Sorry for the late post this morning, but I’m a little tired and under the weather from some of my weekend adventures, one of which involved a first foray into the world of wallpaper. Yes, my Cole and Son Trees wallpaper finally arrived from Merry Old England, and Hunny Bunny and I wasted little time in slapping it up on the wall. Which is kind of scary, honestly, when you’re dealing with a $100 roll of paper, and, uh, you don’t really know what you’re doing. Ok, I’ve assisted my domestic diva of a mother with wallpapering a time or two, but this wallpaper is abnormal.
Here’s a blurry picture of Hunny Bunny wrestling with wrapping the paper around a corner in the dorrway. If you’ve ever hung tradtional vinyl paper before, you know that you usually paste the paper, book the paper, hang it, then paste the top again. But this paper is super duper stiff, and you paste the wall instead of the paper, which is kind of awesome, but also kind of painful. It’s really hard to keep the paste from touching the top of the paper, and it’s hard to get the paper into corners because it’s not very flexible.
The new breed of nonwoven papers are supposedly removable in one piece, and that was definitely a deciding factor in my choice of papers. I don’t think I’ll be pulling it off the wall anytime soon because it was a lot of work, and also because the band aid beige wall underneath is nauseating.
Drill, baby, drill! Light fixtures, that is. I have two sconces wired into the wall, and it was kind of heartbreaking to cut into the paper and screw them in. Actually, I couldn’t watch at all. It looked like some kind of creepy surgical procedure.
Sconces are implanted installed. Don’t worry. I already have 800 pairs of better ones that I’m watching in Ebay. What I really want is something like this, though:
All these beauties are from Circa Lighting, and if I had $500 burning a hole in my pocket, I’d already have a pair ordered for the hall. Alas, I am agonizing about spending $50 for a pair. The real world is crappy.
Anyway, here’s a bad picture of the finished hall:
(Sorry about the lighting… no natural light in the hallway, and I’m too lazy to drag out my light kit. And, no, my bathroom is not actually poo brown). All things considered, I like the paper a lot. I know, I KNOW. It’s so overused. But it’s nice and quiet, and in real life it feels very naturalistic, with quite a bit of depth.
So, I dragged all the stuff I used to have in the hall back into their respective places.
Hunny Bunny and Karly hate it. “It’s too much stuff… it’s covering up the trees… blah, blah, blah.” In my weakened state, I have to admit that I’m beginning to agree. I hate it when they’re right. Or maybe they are just objecting to my cheesy foo dog?
I did try restyling, though, because I have a stupid attachment to that display case. Don’t ask me why.
Everyone likes mannequin arms, right? Sigh. Oh, and I forgot to duck when I took that picture…
Wish I could put my sexy Milo Baughman chair there, but it’s too darn deep. Or my hallway is too darn narrow. Gosh darn it, doggone it, you betcha it sucks.
Ok, how about this?
This is just a wee art deco mirror top table. I guess I could drop the mirror down lower and paint the table…
Are you sick of looking at bad pictures of my hallway yet? Only one more to go, because I’m running out of small furniture pieces.
The mirror is a no go here. I could maybe hang some spiffy artwork? Something VERY simple and graphic?
Help, people. I don’t feel well, I’m tired of moving furniture around, I’m indecisive and I can’t let Karly and Hunny Bunny be the only bosses of me. You do want to get in on the action, right? Here’s your chance. Tell little Erin what to do.
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I think the smaller tables look too tiny and weirdly out of proportion. Go for the larger, wood cabinet. It’s the most visually appealing — who cares if the paper is more covered up? Personally, I like the arrangement with the arm and apple the best.
Anna, as always you’re a girl after my own heart
The cabinet could probably work if it didn’t have a backing on it – therefore you could see the tress through the cabinet. But, you still might run into the “too much stuff” dilemma – or not want to ripe off the back of your cabinet! I like the idea of using a mirrored item there – good luck!
if you do one of the small things it needs to go to the right, not in the center, then put something a bit taller next to it. the cute red dog could live on a smaller table.
I’m still for the bench in the garage, paint it red and get a good fabric for the cushion, put it to the right then, again, something a bit taller (plant?) next to it.
Yes, yes… I’m enjoying all these ideas. Keep ‘em coming!
I really like the look of the tufty Milo Baughman… if ONLY it was a bench, or a little settee… the wallpaper plus the wanted-sconces makes me think of things like Mark Ryden, apothecaries and curiosities…
Man I really like that wallpaper, I wish MY hunnybunny hadn’t instantly said ‘too busy’ when I showed it to him once. Not that we have wallpapering sites yet…
WPZ, tufted things are ALWAYS ok in my book… a tufted bench would be lovely, I think.
And my Hunny Bunny loves the wallpaper, which surprised me a lot. He definitely prefers clean lines.
Is this too precious?
I am kind of falling in love with it…
Tufted bench with curved upward edges…
(I meant to write more to the last line, basically mmmm mmmm)
Loverly, but way too deep for my narrow hallway… has to be something like 12 inches max. Funny — I’m on Ebay doing the tufty dance right now!
Ahhh 12 is very slim… difficult!
I also thought about the gold mirror aspects and thought of ‘campaign’ furniture, like a campaign desk (only $5500!) but that’s superdeep eh? Now I want a campaign desk in my own fake forest, it’s like you’re paying bills but you’re really on an ad-vennnnnn-chuuuure. Or maybe you’re writing flourishing correspondence to your far away lovers…
So I’m a little late to this party -yet again! – but i DO sleep!!!
I’m thinking just a simple display shelf would look pretty fab! -like an Ikea “lack” floaty shelf. Simple and wont break the line of the yummy paper but still gives a lill something to put a lill something on top of!
Great choice of papers & serious kudos for hanging it yourselves – looks fabulous!
so so jealous. i have been coveting that wallpaper forever and a day.
love the gold color from the milo baughman chair, and the idea of the sconces with the articulated arms.
I love that arm on the table!
I am a first time reader here, and I love your blog!
I love this wallpaper.
There is a lot of love in this comment.
Keep up the good work. And think happy thoughts when your arms hurt like hell tomorrow.
i love the height and proportion of the foo dog photo. how about a console like this: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=700 ?? That-a-way you can still see the trees. I also think it would look very VERY with some stumps underneath…….
ps. can i move in????
Welcome Kate!!!! Thanks for the love!
Gracie: I think your console suggestion is PERFECT!!!! Now, we just have to get Erin to buy it!
Thanks, everyone, for all of the awesome suggestions, and especially for all of the love!!!
I’ll be sure to post some better photos when it all comes together… In the meantime, stay tuned for more decorating dilemmas. I have a million of them
OMG Erin— I want to cry b/c I so badly want to move in to your place. It is SO perfect, and I think each option is equally stunning.
Please decorate my home when I find one? Pretty please?
Oh, Erin, stop! *Blush*
I know when you get settled and move into your own home, it will be AMAZING!
Gracie beat me to the punch! I was going to suggest this:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=989&f=28524
but Gracie’s is almost half the price.
Weird idea: Put the wallpaper in the back of the cabinet to make it “disappear” (attach with double stick tape in case you change your mind down the road). It would be fab if you could also paint the cabinet white, but you may have issues with painting wood.
Aw, Raina, you *really* love me, cuz I know this is your favorite wallpaper
LOVE the C&B console table (and Gracie’s, also), and I’m considering wallpapering the inside of my cabinet. I don’t think it’s a weird idea at all… or maybe we’re both just weirdos.
It’s a fantastic paper. I’m just bummed that it became the Waverly Ivy of the Aughts.
A reminder for people who have forgotten (mentally blocked) the early 90s phenomenon:
http://www.berkshirefabricwallpaper.com/DDGAssets/ProductThumbs/1011_ivy.jpg
Erin, you could pledge your undying devotion to all things Kelly Wearstler and I’d still love you.
Overused or not, that paper kicks ass in coolness (which is really the point, right?) I don’t know if I have any helpful advice that others haven’t already mentioned. I must say that I DO love the sconces – it gives the wall a very cool Narnia-lampost-in-the-woods look. Can’t wait to see the final set-up!
I think a small black lacquered table with a velvety chair with cozy arm rests will look fab here. and on the table a Bright red OLD school phone. or a whit and gold one you know the kind.. with the funny ear hand piece. THAT is what this needs.
Cortnie, I’m glad you aren’t burned out on the paper, although I totally hear what Raina’s saying and it SCARES me. My mom had that ivy paper in the kitchen. Shiver.
And Mari pie, good to hear from you here! I would give a tooth for a red phone like that. Anyone want to trade?
Erin, I forgot to mention I had a Waverly Ivy bedspread (I made myself!) in college. I’m not immune to the charms of populist decorating.
This wonderful paper is available at
DesignerWallcoverings.com – Click on Cole and Sons
What sort of paste did you use and did you use a paper liner? Thanks
Hi ROIson, I believe we used a premixed wheat paste by Roman adhesives that we bought at Lowes. It’s a common paste. We didn’t use a paper liner; the paper itself is very thick, unlike some vinyl based wallpapers.
Hope that helps!
hello! i hear you re: this wallpaper being overused but – it’s so lovely! i have been thinking of trying it in my hallway, too. i think it looks awesome in your home. good luck finding the right items for the wall – it will come to you eventually. sometimes, you just need a new “piece” so you have to wait till one appears on your doorstep….
Hi Kelly, thanks for stopping by!
I’ve had the paper up for a while, and I still like it. I’ve also found a few goodies that help make the hall look more finished. If you like it, I say go for it!
The last picture shows the best. You have done a great job. Don’t be so hard on yourself!
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I love that mirrored table on the bottom!