wallpaper

April 26, 2011

Paeonia Wallpaper from Anthropologie

I remember dying over this Anthropologie wallpaper when it first came out but forgot all about it until I stopped in at the store last week .

I just love the huge scale!

I also love both colorways equally. The blue is more vibrant in person and the yellow is more mustard.

I’ve been looking for images of it used in a real room but haven’t been able to find any. Have you seen this paper used anywhere? What do you think?

***Today is the last day to enter the canvas print giveaway!***

February 2, 2011

Can We Talk About Wallpaper (Again)?

There are just so many beautiful wallpapers how’s a girl supposed to choose??

To recap, we wallpapered the powder room last June. I loved it initially but within a few months, I was over it (typical) and I started the search for a replacement. For the past couple of months, I thought I had decided on the Schumacher Fern.

But yesterday I went to look at more papers with Sherry and fell back in love with the Farrow & Ball Wisteria which you may remember I went mad for last year. To make things worse, I now love all these colorways on top of the other ones I already loved.

I also picked up a sample of the Hicks’ Hexagon in another colorway because I’m still in love with it too:

I just love the bit of pink and look how pretty the colors are with the Venetian mirror in there:

Life must be so much easier for people who can just make a decision and stick to it.

December 2, 2010

I Really Need to Stop Looking at Wallpaper

I don’t have enough walls for all the papers I love not to mention the two wallpaper projects (“Views of Paris” paper for the butler’s pantry and re-papering the powder room) that still need to be tackled. But I just have to add Schumacher’s Fern Tree to the list.

I love its neutral hues and the pattern has just the right amount of visual interest. Another reason to love Kelley Wearstler.

And remember a few weeks ago when I told you I came home with a sample of Hicks’ Hexagon?

I was going through my files the other day and found these two old photos from Domino (no, I’m still not over it) and they made me want to use it even more.

Someone please stop me. It’s torture.

November 29, 2010

Ultimate Wish List Item: deGournay Wallpaper

If you’re new to my Ultimate Wish List series, it’s where I catalog all those big ticket items that I’ve loved forever that I know I want one day. Earlier Ultimate Wish List items can be found here and here.

I’ve blogged about deGournay wallpaper before and how I didn’t know how I would ever choose a pattern from all the choices. Then last week, I opened up the new Elle Decor and there it was:

right in the table of contents, before I even got to the features. After I stopped hyperventilating, I went straight to the article and I was so happy to see another shot of the space:

It’s a very traditional, very deGournay pattern but the two-tone feels fresh to me. I also love that the two tones happen to be blue and gold.

Ignoring the walllpaper for just a moment, how much do you love that gold light fixture, those chairs and the massive mirror? I’m dying over here. It’s just all too good.

(Photos: Elle Decor)

October 21, 2010

I May Have a New Wallpaper Project On My Hands

I have been in love with Schumacher’s “Views of Paris” wallpaper forever. And I mean forever. There are the sentimental reasons plus I’ve always loved drawings – particularly, architectural drawings. Anyway, I went out on a little design outing with Julie of Milk and Honey Home and Sherry of Design Indulgence the other day and saw it up on a wall. I nearly died. It. Looked. So. Good. Thanks to Sherry I came home with a sample, along with samples of some of my longtime favorite patterns:

They are Cole & Son’s “Cow Parsley,” Fornasetti’s “Mediterranean,” Hicks’ Hexagon and Schumacher’s “New York, New York” (another city that has special meaning to me).

After I got them home, I started walking around to see if there was any space left that I could wallpaper and I think I’ve found the perfect spot for the “Views of Paris.”

This is the butler’s pantry/wet bar. As you can see, it’s a pretty narrow space and I think that’s why it would look good here. I think the pattern could get overwhelming in a larger room.

A couple of pics so you can see the scale.

What do you think? Should I go for it?

September 27, 2010

Dressing Room Sneak Peek

I’ve always wanted my own dressing room. What woman doesn’t, right? Well, I guess I finally paid my dues after years of living with tiny closets because I now have one. It’s not huge but I’m not complaining!

It started out as an almost bare room with just one rack:

I called in the professionals and had it customized. Money very well spent IMO. (You’ll see what they did below.)

The room is an odd shape with one wall that protrudes. I put a white Ikea Malm dresser there and it fit perfectly. It also blended in nicely since everything was done in white:

Then the movers came in and literally dumped everything in it:

Worst. Movers. Ever.

Well, bit by bit, it got tidied up:

(You can see some of the rods and shelves that were installed in this photo.)

Just before we went on vacation, we wallpapered the one free wall:

The wallpaper is one of the ones I had forgotten I had which I posted about here.

Then we hung the mirror that we used to have in our old bedroom. (I got it at the Seattle Design Center a few years ago.)

And voila, this is the view now as you enter the room.

The little glass lamp is from Anthropologie.

It’s hard to get a good shot of the entire room but here is one side of it:

(Yes, all my clothes are black. Just about.)

I still have a little more organization to do and I’m also going to hang this cute chandelier that I found at an estate sale that I happen to drive by recently:

There’s a horrible florescent light in there now. I know! Why??

Once that’s done, I’ll take some photos of it and the other side of the room too.

I feel completely spoiled and incredibly lucky. No more excuses for being and looking like a slob!

(Photos: From the Right Bank)

August 25, 2010

Wallpaper for the Dressing Room

elledecor

I have fantasized about having a dressing room forever and in the new house I got my wish. It’s not nearly as grand as Aerin Lauder’s (above) but I’m thrilled to finally have one. There’s one blank wall in there that I’ve been wanting to wallpaper but thus far, I hadn’t been able to decide on one.

Well, the other day I was unpacking some more boxes (yes, I’m still unpacking) and I came across these papers that I had forgotten I had:

The story on these is that about a year or so ago, I was at the local Lowe’s in Seattle and saw that they were clearing out a bunch of their wallpaper. I had no need for any of it but they were practically giving it away so I grabbed the ones that I thought I might use some day.

I think this blue/taupe floral and scroll pattern one is perfect for the dressing room. And to think I didn’t even have to leave the house for it! Sometimes, it pays to be a hoarder. I plan on tackling this project in the next week or two so stay tuned!

June 2, 2010

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:

And here it is now:

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.)

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.

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!

May 17, 2010

Cowtan & Tout Wallpapers for the Dressing Room

I have finally cleaned up and organized my dressing room and all it needs is the perfect wallpaper for one of the walls. It’s my big opportunity to get as floral, pink, and girly as I want since it’s my own space. I’ve been searching high and low and I have completely fallen in love with Cowtan & Tout‘s “Arabella” that I saw in the May issue of Elle Decor.

So I went on the Cowtan & Tout’s website but I couldn’t find it. But I did find a few other patterns that I also love.

Manuel Canovas’ Agra

Manuel Canovas’ Fontainbleau:

and Cowtan & Tout’s Contessa:

All of these papers are available to the trade only. Grrr! Are there any designers out there who wants to help a blogger out? I just need one roll.

*Update: A lovely local designer has come to my rescue. Yipee!

April 27, 2010

Big Floral Wallpaper

So I’m still searching for the perfect wallpaper for the powder room. A while back I ordered some samples from Farrow & Ball:

WFBP2320 WFBP2318

I was planning to do something black and white but now I’m thinking I want to go with something blue. (I am crazy mad for blue right now.) And I adore this Peony pattern. The only thing is I think it would look great in my closet/dressing room instead.

But I’d like to use some pink in the dressing room (because it’s the one room where I won’t feel guilty about it). And I like the Wisteria pattern better in these pinks:

WFBP2209 WFBP2208

Did you follow that? (Even I had a hard time!)

Then there are these from Osborne & Little that have pink in them:

W6022-02(1) W5801-01Lg

What do you think?

Does anyone have a good online source for either Farrow & Ball or Osborne & Little papers that they can recommend?

February 17, 2010

Today’s Crush: Lizzie Allen + Guest Blogging at Seattle Homes Magazine

Lizzie Allen‘s wallpapers with scenes of London are just so fun and as someone who’s developed a big case of anglomania in recent years, I like them more and more every time I see them.

And I just saw this adorable pillow with her royal guards pattern for sale at Liberty:

libertyoflondon

Add this to the list of things I do not need or have room for.

In other news, I’m really excited to tell you that I’ve been invited to be a regular guest blogger at Design Dish, the blog of Seattle Homes Magazine.

main-blogheader-268

Starting today, I’ll be writing a monthly post so I hope to see some of you over there!

January 25, 2010

Black, Yellow and a Wallpaper Update

It’s been a while since I’ve done a yellow and black post.

houseandhome

For me it’s a combination that just doesn’t get old.

mcm4

I’m liking the wallpaper here quite a bit:

mcm

Speaking of wallpaper, for those of you following my quest for wallpaper for the powder room, I got a sample of the Thatch pattern from Cavern and unfortunately the white is more of an off-white and since the bathroom has pure white woodwork and crown molding, it’s not going to work. And I realized that unless I cover up the woodwork on the lower half of the walls (which I’m definitely not going to do), I’m not going to get that dark, glamorous vibe I was originally envisioning. And Erin found a whole mess of new-to-me fabulous patterns that I’m now considering. And looking at all of these pictures made me thing that maybe I should throw a little yellow into the mix.

Like so:

myhomeideas

Or maybe I should just scrap the black altogether and go with yellow and white?

unknown

All that is to say I’m not any closer to making a decision!

(Photos: 1.House & Home 2-3. Marie Claire Maison 4.Myhomeideas.com 5.unknown)

January 12, 2010

Even Darker and Busier Wallpaper

[It's finally move-in week - hooray! - so posts may be sporadic this week. Thanks for understanding!]

Thanks for all of your great wallpaper suggestions yesterday. I had so much fun looking at all the gorgeous patterns. In the end I narrowed down my choices to Solitude from Graham and Brown suggested by Lesley:

which is neck-in-neck with the Thatch pattern from Cavern that I posted yesterday:

cavern

And the wild card is Shantung which is also from Graham and Brown:

shantung_59028

This sort of satisfies my desire for dark as well as frou frou but I’m probably going to file this one away for another room in the future because it comes in two other colors:

shantung_59029

shantung_59030

and I really love both but not necessarily for the powder room.

So for now, it’s between Solitude and Thatch. As Jessica wisely suggested, I’m going to order samples before I decide on anything. In the meantime, I’d like to take an informal poll: Solitude or Thatch?

January 11, 2010

Dark and Busy Wallpaper

[It's finally move-in week - hooray! - so posts may be sporadic this week. Thanks for understanding!]

My plan for the powder room is to go dark and busy. This one is from the inspiration house I posted last month and I love everything about it. I’ve been itching to wallpaper something for a long time and I think the powder room would be the perfect place, especially for a busy pattern like this.

I also really like this pattern from twenty2 that I found through Katy Elliott:

twenty2

This pattern from Cavern Wallpaper would be stunning:

cavern

and I’ve loved this one from Ferm Living forever:

ferm

But I’m also really loving lighter floral patterns like these:

pd2

lonnymag2

I don’t want to get too traditional which I think the floral can be but they are awfully pretty. Any thoughts?

(Photos: 1.D Magazine 2.Twenty2 3.Cavern Wallpaper 4.Ferm Living 5.Pierre Deux 6.Lonny)

November 16, 2009

De Gournay Dreams

De Gournay. The name says it all. Hand painted wallpaper that is the ultimate in luxury.

It’s one of those things that I always imagined I would have in my “grown up” house.

So as we get ready to move into a decidedly more grown up house (knock on wood), I find myself wondering if the time has come.

But given how fickle I am, I don’t know how I would ever choose the pattern.

degournay2

After all, De Gournay paper isn’t like a toss pillow I can just swap out when my mood changes.

degournay

At thousands of dollars, it’s a huge commitment.

So when you get right down to it, I don’t know that De Gournay is in my future after all.

Maybe something less extravagant is in order. Thoughts? Suggestions?

October 28, 2009

Of Towns And Toile

gasl_blonde_redhead_07

I’ve always loved toile. What Francophile doesn’t? It seems like the perfect way to pretty up a small space such as a closet, hallway or a bathroom but the choice of patterns has always seemed overwhelming to me.

I recently came across Town Toiles and found their designs of American cities very intriguing.

The one I’m considering is this one of Annapolis, Maryland:

Annapolis is where we got married and we both also think it’s one of the prettiest cities in America. If I were to get it, I think I would get it customized in a different color.

But then again maybe I want to stick with a more traditional pattern like this one:

Thoughts?

Elsewhere today, I’m sharing 5 of my favorite everyday things at the wonderful Gathering Spriggs blog as part of Heather’s “Getting to Know You” series. Please stop by if you have a chance.

And don’t forget to enter the All Modern Giveaway this week!

(Photos: 1.Domino 2-5.Town Toiles 6.Skona Hem)

January 7, 2009

Wallpaper. Who Would Have Thought?

I never thought wallpaper would be a part of my decorating plans but I am officially on the wallpaper bandwagon. The wall behind our all white bed could use a boost of color and I think wallpaper is just the thing. I was thinking of a botanical print in yellow like these:

picture-6 (cole-and-son.com)