DIY Network

Nature Wall Collage Bring Mother Nature indoors. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-408

Install some nature on your walls!

Michele Beschen finds lots of creative inspiration in nature, so what could be more logical than bringing nature indoors? That's what the B. Original host does in this project, cementing natural objects right to the wall in a dramatic 3-D collage. Whether you give this treatment to a whole wall or just a few square feet, it's a powerful design statement.

If you're not quite brave enough to cement items to your interior walls – or if you rent your home – you can still bring Mother Nature indoors with this project. Simply build a frame, add a backing board and create a free-standing collage you can hang like a picture.

advertisement

Materials:

boards for framework, 1" thick
finish nails
screws and L-brackets (optional)
luan, hardboard or other rigid backing material (optional)
pre-mixed thinset mortar
collection of natural elements

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• The first step in this installation is building the framework to hold the natural elements. There are no rules about what material or size to use for the framework: Michele Beschen built 13" x 13" squares from cedar boards that measured 1" thick and 3" across.

• If you want a removable installation – instead of screwing and cementing directly to the wall – build a simple grid from the boards. Nail or screw the boards together, or attach with L-brackets. Attach a rigid backing material to form a shallow box. Paint or stain, if desired. When the project is complete, simply hang the frame on the wall (figure A).

• If installing directly on the wall, cut the vertical framework boards to length. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the project well and install the vertical boards by nailing to the studs with finish nails. You also can attach the boards with construction adhesive.

• Cut the horizontal pieces and install on the wall, completing the grid. Paint or stain the framework, if desired (figure B).

• Gather a large collection of elements from nature. Choose a wide variety such as rocks, sticks, shells, moss, pieces of bark, acorns, pine cones, nuts or broken pieces of slate, granite and tile. Michele Beschen says half the fun of this project is collecting the materials.

• With the natural elements ready, use a notched spreader to apply a layer of pre-mixed thinset mortar about 1/8" thick across the bottom of a framework square. Press the items into place (figure C). Continue filling grid squares, mixing larger pieces with smaller ones, until the frame is filled. A thicker layer of mortar may be necessary if adding heavy or oddly shaped items to the piece (figure D).

• Once the grid is filled, let the mortar dry completely. Michele Beschen doesn't grout these pieces because of the excessive time, effort and mess involved.

• If you created a removable piece, hang it once the mortar is dry; make sure to anchor the piece into wall studs.