Now that I’m taking blogging more seriously, I decided it was time to organize my workspace a little better. I have an empty stretch of wall above my desk, right next to the frames I recently upcycled (see the frames).
I wanted something light and airy to display odds and ends—photos, notes, ideas—anything I need in view while I work. A few months ago I showed an old wire rack I had on hand, and I decided to repurpose more of it for this project.
The piece started life as a simple wire rack. I used the back part of one rack to make a display grid for my daughter’s wall, and now I wanted to use the remaining shelves to create something with a bit more character.
First, I took two of the wire shelves and spray-painted them white to give a clean, cohesive look. Painting them brightened the metal and provided a neutral backdrop for photos and notes.
Next, I wanted to join the two racks into a single display with more personality. I wrapped the frames together with natural twine—an effect I’ve come to call “the Twine Lady.” Wrapping the racks with twine not only adds texture and warmth, it conceals the utilitarian look of the wire and makes the piece feel handmade and cohesive.
Wrapping took some time, but the result was worth it. I wrapped the twine tightly and evenly, knotting securely at the ends. Take your time to keep the twine close with no gaps—this creates a strong, attractive surface and helps the piece hold its shape.
To display items I used simple wooden clothespins. They’re easy to move and they add a rustic, functional touch. Clips make it simple to swap inspiration photos, to-do lists, bills, or sketches without damaging the paper.
With clothespins, changing the display is effortless: add a new quote, swap photos for different moods, or pin urgent papers to keep them front and center. The combination of white metal, natural twine, and wooden clips gives the whole piece a warm, rustic-modern vibe.
Structurally, the two racks bound together are surprisingly strong. Wrapping the connection points with twine helps lock the frames together so the unit holds up when hung on the wall and when items are clipped to it.
After the work was done, I had a beautiful, functional area to display my things. It keeps inspiration in view, corrals important papers, and adds a personal, handmade touch to my workspace. What do you think of this solution?
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