Paper the powder room
May 21, 2008 by Haidee
After painting my yellow powder room a hideous coral (which turned out to be hot pink), I have finished priming the walls and am going to try paper. I will try to post pics later of the stark white loo later, but in the meantime, I thought I’d post some very pretty paper options and see what you guys think…
Top two and bottom right from Ballard Designs (www.ballarddesigns.com). Bottom left coral lattice from Thibaud.
As you can see, I love bold geometric patterns. Has anyone tried stenciling? That might be easier than papering around the sink.
Another thing I’m grappling with is how long we’ll stay in this house. Is two years long enough to justify the distress over choosing a paper and the back pains of self-installation?
I love the idea of a bold color scheme for a powder room. Just a few weeks ago, I came across an article (possibly in Elle Decor) in which a designer wrote “powder rooms should be like jewel boxes” and went on to say that what would be too busy or over the top for a main room is more palatable in a powder room.
Unfortunately, most nesters these days are obsessed with the oh-so-complex design aesthetic of Pottery Barn, so they object to wall paper. If you anticipate putting your home on the market in the near future, you might consider a wall paper alternative like Blik wall decals.
Fabulous! Thanks for the link! And I LOVE the jewel box metaphor.
I’m visiting my sister this week, and she just put up this fab wallpaper on one long wall in her powder room. It is a bold design, but in subtle colors so it works even with conservative decor. http://www.cole-and-son.com/images/view_image.gif
In fact, looking at the Cole & Son website gives me so many more options. It could be months before I finish the powder room!
That quote was driving me crazy because I didn’t think I had it right. It’s actually from Southern Accents: “You can make [powder rooms] spectacular and outlandish if you want. They’re the ultimate accessory rooms, like little jewel boxes.” The same designer also said “it’s a gesture of gracious hospitality to have a pretty powder room.”
The link doesn’t work and being a bit of a design junkie, I’m interested in seeing what it was supposed to be!
New link to the Cole & Son paper: http://www.cole-and-son.com/popup.asp?ID=69-12149.jpg&SKQ=69-12149
Oooh! Me likey!
Haidee, being a design nerd, I’ve been thinking about your desire to paper a wall, but the reluctance because of your time line. I had another idea: covering the wall with fabric. It can be done fairly cheaply with starch (seriously!) and you’ll be able to remove the fabric and take it with you when you move! Google “liquid starch” along with fabric wall and you should get some pages from DIY Network, HGTV, and some other sites with directions.
Holy moly, this is a super sweet idea. There are some gorgeous fabrics that are less than wallpaper. I saw in a Cottage Living a few months ago a wall covered in fabric and outlined in furniture nailheads. Thanks for the idea! I will do a follow up post hopefully later this month on the results.
I’ve been prowling Casa Sugar this evening and saw<a href=”http://casasugar.com/1682049″ some cool wallpaper that’s being distributed by Target!
In case anyone’s interested, I found another source for wall decals on Etsy.
I’m so glad you chimed in again on this, TheUpstart. I love this alphabet decal on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_6&listing_id=13612529
The same seller has some cute door decals to indicate “closet”, “restroom”, “laundry”, etc. So cute!
By the way, I painted the powder a greyish blue that I saw in a PB catalog, which now features the names of the Benjamin Moore paints. It is called Atmospheric. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p3624/index.cfm?pkey=cfurdinsde
I may go back and do a geometric stencil in white or light grey on the top. Maybe the popular greek key motif. Top it off with my french “WC” tin sign and the powder room is in business!
I love Atmospheric! I recently painted a similar bluesy-gray by Benjamin Moore called Smoke. I’m fickle when it comes to color and jump on trends, but when I have to get serious and pick a color, I land on blue over and over again.
Where did you get your tin WC sign? I’ve searched the web and Crème de la Crème (the only source I know of locally) and haven’t found one. I’d love a little oval, maybe white with navy or black letters.
I just wanted to thank you all — your fabric wall covering comments sparked an idea for me — the cupboard in my new apt. is all wood and I wanted to find some fun liner paper for my dishes. All I could find was plain white, clear or tan (blech). After your reading your comments, i’ve decided i’m going to put up some fun wrapping paper or wall paper (or fabric?) on the back side of the pantry, then line the bottom with the plain (boring) liner — I’m thinking this will work b/c the back portion doesn’t really get too wet (as opposed to the bottom) AND you see the back more than the bottom anyway!! I’m very excited to get going…. now to find some cool paper… Rock Paper Scissors? O Susannah?! Thanks for the inspiration!
Heather - sounds like a great project! I’ve seen this before and it can look fabulous. Here is an example from Design*Sponge: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/12/before-and-after-billy-bookcase.html
I’d love to see your before and after shots!
I’ve had a similar idea for my wall cabinets. I want to paint the inside a bright color (or a bright paper) and replace the middle of the cabinet door with glass.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
Ooo…another inspirational photo: http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/2008/04/floral_wallpaper23
If you want to spring for paper, Premier Prints Fabric carries adorable prints that are very, very inexpensive.
If I had a little boy, I’d be planning a bedroom remodel around the Best Friends print that they have. I love it!
The woman on the Nesting Place blog liked the funky prints she saw on scrapbook paper and used it to line the shelves of her china cabinet. The finished product looked great and she can change the paper whenever she gets bored of it without spending too, too much money (though she repeatedly mentions the mountain of dept she and her husband have, so maybe she should cut back on the scrapbooking).
I meant spring for wall paper instead of paper paper. D’oh!
Was hoping to upload my before & after pics but not sure how??!! I swear i am not computer-retarded, but there doesn’t seem to be an upload option?
Hey readers…Heather is going to write a separate post about her project w/ photos. Stay tuned…