Thursday, November 12, 2009

Table runner wall art.

OK, well I kinda lied about the not mentioning molding for another month thing. It wasn't deliberate, I swear. This project just kind of came to me today and molding was the perfect touch to finish it off. Sorry. Not really. :)

So I was feeling the itch for a Goodwill trip today -- it's been about a week, and after that long, I start daydreaming about it, and getting hives at the thought of something totally fab and perfect and lovely that's there waiting for me rightthisminuteandI'mgoingtomissit!!

Whew. So I needed to go. I found a few goodies for under $10 -- the other items I'll show you soon. This one, I just couldn't pass up. It was a table runner, all beady and natural looking. I feel in lurrrrve.

I stood there with it in my hands staring at it, not baring the thought of putting it down. But I couldn't figure out where in the heck I would need such an odd sized table runner. It's only 31 inches long.

So I thunk and I thunk and I thunk and it hit me -- I knew just where it was going.

Over the toilet.

Yeah, that's right. For the longest time, this is what I've had over the toilet (such an ugly word) in our little room in the master bath:
Don't ask. I have no clue what I was thinking. I was thinking spa I guess? It didn't turn out well. And towels over the toilet? Um....that's just not good. I mean, we didn't use them, but still...

So I had a vision, and it turned out exactly how I had hoped! First, I just nailed the runner to the wall using little finishing nails and my hammer:
I used my nail sinker thing (the technical term is totally escaping me) to get them in close enough to the wall so you couldn't see them:
Most of them I was able to just push in with my finger.

I didn't take pics of the molding process, because I think you've seen enough of that over the past couple of weeks. ;) But I added some thin molding I had in the garage around the runner to finish it off:I spray painted the molding before I hung it, but it still wasn't just the right tone. So I just brushed some of my walnut stain right over the top of the wood, and now it matches perfectly!
Because I love it so stinking much, I took a ton of pictures, so bare with me:
I'm not sure what you would call the style of our bathroom, it's a little traditional, a little fancy, a little nature-inspired. But this works, no matter what it is. :)

How gorgeous would this be in a dining room -- in a set of three on the wall hanging horizontally? FAB!
The before again:
The much lovelier after:
Total cost? Four bucks baby. And it took about 30 minutes start to finish, to complete. All during nap time, with time to spare to watch my stories. ;)

I know, by the way, what many of you are thinking. Why worry about this little wall in this little room that no one sees? Well, we see it numerous times a day, obviously. And ummmm....well....have you read this blog? Helloooooo, it's me. ;)

I will decorate anything if I can do it for cheap!

95 thrifty chicks said (comment here):

Callista said...

I just love this!!! What a great idea!
I soo need you to help me with my laundry closet! Yes, its a closet with the washer and dryer and shelves above it. It's ugly! So ugly and in our den. I can't even reach the shelves so I don't know what to do with the wasted space!

pk said...

I REALLY like it! Has so much more "presence" than the old decor! Would be fun to even hang a couple pieces of artwork on it or something too. Great idea to hang three of them in a dining room or something too. Bottom line - love it! :-)

pk @ Room Remix

The Giffen Family said...

I, too, get a lil' jittery when I haven't been to the goodwill in a week. I get anxious thinking of the possibility that something that would be perfect for me house or that I may "need" would show up and I would totally miss it...or worse yet that it would be for 1/2 off. (my mother would say "then it wasn't meant to be" but I'd like to escape from that thought when it pertains to the goodwill)
by the way -- gorgeous! Love it now, don't get me wrong, but a sconce in the middle might look cool (ya know if you didn't already have them on the other wall...or for the DR idea)

Eve said...

It's perfect! :)

Beth said...

Girl, you need to stop with your bad self! I LOVE it! I never in a million years would have though of hanging that on the wall :)

Beth said...

Girl, you need to stop with your bad self! I LOVE it! I never in a million years would have though of hanging that on the wall :)

The Lassen Family said...

I laughed when you talked about "needing" to go to GW! that is sooo me! Other people just don't get it!! I have loved finding your blog and am so going to do the picture frame molding in my dining room this weekend!! Been wanting to for 2 years and after your tutorial, now I feel like I can actually do it myself and not wait for DH to get to it "someday". Going to go buy a miter box. What do you think abut using liquid nails instead of hammer/nails for this?
Dani

Snappy Di said...

GAH.... GORGEOUS!! You are such a fabulous re-use girl. Never would I have thought to do this... leave it up to you my dear girl.

DI
The Blue Ridge Gal

concretenprimroses said...

Very good idea and reuse. Very chic looking.
Kathy

southerninspiration said...

I gave a similar table runner to my niece last year....whew, glad to know you're not in the same city...thinking maybe she donated it! EgAds.....LOL....looks good, my friend. It came from Target and it looks good there!

Suzanne

Justin, Ashley, Grace, and Jacob said...

I have been b-stalking you for a while now, and I luurrrrrrve your ideas! Thanks for sharing yet another fab one. You're a rockstar and my thrifty decor 'idol'. Much love sista!

Amelia said...

Main thing - it makes you happy - cheaper than a steak dinner, or a vacation, or a new outfit. Sometimes decorating is just medicine for the person...we occupants that live in the home see that wall, corner, whatever all the time...so when we change it the pleasure is all ours...if others also like it - just even better.

Keep making yourself happy with your decorating adventures.

Jen M said...

It looks AMAZING! How creative of you to think of using it as wall art - and the moulding just finishes it off perfectly. Well done!

Carol said...

I love what you did with your treasure! I just so happen to have a hospice thrift store near by and can not go to that town without stopping. I found a few treasures today myself. It makes me happy to find new uses for things. AND saving money on fabulous finds....all the better!

Love the Decor! said...

Love it!
really like the 3 in a row in a dining room idea!!
Have a great afternoon!!

♥Amber Filkins♥ said...

What the heck!!?? That is wonderful! I am absolutely in love with it. And YOU, my dear, are absolute genius. I am not even kidding.

{Ps--You need to upgrade your Photobucket to pro!! Check out your blog}

Isabella & Max Rooms said...

I like the way your (creative) mind works! Janell

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

That. Looks. Great! I love it! Leave it to you to work molding into this too. : )

rebecca @ older and wisor said...

Punch. Nail punch.

Love the mini runner with all it's scrumptious texture loveliness. The one at Target winks at me everytime I pass by. So far I've held out, but now...

I think this would make a great "matte" for 3 black and white framed photos in a vertical line down the middle. You know. Just sayin'.

melissa * 320 Sycamore said...

Oh girl, only you could see this in the Goodwill and know it would be perfect above your toilet!! I am in awe of your brain~I love it!

Goings on at the Glenn's said...

I am neeeeeeding a trip to GW myself. I love the table runner thing! It is so pretty on the wall like that. And the molding around it is the PERFECT PERFECT touch! What a great idea!

Queen Bee said...

WOW! Absolutely WOW!

Petit Debutant said...

I believe that little tool is called a counter sink. I like the wall hanging but it would also make an awesome rug for stepping out of the shower (with a little tray under neath for catching the water, like the mats made out of stone I've seen hanging around the internet)

Anny said...

WOW! This is so pretty and unexpected :)

ChrisKatieKelly said...

You are incredible. I am so glad I found your blog, you have opened up a new world for me! I used to think decorating my house was too pricey, so I have hardly anything on my walls. Now I know about spray paint and my local thrift store (better than our goodwill). It has been a JOY to be able to come up with ideas for our home. I was able to find brand new with tags wall decor from joanns- 3 pieces- for $10. That would have cost me $100 at joanns!! I am in LOVE with your table runner wall art!!!

Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish said...

Love it! I think it looks fantastic!

Tiffany @ Mine Are Spectacular! said...

GENIUS!! This is definitely what this wall needed! GRRREAT job!!

Mama Byrd said...

OK WEIRD... I JUST Made the exact same thing with my odd shaped table runner. Well not the exact but VERY similar. Weird how there is an abundance of these odd shaped table runners at the thrift stores. I am posting mine tonight

Mama Byrd said...

OK WEIRD... I JUST Made the exact same thing with my odd shaped table runner. Well not the exact but VERY similar. Weird how there is an abundance of these odd shaped table runners at the thrift stores. I am posting mine tonight

Annabelle said...

It looks great! I need to go to a "good" Goodwill. The one here never has anything. :)

Jill said...

Wowza! Love it!

Kat said...

LOVE it!

The Taffs said...

LOVE it! Such a clever idea!

Andrea said...

You are definitely one of the most creative people I "know"...I would have never thought of that, but it looks like it was meant to me...& much more than the $4 price tag! Thanks for the continued inspiration...

Sara said...

totally love it! i think we have the same bathroom, i swear. will have to send you some of my pics, it even looks like the same color! love it. i have been trying to spruce up mine too. used peir 1 place mats for a similare effect@!!!

Mrs. Vita said...

Agree with Annabelle, I have gotta find myself a good goodwill! All of you have been blogging, wow I found this at goodwill, thrift, etc and I'm like, how?? All I see in these stores are crap.. but I haven't seen all the thrift shops in my city, so..

I like your new toilet art much better than the old thing you had before - you could add your candle scones on your other wall and put them on each side of your new art and it would be COOL!

Shannon said...

Oh that is way cool! It turned out amazing.

Centsational Girl said...

Oooooh, very zen. I'm all relaxed just looking at it. Such mod art ! Have you seen the river rocks shower mats ? Oh my goodness, I want one for my feeties !

xoxo
Kate

Anonymous said...

"counter sink"...not sure what the actual tool is called, but you are counter sinking the nail....
Cool idea....I'm on it!

pendy said...

Awesome look! Also, you are my new hero. I have an awkward section in my front hall where the air intake is right in the way of the chair rail...and NOW I know how to fix it! I'm going to us the picture frame molding and incorporate some molding around that intake. I won't be able to get to it until after the holidays but I confess I did some measuring yesterday...... :)

Stef said...

LOVE IT!

lkjatl said...

Love it! The tool I believe is called a "nail punch"? I too think sconces would look good on either side, but you already have them on the other wall. Our closet GW has NOTHING...I am jealous!!

E @ Oh! Apostrophe said...

How very cool! Love it :)

Rhonda said...

Your blog is my favorite go to for decorating! I absolutely love what you did with the runner! I love how you think outside the box. How you are frugal!

I love all your tips! You are awesome girl! Thanks so much for all you share!

Infarrantly Creative said...

Great find and amazing texture. Much better toitie art :-)

Stefanie said...

Great idea! I love the texture it adds!

Laryssa Herbert said...

Very pretty! Great idea. :-)

Danielle @ Transforming Home said...

Looks great! Who would've thought?
Danielle

Kelly @ Dare to be Domestic said...

This is why I love your blog - it seems like sometimes you're reading my mind (I thought about making one of our runners wall art). You rock! Now it's confirmed and I need to try it! ox

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

That is way cool! I never would've thought to do that. Aren't you clever?!

groovie mom said...

LOVE it!

Symone's Mommy said...

FAB!

Lanie's Life said...

Hello??? That is sooooo clever!!!!

Dogmom Diva said...

Ok Sarah, all I can say is W.O.W.
Barb

The Whispering Creek House said...

Well done! well done!

Jan @ bobbypinsboardwalk said...

That is really terrific! What a great find, and then to put it above the commode as art is very creative. You have inspired me!

Cereal In My Stiletto said...

Love this idea and the dimension feel of it. Go you! ;)

Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity said...

I love a pretty throne! :)

Astrid said...

Love the texture!

Sharon said...

OMG, only you would hang a table runner on your wall and make it look sooooo fabulous! Love the moulding around the edge. Ingeneous and beautiful.

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Great idea. The texture looks really great. And it's nice to decorate places that are just for you and your family. You're somebody, too, right? :)

Richella said...

I LOVE this! What a wonderful idea! And now my head is just spinning, because I finally GET the fact that, with molding, you can create your own frame. Any size. Anywhere. Oh, the possibilities.

You are so very, very much fun.

CleanStar said...

I just love it. It just proves a little imagination goes a long ways. I have a wall in my masterbath like that one, and this gives me a good idea what to do with it. Good Work!!

Jenn from The Home Decorating Company said...

This is such a creative idea and it turned out amazing!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love this idea. Much better than fake dusty plants or towels that can fall in the potty. We may be moving in the next couple of months and this gives me some great ideas where I will have to redecorate walls (that I have family pictures on now that will have to come down).
Always, great blog!!!!

Amanda said...

I think it looks BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

Ms. Bake-it said...

That was definitely thinking outside the box! I do not think that I would ever have come up with that idea. I love it! I would sure love to let you loose in my house for a week!! Now I will be on the lookout for a runner like that or something similar because I have thought of something I would like to do with it in my house! So very glad I found your blog! You have really been an inspiration to me.

~ Tracy

A Little About Me said...

Totally awsome im for sure gonna do something like this in my kitchen or dining room. Thanks for the tip.


SM

Moni @ CL Journal said...

I love this idea! I have just found your blog and I am enjoying every moment of it (I'm going through the archives). OMG I just love this idea!!!

PamperingBeki said...

Soooo much better. :)

Lynda @ SportsMadGirl said...

I'm pretty sure it's called a nail punch but your name for it is oh so much better :)

Makes your "water closet" (sounds more fancy than toilet area :P)oh so much prettier.

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas you give us!

Anonymous said...

I think it looks great but I think it would look even better with the candle thing hanging on the side wall mounted to the top of your runner. Maybe a couple of candle sconces in a row on it would look neat.

Amanda said...

wow! thats awesome- now if only you could make it into a waterfall! how amazing would that be! LOL! I love it!!

Cara Starr @ JohnsonManorisms said...

Wow! Great! I hate the word toilet too. At least you didn't say tor-lit, or toe-lit. My gramma calls it the COMMODE. Drives me NUTS!

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

I love it! And...duuuh, who doesn't decorate the space above the potty???

~Amanda

ginny said...

Actually, This will make you smile...I found the exact same table runner at Target today, and it was $29.99 and there were placemats to match. You really did get a deal, girly!!

Carmen said...

Very cool! It looks great. I totally understand about something YOU see everyday. It just drives you crazy til you get it right, doesn't it? ;)

h5rus said...

That is an awesome idea! It looks AMAZING!!

Sandy said...

Love it, made the room pop. Great job and a very good deal. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy

Sandy said...

Love it, made the room pop. Great job and a very good deal. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy

Sue (Someone's Mom) said...

Very cool idea...never would have thought of it, now I'll be looking for one!

Sue

Erin @ Thimble Ambitions said...

I love love love it!

nuf said

Lorie said...

Oh! I love that! You are so clever!!

Elizabeth Ordenes said...

lol!! I loved what you did with that finding and the molding!.. and yes the loo looks kinda hip now :) Kind of like Moroccan style.
Thanks for sharing. I found your blog only a few days ago when you were talking (and videoing) about the molding... I see you like molding :)
Elizabeth.

Kim said...

My sister introduced me to your site a few weeks back and I LOVE IT! I love that your teach us how to do everthing! You are incredibly creative and this wall hanging is simply brilliant! It's so eclectic, modern, and tactile. You know everyone who enters that bathroom will be rubbing their hands all over it!

Ali Rockwell said...

How do you make EVERYTHING so beautiful? :) Seriously. It is amazing.

Sallie said...

was in target today, and saw this table runner...with matching placemats! started to laugh...as I remembered that it had just gone on your bathroom wall...! How funny...if only they knew. ( and why would someone have already sent this to goodwill...?)

PlowgianPage said...

I love to change, mix, and re-do. Looks like you do as well. I liked the before and I liked the after. What if you put the two together? I mean put the towel holder over the wall art some how?

Crazy Conley Clan said...

Very, very sophisticated...

nannykim/spindlecottage said...

Gorgeous and what a unique idea!

Julia Stainton said...

OK you are brilliant!

Super Fun Mama said...

I wish our goodwill was like yours. Ours never has good things in it...

jenjen said...

Wow - that project is amazing! You are so clever. Great job Sarah!!!

XOOX
Jen

HomeSpun Threads said...

I saw this table runner at Target. $25 bucks! So you got it for a steal! They have place mats to match.

Its So Very Cheri said...

LOVE IT--I think it would be neat to fins some unique piece and hang it on it.

Great job--I have a party every week- Its So Very Creative (mondays--but goes up on Sun night)--would love to have you be an inspiration to other gals.


Cheri