Do you remember these prints we found at a yard sale last year for $10 each? They’re vintage, professionally framed prints of Alaska berries and wildflowers — a sweet reminder of our honeymoon there.
We spray-painted the frames (and the mats) and originally hung them on either side of our bed. If that doesn’t jog your memory, this old photo from that post might.
Recently, they finally came together above the bed in a new arrangement.
Here’s how it happened. It started when our ram head (the one we used as a focal piece during a book shoot) fell during a shoot and didn’t survive the drop.
Since Ramsey couldn’t be repaired, the space above our bed was empty for months. We considered hunting down a similar piece — which Sherry was eager to do — but we decided to reuse what we already had and try the framed prints there instead. Before making new holes, we propped the frames up to visualize the placement.
At first we worried the chandelier might obscure them, but the layout looked promising. The challenge was that these are heavy frames needing two anchored screws each. We also wanted them centered over the bed and level with each other while minimizing new holes in the wall.
So we put together a straightforward—and surprisingly effective—system to hang them. I reused the original holes I’d measured before and taped a piece of sewing thread across the wall to create a level guide.
I double-checked the thread with a level to be sure it was perfectly straight before making any marks. Good thing — it was level.
Next we determined the horizontal placement so the frames would be evenly spaced between the bedposts. I sketched a quick plan and did a bit of basic measuring (yes, a touch of algebra) to find the center points.
The ram’s old hole served as our center reference. From there I measured 13.5″ to each side to mark the center of each frame. Because the frames hang on two screws for stability, I marked two points a couple of inches apart for each frame. We also decided to hang them slightly lower than before, so I adjusted the height using the taped level guide.
It sounds complicated, but the result was worth it. We tweaked the spacing so the prints sit about 5″ apart, with roughly 8″ from each print to the nearest bedpost.
We really like how they fill the space now — the prints feel more balanced and substantial than the ram head did.
From a normal standing viewpoint the chandelier overlaps them slightly, which creates a layered look without feeling crowded. The photos here were taken with a tripod about four feet tall, so perspective varies a bit, but the overall effect is pleasing.
We didn’t get a straight-on shot at eye level this time, but here’s a side view to show how it reads from the bed. We’ll capture more angles next time.
That said, the room still needs a lot of work. Step back and you can see the emptiness around the bed — there’s plenty left to do before it feels complete. As Sherry likes to say: we’ve got plans for days.
We’ve got a few projects lined up this weekend and we’ll share updates as they happen. What are you working on this weekend? Any home projects on your list? Have you ever used string as a temporary level guide when hanging art? It actually works really well.
Psst — we announced this week’s giveaway winner; check the announcement to see if it’s you.