Monday, May 04, 2009

A little romance in the bedroom...

Once again, I'm talking about the never ending decoration of our master bedroom. Sorry people, I spend 1/3 of my life in here, I want it to be good!

So I've been working on some artwork over the bed. As you might have guessed from my London trip, I have a strong attraction to the period of history around world war II. Not so much the war part but how regular people survived in such times. Well lucky me, I stumbled upon the Time Life photo galleries one day. Too much wasted time surfing their photo collection later, I had found some real beauties by famed photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. His most famous shot was probably this one:

But good old Alfred captured far more striking kiss images than I ever realized. Here are a few more:

Is there anything more passionate (but also deeply dark) about these images? Who knows what happened to these couples but it certainly strikes a cord with me.

So you're wondering why I'm going on on and on about these photos from 50+ years ago? Well, I just thought they were perfect for the bedroom. Straight photos are always lovely but I figured I'd try a little mixed media collage for a triptych of images over the bed. I threw in some period ephemera and clipart and this came out the other end with the plan to have them printed on gallery wrapped canvases.
KissCollage2SMALL
KissCollage3SMALL
KissCollage1SMALL

On the screen, I'm happy with how they came out. But I'm thinking they might be a bit too busy to go over the bed. I did a little mockup.
Mockup of Bed with Art and Lamps

Maybe all three is too much? I could have one or two printed up and use in another spot. Of course that means back to square one about what to hang over the bed...but that's okay. Or maybe I'm being too critical and I should just forge ahead as planned. I haven't ordered anything so feel free to be honest.
Labels: , at 8:38 AM

44 comments:

  1. I love them - we have a motto "Never end the day without a kiss!"
    pve
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  2. I think one large one would have a better effect - more dramatic. Also, I love the lamps you are showing in the mock up. Where are they from?
    Thanks,
    Kate
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  3. Love this idea!!!!! I would love to see a large one with maybe the saying...."Always Kiss Me Goodnight" in vinyl with a trendy font above it. You should sell these...do you have an etsy store? How much would something like this cost? You are so very clever!
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  4. I think one piece with smaller mirrors flanking would be gorgeous. Maybe you can make the other two smaller and hang them vertically elsewhere in the room? They all look great!!
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  5. I think just one would look better than all three. Hey, I thought you were doing that whole empty frame thing above your bed? No?
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  6. I don't know why, but I'm just not crazy about nonpersonal photographs in the bedroom. I think something a little simpler and more classic would be better in this space.
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  7. I think it's a great idea! I was actually going to attempt to do this, but the kissing pictures I found weren't nearly as romantic! I agree that it is a little busy like that. Maybe you could make them a bit smaller and then put them in a frame with a mat? I think that would clean them up a bit. But I'm sure you will figure out something that will look great!
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  8. The big frame is going over the fireplace across the bed, not above the bed.

    Not really a fan of that phrase, Always Kiss Me Goodnight....its a little bit ubiquitous. I used to really like the wall words concept but now that they sell them everywhere, Im kind of over it. I still think they can be used in the right way but it has to be just the right phrase and I don't have anything that strikes me.

    I could put some wedding photos simply framed over the bed but Im leary of putting a giant me anywhere. Do I really want to see myself that much? I kind of know me by heart :)

    I don't think I necessarily need anything over the bed if the rest of the room is put together. But I do think something that adds a little drama might be pretty too. Hmmm..decisions, decisions.
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  9. Oliver: Thanks very much but the photos are only for non commercial use. So selling is a no-no.
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  10. I agree, there's something so romantically haunting about his photographs.

    You do excellent work, MrsL--these are fab. I vote for 1 large one above the bed so as not to detract from the lovely damask bedding.

    Are those the World Market lamps? They're PERFECT for your space.
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  11. At first I thought too busy, but after looking at them for a few minutes I think they are fine.
    Alfred's most famous shot has a color statue in my town about 30 feet high that the city owns and is on display by the water for all to enjoy. I often see people stopping to have their photo taken in front of it. Or better yet, they recreate the pose for their photo.
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  12. I simply ADORE the images you came up with! And though I understand your not being able to sell them for profit, believe me, I'd buy one in an instant if you could sell them!! :)

    My two-cent's worth on weighing in on the pics: I'd chose the one image you like best and blow it up it to be done on one very large canvas.
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  13. Wow, what a great job! I love the idea of the trio, and I think they look good above the bed. I agree that they look a little too busy as is. I wonder if you made them in greyscale and without the flourishes how they'd look? I love the script, and the ephemera is really cool too, but the colour is perhaps a bit much for the intended placement.
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  14. BEAUTIFUL! I kind of like the way you have them, but one large one as the focal point might be nice too. Very very cool, and I love the photos you chose. :)
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  15. Mrs. L you really know how to do it to it. I love your eye (singular, otherwise it is a little awkward).

    You could sell these :)
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  16. i think they look great but think they appear busy when paired with the bedding (which i love). i think they would look fab somewhere else and like the idea you posted above of perhaps having a wedding photo over your bed instead? if you're leary of having a big photo of yourself over your bed - what about one of the pics that are a bit more...in profile? like one of you and your hubby during your first dance...or something along those lines? perhaps there's a shot of the car as you and your hubby drove away afterwards?
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  18. I love the idea! But I agree that they would look busy over you bed. My two cents worth~~ I would use a single , larger canvas of a picture you like. The actual picture when juxtaposed with the background, does look superimposed ( unlike you chair on dictionary paper), so I would prefer the couple to be in the background with the current background printed over the couple. Then I would put it up surrounded by a molding frame painted in color of your bedroom walls.

    The pics are really great and you have done an awesome job with the background.
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  19. I find that with the bedding it is all too busy, but you have impecable taste so I'm sure you will do what is best! I also wanted to mention that I came across a frame sorta like the one you got in a garage sale. I too plan on painting it the same color as my wall. Thinking of putting it in my guest room. We will see! hugs from Conroe, TX!
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  20. I saw some things that you would love today..I am gonna post them.
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  21. I love them, and on a larger scale I don't think they'll be too busy. What an excellent idea to personalize them and add a little oomph!

    cozystyle.blogspot.com
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  22. I totally agree with MJ! I think they could work with neutral bedding! And, I do love the history behind these art pieces!
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  23. The art is great but compete with the bed spread. How about making them small and framing them with really wide mats and cool frams.
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  24. I absolutely love this idea. You are so creative, it blows my mind.

    I think hanging three would be wonderful, but the colors are throwing me off a bit. I say keep the idea, but make them completely black and white - like the lamps.

    By the way, I am so with you on the period photos. LOVE them.
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  25. Thanks for the comments everyone. I'll try making them black and white and see how that looks.

    I think making them very small and in large matted frames might make them hard to see. Sort of defeats the point of having them...but you are right, it might take the edge off. Also helps to make it less expensive too.

    I definitely cant make one huge one - there isn't enough space on the wall to do one giant square. Plus that sort of puts it all out of scale in my opinion.
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  26. Love the prints...what about on taller rectangle canvases... you have large ceiling yes? and I would have taller lamps (tall and narrow).
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  27. I think the idea of a vintage print is great - especially with the b/w of the spread. but i would stay away from the color. maybe find a couple of vintage prints (as in artist drawn not photo). it may be the b/w of the photo is not dramatic enough over the bed. I see two or three prints with that cream color paper and lovely black ink drawings - some of prospect park and GA Plaza might be nice?
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  28. I'd just stick with one, your favorite, really big over the bed-if you can do it that big and it still look good. These are neat, I'll have to work on my photo shop skills!
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  29. I like the prints but it all seems a bit too busy with the comforter. Perhaps if the prints were in their orginial state it would fit in better.
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  30. You are so talented. I love coming over to your blog and seeing your creations. I love the pics, very romantic.......

    I'm sure you'll make the right decision in how many goes over the bed, sorry I'm not very good at this sort of stuff :-(
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  31. This is a brilliant idea and I only wish I could buy them and hang them in my bedroom! So unique and original which makes it all the more beautiful.
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  32. I love them- each of them are beautiful! But, I do think they are a bit too busy for over the bed, with that comforter. They are so beautiful though, I hope you find a use for them!
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  33. Always such wonderful ideas! These are fantastic. I would buy these in heartbeat too. Since my soldier ships out in a few weeks, I would love some "hello kisses" to enjoy looking at for the next fourteen months or so. I hope you don't mind if I borrow the idea. I'm sure the final product will be nowhere near as professional looking, but I'm off to search for pictures. Thanks for posting this!
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  34. LOVE your creations, could be greeting cards!! I agree that it seems busy. Yet somehow the colors work with your headboard and bedding. I am thinking one, the same size shown in your mock... with a large mat and simple frame for contrast. I think that would make a statement. And maybe next to it on either side...sconces...just a thought.
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  35. I absolutely adore them...I think they are perfect works of art! They are truly fabulous! Good look on the final configuration!
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  36. I think they're beautiful, but they do seem to clash with the bedding. Mock-ups can be somewhat unreliable, though. I would print one up and see how it looks. You can always use it somewhere else.
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  38. You did a fabulous job with these collages. Just looking at the pictures, I think a huge black frame around all three with white matte might work.

    Maybe you can "mock it up" to see?

    Scribbler
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  39. Not too busy at all... they're beautiful.
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  40. What if you, rather than printing one larger canvas, take these down in size and print them on regular photo paper and frame them in nice frames with a large matte surrounding them? That way you keep the scale of the photos as they relate to the space, but cut down on the busy factor. I'd also keep them black and white.
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  41. Love them all! Feel free to post a tutorial anytime you wish!
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  42. Looking at these up close and from the beginning makes my plain old college days print of the kissing soldier & girl look so lame! These are amazing.
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  43. Somehow I missed this post and am just now seeing it. I love your creativity in collaging the tryptiche, but what really struck me were the original photos. Of course, I knew the first one (who doesn't) but the lesser known next two!? I got chills. Really. Something eerily powerful in those pics! Thanks for sharing!
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  44. Hi! I know I'm late to the party but I'm wondering what font that is? It's beautiful!
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