Our New Jigsaw Puzzle Salon

It’s been a little over 5 years since my wife and I became jigsaw puzzle fanatics. The most difficult aspect of this obsession is deciding what to do with the completed puzzles. Puzzle fanatics want to enjoy the fruits of their efforts.

Several years ago I began displaying completed puzzles on my garage walls. My wife insisted, vigorously, that none of them would be displayed in our home.

So, using nails, thumb tacks, and glue to mount the puzzles on the walls inside our garage, I created my Garage Gallery . The end product was satisfactory but offered no flexibility for displaying more recent completions and discarding the old.

Recently, while watching a home decorating show, I noticed art work being set on a mantle and just leaning against a wall. The light went on! Why not just install “chair rail” with an edge to hold the puzzles in place. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, after a long search, a suitable product could not be found.

This is where my neighbor enters the scene. He happens to be a master carpenter and a very generous soul. He volunteered his carpentry skills at no cost. He designed and created the “chair rail” from raw materials and installed them at no cost to me.