Family photo makeover transforms hallway, enhances architecture
BEFORE AFTER

In nearly every client home I enter, ways to display family photos in new and creative ways constitutes a major priority. Recently, one of my local clients, Michelle, presented the challenge of finding an attractive and functional way of giving her son, Alex, a new-and-improved wall of fame in their second floor hallway. As it was, the hallway was lined with a series of 8x10 photos featuring Alex from babyhood to the age of 10. These pictures were displayed at three different heights down the hallway, creating a zigzag effect. As a result, focus was drawn to the zigzag itself rather than to Alex. In order to remedy the problem, we used moldings to define four separate areas on the hallway walls. Within each inset, we painted the wall a deep shade of bronze. Outlined by the clean, fresh white moldings, the insets injected architectural detail while creating a definable focal point for the photos. Treating each area like a blank canvas, I created collages of the various photos according to frame style and age. Additionally, I layered in some of Michelle's favorite small-scale wall decor pieces featuring hearts and angels. The result was a hallway that not only gives Alex the elegant wall of fame he deserves, but also an enhancement of the architecture that widens and increases ceiling height.
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This technique can be used in various areas of the home since it is elegant and architectural. Many clients ask me if it is okay to repeat such molding details in different areas of the home. The answer is yes- -any long, empty wall is in need of additional architectural detailing. This also goes for walls that already have art on them (but in many cases still aren't working). In an ideal world, every major focal point of the home would have architectural details that give form as well as function. This is the job of interior design and architecture firms around the world- -to give architectural backbone to otherwise undefined walls. In addition to the detail I have shown here, you can add beadboard or barnboard moldings within picture frame insets, as entire walls, or as chair rail or picture rail details wrapping the entire room. These solutions are often less expensive than you might think, and they increase the value, character, and personality of your home.