Wallpaper Wednesday

Hi, Christine,

In searching for the perfect teal damask wallpaper, I've come across your site a few times. on "Wallpaper Wednesday" Aug. 12, 2009, I love damask 2...I copied and pasted pic. below. Can you give me some info. on it? Where can I get it??? Is it flocked?

Thanks!
Julie

Hi Julie,

I can tell from the photo that it is a Ronald Redding Paper. However- they have re-done their web site and don't have as many room scenes as they used to and I was unable to find the same photo. I pulled a bunch of teal damasks from the site- what do you think? Is your paper in here? If you went to a showroom with Ronald Redding books- you could most likely find the photo in one of the books. If you need further help finding it - let me know- I can e-mail my rep.

Thanks,
Christine

Charleston

Fresco Damask

Charleston Stripe

Jacquard Damask

Noelle Damask

Full Damask

Blooming Damask

LaScala

Textured Damask

Distressed Damask

Wallpaper Wednesday

Hello Christine,

I absolutely love reading your blog and learning from your excellent advice. I was wondering if you could help me find a beautiful, nice quality wallpaper for my dining room and powder room? For the dining room, I only have Tiffany china and a dark wood table with a stone pedestal for the room. I don't have window treatments or dining chairs yet. I kind of have my heart set on a traditional damask if that can work, but I am stuck on color (something fairly neutral?) and scale. The house isn't very formal (more country/traditional), so I don't want any sheen, just a flat paper. The wallpaper in this room is visible from the entryway, living room, and kitchen, since all the doorways are connected. We haven't painted the rooms yet since we are finishing up some construction and getting ready to move in. I have enclosed a photo of the dining room and a link to the china pattern.

I also need wallpaper for the powder room in the hallway, if you have any suggestions. It has a very dark green/black marble floor, but I haven't done anything else in there yet. I think I am a bit scared to commit to wallpaper since once it is up, you have to live with a pattern for a long time! We are a young family, so I want the house and walls to reflect that (a fresh, young look). I appreciate any help you can give me!

Thanks,
Nancy
link to my china pattern:
http://www.tiffany.com/shared/pdfs/federal.pdf

Dear Nancy,
You have a beutiful home. Your dining room is the perfect place for wallpaper. I selected two papers for you for the dining room. I will tackle the powder in a separate post. The papers are pictured in the suggested color- with the full pattern below.

Let me tell you why I chose these wallpapers.

1. I selected very neutral papers that will withstand some "re-decorating" and still be great, and easy to work with.
2. Both papers have some white in them. This is perfect with your wainscotting as well as the bright white in the china. The white combined with the neutral shades is a a great combination. The neutral shades give you a great pallet to select paint colors from in adjoining rooms. Can I say how much nicer it is to select the paint after the wallpaper?Good job!
3. Both papers are more casual in their finish- even slightly distressed in thier pattern- keeping them from being overly formal.
4. Both papers are oversized in their scale. This is what makes them more "hip" and young- and "cool"- not your mother's (or grandmother's) damask.
5. Both papers are from Ronald Redding. His papers (you need to see in person) are so rich and fabulous- so much nicer than the less expensive ones. Sure- you will pay more- but they are worth every penny.

Wallpaper Wednesday

The oversized Damask look is totally the "it wallpaper" right now- and the more oversized it is- the better- Check out this one from Wallteriors- 36" squares- now that's as oversized as I've seen :). This wallpaper instead of coming in the traditional rolls- comes as 36 inch squares- or you can have the manufacturer cut them down smaller- and install them in a random pattern as seen in the top photo. So unique! I love it! What do you think?

I LOVE EDWARD! The Twighlight Bedroom

Dear Christine,
My daughter wants her bedroom yellow but I need to find a yellow that doesn't look like the bathroom yellow I chose- her room is not that big and has no direct sunlight- her doors and trim are light oak - is there a yellow you can recommend??
Thanks, Sherry

Dear Sherry,
When selecting a yellow- don't go to the yellow section- go to the neutral section, and from there- find the colors that have a yellow base to them- they will look yellow on the wall- but they won't look like the sun will never go down on this horrible room that is hurting my eyes kind of yellow. My current favorite is Blond from Sherwin Williams- which I am sure that I have mentioned a number of times. I used it in two client's homes and then put it in a large section of my own home. Great color. Remember that rarely should the paint be anything more than the background pallet to your wall decor and furnishings. With that said, I really don't know how good yellow will look with all of that vampire skin... As long as Twighlight is the theme- yellow shouldn't be the color-
Also- the scale is off... She needs some larger posters in there! I found this 24 x 36 poster on Amazon for $0.49 :), which is still too small. Go to Michael's take your 50% off one item coupon and buy a LARGE canvass. (larger than 24 x 36) Paint it dark gray. Take your poster, get it wet- and then rub Elmer's glue all over the back side- then center it on the canvas. Let it dry- you can add a coat of sheen to the top if you want- or in the case of vampires- I probably would just leave the finish matt. With this on the wall- paint your wall white. It will look awesome! What do teenagers say today- proabably not "awesome" huh?On your headboard wall- put a fun and funky damask like the one below- then use a solid white duvet and throw in bright accent colors like was done in this room.

Forget the yellow- remember rule #24587- never let children or husbands make decorating decisions. Actually- I should make all of the decisions.

P.S.- and although I still love Edward I have to Say how totally disappointed I am in how Breaking Dawn ended.

This COULD HAVE been the best fight EVER!!!

Wallpaper Wednesday- Damask Dilemma

Damask Resources- by York

Dear Christine,
Hi, I just found you on the Internet. Wow! You seem amazing. Where can I find funky large scale damask or flocked print wall paper? I seem overwhelmed looking online. I love the looks featured in some of your pages, and Ethan Allen's site, but their site doesn't show much purchase info. I love the Candace Olson flocked floral, but it is limited in color options and it is sooooo expensive.
Thank you,
Vendala

Acanthe by Sandpiper- (distributed by Seabrook)

Dear Vendala,

Wallpaper is a funny thing, because even though it is the hottest thing out there- it is hard to find out there. The Internet has made it hard for showrooms with wallpaper libraries to stay in business. People find the paper they want at the showroom, then go home and purchase it on the Internet. (don't tell me if you do this- or I won't like you anymore - that goes for all of you... :) The showroom then goes out of business- or at least stops carrying wallpaper. In my area, Wallpapers -To-Go has left. Most of the paint stores have stopped carrying wallpaper. It can be found at Sherwin Williams and Lowes- and that is it. I found it increasingly impossible to find decent papers, let alone beautiful papers. I am sure at any given time, the best books at those locations are likely checked out. I agree that it is frustrating and difficult to find papers on the Internet. You can't really tell what they look like. The quality of the paper, the texture, the depth- and the true color- is all lost on the Internet. This is why I started my own library- but that of course, does not help you.

1. Consider spending the cash for what you really want. The Jaguar will always be so much more beautiful than the Kia. I agree with you on the Candice Olson piece- it is fantastic! Wait a little while, eat lots of spaghetti and potatoes at your house- and then get the good one. :) There is a beauty in the nice quality papers that makes such an amazing difference.
2. Still want a paper at a lower price? Go to places that carry York and Seabrook. You can find local dealers on their web sites. These two brands are well priced, and I think are the best look for the cost. I found a couple of specific ones for you- Damask Resource- by York, and Acanthe by Sandpiper (distributed by Seabrook). Hey- good luck! Take a before and after picture of your room (everyone wants to see it!) nothing makes a difference in a room like wallpaper. (except for new flooring- I think I say that about flooring too...)