Mudroom Makeover:: Postcard Display

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments about the painted stairs in our garage!  I truly am so glad that I put a little effort into that grungy area - it's so much better to view this instead of the dirty (and unwashable) "before" stairs!

At the top of the stairs is a landing that is home to an extra fridge (commonly known as the beer fridge all across American households - do you have one?), as well as the entrance to the house and our mudroom.  The previous owners added this space to the garage, but the whole sha-bang, from the stairs to the landing, the mudroom and the ceiling, were all just "roughed" out and in need of finishing and a little beautification.

You may recall that one of the projects I wanted to do with my kids over the summer was make a postcard display for our tv room where the kids and their friends hang out.  Well, I never got around to tackling that project and I'm so glad I didn't because I think the landing is a great space to display them instead!

All this brings me to the lovely and creative Becky of Farmgirl Paints.  {Do you know Becky and her blog?  I'm dying over Becky's gorgeous new studio with designated areas for painting, jewelry making, sewing and blogging!  Love!}

Eons, EONS ago, I bookmarked Becky's Peeps Project and have been yearning to get my hands on some chicken wire and bust out one of these.  Isn't this a fun way to display photos??  Or in our case, postcards?

I happen to have a pile of discarded frames in my basement from my frame shop days, and while this one that I chose doesn't have the most interesting profile, it's big and was perfect for the wall at the top of the stairs.  I bought a small roll of chicken wire (24" by...36" maybe? - found in the fencing section in the outdoor area of Lowes and properly termed "poultry netting") for under $3 on clearance.

I cut the wire a little longer than the length of the frame and stapled it to the outer edge, then wrapped the excess wire over the staple for added security. 

 Then I added these little gadgets for hanging onto screws that I drilled into the landing wall.

I used the leftover Fantasy Blue paint from the stairs to give an old white frame a little color and then roughed it up a bit with a sanding block.  

Forgive the terrible photography from the actual landing, because all I have for lighting out there is the lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, and my pathetic point-and-shoot that I've been using for the past few months canNOT handle these poorly lit environs.....but this is the gist of the landing  FUNNED up (so far).

The beer fridge is the perfect spot for all those magnetic frames that used to have residence in the kitchen until I couldn't take the chaos anymore.  Love them out here along with the vinyl chalkboard my friend B gave me.  We still have a ginormous collection of postcards SOMEWHERE, sent to the kids by my parents-in-law, mom, family and friends over the years - they have yet to turn up since we moved over a year ago, but when they do they'll be added to the board.  I hope seeing all these faraway sites will inspire my kids to go out and see this great big amazing world of ours someday!

This landing is also a great place for a bulletin board for the recycling schedule, kid's art and amusements.  {How perfect is this little diddy below for us, with my redheads and big slobbery dog??}

I found this PERFECT mat at Target - can you believe the colors??? - but oh so sadly it had to go back when we discovered that it's crazy 1" thickness caused everyone to trip right into the house.  Nothing like a grand entrance!  {*sigh*} Keeping my eye out for another cute mat for muddy paws!

I have another little sign in the works for this space too......if I ever get my act together I'll post about it soon.  I love that this little area of our garage feels a bit more finished, tidy, and welcoming with just a little prettying up.

Thanks Becky for the "peeps" board inspiration!  {If you're looking for other display ideas for postcards (or photos) check out this board I put together on Pinterest.}

And thank YOU for stopping by today - I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!



Joining these creative ladies - check them out for project inspirations!

Just A Girl