I have been loving my basement stairway makeover! As I always say, hallways and stairways deserve love and attention too. I’m so glad I gave some well earned love to this basement stairway! You can see the process here. After a few weeks of this new addition to our home, I decided the landing needed some new artwork. I love the piece that was originally in this space, but it just didn’t feel right here. So, I decided to make some faux vintage art for the landing!
Here’s the art that was hanging there initially.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2085_jpg-2.jpg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2125_jpg-2-3.jpg)
Like I said, I think it looks good but I think I could find something a bit better. So, I decided to swap it out. I was choosing between these two.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4909.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4910.jpeg)
Emery and I both like the one with the crane (right)…so let’s turn it into some faux vintage art! I actually found this image for free on the Museum of Fine Arts site! The quality for a large scale isn’t great but I don’t really mind.
First, I took down the art off the wall and removed the art. These old frames usually have a million staples in them to pop out. So, I spent some time with that. I wanted to keep this art incase I wanted to re-use it again one day. So, I just decided to attach the art on the backside of it using mod podge.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4912-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4913-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4914-576x1024.jpeg)
I applied a layer of mod podge to the back of this board with a craft brush and laid the artwork on top of it.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4915.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4916.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4917.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4918.jpeg)
This print is actually made to look antique. But, the shiny glare makes it less convincing. So, I put a sloppy layer of mod podge on it to give it an old oil painting effect. Mod podge goes on white but dries clear – so don’t worry!
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4919.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4920.jpeg)
I’ve actually done this a few times before. I did it in David and I’s room to make this vintage Japanese folding screen look.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/bedroom.jpeg)
I also did this in my best friend Tiffany’s study with a huge ship print!
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/190E34ED-ACD2-4345-8E4C-AB58C9DC8783.jpg)
Look how cute this looks up against the wallpaper! This definitely feels more me.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4921.jpeg)
Aaaaand then after sitting with it for a day, it still didn’t feel totally right. I picked another print and I think this is the one because it doesn’t really compete with the wallpaper. AND it has red in it which I think is just perfect.
I’ve been using the app called “Same Day Prints” and it’s great. You choose your pickup location (mine is Walgreens) and it prints within a few hours. I got the 24×36 inch size.
I peeled the crane print off and rolled it up to save it for later.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4922-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4923-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4924-576x1024.jpeg)
Then I repeated the whole mod podge process with my new horse print!
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4925-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4926-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4928-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4929-576x1024.jpeg)
Okay, yep. This is the one. I love how it compliments the stair runner! I am so happy with this!
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_3736_jpg.jpg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_3740_jpg.jpg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_3747_jpg.jpg)
Building a Vintage Frame
If you can’t find a vintage frame you like, you can just build one! This is what I did for the art in Tiffany’s study. For this you’d need:
![Tempered Hardboard](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/12.png)
![Matte Mod Podge](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/3.png)
![Victorian Moulding](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/4.png)
![Miter Saw](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/5.png)
![Wood Glue](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3.png)
![Flat Corner Brace](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/5.png)
![Ryobi Brad Finish Nailer](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-1.png)
![Rubb & Buff](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2.png)
![Staple Gun](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hallway-Images.png)
1 – First, make sure the hardboard is cut down to the size of your art with a little extra around the edges for your frame.
2 – Apply print to hardboard using this mod podge process.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4899-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4901-576x1024.jpeg)
3 – Cut trim down on miter saw and assmeble with wood glue, nails, and corner braces.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4902-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4903-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4904-576x1024.jpeg)
4 – Apply Rub n’ Buff to the entire frame.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4905-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4906-576x1024.jpeg)
5 – Use staple gun to attach the art on the hardboard to the back of the frame.
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4907-576x1024.jpeg)
![](https://cassmakeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_4908-576x1024.jpeg)
This is such an easy DIY and adds so much character to any space and piece of artwork!
– Cass