would you ever do a photo gallery wall in the dining room?

12 years ago

I have a large collection of antique photos from both dh's family and my own, and I really want to use them in my home decorating. I prefer a gallery wall rather than scattering them around. But the room I thought was the most appropriate for a gallery of family photos,which is the family room, has four doorways, a wall of windows, and another wall for the big screen t.v., so not a lot of space for pictures. In fact the only room on the main floor that has a large expanse (9 ft) of ununinterrupted space to create a gallery is the dining room (although it is not a large room, just around 11 X 14 1/2 ft.) I'm concerned about the appropriateness of personal photos in the dining room - even though they are mostly of relatives who are long deceased. My other option is to use the stairways as gallery walls and if so, is the front stairway wall appropriate or only the back stairway? Any thoughts? TIA!

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Comments (12)

lala girl
12 years ago
I love old photos and we have done this - we hung a collection on a wall in the dining room, and for the small photos we had, we mounted those in an old window. I am also one that does not love photos scattered around. I think they have more impact when they are collected and shown together.

For a large wall like you have, I think the photos would look amazing collected together into a gallery. In terms of whether it is too personal, I love them for that exact reason!. We always get tons of compliments and interest in the photos - people love seeing the old general who has my DH's nose!

HTH!
WannBeHome
12 years ago
laurainlincoln those are really inspiring!!!
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Your line about "who makes the cut" has really struck a nerve with me. Let me explain. I have the strong opinion that you can do whatever you want with the photos (ie. "who makes the cut"). What you see and how you feel from the displays is all you. A display with a topic theme, color theme, or whatever theme is going to be fabulous as long as you go with your heart and your gut. I had a terrible MIL (EX now!) who actually took the time to inventory WHO was displayed in photos, HOW they were displayed, and concocted her own storylines on why I elected to leave out certain people, include others, and have some more prominent than others. She had the gall to have "sit-down talks" with me several times about my choices in displayed photos. She started sending photos with little post-it notes on where they would "look nice" & which one's I should change out. It gnawed at her to no end that I changed nothing despite her passive-aggressive instructions. I hope your family and/or friends are not the likes of the old hag I used to deal with. You should never, EVER have to explain the reasonings (themes, etc) of photos and why you display what you do. Don't want to bring a downer to this & hope I'm not making you think harder into it. This just brought back some bad memories and it's really too bad it had to go that way. End of therapeutic vent. Gayle
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If you have lots of art try some on either side of the fireplace, remove that mantel and get one in a wood similar to the table and add some proper trim around the fireplace. The mantel is too high to do much for decor. It seems odd to have the fireplace in this narrow DR was it something else before ? Some nice window coverings , remove the stacked tables in the corner and the clutter from the ledge.When doing the art just keep working at what works well together and I would google how to hang multiple art on a wall.I don’t love gallery walls but sometimes they do the trick if done right.
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IdaClaire
12 years ago
Laura, your gallery is wonderful! Will you tell me how you adhered the photos to the window panes? I love that!
lala girl
12 years ago
hi auntjen - thanks! the photos are actually mounted between 2 panes of glass - the glass holds the photos in between and they actually stay right in place. But with all of the glass, the window is HEAVY, we have to use special wall cleats to hang it. :-)
edie_thiel
12 years ago
laurainlincoln - wonderful gallery and dining room!
victoriajane
Original Author
12 years ago
laurainlincoln thank you so much! That is exactly what I am looking for. I also love the "stories" behind the pictures, the colorful characters, etc. But for some reason I had in my mind - I guess I read it somewhere - that pictures of people didn't belong in the dining room, and if having a sea of serious faces staring at them while they eat makes guests uncomfortable, well, I certainly don't want that! But your dining room gallery looks perfectly welcoming, so I think I will try it. Thanks again!
sundownr
12 years ago
laurainlincoln, love your photos!

Although they aren't people, I did this in my dining room. The second photo shows more of the room but it's a wide angle lens so not really in proportion. The wall you don't see on the left is all windows.

The third photo is my inspiration photo. Having the framed photos lets you overlap them more.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}
teacats
12 years ago
laurainlincoln:

GORGEOUS dining room and kitchen!! Please, please consider starting a fresh thread and post more photos of your home! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage
teacats
12 years ago
Just saw the other thread -- and checked out your photobucket album -- Wow!! Very very pretty home!
kristinekr
12 years ago
Lauralincoln--I love your window picture idea!

I just bought an old printer case to do something similar with photos.

Sundownr--your room is stunning! I love the animal print rug and love the photo shelves.
amj0517
12 years ago
laurainlincoln - a few years ago we removed an old window from the garage when we got new siding. We stored it forever because I was "going to do something with it". When we moved I threw it away, to my DH's delight. It was junk to him. I am kicking myself right now!!!!

To answer the original question, YES! I think a photo gallery in the dining room makes a wonderful conversation piece.
pammyfay
12 years ago
Why would a dining room be the wrong place for it? Isn't a dining room where families gather, where people share a meal together, share stories together, build memories together? (Well, if the wine keeps flowing, that is!)

Because I live in a townhouse, I have limited wall space. But I love displaying pictures of the people I love, and I've never been one to go along with that "public spaces" rule of keeping some spaces neutral. So my photos are everywhere! (Well, not the bathrooms--I know there are some people who put vintage photos in there, but that might be the place that might freak me out!)

would you ever do a photo gallery wall in the dining room?

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lala girl

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would you ever do a photo gallery wall in the dining room?

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