall behind her new PB bed with under storage. She played around and picked her bedding set from PB. I totally stayed out of that one! I wanted her to make the final decision so when she changes her mind I can tell her she chose it and know I had nothing to do with it! 🙂
As for the tree…about 3 years ago I bought MY tree. I decorate it how I had envisioned and we have the family tree also. As they get older I am starting to imagine the transition of the “family” tree. They will leave with their ornaments, given to them every Christmas Eve, and I will be left with a new, somewhat empty tree to create and decorate. 🙂
I think there IS something to your theory about “training your sons”…My husband always let me have free reign in those decisions as did my sons. Now my married son lets his wife do the decorating, which she loves, and my unmarried son calls me to decorate his house, in his taste, of course. I think I “trained them up right” in that department…
Love the room. My father in his black paper backed scrapbook would take a white pencil and
make a squiggle line all the way round the photo. Nice touch.
Also my son back in the day had a tiny room and I too painted it navy. My father made two painted plywood wooden soldiers hung on each side of the window. Don’t remember anything else but
it was simple but nice. How many years ago? 44!
Mary
If you are interested in figuring out more about the UVa picture, feel free to send a close up to me and I’ll see what I can do to track down some info.
Many of our buildings look similar, but there are details that can give us hints about which building that is. I actually thought it was my building at first (Peabody Hall), but we don’t have a transom. 🙂
I really love this room for your boys! I have two boys who share a room also and have been looking for simple plug-in sconces to place next to their beds. Can’t seem to find any without swing arms. Could you please share where you got yours? They are perfect.
What a sweet boys room, full of sentiment. I think that’s the great thing about being a boy mom… they let us do what we want. We get to be the princesses. 🙂
I adore the decorations on their sweet little tree – what joy!
Mary