Bedroom Draperies Sneak Peek And My Search For A Unique Frame For Our Chapel Picture

I had originally planned on keeping the thin gold frame that’s has been on the picture for years now. But that frame is so thin that I kept wanting to put something else on that wall with it, and my mind naturally went to sconces since I really like wall sconces.

Several people suggested that I reframe the picture with a more substantial frame, and while I wasn’t originally open to it, I started to come around to that idea yesterday. So I decided to go to Michael’s and Hobby Lobby to see if I could find anything I like. I was even feeling so good, so energized, and so much more like my normal self that I got out in the pouring rain yesterday just to look for a new frame.

I didn’t find anything at either of those places. I even looked at the custom framing options, but nothing really caught my eye. I really had my heart set on finding something unique and different, but all I found (both ready-made and custom) were just standard, run-of-the-mill frames. None of that interested me at all.

Obviously, nothing is actual finished right now, but here’s a glimpse of where this is going…

Overall, I love it. Of course, you have to keep a few things in mind. First, I won’t be using those spring clips on the drapery rings. As soon as I remember where I stored the drapery hooks that came off of those sheers, I’ll hang them properly. Second, instead of attaching the orange and cream trim so that the whole 3-inch width showed, I tried wrapping it around the edge so that only half of it shows. I really like how that looks. I like that it adds just a touch of color without commanding too much attention like a 3-inch-wide trim would. And third, the finished drapery panels will obviously be pinch-pleated and hung on drapery rings so that the curtain rod shows all the way across. I don’t do gathered-on-the-rod curtains. But I just wanted to get the general idea of where this is heading.

But I’m not completely sold on the lamps. While I love the shape of the base and the shape and color of the lampshade, I think they’re a little bit too tall. I could remove this piece, which I think would make the height just right.

But I don’t think I realized just how rough the finish is on these bases until I got them home. They would require an awful lot of sanding to get them smooth enough to paint without that texture showing through. That rough texture is way too “farmhouse” for my personal taste. So I’ll probably take them back and look for something that has a similar base, similar shade, but that wouldn’t require so much prep work in order to paint them. Or, who knows? Maybe I’ll find some that are the perfect color and won’t require painting.

But then last night when I was on my computer, I saw an ad for a mirror from Wayfair that caught my attention — this Castellanos Mirror in a natural finish (affiliate link). Immediately, I thought, “That’s it! That’s the frame I want!” I don’t need a mirror, but I can always take the mirror out of the frame and just use the frame for my picture. Here’s what it looks like.

It was more money than I was wanting to spend on a frame, but after giving it some thought, I realized that it was around the price that I would have paid for a custom frame. So I went ahead and bought it. I’m very excited about it. Like I said, I had my heart set on something unique, and something that wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill picture frame, and I think this fits the bill. I did a little mockup of it so that I could see what it will look like.

The current gold frame is 24″ x 36″, and this new frame is 30″ x 40″. So with the new larger size and the eye-catching and unique design of the frame, I think the picture will be able to stand alone on that wall without me feeling the need to add something else to the wall. I’m really excited about this, and I sure hope it works out like I envision it. It’s supposed to arrive on Monday, so we’ll see!