it's like The Sims but expensive
March 14, 2022 9:17 AM Subscribe
I have a big empty wall and am seeking two things: 1) a display case to display some things and 2) suggestions for how to paint and fill the space.
This is the wall in question:
blank
with measurements (my line is bad, the distance between corner and edge of the outlet is about 5 feet, I don't want to block the outlet)
from the other side
I've got one of those classically Chicago long narrow houses. This whole wall from corner to door frame (left hand of the first image) is 9 feet long. Ceilings are 7.5 feet high. Opposite that wall where the pile of crap begins on the floor is a hallway width and then 40" of wall, and that's where my dining (lol) table is and a couple boring windows. You can see from the other angle photo that this area is basically extended off from my kitchen.
1) I'm looking for a glass and (probably) metal display case to go in the corner there, oriented facing the dining area. I like the vibe of the Ikea Fabrikor but it's smaller and squatter than I'd like and anyway I think it's sold out. I'm looking at the Milsbo now but would like some alternatives to choose from, if you can provide them! It's a good size (wider ok, taller ok) and plain (I'd probably get the white maybe)--I'm going to put toys and pretty children's books in this so I don't want anything fussy or too "grown up" looking. Most colors will be fine. Budget is "a few hundred" bucks.
2) The wall itself. I think I'm going to paint it a nice loud fuchsia. Most of my house is the cool gray color you see now. I have a few walls painted SW Capri and my front door is SW Cheerful. You can kind of peek the front room in the third pic, it's very bright (big windows, the door is yellow on both sides, and the rugs and window fabric are largely pink) and I have a gallon of navy blue (this one I think?) that I'll put on a few walls in there. So anyway yeah from the edge of the door on the left (I don't want to extend it into the kitchen so I guess I'll just paint a line straight up and divide the space there??) to the corner I'll probably paint it SW Dynamo and then leave the rest of the space the gray.
So with the display case up and the wall painted in a happy color, that's still several feet of open wall that deserve some love. I'm very very slowly buying small art in a way that my budget and taste allows--I guess this is a situation for a gallery wall? Please tell me how to do this, like literally drawing rectangles on the wall would be amazing if this is something you like to do. I have done a little bit since asking this question and I'm finally feeling like I've got energy to take on another little bit.
This is the wall in question:
blank
with measurements (my line is bad, the distance between corner and edge of the outlet is about 5 feet, I don't want to block the outlet)
from the other side
I've got one of those classically Chicago long narrow houses. This whole wall from corner to door frame (left hand of the first image) is 9 feet long. Ceilings are 7.5 feet high. Opposite that wall where the pile of crap begins on the floor is a hallway width and then 40" of wall, and that's where my dining (lol) table is and a couple boring windows. You can see from the other angle photo that this area is basically extended off from my kitchen.
1) I'm looking for a glass and (probably) metal display case to go in the corner there, oriented facing the dining area. I like the vibe of the Ikea Fabrikor but it's smaller and squatter than I'd like and anyway I think it's sold out. I'm looking at the Milsbo now but would like some alternatives to choose from, if you can provide them! It's a good size (wider ok, taller ok) and plain (I'd probably get the white maybe)--I'm going to put toys and pretty children's books in this so I don't want anything fussy or too "grown up" looking. Most colors will be fine. Budget is "a few hundred" bucks.
2) The wall itself. I think I'm going to paint it a nice loud fuchsia. Most of my house is the cool gray color you see now. I have a few walls painted SW Capri and my front door is SW Cheerful. You can kind of peek the front room in the third pic, it's very bright (big windows, the door is yellow on both sides, and the rugs and window fabric are largely pink) and I have a gallon of navy blue (this one I think?) that I'll put on a few walls in there. So anyway yeah from the edge of the door on the left (I don't want to extend it into the kitchen so I guess I'll just paint a line straight up and divide the space there??) to the corner I'll probably paint it SW Dynamo and then leave the rest of the space the gray.
So with the display case up and the wall painted in a happy color, that's still several feet of open wall that deserve some love. I'm very very slowly buying small art in a way that my budget and taste allows--I guess this is a situation for a gallery wall? Please tell me how to do this, like literally drawing rectangles on the wall would be amazing if this is something you like to do. I have done a little bit since asking this question and I'm finally feeling like I've got energy to take on another little bit.
A gallery wall is a great idea, and the flaily state of "how do I do this" that you're in may be a good thing right now.
Instead of a Permanently Done gallery wall that you do once and then leave it, you could intentionally go with a sort of in-flux approach. And that may be way more fun, and will help you figure out what you like best - and you can move stuff around as you like. Get a LOT of Command hooks, and a lot of extra adhesive stickies - and then just start putting stuff up. Command makes plastic clips that are strong enough to hold a single sheet of paper - so you don't even need to frame something, just stick the clip up there and stick the paper in there. If you decide two weeks from now you don't like that particular print, no big deal - just take it out of the clip and put something else up there.
Maybe try living like that a while - like your wall is a giant bulletin board and you randomly put stuff up willy-nilly as the mood strikes you. Over time you'll settle on something, and THAT is when to look into frames and Permanent Placement.
Or you could do a compromise - hang a bunch of clipboards up on the wall, and use the clipboards to hold the pictures and swap them out as you like.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:24 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Instead of a Permanently Done gallery wall that you do once and then leave it, you could intentionally go with a sort of in-flux approach. And that may be way more fun, and will help you figure out what you like best - and you can move stuff around as you like. Get a LOT of Command hooks, and a lot of extra adhesive stickies - and then just start putting stuff up. Command makes plastic clips that are strong enough to hold a single sheet of paper - so you don't even need to frame something, just stick the clip up there and stick the paper in there. If you decide two weeks from now you don't like that particular print, no big deal - just take it out of the clip and put something else up there.
Maybe try living like that a while - like your wall is a giant bulletin board and you randomly put stuff up willy-nilly as the mood strikes you. Over time you'll settle on something, and THAT is when to look into frames and Permanent Placement.
Or you could do a compromise - hang a bunch of clipboards up on the wall, and use the clipboards to hold the pictures and swap them out as you like.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:24 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
$500 and under, display cabinets:
Three wood and glass cabinets; one in metal and glass [Wayfair]
Wood and glass cabinets [Walmart] [Also, Amazon]
--
Wild cards: Vintage large and small wall display cases; mid-century display cabinet [Etsy]
You could make an offer on this tall, narrow "Bassett Furniture Glass Display Curio Cabinet" [Chairish]
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:01 PM on March 14, 2022
Three wood and glass cabinets; one in metal and glass [Wayfair]
Wood and glass cabinets [Walmart] [Also, Amazon]
--
Wild cards: Vintage large and small wall display cases; mid-century display cabinet [Etsy]
You could make an offer on this tall, narrow "Bassett Furniture Glass Display Curio Cabinet" [Chairish]
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:01 PM on March 14, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
Extreme maximalist here would aim for an odd number of pieces and a variety of frame shapes and sizes. I would incorporate a wall mirror or a clock because I enjoy art that is also functional.
Love your fuschia paint choice. My bathroom is getting painted today with a second coat of this aggressively cheerful pink and a glitter top coat.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 10:07 AM on March 14, 2022 [2 favorites]