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We recently had an incident at our home involving our deck, our fire pit, and a fire extinguisher. As a result, we ended up with a brand spanking new (bigger!) deck and a pile of old, charred lumber ready for the dump. It seemed like a waste, however, and we didn’t want the story to end there. So we decided to recycle some of it by turning it into rustic wall decor for our living room. It was a simple way to make seemingly worthless wood a classy conversational piece for the house. You can create your own reclaimed wood art decor as well!
wood_from_deck_for_diy_wall_hanging_project When choosing the wood for our new deck, we made sure to pick out the straightest pieces with the least amount of damage on them. This was not the case for our wall hanging. Art is all about imperfection. We chose the pieces that had the most knots, were warped, cracked, and chipped; and nail holes were certainly an added bonus! Once we made our selection, we flipped over the wood on its backside in the order we wanted them. We didn’t want them perfectly straight across, so we staggered each piece from the next. Adjusting them exactly how we wanted, we tied them together by screwing two more scraps across the back using 1-5/8 inch self-drilling decking screws. When creating your own, you can use a piece of 1/4 inch plywood slightly smaller than your project to attach the pieces to if you’re concerned about weight. Whatever you use, be sure to use screws or nails that don’t protrude through the front!
wood_from_back_view_for_diy_wall_hanging_project wood_screwed_together_for_diy_wall_hanging_projectOnce the boards were secured to the backer, we flipped over the whole project so that the front was facing us.
wood_front_view_for_diy_wall_hanging_projectIt was time for the fun part. We went to Lowes to pick out colors which coordinated with our current room decor and purchased paint samples of each color.
diy_project_wall_hanging_paint_selection_samples_from_lowesWe decided on the base color for our project and, using a foam brush containing very little paint, put a skim coat on the front. This enhanced the wood grain and gave it the warn look we were trying to achieve.
wood_after_first_skim_coat_of_paint_for_diy_wall_hanging_projectNext, we added highlights of each of our selected colors using the same technique.
IMG_8538_resizeWe then attached a wire to the back for hanging on the wall. Normally, on anything that we hang, we use eye hooks with the wire, but due to the weight of this project, we used the same 1-5/8 inch screws that were used to attach the back supports.
wood_back_view_of_wire_for_diy_wall_hanging_projectSince we were mounting our project on a block wall, weight was not a concern. We drilled through the block and hung our now complete project using screws specifically designed for concrete. When creating your piece of art, keep weight in mind and plan accordingly.
reclaimed-wood-art-comepleted_wall_hanging_diy_project_on_livingroom_wallWhen was the last time you attempted to recycle material for something other than the originally intended purpose? How did it turn out?

P&W Photography are Phil & Whitney Mayhew, a husband/wife team located in Nebraska & documenting the good life throughout the Midwest. P&W Photography are non-traditional, storytelling photographers who specialize in lifestyle & documentary-inspired photography, making it their goal to capture authentic moments & genuine emotions. They are always eager to travel to new places & meet new people. Phil enjoys tacos & cheeseburgers. Probably too much. Also pizza. He loves listening to vinyl records & walking the cobblestone streets of Charleston. Above all, he is grateful for undeserved Love. Whitney is fueled by fashion & essential oils. She's a Southern Belle with the sweetest accent this side of the Mississippi. She loves vintage jewelry & cannot bear the thought of passing a farmers market without stopping. ​Phil & Whitney are parents to two incredible little girls & a sweet Morkie pup. They recently fulfilled their dream of restoring an old, historic building & their love of antiques will likely lead to their television debut on A&E's Hoarders.

Comments: 6

  • November 21, 2013

    I LOVE it! It’s settled. I’m putting you and Whitney in charge of decorating my house. You guys make it look so easy. You totally nailed it – in a good way. 🙂

  • November 23, 2013

    Wow, it looks amazing!! I love the step-by-step process you put up, I’m sure it won’t take too much convincing to get Mom to help me do one! 🙂

  • Tiffany

    December 10, 2013

    This is so nice! 🙂 Awesome job!

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