Picture this Creative ideas for turning your photos into eye-popping pieces of art

Q. We have some fabulous landscape photos of our property that we would like to use as art for our walls. Do you know of an interesting way to do this? Simple frames just don’t work. Thanks for your great ideas. – James
A. We are all becoming amateur photographers these days due to the simplicity and high quality of digital cameras. Even cellphones can take outstanding shots. There are also a variety of options for displaying your favorite photos. You can now make books online, or set up a page for groups of photos that capture your latest vacation or special family event. I discovered another option that will suit your desire to showcase your landscape photos in a manner that is both captivating and simple. Aluminyze.com lets you upload any photo and have it printed onto aluminum. The photo is infused into a sheet of aluminum. Their raw silver aluminum surfacing adds a semi- transparent appearance to the picture. Whites become metallic silver, and colors shine with metallic hues. If you choose their standard white surface, you will see greater depth of saturated colors and stronger contrasts. Check out their website to view their gallery and your choice of shapes, sizes and mounts – everything from traditional rectangles, squares and circles to heart shapes, ornaments and even the letters of the alphabet. You will want to ensure that the photos you send are high quality so they can be enlarged, edited and cut to make whatever display you like. These aluminized photos are durable, waterproof and UV resistant. They don’t wrinkle like paper, so they can stand on easels or be self-mounted onto the wall as shown here.
Enjoy the creative process and be proud of your own masterpieces hanging for everyone to view.
Q. We have lived in a traditional home for many years, with dark wood paneling in the dining room and wood floors throughout the main floor. I love the house, but am tired of all the dark. It feels heavy, and I am looking for light without ruining the home’s style.
What can I do? – Ilianna
A. I know that you have a difficult decision to make, because there is much push-back when it comes to painting over dark wood paneling.
Many people deem this step as a sacrilege, and that’s not right. This is your home; you make decisions that work for you. My advice is to paint the paneling white. Not only will it lift the room immeasurably, but it will also show off the handiwork in the panels themselves. Choose an interesting color for the wall space between or above the panels. Pastel shades such as pale pink and violet are popular right now. Or look at the new wallpapers. Traditional florals have been blown up to invigorate any space. Stripes are always in style. Your floors are easily lightened with area rugs, and won’t feel heavy once the dark panels are gone. And don’t forget lighting.
Chandeliers and pendants come in an exciting array of historic-meets- contemporary designs. It will feel like a brand-new old home.
Email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.