Remember when we mentioned picking up those old iron keys for $8 in an antique shop in West Virginia while visiting John’s grandma? I finally painted them and added them to our hallway frame gallery (you can see how we built that here). That card-stock key in the frame was only a placeholder until I had a chance to finish the real ones.
I could have spray-painted the keys for speed, but I prefer low- or no-VOC paint whenever possible, especially since I keep a gallon of white trim paint on hand. I brushed on several thin coats of Olympic Premium No-VOC semi-gloss in a standard off-the-shelf white. Brushing gave me more control over coverage and allowed me to get into all the little crevices.
Once the paint had a few minutes to cure, I decided the original big ring wouldn’t sit as nicely in that space as three individual keys. Using a hacksaw, I carefully sawed through the iron ring to separate the keys. With the ring removed each key hangs more cleanly and reads better as a small trio on the wall.
After touching up any spots that needed it and letting everything dry, I used plain twine from our junk drawer to hang each key at slightly different heights. The staggered arrangement feels balanced without being too formal—exactly the laid-back look I wanted for that spot in the gallery.
In the spirit of dramatic reveals: behold—there they are, in all their painted, reclaimed glory.
I love the way the keys catch my eye through the wide kitchen doorway. They’re small details, but they add character and a little narrative to the gallery wall—old pieces given new life as simple, modern decor.
They also look nice from the hallway, whether I’m walking toward the back of the house or coming in the front door. Because they’re light and visually discreet, they don’t overwhelm the other frames and objects in the composition.
The painted keys are the newest small addition to our big hallway gallery. We still haven’t tackled the other side of the wall yet—the planning stage left it covered in newspaper, which you can see here. There’s even a short video that shows the wall while it was still wrapped up. Maybe we’ll start on that side soon.
I kept this project simple: find a small vintage piece, clean it up, paint it with low-VOC trim paint, alter it slightly to fit the space, and hang it in a way that complements the rest of the gallery. It’s an easy DIY that makes a big visual difference and is a good reminder that small, thoughtful details can add personality to a home without a huge investment of time or money.
Before I sign off, here’s a little haiku about the keys—because why not add a tiny bit of poetry to a tiny project?
Little iron keys
I painted you white, then hung you
Quiet, familiar.
That’s it for this small update—simple materials, easy steps, and a small piece of history integrated into our everyday decor. Sherry out.