Remember the “Things That Are Awesome” print we picked up at a local craft fair last Christmas from an artist named Rachel? We bought it with the plan to hang it in the guest room so visitors could study all the awesome things while they stayed. It’s one of those small pieces that instantly feels personal and cheerful.
We finally framed it and hung it up.
This angle of the guest room hadn’t been shown here in ages. The last post featuring it was a couple summers ago, and since then we moved a big mirror over the kitchen mantel and sold the old Ikea dresser at a yard sale after it started falling apart. That left this wall pretty bare for a while.
Eventually we pulled in a bookcase we had on hand from a photo shoot. The shelf-backs had been painted in different colors for that shoot, so the bookcase brought a bit of personality to the space right away. All that was left was to get a frame for the print — a quick trip to JoAnn with a coupon in hand did the trick.
From a distance the print reads as a cheerful, graphic piece, and knowing it was made by a fellow Virginian makes it feel even more special.
This close-up shows the detail better — it’s the kind of print you can study for ages and still find little things to smile about.
Another important task was anchoring the bookcase to the wall. It’s a safety measure for Clara and for any guests who visit with little ones. Thankfully the Target bookcase we used included an anchor system, so installation was straightforward and reassuring.
A few days later I walked in and saw that Clara had already given the room her stamp of approval — she was curled up with a book on the shelf, and it completely made my day.
Have you ever had rooms in your home that sat untouched for years and then suddenly became the focus of activity? I wonder why that happens. Maybe when a room seems nearly finished, attention drifts to other spaces, and only later do you realize one corner has been quietly waiting for a little love.