friday's featured resource: photo style recipes from pottery barn

Recently on my own site, I talked about how, even with as much as I enjoy the holidays, I always feel a sense of relief at the beginning of the year.  What I didn't mention, however, was how much I go into nesting mode.  I think it has something to do with taking down the Christmas tree: after putting everything away, and seeing my house go back to the way it was before we decked the halls, I feel an urge to move things around a little, make a few adjustments.  Redecorate a bit.

Since I truly don't have lots of money to spend on redecorating (does anyone?), and, well, I've been known to take a photograph or two, I've decided to see how I can enhance our home using photographs.  What's sort of strange is that in general, I don't display my photography at home, save for a couple of family snapshots here and there.  But really, why not use my photographs to help make my house feel more like home?  It feels like a no-brainer, right?

And so, a couple of days ago, I dusted off a book that I purchased a few months ago, on a whim. Photos (style recipes) is a publication from Pottery Barn, and is chock full of really lovely ideas to store your photographs, display them in your home, advice on how to mat, frame and hang photographs -- even some ideas on how to assimilate and create collages of vacation snapshots.  I've already pulled a couple of ideas out of the book, and I'm loving the changes I've made to our fireplace mantle and our breakfast area, all for a pretty nominal fee of printing a few photographs and purchasing some standard frames.

While the book is available on Amazon, I can't find it on the Pottery Barn site, or anywhere else for that matter -- so it could be the book is out of print.  I really can't recommend it enough, so be sure to snap it up if you can.

And on a related note, I'm curious:  do you display your photographs in your home?  Are your displays limited to portraits of your family, or do you frame your art photography pieces as well?

Comments

[Leah G]

I think this was re-released recently. I've seen the paperback version in Michael's craft stores here in MD.

For Christmas, I "treated" myself and my hubby to some enlargements of our wedding pictures. They haven't made it to the walls, yet, but they are all framed and ready to go up.

[shelby]

We actually have a couple of our own photos framed in the house. I printed a set from our trip to South Africa and framed them for my hubby as a gift. But I'm always thinking I need to do more. After all it's free art! Thanks for introducing me to this book. I'm definitely going to pick it up as soon as I can get my little hands on it.

[Charlane]

I haven't put them in my home but I had some in my office - which gave me a sense of pride. Now friends have in them in their homes when I give them as gifts.

[Shawna]

I've only got a few vacation scenery photos in crummy frames here and there and I really can't wait to make a nice photo collage or a centerpiece of family photos. My dream arrangement is an idea I got from an artist friend. It's a little hard to explain, but it's one long track out of sight at the top of the wall and canvases or frames hung from it with invisible wire at varying heights and distances. It's something that can be adjusted at different seasons or when a new awesome photo needs to be added. And it would be a great way to display kids' drawings, too. The only thing would be what to do with great wall pictures as they are rotated off the wall or retired...

Oh and I also love what Me Ra Koh did in her home this winter to display photos. Scroll down half way and you'll see it in the back of one of the photos. I would love to do this some day!
http://www.merakohblog.com/2008/12/31/what-waits-for-us-all-in-2009-and-a-photo-or-two/

[Toni]

I recently hung or displayed five of my images in my home. One is a portrait of my son and his GF, the others are art photos. I probably wouldn't have hung them, but I entered the photos in our county fair this summer - matted and framed them for it, so I thought "why not". So I did. I'm glad I did, just wish one or two were bigger.

[Sue]

Hi girls.. thank you for the tip.. my credit card has been exercised :) Love the blog and looking forward to checking you guys out more..

xoxo. Sue in Norway.

[Chris]

Half.com has the book, brand new, for less than $10. I just bought one and can't wait to get it!
http://product.half.ebay.com/Photos_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ63205299

[Marcie]

Looks like a wonderful book..full of good ideas. For years the only photos I hung were those of the kids. Somehow felt like 'showing-off' to do anything different. Of late - I"ve gotten up the courage..and now my photos happily adorn our walls. No sense in keeping them hiding in the computer....

[kosenrufu mama]

I use to frame pictures of my family, my childrens or all together, i love pictures on the wall, they tell our story
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2008/12/december-08-photo-project.html
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2008/10/quello-che-amo-tutti-i-giorni.html

[Puna]

I haven't framed any pictures yet...I'm not sure why. I did make a calendar for my parents and they loved it...baby steps.

[Jean M Fogle]

My pictures along the wall in the hallway are old pictures of family members, then , when I had an extra frame, I had to put this picture of Molly at the beach! It is funny to watch people come up the steps then stop at the top since a dog photo is the last one!
http://pixels-n-pen.blogspot.com

[camerashymomma]

i just moved into plain walls and hung up some photography that i had framed for a coffeeshop gallery a few months ago. i really like having my 'art' around me. it's a mix of my family shots and now abstract and macro ones.

i'd love to check out ideas on creative placements of photographs hung on walls. clustering similiar themes together to fill more wall space and ideas like that.

[Terri]

My photos are all over this house. From small 4x6 snap shots , to a huge 30x20 art canvas, and all sized in between . In fact right now I'm working on filling one wall almost floor to ceiling filled with photos I've taken.

[Bet]

My living room project is to cover the walls with photos taken by me of family and friends. I've already started to hang photographs taken while at the Jersey shore because my bathroom has a beach theme. My husband says that he likes seeing photos I've taken much better then any piece of art we buy and I enjoy watching people gaze at the framed pieces when they come to visit. The goal is to swap out the pictures each year. Now that the holiday decor is put away I can start photographing.. the photographs. hehe

[Amanda]

Actually, we just finished a project right before the holidays (because we had guests coming) to paint a stariwell and a living room so that I could hang pictures that I had taken. Other than that, there are a photos from our most recent vacation in my dining room and that is all.

[Kath]

We do. So far mostly my husband's photos, but we do have my "money shot mushroom" (my first really good photo) framed and in the kitchen. We did a study of ampersands in signs and have framed them in a collage.
http://3yrplan.typepad.com/soeursdujour/2008/08/my-mushroom.html

[Robin]

i've been thinking of coming up with a way to use one wall in my studio to put up my pictures, just for inspiration and ideas but haven't figured out how to do it yet, a big cork board may be the best plan.

[Lee]

I agree, it's a fantastic book full of do-able sophisticated ideas. Thanks for reminding me to read it again!

[mary]

For years, my art of choice has been nineteenth century prints -- mostly botanical, architectural and hunt scenes. But this year I framed a few of my sepia studies of coneflowers, and some landscapes, and I'm LOVING them. They just make me smile. :)

[spread your wings]

My home is filled with original art - I have one wall dedicated to photographs BY my daughter (prints framed that she sells in festivals) and my paintings, hanging in my library; and throughout the house I have portraits of my daughter painted by my mom, paintings my daughter has done, and some other artists. I don't display a lot of snapshot type images at home but I love having them at my work office. I just love having art around me.

[mary jo]

I haven't framed any of my own photos yet--I have such a hard time taking my photos seriously, but as you said, nesting mode has set in. Thank you for the lovely recommendation--I will try and find that book and one day, maybe I'll have a link to share :)

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

This is something I have thought about doing more, too. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only photographer who doesn't display their work. I think it's just pure laziness, but I have been churning some ideas on what I would like to put up around my home. My boyfriend even makes pictures frames so I really have no excuses!!!!!

Even worse, last year I have two photos in a photography contest that I framed and matted to be displayed in a gallery here in town, those two pictures that I picked up LAST January are still in the brown packaging from the gallery! They are already framed and I still haven't hung them!!!!!

[Stacy]

I display both my kids and my nature photography. We have a lot of other artwork, too...so I'm running out of wall space! That book looks like a great find. I'll have to see if I can snap one up!

[Liz]

I didn't have any photos up until I gave out a bunch of framed photos for Christmas to my family. I got such nice compliments on them that it gave me some confidence; plus I had motivation as I was having a big New Year's Eve party and wanted the house to look nice and cozy. I got so many compliments, and I can't wait to get more framed photos up on my walls now! It's inspiring in itself just to see your work and be content with how it looks just in your home.

[Diane Schuller]

Karen, How coincidental that you write this. I just finished making that decision myself: to decorate my own home with my photography. After all, I have my own private gallery here for when people come to visit. What a great way to display my photos and let others know what I do. I've been going through my favourite photos this week and deciding which ones I will get printed in large format ready for framing. Now I'm even more excited to get my project going!

I'm delighted you are doing the same. I'm going to check to see if I can get that book -- sounds like a great investment.

Diane

[Amy]

We have a grid of travel photos we've taken over the couch in the living room. It makes me happy to see them every day and remember the things we saw and did.

This is the only photo I have of it, it was from my first experiment with Ttv:
http://flickr.com/photos/aimabo/2853807734/in/set-72157607265529470/

[Lu]

I am in the process of putting my photographs around my home. I have not and really have no good reason for not doing it.

[Wanda]

I'm not displaying my photos yet; however, I am starting to feel like getting this arranged and put away and tidied...and no doubt, prettied. Thanks for the tip.

[Junie Moon]

What a great project--I love the whole idea.

As to our photographs, some are enlarged to super size, framed and hung over the mantle, on the walls, and sitting on stands around our house. Some I make into greeting cards, thank-you notes, post cards, or gift tags. Our house is pretty much decorated according to our creative interests and the photos add another elemental depth that suits and fits our personalities.

[Kristin]

I usually just hang, or tape, my photographs to my walls in my apartment. With such little space, it makes it a little more home-y. :o)

[mika]

my favorite room i've ever lived in was my dorm room my senior year of college. i had a single, so i had the freedom to decorate the whole space however i wanted...in a way that was meant as a private space for me....but turned out to be a welcoming space for friends as well. the room happened to be in the corner of a building so it had two walls with windows that took up the whole wall almost from edge to edge. the other walls and closet i covered with photos... most of which i had taken....of friends, family, etc...places that were special to me, moments that were special to me... quotes of emails written by friends that inspired me... i think in a lot of ways, that room is partly responsible for how i got into photography... i loved those moments...that i had posted all over my walls, and the new moments that were created in that room with friends. i was told over and over how welcoming and peaceful my room was to my friends... i can't wait to own my own living space sometime down the line to create another space that's just as special...

[Deanna]

I bought this book at Michael's a few months ago (like Leah G mentioned) without the Pottery Barn label. I really love this book and I have a few projects that I plan on completing

[Sarah - Ji]

I just started displaying photos recently in our home. I have a bunch of frames left over from the couple of exhibits from the past year, so I hope to get more photos up, esp. since we have picture rails in our foyer and living room. For those who shoot at the 2x3 size, Nielsen Bainbridge has some nice archival ready-made frames that you can get at Dick Blick or Utrecht stores in a 12X16 w/ an 8X12 mat opening. I'd just make sure the glass isn't cracked before you buy them. For under $20, it's a really good deal.

Another option for displaying is to get the print mounted as a standout:http://www.mpix.com/Product.aspx/standouts (As long as you don't display it somewhere that's too humid, like the bathroom or kitchen, it's pretty much ready to hang w/ out an actual frame. I've got a 16x24 that's sitting on top of one of my CD shelves. I would opt for the protective lustre coating if you go frameless.)

I've also displayed photos frameless by getting them mounted on a matboard w/ a protective lustre coating. That way, I can just stand them up on the mantel or a shelf. Mpix does a great job w/ that too: http://www.mpix.com/Mounting.aspx You can't beat $8 for a displayable 8x12 photo!

Then, there are the re-stickable decal frames from photojojo: http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/restickable-sticker-frames (I have these and I think they're fun, but keep in mind they're basically STICKERS, so not really formal. You might like them, though, if you're not the too formal type or for a kid's room or the dorms).

There's also the magnetic photo rope on photojojo: http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/magnetic-photo-rope (I really need to wake up to the fact that I don't live in the dorms anymore...)

I also like the notecards at MOO: http://www.moo.com/products/notecards.php. They're basically square prints w/ a little flap that folds so you can easily display the photo. I like that one set includes 16 different photos, instead of 16 copies of just one photo.

Phew! I think that'll do for now...

[Jendy]

I display my photos. I bought 4 ft display shelves at Pottery Barn, mounted them end to end (across an entire wall in my living room) and put all my frames on them. I lean them and overlap them a bit, I really like the way they look. I used all black frames to provide unity, and didn't always put the picture in the center of the mat so when they overlap it doesn't obstruct the photo. I love the memories of places I've been and love surrounding me.

[Brenda]

My mom got one of my photo's framed and we have it at the beach house.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/3070912139_f2d8811cff_b.jpg

I have a couple black and white of the Multnomah Falls area, but I don't have them all framed yet, but I'm excited to get them done and hung.

I also love the little MOO stickers. Fun to add to a letter. I use to put them on my sons packages when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Regina]

I framed some enlargements and hang them around the house. Some of my favorites are manipulated images. I also hang my own paintings.
I'm surprised how many people that don't hang their own work. It adds so much personality to the home.

[Janie]

What a great question to ask as I have made a new year's resolution to begin getting some of my photography up around the house. I especially wanted to ask for advice on the best place to get the unframed stretched canvas prints. Love the idea of not having heavy frames! Thanks so much to Sarah-Ji for all your recommendations. I will definitely check those out. Oh, and I have that Pottery Barn book and it's really very good.

[Shawna]

Isn't that funny? I also have a Pottery Barn book called Kid's Rooms that is fabulous, and I picked it up on a whim from a sale bin too. I'd love to get the one you mention. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

No, I don't have any of my art photos up in my house, but I think that's about to change...

[Secret Agent Mama / Mishelle Lane]

I am planning a big wall, but I haven't done it yet. I also will not limit the wall to just family. There will be all kinds of images that I have taken, and I feel like I want to rotate them out, on a whim, as well. I must have that book!

[d]

This is such strong stuff. As I have said elsewhere tonight in my travels, what is it with the web? The pictures, the curiousity, the honesty, are true here. How can this be?

I roll through the web looking for sites like the Shutter Sisters when I need affirmation. Thanks.

D
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11106668@N03/

[Julie Alvarez]

I keep procrastinating this. The moment to send the prints and frame them and hang them...
I did hang many pictures of my little girl last year though, and hang them on the stair's wall:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2829004178/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3073041444/
And I know someone who did a very good job in displaying her pictures at home (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisaparks/3145677900/), I will copy her idea, I think.

[tonya]

I ordered this book, thanks! I always want new ideas, and beautifully photographed and designed ones to boot. Of course, a few other books may have accidently jumped in my cart as well.... :)