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hey there! I'm monica 

I pride myself on making amazing style and design accessible for everyone, regardless of location, budget, or ability! My design philosophy is rooted in authenticity + attainability - If I can do it, you can too! My work has been featured in countless publications, but I take the most pride in homeowners that have been personally inspired by my DIY ideas and have tried something in their own homes!

learn more about ME + MY BIZ

While my hubs finishes up the stuff I don’t know how to do (ie: drywalling, adding corner bead etc) in our kitchen, I’ve been busy trying to make myself feel better about the disaster inside my house (see kitchen demo post here) by prettifying my entry way! My sweet mother-in-law gave me a gift card to Home Goods for Christmas, which is heaven on earth for a girl like me. No joke- I’ve been there three times in the last week and a half. Anyway, I was so torn about what I should get with that precious gift card- because you know there are at least a million things in that store that were calling my name- but kept coming back to tihs gigantic letter “J”.  Our last name begins with “J”, in case you were wondering. So, finally, today I went ahead and bought it, thinking it would be perfect for the wall in my entry that housed my advent calendar in December.
This bad boy is made of some kind of metal substance but had a cherry, wood-grain finish that I did NOT like, but I knew I could spraypaint it and all would be well with the world. (What can’t you improve with spray paint and hot glue, I ask you?)
See how large it is in comparison with my hand?
I picked up two metallic spraypaint finishes from Lowes (right before my son face-planted on the floor and received a nice, fat lip and bloody nose. Picture me trying to clean him up in the drywall isle full of construction-type men). I sprayed it first with the dark bronze paint, and then lightly sprayed it with the copper paint in concentrated areas. Then I went back over it with the dark bronze to make it a bit more authentic.I was trying to achieve a rusty, architectural letter look, and I think I achieved it!
I wish you could see it in person, because it’s has a lot of depth that just isn’t showing right in pictures, but you get the idea.  Then, using the hardware provided, I hung it on the wall facing the front door. Don’t worry- it actually is level, it just tricks the eye with that curved shape!
Right away, I felt like it was missing something, don’t you?
I love the letter, but really think the entryway needs something to make it pop. (Ugh, just ignore that mess of a kitchen back there) I’m thinking I could do stripes on just that wall like this:
63b735293dc487a69991a446f4ffdfd7
or do a stencil on that wall like this:
80233191b378afc48cf1c71f20d4cfdc
Except a lot less bold, because you know, I’m the queen of neutral. This one is a lot more up my alley:
StencilWall-BeautyShot-1
I’ve also thought about doing a gallery wall of family pictures around it, stenciling our names in a very subtle color around the “J”, framing it with chunky trim and the list goes on.
Help a girl out! Any ideas for my entryway?

The comments +

  1. Kim says:

    I think even just painting that wall a pop of color so the “J” can pop. A bit of contrast to give it the spotlight.

    I have a giant “B” w/a gallery wall in my house, so I can attest that they would definitely work too. Can’t wait to see what you decide.

    Loved what you guys did on the Nate show. Your room rocked!

    Kim http://www.plumberrypie.blogspot.com

  2. Kim says:

    Oh, one more thing, could you tell me what kind wood floors you have. We are researching floor options right now. thanks, Kim @ Plumberry Pie

  3. Cheryl S. says:

    How about a nice chunky frame around it??
    Love your blog by the way!

  4. mikio says:

    I love the simplicity and the chunkiness of the “J.” Perhaps, it could stand (hang) alone on that wall with just the wainscoting beneath it. I agree that an accent or deeper color might be great on that wall.

  5. Congratulations on being nominated over at Not Just a Housewife, your project is awesome and we are humbled to be listed with yours – nice job!

  6. Becca says:

    I LOVE that idea! It would look super! {I heart that chevron wall, big time. But I’m with you, it’s not something I could have in my home- way too bold for the every day}

  7. taniaramsey says:

    I buy things at Jo Ann’s and HomeGoods and spray paint them too! I love the metal paints.

    I think the scale of the table is off. I agree with Mikio, either remove the table completely or replace it with something slightly chunkier. I love your blog.

  8. @Kim
    Thanks for the input, Kim! I wish I could tell you what the floors are, but they were put in before we moved in, and there aren’t any remmants left! Booo. So sorry!

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Jess

  9. @mikio
    Yes, Mikio, I’m definitely thinking that it might look better without the table beneath it, or maybe with another a bit bigger? Still working things out in my mind, but thanks for your thoughts!

    Have a great day!
    Jess

  10. @Cheryl S.I am considering that for sure, Cheryl. I’m not sure I want to commit to something like that, since I change things up constantly! I will definitely let you know what I decide!

    Jess

  11. @The Rooster and The Hen
    OMW, are you kidding? We were drooling over your pallet headboard and the fireplace filled with cut logs- amazing! 🙂

    Thanks for the kind words,

    M & J

  12. @Becca I’m definitely leaning towards painting stripes, but in nothing more exciting than white. 🙂 The dark chevron is so fun…for someone else! Ha!

    Thanks for commenting!

    Jess

  13. @taniaramsey I think you’re absolutely right about the scale of the table, Tania. Oh, the woes of trying to work with what you have! 🙂

    Jess

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