Aaaand we're back! Last week I got on the wallpaper bandwagon, but instead of talking up the virtues of flock or turning some stripe-y wallpaper sideways, I decided to bite off more than I can chew -- as usual. I surfed my heart out in pursuit of the most creative wallpaper uses I could find, and now I continue to recount for you all the ways wallpaper can make you happy...
When You Can't Afford Art...
AllYou.com, JuliAnneAustin.com
Art dealers everywhere are sending me the evil eye right now, but hey, I call it like I see it: most of us just don't have that kind of money (even though I LOVE original art, and have bought as much as I could ever muster). Framing wallpaper is no sin however. Some of it is so artfully made, like hand-block printed, with beautiful gilt details, that it almost deserves to be framed. Just make sure when you're choosing a paper to fame it's of an interesting enough motif that will stand the test of time (not exactly a great example of that in the photo on the left). A great go-to is vintage wallpaper. You can find many remnants online.
Tabletop Makeover
IkeaHacker blog, Posy blog
That there on the left is a cheapie IKEA table (VIKA), that some crafty soul submitted to the IkeaHacker blog (a rollicking read, btw). What a great transformation! I also love the frilly setup on the right, and I don't think the glass on top is always a necessity. If you get a vinyl wallpaper, and it's not your kitchen table, then you need not worry about the glass. But I've priced it out and plain 1/4 inch glass is not all that heavy on the pocket book. It's a great shoestring makeover tip!
Decals, Of Course
Pure Design with Samantha Pynn, RompStore.com
How could we ever live without Sam Pynn's baby room decal project (left)? SO simple, and so good. Totally revolutionized the way we decorate kids rooms. I mean it. I know she didn't make it up but those animal paste-ons are soooo cute and so totally not tacky, that I for one am grateful to her for spreading the good word. And look at how cute that tree is? What a fun project to do with your little ones if you cut the leaves out for them and let them go nuts on the tree trunk? Again, some great vintage wallpaper would be amazing for this exercise.
Spruce Up the Shade
LovingLivingSmall blog, Etsy
I remember Peter Fallico did a chandelier on an episodes of Home to Stay, where he bought a simple vintage crystal chandelier and suspended it inside a black drum shade that he lined with resplendent, gold and floral paper. It was stunning. And I remember thinking that if i could ever get rid of my ugly but beloved, inherited chandelier, I would do this. I haven't yet made good on the treat but I wouldn't be averse to buying one of the vintage wallpaper shades on the left -- Etsy, of course -- or pulling a little Restoration Hardware hacking of my own, and papering the inside of a plain white shade as on the left. They have great sales on drum shades at Restoration Hardware, you know...
Decoupage Y'all! Seriously.
Both photos via EasyDIYatHome blog
The word alone makes me liable to break out in hives, but you know, I have to include it because we've come a long way from dry-brushing stain over an armoire with pasted-on roses. I shouldn't judge however, because when I was a teen living in my parents' house, I decoupaged (*cringe*) a nightstand in Archie comic book tares. And I LOVED it. It was a great way for me to assert my individuality in that squeaky clean, cookie-cutter townhouse. And you know, there's something to be learned from my nighstand... Check out that TV tray table and that knickknack cupboard -- don't they look cute? I bet they'd be totally boring and generic if not decked out in fabulous wallpaper. A nice, contemporary or romantic wallpaper can fix anything!
Ok, I'm spent! Have you anything to add? Got a wallpaper project you'd like to share?? You know how we love your photos and comments!
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