Custom Home Decor – Gathering of Lines

Posted on September 8, 2019September 8, 2019 by Kathy

Top 4 Metalwork Artists on Etsy

Metalwork adds dimension and variation to any room. It’s fun to mix up flat, framed, artwork by adding something that stands out. Joanna Gaines uses metalwork a lot in her designs and she visits a custom metalworking shop in Texas to make her visions come to life. For those of us who don’t have a metalworking buddy on speed dial, there is Etsy. Etsy has some amazing metalwork artists and each purchase helps to directly support their business. Here’s my take on the top 4 metalwork artists on Etsy.

1. MetalWorldMap

Top 4 Metalworking Artists on Etsy — Copyright © 2019 Northshire Wall Art, LLC.

Link to the shop is here. Link to purchase the Freedom Birds, pictured above, is here.

These metal birds are versatile and can work in any room in your home. They would look lovely soaring towards a cathedral ceiling in a living room or filling empty wall space above a front door.

2. MetalloDecor

Link to shop is here. Link to purchase Peony Flower is here.

This peony would work above a fireplace mantel, or as part of a big gallery wall. The shape and creativity is fine art at its finest. This artist also has a beautiful metal wall organizer for sale that would work great in an office or kitchen. Link for wall organizer is here.

3. MetalDecoArt

Link to shop is here. Link to purchase the Three Leaves, pictured above, is here.

The perfect plant that will never need water or sunlight, these leaves add life to any room. They look great together or separate them and use them in different rooms. I can see them hung in a straight horizontal line above a couch, or in a triangle (as pictured) above a bookshelf.

4. LauraAshleyWoodArt

Link to shop is here. Link to purchase Geometric Metal Wood Art, pictured above, is here.

I love the artist’s combination of wood, metal, shape, and color. These works are big so they’d be great to use above a bed, or in a dining room. She also allows you to choose your wood stain and accent paint colors. This is great so as not to clash with existing hardwood floors or decor.

Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines. Want to support more artists? Check out my post on the top Etsy shops for baby’s room (link here).

Posted on August 22, 2019August 22, 2019 by Kathy

Decorating Rooms with Odd Angles

Bonus rooms over the garage are wonderful. They add extra square footage to your house and often make for the perfect extra bedroom. But something I’ve been avoiding for a while (umm 3 years) is adding artwork to the walls.

I tried a few different options and I’d love to get your opinion about decorating rooms with odd angles in the comments below. Which option do you think works better in this room?

The First Option

Decorating Rooms with Odd Angles
Gathering of lines — Copyright © 2019 Gathering of Lines

For the first option, I added some three-dimensional elements with the wood snowflake mirrors. I kept the pieces grounded by maintaining an overall rectangular shape. The gold hues in the Da Vinci self-portrait, mimic the gold hues in the Eiffel Tower painting. For those who are interested, the Eiffel Tower painting is for sale here.

I also like how the black frame ties in the with the black Eiffel Tower motif, but that there is also this silver frame, with the photo of the Venetian gondolier, that ties in with the silver-ish tones of the snowflakes (more information about the snowflakes can be found here).

Every image and piece has a special significance to me. I played around with different pieces by using thumbtacks to hang them at first (Before committing to a nail in the wall).

The Second Option

For this option, I added some three-dimensional interest with a small basket my grandmother made (on the top left). I tied in the black frames with the Eiffel Tower painting again but also pulled in a cream frame to match the bedding and table lamp (Side note- I just love cream and white bedding. It’s so serene and easy to keep clean with a little bleach).

The Third Option

Or do you think I’m better off skipping the gallery wall and just hanging a single large piece of artwork?

Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines – what are your home decor dilemmas? Leave them for me in the comments below!

Posted on July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 by Kathy

How to use Wallpaper

Beautiful wallpaper options and how to use them in your home

*This site contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase items or services through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help reduce the costs of running this site. So Thank You in advance for any clicks through!

Wallpaper is back. If nightmares from the 1990s, and the apple border around your kitchen, have you running for the hills, I hear you. I was skeptical too. Check out some ideas for how to use wallpaper in this 21st century.

Though I’m not a fan of wallpapering an entire room, here are 3 options for adding wallpaper to any room.

1.) Add wallpaper to just an accent wall.

How to use wallpaper, accent wall — Copyright (c) 2019 Elisabeth Fredriksson. Link to purchase is here.

Accent walls are great for statement paint, and also for wallpaper. It adds depth, dimension, and texture without a big pricetag. Adding to only one wall ensures that your eyes get a break.

2.) Line a bookshelf

This can be really fun and playful. Add wallpaper to the wood part behind the shelves. You’ll see the pattern peeking through behind the items on the shelves and it’ll add an inexpensive artistic style that is unique. Check out this cat icecream wallpaper. It’d be perfect on the bookshelf in a kids room or playroom.

How to use wallpaper, line back of a bookshelf — Copyright (c) 2019 ilovedoodle. Link to purchase is here.

3.) Add it to all the walls of a walk-in closet

This adds some glamour and fun but allows you to keep the rest of your bedroom serene and neutral. Check out this metallic option. Beautiful, sophisticated and a far cry from the 1990’s roses and apples.

how to use wallpaper, add to just the interior of a walk in closet — Copyright (c) 2019 VictoryS Link to purchase is here.

In addition to the 3 options above, here are 2 wallpaper options that we love:

serene choice for accent wall — Copyright (c) 2019 Mel Fischer. Link to purchase is here.

Gathering of lines home design wallpaper idea — Copyright (c) 2019 Emeline Tate. Link to purchase is here.

Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines Home Design. Interested in reading more? Check out my latest post about sophisticated beach artwork (link here).

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Kathy

Centerpieces for $3.99 from Trader Joes

Gathering of Lines Home Design Flower arrangement ideas

Hosting a wedding or baby shower, or just having the boss for dinner? Here are some easy centerpieces that are affordable yet beautiful and will add a special touch to any casual event.

I bought three bouquets from Trader Joe’s for $3.99 each (Total amount spent on all the flowers shown in this post is $12. but most arrangments can be made from a single $3.99 bouquet).

Here is what a single $3.99 arrangement looks like thrown in a vase.

Flower Arrangement 1

For this arrangement, I used stemless martini glasses that I already had. If you don’t have stemless martini glasses, Amazon sells them for $18 for a set of 4, link to purchase here. These are great to have as you can use them for 4 tables at an event and then bring them home and reuse them again and again.

Flower Arrangement 2

For this arrangement:

Rip the leaves off the hydrangea
Put a tea light inside of a water glass. Tea lights set of 30 for $6 (link here)
Put the water glass inside of a bigger vase. Use a bigger vase that you have already (Similiar vase can be found for here)
Position the leaves in the vase (outside of the water glass so the water glass is a barrier between the flame and the leaves)

This arrangement looks great next to a guestbook at an event! If you have a hydrangea bush in your yard and use vases you already have, this is practically free!

Flower Arrangement 3

This is another great way to use those hydrangea leaves. Add a little bit of water to the wine glass and a single flower. Set of 6 wine glasses can be found for $20 here. Another great place to look for glasses is the salvation army.

Flower Arrangement 5

For the above arrangement, I used 2 Trader Joe’s bouquets, 2 stemless martini glasses, an inexpensive vase, and candle. (links to the stemless martini glasses and the vase can be found above). I love that it’s a bigger arrangement but still easy to throw together. If you don’t want to buy martini glasses, that’s understandable. Just use what you have – water glasses, mason jars, etc.

Flower Arrangement 6

This entire arrangement was made from a single $3.99 bouquet from Trader Joe’s. I used a champagne glass, a shot glass, and a votive. Set of 6 champagne glasses for $30 can be found here. Set of 4 shot glasses for $10 can be found here. Set of 30 votives for $14 can be found here.

Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines Home Design! Got any creative ideas for a centerpiece? Let us know in the comments below!

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Kathy

Travel: Toledo Botanical Gardens

Home decor and travel go hand in hand. What better photographs and accessories to use in your home than ones that remind you of a great trip with your friends and family?

Black and white peony photograph Gathering of Lines travel and artwork — Black and white peony – Gathering of Lines

You don’t have to buy a plane ticket to have a travel experience or create great art.

Pink peony photograph Gathering of Lines travel and artwork — Pink Peony – Toledo Botanical Gardens. Gathering of Lines Travel and Home Design

This past weekend, my family and I took a little stroll around the Toledo Botanical Gardens.

Purple flower photograph Gathering of Lines travel and artwork — Purple flower – Gathering of Lines

Here are some of my tips for taking a great photograph that you can use as artwork in your home:

Zoom in. This is especially great with nature, the purple flower above looks like a watercolor painting rather than a photograph.
Use the black and white setting on your phone. This can add a romance to your photograph and also helps cover up some imperfections (for example a petal that may be brown/decaying or to mask a red sunburn on your face).
Take pictures of flowers or trees that have a double meaning. Did you carry peonies at your wedding? Did your beloved Grandma always love violets? Does your Aunt Rose always give you a laugh? These double meanings will make you smile every time you pass the picture in the hallway.
Make sure interesting parts of the photograph intersect with the edges of the frame. For example – if you’re taking a photograph of a tree, make sure the tree trunk and branches lead your eye around to all four sides of the photograph. This is pleasing to the eye and helps your eye to move around the composition.

Tree and sky photograph gathering of lines travel — Make sure interesting parts of the photograph intersect with 3 or 4 sides of the frame.

Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines! Do you want to see more tips for photography and creating your own art? Let me know in the comments below and tag me on Instagram – I’d love to see your pics!

Posted on May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 by Kathy

Custom Home Decor Ideas for Shadow Box Frames

Gathering of Lines Shadow Box Decor Ideas

I love using sentimental items in the artwork around my house. The best news is: it couldn’t be quicker or easier to create a personalized framed art piece for yourself or someone else.

Start with an item you’d like displayed. A few years ago, my little son was a “ring bearer” at a wedding (Just a cute toddler in a tux with no ring bearing responsibilities haha). All day we kept saying, “Look at that tiny, cute, bow tie!” It was so small and cute that we just couldn’t handle it!
Optional – add a picture where the cute item is being used/worn.
Find an inexpensive shadow box frame. These frames have up to an inch of clearance so the glass won’t crush whatever you put inside. Here are some great options:
- 11″ X 14″ White
- 11″ X 14″ Gray with hinged front. This is cool because you can open and close the front easily to change things up.
- 8″ X 10″ Black – this one is very similar to the one I used for the bow tie.
Optional: add a cute background. I love the idea of using an old shirt, onesie, wallpaper that was taken down, handwritten notes, receipt from the night he/she proposed, or hospital blankets behind a picture, that way you will always have it on display.

It’s not just for kids or babies! I use a box frame to display family heirlooms (Old silver spoons that were passed down to me. They are not valuable in a monetary sense but they are priceless to me).

The background of the one above is a typed explanation from my Grandma who owned the spoons originally and how they were passed down through the family – pretty cool.

Other ideas for items to frame:

Flowers are awesome pressed into frames especially from special occasions!

Souveniers from a trip – we bought this wood heart from a craftsman on a tropical vacation. I framed it with some inexpensive remnant fabric in the background.
Other ideas: key chains, Christmas ornaments that look like decorations (non-christmassy stars, snowflakes, etc make beautiful accents), Have a family member handwrite their award-winning recipe and put some antique measuring spoons in with it. Jewelry. (use small pins to hold it up in the box). Maybe the necklace you wore to your wedding, or that your mom, sister, brother wore.

The possibilities are endless!

Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines Home Design. Did you create your own shadow box masterpiece? If so take a pic and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your work.