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    Lewis & Sheron $100 Giveaway!

    November 22, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    NAPCP is thrilled to feature an Atlanta landmark who’s recent website redesign has made shopping accessible to everyone! Lewis & Sheron Textiles carries the largest selection of designer fabric, trim and upholstery in Atlanta. They have become an invaluable resource for countless interior designers and decorator enthusiasts alike by providing unsurpassed quality, selection and price.

    Browse their huge, incredibly EASY TO USE online catalog of fabric and trim where you can find just the right fabric, trim or upholstery for your next decorating project!

    Lewis & Sheron is pleased to give away a $100 shopping credit to a lucky winner. Here are the rules:

    (1) Must “Like” BOTH Lewis & Sheron and NAPCP’s Facebook page

    (2) Write something nice on Lewis & Sheron’s Facebook wall on behalf of NAPCP

    (3) Post a comment on the NAPCP wall to let us know you’ve completed all of these steps!

    Deadline: Friday, November 25th @ 11:59pm

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: Paper Wreaths!

    November 11, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    In the spirit of Fall today’s post is all about a popular new decor item: paper wreaths! They are perfect for all the right reasons: can be reused year after year, cheap to make and create little mess, plus you may already have the materials you need just lying around. They can also easily transition from Fall to Winter and maybe even on into Spring if you are lucky. I have spotlighted a few of my favorite finds below as well as links to a couple of tutorials!

    My absolute favorites are the two on the very bottom! The one on the bottom left is made from painted toilet paper rolls…isn’t that crazy?! The one on the bottom right is made from old sheets of music and is the perfect vintage accent piece for any home. Tutorial one can be found here, and tutorial two here! I have actually made a few based on the second tutorial already, so let me just warn you now…they can be a little addicting :)

    Happy Friday everyone!

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: How to Display your Child’s Artwork!

    July 8, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    Even if your little one is not the next Picasso, you will certainly want to save every little project and drawing to cherish for years to come. The tricky part can be deciding where and how to display your child’s masterpieces. To give you a little inspiration I have gathered some great display methods to share with you below!

    Traditional Framing

    Framing is always going to be the go to method. It can work well with almost any home decor while also preserving the work for many years. For a more modern home you may want to choose identical frames to create a gallery like the image on the left. Or maybe you want to mix and match and create a really unique wall gallery space. One of my favorite framing techniques is pictured above right. This piece is comprised of scanned thumbnails of several different pieces of art all collaged together and framed as one print. Such a beautiful display!

    Make Your Own Frames

    I absolutely love this idea, but it is certainly an option you have to commit to. These above images depict frames painted directly onto the walls to surround your child’s beautiful art.  The gallery on the left had several frames painted originally, all different shapes and sizes, and then artwork added later. However it appears that the gallery on the right was painted around the images once they were hung. Either way, it will look stunning!

    Hanging Displays

    Hanging displays are usually a much more flexible option. They are easy to put up and easy to take down. They are also great for switching pieces in and out, allowing space for new art that is made. The gallery on the left uses these amazing (and extremely versatile) rails sold at IKEA. Mount them anywhere and everywhere to create a unique wall display. Another alternative would be basic old thumb tacks, pictured on the right. You can either install some cork boards to protect the wall, or go to town with an already existing wall. Hanging displays are by far the easiest and quickest way to get some art on the walls!

    Lattice Displays

    Similar to the painted frames, these are a bigger commitment and certainly more time consuming. Assembly isn’t difficult, just requires a few more steps to get everything set up. You can purchase lattice strips in various sizes at your local hardware store and then either assemble them as a separate unit away from the wall (left), or mount directly to the wall (right). Attaching and displaying the art can be done with hangers, nails, thumb tacks and clips. Lattice can also be painted to match an existing home decor as well.

    Linda De Los ReyesLinda De Los Reyes

    Showing It Off – Clients’ Wall Displays

    May 17, 2011 | Posted by Linda De Los Reyes

    It was such a treat for me to help my client put up all of her gorgeous canvas gallery wraps in her family room a few weeks ago. To see a wall display from concept to digital rendering to reality is so gratifying. Before the photo session, she had mentioned she had a few places in mind to put her new photos but would certainly need help figuring out how. Music to my ears. During our post-shoot consultation, I measured the wall above the couch in the family room so I knew how much space we had to work with. Using the images in her “YES” folder (those images she knew she just had to have), I worked up several ideas.

    Following is the final display hanging in her family room. The two anchor portraits on each side are 16″x24″ while the middle squares are each 11″x11″. All canvases are 1.5″ deep with black side edges and a dust cover on the back. Quite the eye-catcher, eh?


    Another client of mine had picked out a prime spot for her session images at the top of the stairs on a  wall that connected the bedrooms.  But once she saw the artwork, she realized she wanted to put them someplace where any visitors could enjoy them as well – downstairs. She had already begun a display that showcased several photos going up the stairs. But there was still a wall that would be a wonderful spot to anchor the existing photo display. All three canvas gallery wraps are 16″x24″ and 1.5″ deep with black side edges and dust covers on the backs.

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: Unique Wall Galleries!

    April 1, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    I have loved seeing a new trend with gorgeous  assorted wall galleries on several sites  recently. I am always so inspired by creative and unique approaches to framing and gallery hanging. I actually used to be a framer (part time and never too serious) but I developed a new found respect for the craft and the practice as a whole. Framing offers so much room for personal style and design freedom. And more and more I have seen gorgeous galleries comprised of frames of varying sizes, varying colors, and varying styles. Plus they mix color photos with black and white photos, or prints, oil paintings, sometimes even antique maps. It’s a very refreshing approach to preserving those priceless possessions, rather it be a family portrait, a grand child’s school art project, or a 15th century lithograph. Everything can fit snugly together and find it’s own place. Now of course this process isn’t as easy as it may seem. You can’t simply buy 30 different frames and hope they mesh well. Usually there is a method to the madness! I have put in my two sense below with three helpful tips.

    1) Color schemes are still important

    Just because you are mixing and matching frames and images doesn’t mean you can’t have a basic color scheme to stick to. Take the 2 above examples. The image on the left uses red, black and small hints of gold as a way to tie the various pieces together. Not only do the frames keep with this scheme, but the room does as well. The image on the right instead uses a more neutral palette with richer earth tones in both the furniture and the pieces. Notice the small pops of blue in the artwork as well as the couch pillows. Together the room and gallery work harmoniously.

    2) Make sure the gallery suits the room

    Now your first inclination may to be to go way over the top and really saturate your walls with frames. This look may be suitable for some rooms, but certainly not others. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens typically need a more toned down approach. The 2 examples above are great inspiration for a bedroom. The galleries are simpler and understated so as to not completely overwhelm the entire room.

    3) Do not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone

    If you’re anything like me you may be fairly used to gallery spaces with 9 identical frames, with 9 identical mats, in 3 identical rows. Now I see nothing wrong with this style and have used it for several areas of my own apartment as well. But if you do want to create an assorted gallery, you are going to have to step a little outside of your comfort zone and go for something completely different. Incorporate elements you never thought of using before, like a mirror or aged scientific illustrations. Buy 3 or 4 of the same frame and then one that’s a new color, or a new width, or maybe even a different shape! Most importantly, find images that inspire you in every shape, every form, every color, and every style.

    Happy Fridays everyone!


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