What can I do with my grandmothers shadowbox?

I would spray paint the shadow box the color of the iron in you room which will make the piece truly standout .

I agree! It would tie the room together. Hate the gold! Good as an accent color.

By iron, do you mean that lovely gray I can see in your curtains? If yes that looks like a great color for the frame.

my first thought was iron also

I think if you do a dry brush Technic with a black or other color of your choice, it would look amazing. Yes the gold is currently over powering, but would be a really nice under tone to peek through. (Help keep Grandma's shadow box alive with a update, ie the gold is part of her generations style) .

Dry brushing, if you don't know is when you brush or knock most of the paint out of the brush before painting the object. So the brush applies a very thin coat of the paint, thin enough the underlying color can be seen to some extent. I suggest looking up dry brushing on you tube. It's always easier to apply more paint than removing paint.

Good for you holding on to your families treasures.

I agree with Pat on the dry brushing of black paint. I recently saw one of these redone in my antique shop - it was dry brushed black around the frame, with just a little gold peeking though and they replaced the mirror with wood and it looked great with the ornate frame against the rustic wood back.

Personally, I would hate to change it from the way Grandma had it. It isn't as if it is a BRIGHT GOLD, but it is entirely your decision. I never worry about family pieces fitting in.

I painted mine black with gold accents. It worked for the decore I had at the time. Go with you favorite colors. Or jazz it up with different colors than you decore to make it highlighted.

Please don't paint this beautiful treasure. I agree the gold is yuk. Try rubbing/brushing some wood stain over and then wiping w/a cloth to remove some of the stain. The gold will peek through and not be so overpowering.

Practice this on an old piece of wood or ? first, until you like what you see. And, do share your finished project w/us.

Sondra

You could build or buy a glass coffee table with storage and place the shadowbox inside it. You could also build a larger frame around it using the iron color you have in the room. Both options would allow you to leave the shadowbox as is.

I agree with both Marilyn and Sondra. I cringe when I see someone has taken a vintage or antique item and painted it. Sondra's idea about toning down the gold is a good one as long as you don't over do it. I would use a paint that could be removed though in case you change your mind about keeping keeping grandmothers memory alive. I also liked Nadine's suggestion about the coffee table idea.

This is sooooo beautiful as-is!!! Please - don't take all the gold away - love the dry-brushing idea.

My own opinion is it's perfect as is ......if you love it ....it will fit in just fine : ) ....I once read a decorating tip that said ....if you fall in love with something ....buy it ...it will actually find it's own place in your home ......I feel this is true of family heirlooms too ....the love and memories carry over to your space. ....but in the end its your choice .....lovely piece and story : )

Don't paint the wood...leave it as it has been and should be. Do you have some small, colorful trinkets that mean a lot to you? Place them on the shelves with small framed pictures or belongings of your family (mother, father, grandma, etc.) so they tie in with the story of the shadowbox. Make the shadowbox a "discussion" piece in your room. You will enjoy it more, believe me. Also, consider changing some of the trinkets seasonally - summer, spring, Christmas...use your imagination.

Agree with Gvargo. This is an antique and everyone knows that you diminish the value of the piece the minute you remove or paint over the piece. What may be a $10,000 suddenly becomes a $200.00 piece. It you really must change its appearance. Try using cloth to cover it being careful to only use cloth tape against the cloth to hold in place and not against the wood. It is beautiful the way it is. And a few pictures of your ancestors up there would be ideal.

I vote for the drybrush technique if you wish to update it.

My mother had a shadow box almost exactly like yours!! I would have given my eye teeth to have it today. She has passed on and the shadow, well it's just gone.

Please love the way it is. It's gorgeous. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful treasure.

I thought of one more thing after closing my comment. Take off the wire or whatever the shadowbox is hanging by and replace it with hooks that are more substantial. Again, I suggest going to a professional framer who will know what will hold the weight of of the box and what you put in it. Your entire room looks very beige so I would add color in the shadowbox and elsewhere in the room. Put some colored marbles or stones (from craft stores/WalMart) in the glass jar for color.

You could remove the mirror and it will have and open shelf look.

Everyone has wonderful comments. You have a beautiful piece. If you think you might sell it, definitely have it professionally appraised. If you are keeping it, make it your own. Chalk paint, in a color of your choice, might give it a charming new look. You can either keep the mirror or remove it, but do secure new hanging hardware on the back for stability and strength. Whatever you do I think Grandma would be happy knowing that you are enjoying the piece that she loved so much. Best of luck.

I bought a large shadow box at an auction and before I could get it on the wall, the mirror fell off. I decided to hang it without the mirror. I found that I liked it better with the wall color behind it and not as heavy either. It looks great hanging on the bedroom wall with a few things I had to decorate the shelves, mainly assorted porcelain high heels.

I would definitely take it to a frame shop and have that wire removed and replaced-probably with 2 separate hanging loops on each side. The typical wire hanging setup can eventually cause warping, and is not strong enough for heavy items. You can do mirror, no mirror, or transform the piece into an awesome picture frame!

I think the color is ok, maybe needs a little cleanup and a wax or rub of some kind to bring out the details, like others have said. An appraisal or talk with an antique specialist might help out. Yes, let us see what the final look is!

When you take it to the framers to have the appropriate hanging hardware installed, ask them to remove the mirror. I think the weathered gold works perfectly with your colors. Change some of your chatchkas to reflect your look rather than the frame.

Ask the framer to use L-brackets on the back to reinforce the frame and make it a mini-bar for your favorite liqueor and some interesting glassware.

The first thing that has to go is the Wire they hung it with. I would paint over the gold or distress it. All items on the shelves would be old or your Grandmother's. It was her shadow box......with the mirror on it you will see her shadows from her belongings. Those great memories will NEVER leave you!!! It is beautiful, btw!!

Aww..that changes things greatly, doesn't it? In that case, go with whatever works in your situation. Grandma would be proud no matter what.

To update the frame I would suggest a gel stain. They come in many colors and can be worked into the low spots and wiped off the high spots or just cover it all. Use a foam brush to get down in the grooves and wipe with a rag. No need to wipe with a rag if you just want to change the color. I've used the oil rubbed bronze which changes a lot of dated pieces to a more modern look.

You can easily replace the current wire hanger yourself. I don't mind a small chain, a newer wire, ribbon, or cord that hang from a picture frame, a decorative hanger, or something you find at a thrift store. I've got a domed glass frame with a photo of my husband's great grandmother as a young girl and it looks as if it is hung from a chain and medallion...that is a necklace that he wore in the 70s!

seeing your chevron curtains , white tall book shelves your colors.. light red.. beige.. wrought iron it may be this is not working in that room with your rustic look..if you do not wish to cheapen it...and don`t want it brushed with gold ..white or black paint..or painted at all... i would definately chang out wire hanger for hidden one and leave it as it is ,with only mercury glass tea lights to dance off the mirrored back...no trinkets