MetaChat - Yet another decorating brainstorm

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23 October 2010

Yet another decorating brainstorm As posted about previously, I have been planning to wallpaper the hallways at Swan's End. But idea of shelling out what I'll probably have to shell out has always made my thrifty little heart quail. →[More:]I will need at least 20 rolls and the wallpapers I want are usually between $25 and $30 (USD) a roll. Then there's the exchange rate, shipping, whatever duty Canada customs slaps on it... I'm thinking it'll cost about $600 at the very lowest estimate, and could cost as much as a thousand. Which is really kind of crazy.

And I've had a brainstorm: stencilling. The wallpapers I really like have a stencilling effect. So why couldn't I just make a stencil and give the walls that effect with just paint?

For instance, I really, realy like this wallpaper, though at $50/roll, it was not to be thought of. But I could perhaps create an effect very much like it through stencilling a similar motif on the walls.

I'm browsing Art Nouveau graphics and stencils and wallpapers to see what I can find that would be simple and effective.

post by: Orange Swan at: 09:34 | 12 comments

This Home Depot video demonstrates how to stencil and even uses a stencil that is very similar to what I want. Yes, I think this is a workable idea.

posted by Orange Swan 23 October | 09:49

My sister had some stenciling done in the kitchen in her old house .. I wish I could send you some pictures. It looked great. I think she had painters do it but I think as handy as you are, you could do it yourself.

posted by Kangaroo 23 October | 09:55

Oooh, I love stencil no. 79 on this page.

posted by Orange Swan 23 October | 10:24

They have some great ones here.

posted by Orange Swan 23 October | 10:35

.. and I think I'm done my research and am probably going to go with motif no. 81, which is the one on the bottom of page for the second stencil site I linked to.

posted by Orange Swan 23 October | 10:53

I've always seen wallpaper as a pain in the butt - it sucks to put up and it's hard as hell to take down. FWIW, my mom went into labor with me while hanging the wallpaper in my bedroom - maybe I've been biased my whole life. The motif 81 stencil is cool. Do it!

posted by youngergirl44 23 October | 12:19

I've ordered it!

posted by Orange Swan 23 October | 15:57

Looking forward to the "after" photos!

posted by deborah 23 October | 16:47

Stenciling is a much better idea than wallpaper, good for you!! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

posted by chewatadistance 23 October | 17:25

I love the idea of stenciling!!

I like a lot of those stencils too.

Nbr 81 is quite attractive. I'm not so sure about the asymmetry of it though. I think it would do better as a border rather than as a design to cover the whole wall. Is there some way you can use photo-shop to get an idea of what the wall will look like before you start?

I love the idea of stenciling the whole wall. I just think it would look better with a more symmetrical design.

Hope that's helpful. If not, feel free to tell my Debbie-Downer-self to shut up!

posted by marsha56 24 October | 00:32

Wow, those stencils are gorgeous.

posted by Stewriffic 24 October | 06:52

I've got a pretty good visual imagination, marsha56, and I think it'll look okay. When I pictured some of the others in rows on the wall, they seemed like they'd create more solid columns which is less interesting visually and at the same time is a bolder look. No. 81 will leave more "white space" which will the give the columns a more subtle, less regimented look and yet it's more interesting because the asymmetry catches the eye.

posted by Orange Swan 24 October | 07:39

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