Go Ahead and Stair
Half walls are never fun. In fact, they are like half the fun. And this one in our foyer was driving me in circles…literally. Not only was it a half wall going up the stairs but it curved into a full wall…making it confusing.
I saw in an old Pottery Barn catalog where the designer put frames stair-stepping up the wall besides steps. And actually my mom had a similar arrangement for YEARS when I was growing up. So I pulled out my frame stash (90% of them were white and from Ikea) to see what I could come up with. Basically I just wanted to blend the halfer with the fuller.
There was no plan. I didn’t cut out newspaper or wrapping paper (a la gallery-wall-creating-technique of my girl Sherry) – I just put up the big frames and filled in around with littler frames. This was it about half way through.
I continued it up the wall….and I think the single frame that helps the entire thing seem like a cohesive unit is the one that extends on the full wall above the half wall. It changes the entire arrangement.
Of course, right now all the frames contain random art from their last homes….so I still have to figure that out.
I think the half wall isn’t so bad now. Kinda like the idea of karaoke when you are drinking a pint…it becomes more appealing.
Not that I would know mom….seeing as how I have never tasted that devil’s brew.
No no no. I prefer shots 
I think I was just inspired to make a trip to IKEA. Yep, yep….I’m going.
It looks great! How would you like to make a trip to IL to randomly place pictures on my wall?
I’ve been putting it off because I can’t decide how I want to arrange them. I went to IKEA a few weeks ago and bought several different frames. One of these days I’ll get around to actually hanging them instead of just leaning them against the wall in my living room.
I’m impressed by the stash of frames you had around. Looks great! I love how you framed that spider art you made with Will too
Bwahahahahaha. Best last line ever.
Oh Katie, I feel your pain. But your arrangement looks great and it will look even better when you get permanent art in there, too.
I had a similar problem with our stairwell. We have a half wall on one side and a full wall on the other, but half of the full wall is visible from our kitchen, living room and dining room. Here’s my solution: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/sentimental-gallery-wall/
And, I know you love cheap and easy art, so here’s a link to the post with all the details: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/gallery-wall-details/
ohhhhh katie bower, you slay me. “i prefer shots” pretty much made my day. i could give up now and, because of you, it’d be a good one
That looks really good. Did you map out the layout before you started hanging the pics or did you just start hammering away?
Just started hammering away….I figured that if I didn’t like where the hole was, then I could just cover it with a frame
xo – kb
I’m glad someone else shares my thoughts on hanging things!!!
I’m so happy to see that somebody else just hammers and hangs! I “free-styled” my gallary wall in my stairwell and I think it looks great, even though I didn’t do any measuring at all.
I could cut out newspaper all day long to arrange and re-arrange the arrangement (there’s alot of arrange-ing in that sentencing!) and I wouldn’t come close to a look that was half as cohesive as what you did simply by putting one up and then another. Looks great!
i like. it definitely keeps your eye moving up the stairs.
Looks good. Do you guys use gorilla hooks or just old fashioned nails to hang these?
I used picture hanging hooks (the ones with a little nail that goes through the hook part) and wire on the back of all the frames.
xo – kb
Hahahaha! Your comments about the devil’s brew made me chuckle.
That arrangement looks awesome!! Maybe it’ll inspire me to do something similar on our staircase. I’ve been thinkin’ on it for months but too chicken to just get started!
Oooh great job! I love seeing little corners of your home I didn’t know about before – this was definitely an unseen angle for me! You made the half wall blend in just fine.
That 1/2 wall is sooo weird! But it looks so much better and more cohesive with all the frames and art. I bet it will flow really nicely when you change the art in the frames to all make sense. And I prefer shots to a pint too!
That looks so good! I love the look of gallery walls but am always afraid to attempt them. And you’re right, it definitely helps with the half wall situation. I really like your stairs in general with the table there; it’s such a cute focal point.
Looks great! I’m working on a photo wall too…I admire Sherry for making the newspaper cut outs but I don’t have the time/patience! Good to see it can look alright without the pre-planning
-katie
Sorry, I don’t like it. Too cluttered.
I LOVE this. You are so creative and I love how you incorporate your personality into everything. You seem like such a wonderful person and you certainly have wonderful design style!!!
It looks great! I am afraid if I ever did one, it would stay there forever, bc I would never change the pics after all that work to get them “just so”.
Wow, what a huge difference. I would never have thought to do that, but it looks great!
This looks awesome! Definitely a good way to make the space seem cohesive. Also, I am a bit obsessed with the row boat print. Where did you find that?!
It was an old one from Ikea
xo – kb
Hmmm, I never actually browse their prints but I guess I better start!
I love it! I want to make a gallery wall so badly, but something about it scares me. Probably the fact that I can’t hang something straight to save my life. Guess that’s a job for the husband’s to do list!
Looks awesome! I love gallery stairs.
love it!! wish i had a staircase like this to do that…
I love it! Can’t wait to see what fun photos you put in all the frames
I like how the light switch became part of the art gallery!
Looks awesome! I just hang up all kinds of frames on our staircase wall. Although it’s a full wall all the way. You made yours look so cohesive!
How fun, I can’t wait to see how it all turns out! I did sort of the same thing up my foyer stairs. What the heck do you do with a two story wall? $150 white Ikea frames later, it’s better, but I need to fill in certain areas. http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6325511725_9ebaee88bc_z.jpg
LOVE! I’m hoping I have a staircase one day where I can do this! I love the gallery wall idea. I’ve actually been stocking up on black frames whenever I see a sale so I’ll be ready once I have a place to hang them! We’re moving in 4 months so it doesn’t make sense to hang them now.
I love it! I’m working on a map wall right now and I’m nervous about getting it all up there. Maybe I mean I’m lazy about getting it all up there. But you’ve done an awesome job and it’s nice to know you don’t always have to “newpaper” it up beforehand.
This looks fantastic! Definitely one of my favorite projects of yours. =)
Katie, I think this turned out amazing! I’m so inspired. I’ve been working on my stair art for awhile, but yours is way better, so now I’m going to have to go to ikea and drop $100 on a pile of new frames. I like that they are all the same style and white. Great work.
Love it! I need to do this on my stairs immediately! I have a weird thing on my where there’s a small ledge separating the wall up the stairs with the wall that goes all the way to the ceiling. Perhaps not as awkward as a 1/2 wall, but still quite odd.
Beautiful! Love it! Very inspired!
Gah! Now I feel the need to jazz up my ugly stair wall. It’s empty and plain and it’s yelling at me now to get off the computer…
Katie, this looks amazing! How in the world did you have that many leftover frames? Total kudos–I love it!
Looks awesome!…shots!…hahahaha lol too funny! craked me up this morning- this comment.
Katie..I love it. I am so afraid to put nail holes in our wall. Its our first home your see! Question
1) What kind of nails do you use? Can you show me a picture?
2) Do you use any wall anchor before you put in the nail ?
3) You don’t need a drill for this do you ?
I am sorry. But, I am such an amateur. Please help.
Xoxo
Jan
Hi Jan,
No anchor is necessary unless the frame, glass, mat and picture weigh more than 30 lbs (according to the nail kit you use. And no drill is necessary – just a hard object like a hammer or a random toddler toy 
The nails look like this - it’s a frame hanging kit that is available at any local home improvement store
xo – kb
Oh yay..you replied..thanks a bunch katie!
we do have those type of thingies at home. I am gonna go ahead and get nailing this weekend 
Oh and did I mention I watched the video of you and sherry…you two just crack me up. I loved the way said “like a sticka buttah”..hahaha So funny!
A trick my mother-in-law taught me, you can also use straight pins to hang photo frames. Like the ones you use to sew. Use a hammer and tap them gently into the wall. They work GREAT! I also hung a whole gallery going up our stairs, all with straight pins!
That looks so great! You are great inspiration to just get going on a project.
ok, I don’t feel so bad now for just hanging stuff and figuring it out as I go along… lol I tried to do the whole “map it out” thing because it really does sound like a good idea… evidentaly not for me! lol made a mess of it.
Looks great… def. keep your from noticing the half-wall… and kinda sorta keeps you from noticing the paint… lol
Love it!
Also love that you just dove into it without a plan. Just jumped in head first.That’s usually how my very best projects go.
Of course, that’s also usually how my very worst projects go. . .
Hahaha! I love it.
It looks great! The art should be the fun part. At least I hope so…I’m in the same stage on my hallway gallery wall.
This looks great- you have such a great staircase…might as well highlight it! Gotta love the old PB catalogues for inspiration
Love, Love, Love it. It is a great solution to an odd wall! Great job!
I could be totally amazed and awed that your bedroom has a sitting area, but I have to admit that our bedroom has a wall of wood paneling (and I mean real wood boards) that is as tall and unreachable as the year is long – especially because you have to get to it from open stairs into our bedroom. So really, I just can’t be jealous. The neck aches from trying to get the vacuum hose up there to get webs ensures that I am living like a rock star. Add on that we have no door to our bedroom (the only room on the second floor right now – don’t ask) is proof that I’m living large. Fancy Pants McGee – checking out.
Actually your house sounds like the bomb. I would love a full wood wall
xo – kb
I love how the frames look on the stairs! It really helps guide your eyes up. And I’m just like you in that I would rather throw the frames up on the wall without making guides (clearly it works).
I am still in shock at how much space you have in that house! Where I live, I’d never be able to afford a house of that size…maybe if I won mega million!
Yeah – we get that alot – but apparently your money goes a lot farther in the boonies
xo – kb
Your sideways pictures make me laugh because we did the exact same thing. And I’m embarrassed to admit that it’s been over 6 months and we’ve only swapped out 2 or 3 of the pictures. So there are several sideways and several with no picture at all.
I know that when people visit they want to ask but don’t know if it would be rude. My aunt just assumed that we removed pictures we didn’t want people to see – ’cause that wouldn’t be too time consuming, would it?
thank you so much for this post…it’s just the motivation i need to get moving on our gallery wall. we’ve lived here for almost a year now and i keep stalling on it. i just need to get those dadgum frames out and on the wall. thank. you.
I am loving this!! I know this is random, but I would loooove to decorate your house for Christmas!! It’s just so beautiful. I know it would be impossible for me to do, because I live in Nebraska, but I will dream about it.
You are doing amazing things in your home!