Powder Room Reveal (Or, Lessons in Wallpapering) + Poll Results

Well, we did it. We wallpapered our first room. Here is the tiny powder room, naked:

DSC_4060

And here it is now:

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It’s not perfect but it’s not bad and we did learn a few things which will give us much better results the next time:

1. Follow the instructions that come with the paper. Apparently, I don’t know better.
2. Don’t get aggressive with the scraper. Um, this one is self-explanatory.
3. If it’s your first time, don’t get the expensive paper. Think of it as a practice run.

At least I was smart enough to get inexpensive paper for this first try. If we had made all the mistakes we did on paper that cost $200/roll, I would have been pretty upset. But this paper was only $15.94/roll! The bottom half of the walls have millwork that I left alone so it only took 4 rolls which came to just over $65 for the whole room. After searching high and low, I stumbled on it at Sherwin Williams. (Their website won’t let you link directly to the details page for some reason. If you want the details, go to their website and enter: SW9WS2215 under the Pattern Number.)

DSC_4127

While we were at it, we replaced the plain mirror with the Venetian mirror that we bought in Paris that used to hang in our living room. I think it totally makes the room.

And that’s it! I’m pretty happy with it but I have another paper that I think will look good in there too so don’t be surprised if it gets another makeover in the next few months(!) And sorry I couldn’t get a wider shot of the room but it’s off of a hallway and it’s as far back as I could get.

Now, remember the poll from last week? If you missed it, I asked whether you were interested in seeing my decorating in progress or just a complete Before & After.

Picture 62

As of yesterday afternoon, there were just over 200 votes and 84% wanted to see things in progress. So . . . I will be posting more rooms as they’re coming along, but at interesting stages, of course, so it’s not just a whole lot of ugly(!) Thanks to everyone who took the poll!

59 comments

  6. nkp

    Well your camera must be very forgiving because it certainly does NOT look like an amateur job! In fact, it looks beautiful. What a fantastic transformation. Definitely a job well done!
    .-= nkp´s last post ..I'm in love. =-.

    Reply
  7. karly / design crisi

    It looks SO GOOD. I can't believe that's $15 / roll paper, it just makes me love you even more.

    I also really can't believe what a departure this is from your last house. What fun it must be to play around with so many different styles!
    .-= karly / design crisis´s last post ..Hoarders Anonymous =-.

    Reply
  13. Janell Beals

    Get out!!! This looks fabulous and the mirror is crazy chic. I can't stand it. I want to go wallpaper my powder room…today!

    Very interesting results from your poll, so glad you published them. I sometimes wonder if people like to see all the little steps or not, because that is what I do nearly every day on my blog! I would love to see your steps and the thought process behind your decisions as the end result is always so inspiring.
    .-= Janell Beals´s last post ..Can The Room Be Nearly Done?! =-.

    Reply
  18. christy

    I think it looks amazing! And that mirror is just exquisite. I love having treasures around the house that we've collected on our travels too!

    Reply
  24. Ally

    Thank you all! I'm so glad you like it!

    nkp: In person, all the flaws are highly visible!

    karly: I know, right? Design schizophrenia does have its advantages. :)

    Raina: I wish someone had told me that beforehand!

    mlle paradis: The door and all the walls are actually white – it's just the crazy morning light that looks blue!

    Reply
  27. Jessie

    WOW! Looks great!!! I have yet tried to do wallpaper. My husband just says NO! before I even finish any sentence that has the word, "Wallpaper" in it. lol I love love the mirror!! Again great job! :)
    .-= Jessie´s last post ..Wishing my husband luck! =-.

    Reply
  31. A Perfect Gray

    babe. babe. babe. you done real good here. and YES! that mirror makes it.

    Just painted my guest bath gray last year but now you have me re-thinking the wallpaper thing! wonderful job…
    .-= A Perfect Gray´s last post ..glammed out gray =-.

    Reply
  36. Ally

    Jessie: Keep working on him. That's what I had to do! :)

    Regarding the mirror – I found it in an antique shop near our old apartment in Paris.

    Reply
  48. Jenna

    What a beautiful mirror for in the powder room! It looks really great against the wall paper you chose, quite the impact.

    *I wanted to THANK you for my Zebra bag I won, I JUST LOOOOVE it. It's the perfect bag for everything, I have received alot of compliments in carrying it around.

    Reply
  51. Vintage Simple

    Oh, I love it, Ally!! It came out beautifully..! Great tips on wallpapering – I haven't tackled it yet, but I'm sure I will at some point.

    xoox,

    -maria

    ps: I missed the poll, but I'd also agree with seeing things as they progress – and the again all at once! :)
    .-= Vintage Simple´s last post ..Pretty bathrooms =-.

    Reply
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