Gallery of rotating photos a smart way to show them off
Q: We were cleaning out my late greataunt’s house and found stacks of framed photos of European scenes. She was a good amateur photographer and avid traveler. I’d like to honor her work but am overwhelmed at the thought of finding enough space to hang all her photos — there may be 25 or more. Is there a smart way to show them off a few at a time?
A: Yes. But don’t think of reaching for a hammer and nails. Instead, think about a gallery of rotating photos.
Choose a long wall space, say, just above a chair rail in the dining room, and install a narrow shelf, wall-to-wall. It should have a lip at the front edge so you can prop up a selection of photos, a half dozen at a time. No nails necessary. You then rotate the collection when you’re ready for a change of scenery.
That said, I also applaud the solution French designer Jacques Garcia devised for the sleek sitting room we show here. Yes, his wall of art does involve a hammer and nails — also, a measuring tape, and the patience to hang all those pictures just so.
It is the precision of the display that makes it so visually interesting. How, you may ask, can this be done? First, by measuring the wall space involved, marking it out on the floor below, then arranging the framed artwork to suit your eye. Now transfer your arrangement, piece by piece, to the wall itself, carefully maintaining the correct spacing.