This post is brought to you by Minted.
For almost four years, our dining room at Curbly House has showcased the same gallery wall—a testament to treasured family memories. While we cherished it, a desire for change and a refreshed aesthetic led us to seek assistance from Minted. Leveraging their personalized art styling service, we embarked on a journey to discover new and captivating images that resonated with our evolving tastes.
The dining room serves as a focal point in our home, witnessing countless family meals and hosting gatherings with loved ones. Our gallery wall was filled with family pictures from the past and little hints from the past, and was a true masterpiece. Was I mad to want to change it for a while? Maybe, but there are a few reasons why I was going for it.
Frames were forever moving, and I was forever straightening them. No amount of museum wax seemed to keep them stable, and I would reclaim 10 minutes out of every day by installing something different.
My children were forever touching the glass with their precious little paws, and they’ve now both adopted the adorable habit of leaning back in their chairs whenever their bottoms hit the seat. As a result, I clean the glass frames a couple times a week and live in constant fear that a child will come crashing through a frame. (It has happened once, and clearly no one learned a lesson.)
I wanted to try something new. When the possibility of reworking the wall with the help of Minted’s design service came up, I jumped. I like the idea of having something more eclectic, and I’m excited about giving the room a new feel.
Minted: A Design Marketplace for Unique Art connects you to unique products from the world’s best
emerging artists. It’s a platform for artists to gain exposure and recognition, enabling both artists and consumers to
pursue their creative passions. You can even commission original artworks from independent artists!
Selecting a cohesive assortment of mixed art pieces can often feel overwhelming, especially given the personal nature of art. Each piece makes a statement, and achieving a harmonious collection is no easy feat. That’s why partnering with a Minted designer was such a relief. Based on our style quiz results, our designer curated a cohesive set of artworks that would have taken me a lifetime to choose on my own.
The Dining Room Before: A Look Back
Before diving into the redesign process, let’s revisit the dining room’s previous appearance. Four years ago, we were fortunate enough to have Emily Henderson transform our space, adding her signature touch of design magic.
At the time, we had just completed a massive remodel of our home and were ready for a design overhaul. Without Emily’s intervention and her generous contributions of paintings, rugs, and furniture, much of our house would likely remain unfinished.
Exhausted from having a newborn, moving, remodeling, moving out, and then back in, our creative and design energy was depleted. We remain eternally grateful to Emily for making our house feel like a home during a time when the process seemed insurmountable. Even four years later, we continue to adore every aspect of our house.
Why Redesign the Dining Room Gallery Wall?
Our dining room occupies the heart of our home. It’s a space where we enjoy family meals and where guests gather during dinners with friends and family. The gallery wall, filled with cherished family photos and snapshots of our past, held a special place in our hearts. So, why the desire to change it?
- Frame Alignment Frustrations: The frames constantly shifted, requiring frequent straightening. Despite our best efforts with museum wax, stability remained elusive. By installing something different, I hoped to reclaim valuable time each day.
- Little Hands and Leaning Chairs: Our children have a penchant for touching the glass with their hands and leaning back in their chairs. This has led to constant glass cleaning and a perpetual fear of a frame crashing down. (A previous incident served as a cautionary tale, yet lessons were not learned.)
- Embracing Change: I simply wanted to try something new. When the opportunity to collaborate with Minted’s design service arose, I jumped at the chance. I was drawn to the idea of a more eclectic wall and eager to infuse a new feel into the room.
Minted’s Art Styling Service: A Seamless Experience
Minted provides an art styling service for $79, encompassing unlimited styling assistance.
Our journey began with a comprehensive style quiz (try it!—it’s fun and commitment-free). Bruno and I reviewed approximately 20 different pieces, selecting the ones that resonated with us.
We further refined our preferences by answering questions about our preferred decor styles (vintage, contemporary, mid-century modern, muted minimalism). After submitting photos of the room, our designer, Kathlyn, presented us with two distinct mock-ups within a few days.
Minted boasts an extensive collection of unique artwork from emerging artists worldwide, including pieces from our friend and inspirational blogger, Jaime Derringer.
Left to right: Composition 2, Planar 1, & Composition 4, by Jaime Derringer.
Given the vast selection, having expert guidance in curating the perfect pieces proved invaluable.
Considering existing artwork in the room, we prioritized color harmony, stylistic coherence, and overall cohesiveness for the new wall.
Bruno and I gravitated towards “Option 1” due to its superior fit with our dining room’s aesthetic. The blend of photographs, line drawings, and abstract paintings appealed to us, and the cohesive yet not overly matchy color palette felt organic. However, one piece didn’t quite resonate with us, prompting us to request a swap with a similar color scheme. Later that day, Kathlyn provided us with a revised rendering that we absolutely loved:
Minted Art Gallery Wall: Product List
Salvage Barn Series 03 – 30″ x 30″ (Frame: White Border Print + White Wood
Frame)
Dusk Sky – 30″ x 40″ (Frame: Matted Print + Natural Raw Wood)
Roughshod – 24″ x 24″ (Frame: White Border Print + White Wood Frame)
Point of View – 18″ x 24″ (Frame: Full Bleed Print + White Wood Frame)
Fleeting Light – 16″ x 16″ (Frame: Matted Print + Natural Raw Wood)
Dining Room Product List
- Rug: Herringbone Cotton Flat Woven Rug (size 9 x 12)
- Table: Vintage – Craigslist Find
- Chandelier: Sonneman Tempo Rubbed Bronze Chandelier (Discontinued, Similar: Here)
- Captain’s Chairs: Forza Taupe Twill Mid-Century Accent Chairs
- Dining Chairs: Arthur Umanoff Vintage Chairs – Craigslist Find
- Pitcher: Porcelain Pitcher
- Bowl: Basket Bowl
With our artwork selected, we adjusted frame and mat options to complement existing decor and align with our budget. Less than a week later, our carefully packaged artwork arrived, ready for installation.
The light and airy feel of the artwork inspired us to swap our rug for a lighter, yet equally durable, option.
The dining room has undergone a complete transformation. It’s remarkable how a simple project can make such a profound impact on a room. We are absolutely thrilled with the new dining room’s aesthetic. It feels open, airy, light, and visually captivating. I gasp every time I see the new art wall.
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All photos, except where noted, are by Bruno Bornsztein.
This post was sponsored by Minted. All opinions, thoughts, and words are mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Curbly; the revenue that we generate from posts like these helps pay for photography, blogging materials, and all the other things that go into making the all the free content we product on Curbly!