Office Project Numero Quatro: Pinboard Frames

Read about my office here, and parts 1, 2 and 3 of the makeover here, here and here.

Next on my list for the office was something to go on the wall above my worktable. I knew I wanted some sort of pinboard solution so I could tack up mementos, pictures and inspirations like craft and decor ideas, paint chips, fabric swatches, etc. So I hopped on the picture-frame-turned-pinboard bandwagon.

I started by scouting the Raleigh flea market for large frames that I could spray paint. I think I probably paid around $20 for all four.

(Isn't the black and gold one nice?!)

After spray painting them white, I cut pieces of foam core to fit each frame and then covered the foam core with a thin layer of bulletin board material (using spray mount to adhere the bulletin board to the foam core).

I thought they looked pretty good at this point, but went one step further and covered the foam core/bulletin board with linen fabric (using good ol' hot glue).

And now for the finished product:

After playing around with the layout several times, I finally decided on two frames hung horizontally and two hung vertically.

And those light fixtures on either side? They're actually outdoor lights from Lowe's. (I can't find them on the site anymore but the stores may still have them.) I think they were around $20 each. And I L-O-V-E them.

Another secret? They're not hooked up to anything. They don't work. (Since they're meant to be outdoor lights they have to be hard-wired; they don't have a convenient little cord that you plug into an outlet). If I had begged hard enough I probably could have gotten Lee to work some magic and make it happen. But when we considered that we'd have to run wiring through the wall and cut out holes behind the lights and install another light switch (that probably wouldn't make any sense to future owners), I decided I was perfectly ok with them just being pretty and not functional.

I haven't done much yet in the way of pinning things up, but so far I've got some mementos from our Australia trip on the left, some random pics on the bottom, our "places we've traveled" maps on the right and a pretty quote from Pinterest on the top.

The maps are something I've been wanting to do for a while. I'm using yellow pins for places I've been, blue pins for places Lee has been, and green pins for places we've been together (get it? yellow and blue make green? awwww). Now we just need to get some more pins up there! Methinks the northwest is looking very neglected...

And now for some more pretty pictures.

Completing the worktable area are my two stools. I originally wanted the real-deal Tolix barstools, but at $200 a pop it was not happening. Overstock saved the day with this lookalike set of two for under $100. I actually bought the stools as soon as I finished the table, and they were part of the reason I fell in love with the industrial light fixtures and knew they'd be perfect.

So what do you think? I have a few last details I still want to finish up and then I'll give you a final wrap-up of the room.