Decorating with Junk: Old Shutters with Framed Monogram
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I love old wooden stuff: furniture, windows, doors, shutters.
As I happen to have a whole collection of old stuff out in our shop, I’m always on the lookout for great ideas that will help me put all my treasures to good use.
When I saw this project with an old shutter, an ornate frame and a big monogram letter, I knew it would be perfect for a spot near our back door that was in need of some improvement. I found the picture over at Dishfunctional Design, but it originated at Hostess with the Mostess.
Now mine did not turn out as fantastic as the one in my inspiration photo, but I’m still pleased with it.
(The ratios are much better in the inspiration project; mine has too much empty space around the frame. But I was working with what I had on hand, and was happy to join together two pieces I already owned and loved–the shutter set and iron “H”–with a new element–the ornate frame–into one easy project that cheers up a spot we look at all day long.)
What I used:
Set of old shutters–(already owned)
Jute–$2.49 @ JoAnn
Ornate frame–$29.99 @ Hobby Lobby (I used a coupon!)
Spray paint–a few dollars at any home improvement store
Old (heavy as all get out) iron “H”–found it years ago at a flea market in Texas
First, I spray painted the frame. Mr. Native Texan looked at me as though I had three heads when I informed him I would be painting the white-white frame off-white. Believe, me plain white would have been too stark. I was much happier with the creamier white color.
Then I had to repair the iron “H,” which had broken as the result of an unfortunate fall. Mr. Native Texan helped me secure a piece of wood across the back of the letter. Then I wrapped that part with jute to hide the wood and to provide extra stability.
Next, I stuck a penny nail in the top of one shutter and hung the frame from the nail, with jute.
Finally, I wired the heavy, iron “H” to the shutter, positioning it in the center of the frame.
Then we hung the shutters on the wall using picture hangers. We had to hang it high enough to see the “H”, which left too much empty space between the bottom of the shutters and The Red Hutch below.
So we added a piece of old barn wood–from my dad’s barn, actually. It fills the space nicely, and now this spot makes me happy when I see it every day.
Hooray for decorating with junk!
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