Lazier than you! I use command hooks. And for the really heavy stuff, I put it and leave it forever.

I'm too lazy (and probably disinterested in a change) to do that too. Things usually stay where they're put. except for the moveable things I lose all over the house... (most anything including tape measure, box cutters, paper work...)

First one.....

Agmss, I think that is a brilliant idea!!! I love moving things around and my artwork is one thing that doesn't get changed much. But you have the perfect solution. I think I would leave a good 6" between the "holder" and the trim.

It should be explained - I have A LOT of art. And a little house. My mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, two uncles, an aunt, step father and many friends are/were artists.

And my house is fairly new - I was distressed at the number of holes I had poked into my walls in a few years...

That said I have waves of energy - I need to take advantage this one before my attention wanders. Lol! And I live in the land of pure hardy people who cleared their land and built their own houses with horses and a chainsaw. I do not compare.

I am clueless to how far they should be to be right. I would think it is what feels right to you. I really like your idea though and can even see more than one piece of art leaning in the tracks/picture ledges one slightly in front of another of they compliment each other. I see it done on mantels.

I do not have a lot of wall space here so not much option to move things. And I am one that LOVES to move things. Even so when I painted my studio to become the guest room I realized how many times I had moved things in there. I was patching holes forever.

Ok bad photos to show what I mean.... I can't photograph from far enough away and hold the shelf.... My concern is making a line all the way around the room that isn't perfectly level. I am incapable of perfectly doing anything. Lol!

And relevent to nothing a letter B - I beaded for my Grammy many years ago. I can see it in the photos above.

I think I agree a gap - even bigger than I was thinking. I have some minor technical issues to correct and hopefully I will get these actually finished. And up. I have a pet and clutz vulnerable pile of art I took off the walls... And some more painting to do. I need to finish one section of a room before I dismantle another.

WOW The Beaded B is Gorgeous!!!

When I need to get some thing perfectly level I make a board under or two exactly the same length and use them to hold the shelf level. Not sure if you could do this with your shelves. I actually like them butted up against the window frame. verses back from it. Maybe with a little piece in the end to end your shelf. But then it would be easier left open for dusting. Maybe a removable piece. LOL

I use a level, have a 4' and a 2' one in bright yellow so they are hard to lose. Then attach the shelf with one screw into the stud fairly loosely before drilling any more holes.

For the ledges I used a tiny strong magnet to find the drywall screws, worked great. Put a strip of tape along the stud rather than marking up the wall. I didn't have any oops holes this project.

Since the ledges match the trim it does look nice butted up, like craftsman woodwork. Maybe this is the 21st century version of picture rail molding!

Kathy - how high up are your ledges? I am thinking 42-48 inches? Possibly a bit higher. I mean for the lowest one....

33", 50" and 70" from the floor, just measured. My nose is 5-6" over the middle ledge so viewing the pictures a little over my eye level. I wanted the middle row a bit higher than usual because I put up 3 rows. Criteria for the upper ledge was a couple inches between largest picture on the middle ledge and I didn't want it at the same height as the door frame. The lowest ledge is high enough we don't crack knees on it and the dogs are safe as they are only 12 and 15" tall. And all this thought for a hall!

I like the one with space before door frame. and with me, I'd be running into the one that is closer to and blends with the door frame.

I can run into things that aren't even in my way...

Kathy - photos?

After some thought I decided on a gap - so then what size gap? I have a bunch of little pieces of wall - 61", 33, 19", 20" etc.... I wanted some continuity but if I subtracted too much on little spaces it would look silly. I decided on a 1/10 ratio i.e. 3" on the 33" wall.

I got about half of them done and will poly them tonight. I ended cutting up the boards that I intended for the longest wall - they were very warped. I will have to see if I can find another butternut board.

One board we had inventoried as butternut was some kind of cedar. It smells just like cigar boxes when I cut it. I will make something out of it... Maybe to go in my closet....

Here's a good example. One side even with wall and the other side up against the molding. Also, check out the other rooms in the house for an eclectic mix of art.

My Houzz: Meaghan and Trevor: Welland, ON · More Info

Thank you! Will do!

Finally Home. gorgeous house and wonderful art. Loved the dog on the stairway. LOL