I know we see gallery walls ad nauseum, cluttering Pinterest and just about every other interior design blog, but I personally just can't get enough. Are you with me?

I love the personal touch that a gallery wall brings to a space, and I'm a sucker for that black and white contrast. Gets me every time. (For more about my love of black and white, visit my pinterest board here.)

And although it seems to be a trend right now, it's really not a trend. It's quite simply classic, timeless, and pretty effortless. Even more appealing, it's way more budget friendly than purchasing one giant piece of artwork. Especially if you go for the Ikea Ribba Frames, which are a fan favorite. They look way more expensive than they are (be wary of the larger sizes, the smaller are better).

You can have fun curating it yourself, and you can build it over time. You can start with a central cluster, and expand outwards over time. You can keep it sleek and uniform, with the same sized and colored frames, or eclectic with varying shapes and sizes and different material frames. You can turn your children's artwork into a Matisse, your Instagram photography into a modern art installation. The possibilities are endless! And this, my friends, is why I love me a good gallery wall.

After some serious technical difficulties, some traveling, and some childcare transitions happening these past few weeks, I've been a bit off the map. But now I'm back and ready to reveal Avery's City Chic Gallery Wall, which features one of my favorite Peter Mendelson photos. If you missed my blog on Peter Mendelson photography, you can read it here.

So, here it is. And please excuse the terrible quality of these iPhone images. Still experiencing some technical difficulties, clearly... (or not so clearly!)

~L.S.

Top, purchased at Brooklyn Flea. Bottom by Peter Mendelson Photography.

Top is a Baby's First Birthday chalkboard made with love by my sister Jillian, #jillofalltrades ! Learn how to make one here. Bottom is a custom pillowcase made by BabyBox given to Avery by my best friend. I wanted to save it from getting … — Top is a Baby's First Birthday chalkboard made with love by my sister Jillian, #jillofalltrades ! Learn how to make one here. Bottom is a custom pillowcase made by BabyBox given to Avery by my best friend. I wanted to save it from getting ruined, so I decided to preserve it in a frame and display it as art instead.

This is actually just a paper mock up print that I inherited from an old colleague's project. I hoarded it for years and vowed to frame it for a nursery if I ever had a girl. So, here it is!

How do you get your gallery on?

For more gallery wall inspiration, visit my Pinterest board here.

I've been admiring the work of Peter Mendelson Photography for quite some time now. I first learned about him during an antiquing trip with my old colleagues from Cullman & Kravis at Hiden Galleries in Stamford, CT. We stopped in our tracks when we saw his booth, filled with these fun and vibrant images. We wanted to jump right into those beach scenes! And teleport to that little red cabin in Maine.

Since then, I have continued to follow Peter's photography. I adore how he captures scenes that some may consider to be mundane or kitschy and transforms them into clear, sharp, bright and colorful works of art. His images of objects often overlooked or taken for granted are joyful, vivid and sculptural. It's clear to me that he seeks beauty in the small details around him and finds design everywhere.

Even more impressive? This isn't his day job. Peter only discovered his love for photography in the early 2000s and is completely self-taught. I was so excited for him when I heard that the highly respected Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine was hosting an event recognizing his work at White Birch Studio in Westport, CT last month. Although I couldn't make it, I was definitely there in spirit, cheering Peter on as a fellow entrepreneur. I can't wait to continue to watch this dream live large - I know there are big things in store for Peter.

These photos would add an amazing layer of dimension to any interior. I would love to see one in all of its glorious, gritty glamour as a contrast amongst a subdued, traditional space. I could also envision a stark white wall hosting a gallery series of these candy-colored creations. Stay tuned to see how I incorporated Peter's work in to Avery's gallery wall.

Now, if only we could all see the world though Peter's lens for a day!

~L.S.

For more info on Peter, click here.

recent posts

Gram + Tweet