My sister took these photos of Rexburg, Idaho (where Chris grew up) and Pittsburgh (where I grew up) respectively and seeing them next to each other–a juxtaposition of our rural and city worlds coming together is as cool as it is symbolic.
Update–Here are the actual photos:
I am glad I had them printed in color. I was teetering. Black and white is so classic and kind of goes with everything, but the colors in these photographs were too good to desaturate out. Not to mention, the room could use some color.
As far as hanging, we used two of the largest Ribba frames Ikea sells (in dark brown)–which are great because they are huge and still mega cheap ($24 a pop), but I sorta hate trying to level out two of these frames with the wire hanging mechanism on the back. But as you now know–cotton ball to the rescue!
Next time, I’ll totally pull a Dana and jump in the picture because the new presence of these photos aren’t being relayed–not even a fraction–in these pictures. They feel grand towering over my 6′ self and colorful and personal. Pretty much everything we hoped this art would be. Any home-proud art in your home?
(Yinzers represent!)
Leave a Reply
What do you think?
Previous Post
Next Post
Semihandmade
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
Collaborations
learn more
next
Loloi
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
Collaborations
learn more
next
STUGA
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
Collaborations
learn more
next
SHop all
What We're Right Now
What We're Right Now
Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop.
Loving
Portfolio
Design
Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
BROWSE BY CATEGORY
let's break this thing up
We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
Projects
Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
read more
read more
02
01
03
looking for inspiration?
A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]
SEARCH THE BLOG
We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?
looking for something?
find stuff like:
Can We Send You Our Love Letter?
Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
@chrislovesjulia
Links
Get Around
Make yourself right at home
Portfolio
Design
Casual Friday
Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
Love where you live.
Social
RivrLinks
Links
Get Around
Make yourself right at home
Portfolio
Design
Casual Friday
Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
Love where you live.
Social
RivrLinks
[…] idea I considered is one I saw on Chris Loves Julia – to blow up photos of our respective hometowns. Such a cool idea, right? The only downside is […]
I LOVE the new art!!! I have been quietly following your blog for awhile and you have done amazing things with your house!!! I love how the two big art pieces totally pop against the walls!
Best improvement is… no more Skully sitting there. Freaky deaky.
Just seeing this now and they are looking gooood! I should never have an excuse for bare walls in my home!
I’ll share this link on my DoublClik page
Love the new look. It makes the room pop. Did you find a place for the grid picture display? Btw,I love your blog. I like your style and how you and Chris seem to enjoy doing projects together. And Greta sure is a pretty little girl. Did you ever get the paint out of her carpet or replace it? I now add your blog to my other two faithfuls,YHL and Bower Power. Keep up the good work!
Aw, thanks so much. We moved the grid frames up to the hallway. I’ll have to post that update soon. As for the carpet. Sigh. No. The paint hasn’t come completely out and the pink tinge reminds me every day. We are not sure WHAT weren’t going to do about it but we’ll definitely keep you posted when we figure it out. :/
These photos look amazing! I definitely like them better!
I really like the two larger prints and the color they bring in too…great job!
Pull a Dana! Pull a Dana! So glad you went for the colored pics.
This is great – I love the pop of colour it brings. And I especially love how close you’ve hung them to the credenza. It’s a different little detail, but it looks sooo good!
Thanks Sam! The grid felt a little high and disconnected so we went low and–really, eye level–this time and we like it. Glad you do, too!
I love this!
I love the change!! You are ALL so talented!! Love your house!
I love the change!! You are ALL so talented!! Love your house!
This comment has been removed by the author.
I love the photos and the story behind them. We are map/place people so I would love to do something like this. What size are the photos?
Thanks, K-Krew! The photos are 20×30 in a 27 ½x39 ¼” frame.
They look great! What are the dimensions of those pictures?
Thanks Meredith! The photos are 20×30 in a 27 ½x39 ¼” frame.
oooh, I have a frame that size (the Virserum) hiding behind a door, waiting to be filled. Good to know it has the potential to look so awesome. :)
Looks great!
Julia, I love the change. I’ve often thought about doing a wall of photos that are representative of key locations for my husband and I. First house, first date location, etc.
I liked the grid of pictures, but this is even better! You’ve got me thinking about what I can put into some Ribba frames…
I love that they’re both shot on an ever-so-slight angle. Great composition (and juxtaposition!)!
Bravo! These look awesome! Jenn and I have a love for Pittsburgh that borders on obsession… and we love to collect art, so we’ve got a few walls paying tribute. Jenn gave me a really beautiful line drawing of Pittsburgh from above for Christmas, and, at the top of our stairs, we have a huge print of the Cathedral of Learning. For our first Christmas together, Jenn gave me a print she took in Lawrenceville, and I gave her one from East Liberty, where you can see the trains going into the city. Represent!
So so cool! That’s a great idea. Since Ryan and I have moved all over the place, I think we would settle on Seattle and Charlotte for our two pictures.
Love it! Great choice :). The other ones looked great to me too but I love the drama these ad. Beautiful.
These look awesome…what beautiful prints! I’m usually a B&W girl, but I LOVE these in color! :)
i really really love the change!! and those photos are beautiful. perfect change to the already gorgeous space.
i love how unafraid you are to make changes even after a room is complete. this was a GREAT change and i love the photos your sister took. great city representations.
hahaha – Yinzers! I went to school at IUP and it’s been too long since I’ve heard anyone say yinz. I love that you printed these in color – thanks for the reminder that even a black and white “theme”needs something to brighten it up!
I love hanging my own art. Just seeing my gallery wall of my own photos of places I’ve been makes me smile. I never would have thought of it as being too geometric like the AT reader, but I love the new look of two large pictures instead.
{lamourcheznous.wordpress.com}
As soon as I saw this post title I got happy. Pittsburgh respresent! :)
I love the new pictures (as well as the symbolism behind them). And the color is so good. It’s so nice when art and photographs in a home have a special meaning and a story — it makes it that much more dimensional, you know?
Any recommendations on where to print photos that large?
I use my local printer (Print DPS if you are local) and I love them. It’s a little family shop. I found them after using a larger printer for about a year and although they were good, I never felt like my business was important to them. And I mean, it probably wasn’t–but the customer should never FEEL like that. I would suggest calling around to a lot of places. Check prices and turn around time and go with what fits you best. These actually only cost around $30 to print because I had them printed on poster paper–which reduces costs significantly!
Fantastic tips! (Especially about the poster paper.) Thanks so much for the advice :-)
I love the change you’ve made! It is such a great idea to hang pictures of your hometowns!
The change is pretty dramatic. They look terrific. I’d love to see the actual pictures. Maybe you can show them in the next post?
Thanks Goosbefairy. Great suggestion! Just added that for you and everyone else.
Such a great pairing of pictures-country mouse/city mouse. and they look great in the space! good switch up.
I love how these photographs look! The frames look so good with the fauzdenza too lol. Also the old grid hanging in there had all squares and these large rectangles look so nice against the paneled wall. Good job!
*opposite the paneled wall.