Fixer Upper Inspired Metal Wall Decor
Today’s project is all about creating unique wall decor for your home. It was sunny and beautiful up here in the Northeast these past few days which allowed me to take some time to wonder around our property for awhile with the kids. They love to explore the woods and stomp around down by the creek. A couple of weeks ago, on a walk just like this one, I happened to find this old piece of roofing tin that my husband used to cover our firewood piles to keep them dry. Turns out is was just the piece I needed to create a Fixer Upper inspired metal wall decor.
The patina on it caught my eye right away. The orange and blue combination is so pretty and the chip-y, peel-y just makes my heart happy. I thought, there’s got to be something I can do with that. So I called Hubby over to take a look and we decided to cut a piece and see what we could come up with…
Once it was cut I could see that I wanted to frame it. We tossed around some ideas on what to frame it with including some reclaimed wood we had but there was no really easy way to attach it. Then I remembered I had this old tongue and groove flooring which would be perfect because we could use the groove to hold the tin in place. I had used this wood before for a sign I made for the dining room and for one in the hot cocoa bar . The patina is so unique on that too.
So Hubby cut the flooring pieces into a frame, mitering the corners and then he slid the metal into the groove to make sure it fit.
Then it was time put it all together. He used wood glue in the grooves and slid the metal piece into place.
Then he screwed “L” brackets on the corners on the back side to hold the pieces of wood together.
The colors of the “frame” turned out to be too much for the variation in color of the metal so I sanded it down using a palm sander. It made it more uniform all the way around. I wanted it to be just a bit darker but didn’t want to use stain or clear poly so I tried mineral oil. It worked great to bring out the color of the wood and darken it just enough. I’ll have to do it again here and there but overall I really like the look.
I think this wall decor project came out pretty cool especially since it was FREE! Well, I guess it did cost $2.50 for the “L” brackets. 🙂
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I love the way the white of the cotton branches stands out against the orange and blue patina. You can find some of these on amazon here. (affiliate link provided for your convenience, see disclosure here) Do you have a project you’ve made with found materials or something left over from another project? Maybe you’re thinking of something you can use right now?
Happy DIY’ing! 
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I just love this sooooo much! At first I thought it was all wood until I came hear and read it. I could kick myself for passing up a piece of metal that I just saw at an antique place. It was gorgeous and I kept going back to it so I should have bought it…darn! Well next time I guess…lol. This is such a beautiful piece and hubby did a great job!
Thanks so much, Shirley!
What a beautiful shelf and I just love what you did with the metal by framing it. Everything else on the shelf looks lovely with it, too!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thanks so much, Carrie!
I had to come back and respond about my progress on getting my wall decor completed. We decided it was too time-consuming to acquire one panel at a time, and instead began looking at local estate sales that were advertising that they were selling parts of their old roofing for artists, etc. We got a great old piece large enough to frame for the large stairway and we only paid $30!
Wow!! I love good finds like this one. I really love the finished (well, unfinished, technically) look once it was framed. You’re right, the patina is perfect. Great share!
Thank you, Adrienne! It’s one of my favorite projects 🙂
I loved it so much that my husband is now in the process of making me one. We saw a huge one at a recent fall festival but they wanted $120. Hubby said “I can do that for you so cheap!” He’s found a few good panels so far and I’m so excited!
So ingenious!!! Well, have the pieces of tin, now to figure a way to cut them.{no Hubby} And have an old weathered look picture frame, about 20×24 that will make this project perfect, over my redo breakfast room brick wall..Thank you for the inspiration and MERRRRRRRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Thank you, Emma! Depending on how thick it is, you can try using tin snips. Thanks so much for stopping by and Merry Christmas to you, too!!!
This looks awesome! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Very cool! I have an old piece of similar metal but it’s green. I’ve been saving it for something but I never thought of just framing a piece, great idea!
Tania
Thank you, Tania!
It looks great and would never thought of doing this with an old roof – thanks for sharing with Pin worthy Wednesday
My friend and I just got some big old rusty square pieces of tin out of my aunt’s barn a few weeks ago! LOVE THIS! Featuring it tonight at Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday. 🙂 Thanks for linking up!
http://www.kammyskorner.com/2016/04/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party_18.html
I love that both pieces were upcycled and…wow. It turned out beautiful!!!
I love the decor! Great colors and rustic look. Thanks so much for sharing at Merry Monday.
Love this idea. Great job. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Me Monday. Also I will be featuring your idea at Inspire Me Monday. Hope to see you there at 9 a.m. EST. http://www.farmhouse40.com
Thank you so much! I will definitely be visiting again!
I love this! Now I’m on the lookout for some rusty old metal! So glad you shared with us at Merry Monday. I’ll be sharing this post on my Fb page.
Thank you, Shirley! I can’t seem to look at any wood, metal or thrift store stuff anymore and not think “what can I do with that”!
Colleen if you would have told me 2 years ago that that was art I would have laughed at you. But since starting a blog I’ve been getting quite an education. I have learned to appreciate the beauty in all things, especially the old and cast aside. Your wall decor is beautiful and the patina makes it all the more so. It’s the first time I’ve been to your blog and I find so much to look at and admire. I will be pinning this lovely piece. I am hosting a new link party with friends and would be honored to have you join us at Sweet Inspiration. It runs Friday to Tuesday..
This is so cool! Great idea! I’m new to your blog and think I’m going to love it here.
Tania at FARRAGOZ ~ Online Courses in The Art of Patina
Thanks very much, Tania! Welcome!
love what we can find when you look thanks for sharing love how you mad it so pretty
Thank you, Lorraine!
Ohhh this is fantastic!!! I’d love it if you’d link up to Talk of the Town- every Tuesday evening at 8 pm EST! http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/talk-town-link-party-15/
Thanks so much!!! I will definitely be joining every week! 🙂
What an amazing find! Love the rusty color goodness on that sheet metal. And I love your repurposing it into framed decor.
Thank you, Audra! There’s just something about that rusty, chippy look that I love!
Nice. I love the simplicity of your project. Better tell your husband “thank you”. sharon
Thank you, Sharon. I thank him all the time. He is a true partner in all my adventures 🙂
I love this…and now I’m going to have to pick up some mineral oil because, like with the frame, there are times I want to enhance the natural beauty of wood without using stain. The whole thing came together beautifully, and I love your vision of what it could become.
Thank you Susan!!
Hi Colleen..where did you get the cotton buds? I just love them.
Linda
Hi Linda, I picked those up at Michael’s last fall. You can also get them on line at AmericanFarmhouse.com.