Professional Picture Hanging with views of Emirates Stadium: Installation in an Islington Townhouse
Gallery wall installation by our team in a Highbury and Islington town house
Nestled in the heart of Highbury and Islington, just a short walk from the iconic Emirates Stadium, sits a striking five-storey Victorian townhouse. Having recently undergone a modern architectural renovation, complete with a light, open-plan kitchen extension, the homeowners brought us on site to provide our specialist picture hanging service and a complete artwork installation.
Their collection was an extraordinary mix of 20th-century European modernism and historic East Asian art, featuring original lithographs by Joan Miró, deeply textured mixed-media prints by Antoni Tàpies, and a series of delicate 19th-century Japanese woodcut prints.
Here is how our professional art installers approached this multi-room project.
The Kitchen Gallery Wall & Double-Height Feature
The focal point of the renovated ground floor is a soaring, double-height kitchen wall that floods with natural light from overhead skylights. The client’s vision called for a structured yet dynamic gallery wall installation combining framed Miró prints with intricate smaller works in a variety of frames.
Designing & Mounting the Layout
Building a multi-medium gallery wall on modern plasterboard requires strict precision, especially when pairing distinct framing styles.
Layout Mapping: Before drilling, we mapped the complete grid on the floor using low-tack protective layout paper, then projected precise reference lines across the wall using laser-guided alignment tools.
Spacing & Balance: We maintained uniform gaps between frames to create visual rhythm without overcrowding the open-plan dining area.
Conservation Hardware: Given the proximity to the kitchen environment, we utilised heavy-duty, anti-vibration fixings anchored directly into the solid masonry behind the plasterboard drywall.
Heavy Mirror Hanging in the Formal Reception Room
In the formal double reception room on the raised ground floor, the space demanded an expert mirror hanging above a historic marble fireplace.
Large, antique wall features present unique engineering challenges that standard handymen shouldn't handle.
Structural Anchor: We installed a 45 kg antique gilt mirror using heavy-duty, wall-anchored French cleat systems to distribute the weight safely across the brickwork.
Light Optimisation: We positioned the glass at an optimal angle to bounce natural light across the period reception room while keeping the frame sitting completely flush and secure.
Specialised Art Installation Across Upper Floors & Staircases
Moving up through the townhouse's stairwells, hallways, and primary bedroom suites, we focused on specialised fine art hanging for delicate and heavy-scale artworks.
Hanging Heavy Antoni Tàpies Pieces on Drywall
Tàpies’ mixed-media works are famously heavy and textured. Mounting these oversized, glass-fronted frames required advanced load-bearing solutions:
Wall Inspection: Using digital stud-finders, we located the underlying structural timber studs behind the renovated plasterboard.
Dual-Anchor Fixings: Where stud alignment wasn't possible for perfect visual centering, we deployed heavy-duty steel spring toggle anchors rated for substantial structural loads.
Protecting & Positioning Japanese Woodcuts
Light sensitivity is a major risk factor when arranging works on paper. Japanese woodcut prints (ukiyo-e) utilise natural organic pigments that fade quickly under direct solar rays.
Curated Placement: Our art handlers positioned the woodcuts along shaded hallway walls and alcoves, keeping them protected from direct UV gain.
Conservation Advice: We ensured all frames utilised UV-filtering museum acrylic to protect delicate paper fibers for years to come.
Need a Professional Picture Hanging Service in Islington & North London?
Whether you are hanging a single statement piece above a fireplace, planning a complex gallery wall, or requiring heavy mirror installation across Highbury, Islington, Camden, or Central London, Gilbert Art Services provides gallery-grade care and engineering precision.
Contact our professional art installation team today to discuss your project.
