Black and White Photography

We cannot take credit for this idea, but we loved it so much, we want to pass it along.  One of our favorite HGTV designers is Sarah Richardson.  In addition to being perky and adorable, her designs are always wonderful – whether they are for a contemporary loft space or a country cottage.  She has a knack for incorporating vintage finds, having them sprayed or re-upholstered for a fresh new look.  In a recent episode of her latest show,  Sarah 101, she demonstrated an easy way to deliver punch to a black and white scheme by doing an entire gallery wall of black and white photographs of architectural elements.  To keep costs down, she and her sidekick Tommy took the photos themselves with a digital camera, used ready-made frames, but had them custom matted for a more professional look.  Almost anyone with a camera could do this with great results, she says!  So, out we went with our camera and we came up with a few shots that seem appealing and interesting.  If you decide to try this, look for old wrought iron fences, pediments and corbels on old homes, exterior sconces or lampposts, Victorian gingerbread gables or railings from porches, and gargoyles atop historic buildings. Churches can be another great source for interesting shots.

The possibilities are endless and the results could make a dramatic display.  Or, if you prefer not to take the photos yourself, we could always show you our repertoire of photos – just let us know! There are also a great many inexpensive black and white posters to be purchased quite reasonably at places like Michaels or on-line sites such as Art.Com.