I’ve been there.

I know what it’s like.

I feel for you.

You’ve bought a lovely new piece of artwork or print.

You know exactly where you want it…

But

The pressure of drilling a hole in the wall to hang it…

Is

Immense!!!!!

Oh Lordy!

Ok. I take you back, to nearly 17 years ago.

We had just moved house and bought ourselves a ‘do-er up-er.’ A 1930 semi that hadn’t been touched since the 1960’s.

What a little gem!

And amongst the many other original period features, we inherrited the delights, that are, picture rails!

And oh how my life changed!!!

What a fabulous invention.

Picture rails go back as far as the 15th century but only really became popular with the masses in the 1840’s.

Who knew that this simple moulded strip of wood fixed to the wall could offer so much flexibility to the home owner.

Well, I was very quickly converted.

In the 1930’s property, picture rails sit on the wall about 12 inches down from the ceiling and it’s here that the picture hook sits, holding the cord, or wire for the picture to hang from.

Traditionally brass or yellow in colour these fixings would have added to the period charm.

But me, with my eclectic ways, didn’t like that look.

I opted for white hooks – to blend in with the picture rail paintwork and clear ‘nylon fishing line’ to disappear into the wall, to allow the artwork tell its own story.

And now, in my more modern, 1960’s property with its much lower ceilings, I’ve even made space for them here.

Butted up close to the ceiling coving they are functional, versatile and become one with the coving.

Best of all, I have a versatile picture hanging system that allows me to move my pictures around whenever I decide to have a re-hang.

Picture rails – I love them!