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How to Make a Nautical Chart Wall
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Interior designer Lisa Kauffman Tharp believes in designing your home to have the relaxing feel of a vacation home, and in her own landlocked home, she created interiors that make you feel like you're on Martha's Vineyard. One great coastal move she made was this nautical chart wall. Here's her advice for how to try this at home.
Take a photo tour of Kauffman's home
Take a photo tour of Kauffman's home
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1. Plan. Select a focal point wall (or get crazy and cover the entire room).
Measure to calculate the square footage of chart material needed.
2. Source and prep chart material. Expired edition charts are easier to find at reasonable prices in large quantity. Charts for this wall were scored from Maryland Nautical. Trim up to the colored areas with an Exacto knife and straight edge.
Measure to calculate the square footage of chart material needed.
2. Source and prep chart material. Expired edition charts are easier to find at reasonable prices in large quantity. Charts for this wall were scored from Maryland Nautical. Trim up to the colored areas with an Exacto knife and straight edge.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
3. Layout. Spread out the trimmed charts on the floor to make sure the design is pleasing. Pay attention to the balance between colors and white space. Don't be afraid to cut and piece different charts together to make the design more interesting.
4. Tack up charts (and paste, if desired). Using push pins, tack up the trimmed charts to the wall. I used clear pins and smoothed the charts tightly as I covered the wall, trimming for a perfect fit as I went along. I planned the tacking as a prep-step prior to pasting the charts with homemade wallpaper paste, but it looked so good that I didn't need to go the extra step. If you do want to paste them to the wall, here is a great non-toxic recipe for wallpaper paste. Be sure to test first, to make sure the colors will not run.
For more great projects and tips from Lisa, read the Healthy + Green Design Blog at Kauffman Tharp Design.
Tour her home for ideas on healthy, right-sized home design.
4. Tack up charts (and paste, if desired). Using push pins, tack up the trimmed charts to the wall. I used clear pins and smoothed the charts tightly as I covered the wall, trimming for a perfect fit as I went along. I planned the tacking as a prep-step prior to pasting the charts with homemade wallpaper paste, but it looked so good that I didn't need to go the extra step. If you do want to paste them to the wall, here is a great non-toxic recipe for wallpaper paste. Be sure to test first, to make sure the colors will not run.
For more great projects and tips from Lisa, read the Healthy + Green Design Blog at Kauffman Tharp Design.
Tour her home for ideas on healthy, right-sized home design.
