Living room update

[telophase]

So we're mostly done with the living room, and are asking the hivemind about how to prop a picture up so the cats won't knock it over (hah!).



We're putting pictures up above the bookcases, and have three now. We actually have a bunch - we were thinking of maps originally, but found three books that were collections of old views of Rome, Paris, and London, which have maps and old paintings and stuff, and they all come out easily, so we can swap out whenever we want. And they're all 11x14", so we got three frames of that size (no larger because (a) omg the expense for bigger frames and mats and (b) the prints are different shapes, so having mats would mean it would be harder to swap them out) .

Toby went to hang them, and he propped them up on the bookshelves against the wall, and ... turns out we really like that look. Problem is, the cats get up there (note cat tree to right and no it can't be moved or how else are the cats going to watch birds) and rub their heads against the frames or lie down next to them and push them a bit and, eventually, bam! over they tumble.

So -- ideas on how to brace them or fix them down so that they can't get knocked over, and yet are easy to remove to swap out pictures?




We don't yet have a side table and lamp for the couch. That's on the list. :)

And yes that thing leaning against the wall in picture 1 is a barometer. Toby's parents gave it to us. They have another, smaller one that Toby was thinking of when he first mentioned it to his parents -- we got the clock to put on the brick wall above the chair and thought a barometer would fit nicely. But they brought both and told us to pick one, and this one looked nifty and the darker wood went with the room. And now we think it's big enough to hold that space by itself and it's got a clock on top anyway, so we're trying to work out where to put the clock. :)

Comments

[rilina]

Museum Putty might be a solution, though I don't know if it will stand up to a determined cat.

(I had a similar setup for my art until my cats jumped up on the bookshelf (accessible at that time due to my furniture layout) and knocked over a potted plant and a framed piece of art early one morning. The huge clatter was a very unpleasant way to wake up, especially since I then had to clean up the potting soil and shards of glass. Eek!)

[telophase]

Huh. I haven't had experience with museum putty. Museum wax, yes, which isn't for heavy-duty holding, but it looks like the putty is for heavier objects. Thanks!

ETA: We once had a large canvas painting (which I did by copying a comic book panel, so nothing valuable) that we sat on a dresser leaning against the wall. And then Sora decided one day to sprawl on the dresser, which knocked it over on top of him and on top of a glass vase. The results were not fun!

[torachan]

I have no idea, but I really love the look of the room!

[telophase]

Thank you! I'm loving the way it's turning out--I've never before been able to walk into a room of mine and have it just feel right.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

What about using those 3M, removable, hook-and-loop stripes? Stick one part to the wall and the other to the top back of the frame?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Hm. We'd like to be able to swap them out, which means that any of the frames may be turned to landscape or portrait at any point, so if it doesn't mark up the paint on the wall, it may work.

[inkblot14.livejournal.com]

I'd go with hanging - some old-fashioned piano wire across the back of the frames, and a j-shaped picture hook. You can find such at Home Depot or Lowes, as well as most art supply stores I'd bet. Then place the hook so the pictures still lean like they do - but the wire rests in the hook (just a bare bit of tension). That way, should a cat go waltzing by, hopefully the pictures won't fall.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

We'd like to be able to swap them out, which means we could turn any of the frames from portrait to landscape and vice versa, which would make it a bit hard to hide the hooks. Hm.

[emtigereyes.livejournal.com]

While I understand the desire for easy swap out, I think ultimately the suggestions of anchoring to the wall somehow are the best solution vs. cats. How often do you foresee swapping the pictures anyway?