IKEA Wall Art to French Letter hack

I am so very excited about this hack!

Firstly you must know it has always been a dream of mine to own the Restoration Hardware Giant French Letter Wall Art priced at $1500.00 BUT my vintage up-cycling soul just cannot fork over the dough when I know I can re-create it myself!

FINALLY I have a space for it.

Here is the situation…In the living room of my 2014 home we have these weird windows on either side of the fireplace. The entire back wall of the house is ALL windows and we have a west facing backyard so there is no shortage of light here! I actually hate these small windows. They take up wall space and leave no room for art, anything you place above or below the window just doesn’t look right, and any decor you place in the window will be sun bleached or melted by the direct sun.

before

I decided I need to cover them and so the search began on all the kijiji/swap and buy sites for 2 frames.
GASP….I found two Ikea vilshult pictures were the exact size I needed, and they were hardboard type wood, framed and $25!!! My up-cycling/re-purposing mind exploded!!

IKEA wall art

I carry an AMAZING line of paint called Fusion Mineral Paint that has a built in top coat and this was definitely the perfect project for it!

I grabbed the Fusion Ultra Grip, it helps on any surface that is a bit fussy when it comes to adhesion. This was exactly what this shiny hardboard project needed.

Once dry I painted the whole thing in this dreamy soft Fusion Cathedral Taupe and the outside of the frame in Coal Black.

BAM, paint and done!

I then grabbed a vintage postcard AND a dated 1820’s French Letter from my trusted site The Graphics Fairy.

I transferred some of the image and some parts I freehand drew it onto the painted picture.
Are you ready?? Here is the first one…

IKEA wall art to French Letter hack

French letter wall art

The postage stamp is also from graphics fairy but from a different postcard but I wanted a pop of color on this one.

Here is the DATED 1820’s letter. 1820’s?!?! Be still my beating heart!

IKEA wall art to French Letter hack

French letter wall art

French letter wall art

The Bordeaux stamp on the top right of the letter is added by me from a different graphics site.

Never mind that the 2 pictures are my re-creation Ikea and Restoration Hardware Hack DREAMS COME TRUE but just look at my new living room now…

IKEA wall art to French Letter hack

P.S. the brick on my fireplace is from the Chicago Subway System Tunnels SWOON!

Before & After together

IKEA wall art to French Letter hack

OH MY WORD, I am seriously in Love!!
What do you think?

THANK YOU for stopping by
Super Love
~ Jenny