Remember when we mentioned snagging these old iron keys for $8 in an antique store in West Virginia while visiting John’s grandma? Well I finally got around to painting them and hanging them in our hallway frame gallery (see how we made that here). Where did we squeeze them in? Well, see that card stock placeholder key? That was, well, just a placeholder.
I could have easily spray painted them for a quick makeover but since I love to use no-VOC paint whenever I can (especially since I have a huge gallon of white paint around at all times), I opted just to brush on a few coats by hand. It’s the same semi-gloss Olympic Premium No-VOC paint that I always use for trim and doors in off-the-shelf white if you’re wondering.
Then I decided that the spot on the wall with my card stock placeholder key might not accommodate that big ring of keys as well as three separate keys hung in a row, so I used some lady power and a hack saw to cut the iron ring and free each key to hang on its own.
After touching up some of the white paint for a pristine finish I waited for them to dry and used twine from our junk drawer to string up each one at varying heights for a balanced but not perfectly symmetrical result.
In the words of my imaginary BFF Bethenny Frankel (I know she’s not for everyone, but I love her), thar she blows:
I love glancing over at them through the wide doorway in the kitchen…
… and gazing at them as I walk from the front of the house to the back (or vice versa)…
So that’s the newest addition to the big hallway frame gallery. If only we could get our act together and start on the other side of the wall. You can see that in it’s planning stage – all covered in newspaper – here. And in this video, still covered with newspaper. Maybe tomorrow…
Wow, is this post really only 354 words? That might be a record for a chatty kathy like me. I kind of feel like a slacker. But what more can I say about the keys? Painted them, sawed them, twined them, hung them, took a bunch of photos, professed my love for said keys. The end. Wait, I know what this post needs. An on-the-subject haiku:
Little iron keys
I painted you white (surprise)
Wait, no one’s surprised.
Ok, now we’re over 400 words and there’s some poetry going on. Sherry out.
Angela says
I want to start by saying that I love your hallway frame gallery. It has inspired me to do the same in the hallway at the top of our stairs someday.
I love the keys but I feel like all three hanging together from the twine like that looks a little cluttered. I would have hung one in the middle of that spot and then maybe put the other two somewhere else.
I also really liked the ring they hung from. Too bad you couldn’t have found another spot in the house to hang them from on the ring.
HK says
This post is exactly why I love YHL. Sherry, you are hilarious.
Janet says
Keys and Bethenny?
A strange and unique pairing,
Both rough and lovely.
Jeanne says
Oh I love the keys! They just finish off that wall! Oh and by the way, I’m more than imaginary friends with Bethenny, I met her on her tour this year AND have her autograph! We are TOTALLY BFFs!! ;)
Jacqueline says
One more quick question! If you had to choose, would you put a gallery wall going up a stairway or in the upstairs hallway (adjacent to the stairway). The stairway wall is more visible, but I worry about it looking too cluttered and “in your face” when you first walk into the house. Any ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
I am obsessed with the idea of a stairway wall! Always have been. If we had stairs we’d so do it. Maybe try taping up paper templates to see how you like it in both places?
xo,
s
Sarah says
I dont know if you meant it to be this, but I love how there are three keys to represent each member of the family. Maybe you need another key for Burger. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha it’s true. Maybe on the other side of the wall (still gotta conquer that) I can DIY one more (with clay?).
xo,
s
Kelly says
Great idea! Love that gallery wall and I plan to copy it soon! Also, I can’t get enough of Bethenny :)
eva says
loving the new addition! i am about 1/2 way done with my gallery wall, inspired by you! thanks for the great tips, ESP. how to plan & hang!!!
Ames says
I love the keys! I think they look awesome just as they are.
Am I the only one that hates Bethenny? Really, really hates. But I adore Sherry and would love her to be my BFF, so maybe I can still hang out here?
Good job Young House Love!!!
Morissa says
Thanks for the post! I just picked up my own vintage keys and have been pondering what I’ll do with them. Thinking about white shadow box frames….http://livinglovelyblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/lovely-little-treasures.html
PS Also a huge Bethnney fan!
Jesse says
Love the keys! What paint color is that in the hallway? It’s so lovely!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s Moonshine by Benjamin Moore (color matched to Olympic’s no-VOC paint).
xo,
s
Steph says
Oh my goodness I love everything about this wall!!! I can’t wait to do something like it with our keepsakes and trinkets when my boyfriend and I move in together next year.
Your blog is wonderful and will serve as such an inspiration! :D
Rebecca says
What a cute idea! Never would have thought of this, but they look great. Oh, and hearts for Bethenny.
Drew Frampton says
You Guys Really Rock…Keep it up!
Anne G. says
Sherry –
What is the claw-like thing on the side table under the wall of frames?
I love how you are fearless when it comes to painting things! Thanks to your inspiration, I am now looking at “ugly” things I see at antique stores and realizing how they can be transformed with a simple coat of paint.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a West Elm candle holder from a while back (it’s like an antler, so I love it).
xo,
s
David Shearn says
I love it. I am trying to create the same in my office at work but I have to say at only 25% complete it looks weird and people keep asking me to space out the pictures. The kids are also getting tired of me asking them to draw pictures. Draw me an Elephant… please…
Izabela says
Bethenny Frankel is my imaginery BFF too! I love that woman.
Oh yeah…love the keys too!
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
The keys look phenomenal!!! I have a key necklace that everyone has joked was the “key to my heart” since I stopped wearing it mostly after Eric and I got together. He apparently FOUND the key! :) Cheezy, I know!!! I’ve thought about making it into a piece of art for our Master Bedroom, but just haven’t decided. We’ll see. :)
As always, thanks for sharing the inspiration!!!
Sara says
Funny post Sherry… I’m wondering where you got your bell jar with the glass bottom.
Sara
YoungHouseLove says
That was $4 from a garage sale! Wahoo.
xo,
s
Felicity @ Our Little Beehive says
I have a really strong urge to pick up the keys in the painting photo, dip them in the paint can and watch the paint drizzle back into the can.
rebecca says
I am with you! Bethenny is the bomb! I love how she crazy she is, especially that she complete fesses up to it
Dusa says
The haiku made the post (and made me laugh out loud!)
Katy says
you were in a punchy mood while writing this post! I LOVE it..
It’s interesting that I can read some of my past posts and feel my *quirky* mood coming out!
Nice job Sher’s!
KT out… :-)
oh and I’m a major Bethenny fan – HE-larious chicka!
Bernadette says
Just had to profess my Bethenny love with the rest of you :) Her show makes any day better!
Melissa says
Ah, now I understand the white paint from your apple-green-chair-painting-adventure. I was wondering at the time why there was white paint but then promptly moved on.
Cool keys. I think I would’ve hanged them with a soft blue, teal or brown thin ribbon for some more contrast but since I don’t live in your house I’ll just admire these ones.
Gina says
Ok, I know I’m probably the only one, but I think they are too much for that tiny space taking the overall feel of the wall from tailored to cluttered.
There’s just no breathing room around the keys, maybe if they were hung tighter, staggered in size, and all facing the same way?
Sorry, I know I’m in the minority here.
heidi faith says
LOVE these keys. Your beautiful & creative wall is inspiration for our very blank (but freshly painted) wall in our new home.
Whitney H Jones says
I often catch my husband “not watching” Bethenny Ever After. She’s def. hysterical.
Adriane @ GreenhornLiving says
Hilarious post Sherry. And funny timing–I had never heard of Bethenny before last night when I was channel hopping and landed on her and her husband visiting their bottling plant for the first time. I was hooked! I watched three episodes in a row and am excited to keep up. She was a riot. Half the stuff people called her ‘crazy’ for made total sense to me LOL!
Allison says
Break free..paint them each a different color to match your napkin!
Chelsea says
You can’t go wrong with white! Those turned out amazing. Now I’m thinking about where I can hang some keys in my house!
Mary says
400 words on painting some keys white??? Get over yourselves!
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahaha.
xo,
s
Caitlin says
Love that wall every time I see it… it’s a great any budget, any house project… two beginner questions for you Sherry…
1. Many of the frames I own are dark wood, but I think I’d like a white frame wall. Do you think spray painting them white would look okay? What kind of paint would I use?
2. I also have a mirror I want to paint… after looking at what you did with the keys I’m thinking I want to use wall paint… that really works? Would you recommend semi gloss?
Thanks for all the feedback!
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve sprayed frames with success using Kilz spray primer followed by white semi-gloss spray paint. The key is very very light and even coats and always keeping the can moving. Same for the mirror- and you can carefully use a straight razor to scrape any paint off the mirror when you’re done. Good luck!
xo,
s
Caitlin says
Thank you!
Erin K. says
Um, Hi. Love that you quoted Bethany. She says everything I’m thinking and want to say but don’t. My husband doesn’t understand my love of her show.
Mia Kloth says
I am right there with you on the Bethenny band wagon!! Love her!! :)
James says
ehh . . . don’t really care for the keys, but I hope you enjoy them.
Becka says
When I saw the keys quickly in your latest house tour, I couldn’t wait for this post.
Looks great as always.
I found the exact same keys + 2 more at Hobby Lobby.
All five were on the key ring for $11.99.
I was so excited to find them.
Alissa says
I love that you painted the keys white. And I love the twine/ natural look… But the symmetry freak in me wants to flip over the two on the left to match the one on the right… So that the bottom of the key in the center fills in some of the open space and drags the eye from top left to bottom right. (Could be that art school rearing an uptight head about directional flow… Sorry.) But really, what a great quick and easy project! Love it!
Paula says
I’m also one of Bethany’s secret BFFs. Just sayin’.
Love the keys :)
Jennifer says
<3 the idea and Bethenny!
r8chel says
Lookin’ good! And the haiku was a nice touch. :) Maybe next time it’ll be a limerick. There once were two youngsters from Richmond…
Kelcey M says
The wall is great, a good opportunity for sharing your stories to visitors, and reminding yourselves of the little things that make life fantastic. As a suggestion, I think painting the nails the keys hang from either white or grey would make them more integrated within the whole scheme. Not stealing the show as much since they are more for decoration than the sentimental value like the rest of the composition.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah I’d love to paint them white or the wall color sometime when I have some paint out!
xo,
s
Kim S says
Hahahaha love the haiku and your “Sherry out” declaration cracked me up.
Melissa says
OK, as if I needed another reason to love your blog…..Bethanny Frankel is the most real and honest “famous” person around….OMG, I love that you love her too!!! Congrats on your fab wall!!!
Cindy says
LOVE the keys! They look great there!
Bethenny is also my imaginary BFF. I’m pretty sure if I knew her in real life, we’d be friends. LOL
Mandie says
Love the poem! And Love your BFF! SHe rocks- as do you! I just had a rough evening and YOU, YES YOU Perked me up! THANKS!!
Natalie says
haha, I love the haiku and the keys look great! :)
Carly S. says
Love the keys and LOVE Bethenny!
x
Katie L. says
Sherry-Beth! What on earth did you use as your painting surface?! It obviously couldn’t be, but the juxtaposition of the first and second pictures make it seem like you painted the keys right on top of your console table.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the same black octagonal piece of cardboard I used for my chair painting adventure (you can see it more clearly in that post). Haha. But you scared me with the use of the whole name. Haha.
xo,
s
Violet says
Love the keys addition to your gallery wall (and your haiku!) I want to create one but have trouble finding white photo frames sold in bulk or in sets. How or where were you able to gather so many frames to showcase your beautiful photos?
Bethany is great, her little comments always crack me up! Btw, does anyone ever tell you that you sort of look or remind them of Rachel McAdams? Cause you sure do remind me of her. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes I get the Rachel McAdams thing a lot. Much more when I lived in NYC though (people used to give me their cabs and say “loved you in The Notebook” to which I’d stutter and get bright red). As for the frames, I got most of them slowly over time at Ikea or Target on clearance. But the cheapest way to grab a bunch at once is to hit up thrift stores or garage sales and grab a ton of them for around a dollar a pop (and spray paint them all the same color). Hope it helps!
xo,
s