Katie Skelton, owner of Elements Wallcoverings in Orlando, and her brother Tim say an installation is only as good as the prep work underneath. (Courtesy of Marni Jameson)
Wallpaper is back in a big way.
I recently caught the bug updating a dining room whose furniture dates back to the 1990s. So I consulted Los Angeles designer Christopher Grubb. I mean, I send him pictures. He provided decoration direction. I'll do the suspension. This arrangement spared us two hours of indigestion from him.
Technically, it's an alcove right next to the entrance, but it's the first room you see when you walk in, so I want it to shine brightly. Grab gave me a list of things to do. That means adding two long mirrors, placing a black lampshade on the chandelier, and wallpapering the back wall and ceiling with a rich medium-blue grass cloth to differentiate the dining area from the entrance.
I requested 6 wallpaper samples, lived with them for a few days, selected one, and had a handyman prepare the walls and ceiling, filling in and smoothing out the uneven surfaces.
“It's been a long time coming,” said Katie Skelton, an Orlando wallpaper installer who owns Element Wallcoverings with her brother Tim. But now, thanks to social media and increased brand competition, it is also accessible to the middle class. In addition, customers are beginning to realize that it is not necessary for the wallpaper to have small flowers or strawberries on it. Choose from thousands of bold patterns, textures and contemporary prints. ”
surely. Even her trend-savvy millennial daughter and her husband recently wallpapered their nursery (!) as they prepare for their baby due next month.
“I looked at a lot of pictures for inspiration,” her daughter said. “Almost every nursery had an accent wall painted a fun color or covered with wallpaper.” My son put it on himself.
Although more expensive and more labor-intensive than paint, when done correctly, adding wallpaper to a room can add richness and interest that paint alone can't provide. “It's easy to update a room with paint color,” says Grubb. “But if you really want to upgrade your room, wallpaper is the way to go.”
The wallpaper went up this weekend. That's a great improvement. So, getting in on the bandwagon, we asked Grubb and Skelton to tell us more about the resurgence of wallpaper and what more homeowners need to know.
Do something unexpected. Wallpaper is not just for living rooms and powder baths. For a couple in Los Angeles, Grubb covered the walls of their laundry room in vibrant graphic paper. “The feel of this utility space has completely changed.”
Float does not stretch the line. Tim Skelton recommends “floating” the walls, as many homes have uneven walls that prevent the wallpaper from going smooth. Fill in the dents with a coat of drywall mud.
Don't skimp on installation. If your paper has tricky repeats that require special alignment, or your room has a lot of angles, have it professionally installed to get multiple bids, Grubb says. Or they did the work themselves and encountered coordination issues that drew more attention than the beauty of the material. ”
Consider new vinyl. Modern vinyl wallpapers often look like grasscloth or silk, but they are much less fragile, more durable, and easier to clean with soap and water.
Enjoy the sound effects. Wallpaper will dampen some outside noise, but wallpapers made from linen, silk, cotton, and grass cloth are especially good at buffering sound, making them ideal for home offices and bedrooms.
Consider the ceiling. A wallpapered ceiling creates an immersive effect that gives an intimate impression, making the room more cozy.
what's new? Custom printed vinyl murals are popular, Tim Skelton said. “Companies will now print any high-resolution image onto vinyl to create murals,” he said, adding that Disney-themed murals, 360-degree murals that make you feel like you're in a mangrove forest , and a gentleman installed a mural in his garage featuring race cars from a Formula 1 racetrack.
Removable items are increasing. Peel-and-stick wallpaper has also evolved, offering homeowners an inexpensive DIY option that's easy to replace and doesn't stain the walls. This is especially good news for renters. The downside to peel and stick paper is that most professional installers won't apply it because they can't guarantee the product will stay in place.
On May 23, join lifestyle columnist Marni Jameson for a free virtual workshop, “Size Your Life and Live Well Now.” Register at https://extras.mercurynews.com/events/.
