Faux-Boo Deux.

A few more photos so you can see the finish more closely and the hardware and the rest of the room - and my man, double E. Any lamp advice for the dresser would make me so happy.

P.S. Nice job, Delaware! You had me worried there for a minute...

D.I.Y.O.Y.? Imperial Trellis Stencil How-to.

Thanks to Erin Gates from Elements of Style for the post on my project and for perpetuating the madness. I did notice that someone on her blog commented that they wanted to hire me to do this project for them. Boy, did that make me laugh!! As if. But if you want to tackle it yourself? Be my guest (and if you are here from EOS, thanks for stopping by!)...

First, go to Decorator's Best and order a sample or two of Imperial Trellis for $7 ea. I'd order a dark color on white so it's easier to trace.

While you are waiting for it to be delivered, go to A.C. Moore or the like and get a packet of stencils like these from StencilEase (I got 12x18 and you want at least that size):

Click for website

Mine are 4 mil but if I hadn't been snowed in, I would've gone to Philly to Utrecht or Blick to get something a little bit thicker because this doesn't clean well without falling apart. If you get anything too much larger, it will likely be difficult to keep it from flopping around once some paint builds up on it and weighs it down.

You'll need an ultrafine permanent marker (Sharpie) to get started. I started by drawing in a 1/4-inch border around the stencil with a 1/2-inch border at the top for taping.

Once you have the wallpaper sample, lay the stencil blank over the wallpaper as shown. Make sure it's straight or your final product will run crooked. If you get a piece of wallpaper that doesn't show the entire pattern, copy it and tape it together to create a pattern based on the first photo in this post.

My blank stencil was larger than the wallpaper sample so I just improvised by aligning what I'd already drawn over the pattern like this:

If you don't want to order a wallpaper sample, you should be able to print out all three of the following patterns in full size and overlap them to create a stencil. You won't really overlap them, you'll overlay the blank stencil onto Pattern No. 1 and trace it with your ultra fine marker. Then you'll overlay the blank (which now contains Pattern No. 1) onto Pattern No. 2 and align the pattern. Repeat with Pattern No. 3. Last, you'll add the little dotted lines which you will cut around (they will help to keep the middle parts from falling right out and stabilize the stencil).

Click on the photos and save them in a folder. Print them out full size in landscape format mirror image.

Pattern No. 1

Pattern No. 2

Pattern No. 3

Now cut out the pattern using an Exacto knife, leaving the lines within the dashes and the negative space like this:

Keep in mind that you will have to hand paint every line that is only there to stabilize the stencil. So if you want to quit, now would be a good time. If not, then:

Spray the back of the stencil with Repositionable Adhesive (available in spray or sponge applicator bottle) per instructions. Use blue painter's tape on sides and/or top as necessary to keep in position.

Place on the wall starting at the upper left corner. Use a level to ensure the sides are level (check your wall first to make sure; if not, adjust accordingly).

Roll evenly with paint using a miniature foam roller and tray. Remove stencil. Now fill in the spaces left behind from the lines holding the stencil together. Dry with a hair dryer to speed up the process. I waited to fill those lines in on my first wall and am still regretting it (and filling them in).

PLEASE NOTE: If you are using pearlescent or iridescent paint, touch-ups may be visible so you'll need to test which method of touchup of works best for you. Also, avoid painting over existing paint; in other words, carefully fill in the blank area only. I used a sable/synthetic Windsor & Newton No. 2 brush.

Keep carefully overlapping the pattern all the way down to the trim or bottom of the wall, checking to ensure the right side is level with each new stencil.

When you are ready to start a new column, overlap stencil over existing paint and paint where there ain't none.

Do this until the end of time.

Eventually, you will begin to make progress.

This will feed the beast. Well, that and lots of Nutella.

And eventually, it will look like this:

I used two base coats of Benjamin Moore Linen White in Matte Regal and for the stencil a ready-made quart of B.Moore Studio Finishes Latex Metallic Glaze in Pearlescent White.

So, if you add up the cost of the paints, supplies and 2 visits to the chiropractor, it still doesn't add up to the cost of one roll of Imperial Trellis. Plus when you tire of it or sell your place, no one has to remove wallpaper. And you cannot put a price on the self-satisfaction of being awesome.

If you do take on this project, please leave a comment and send me a photo of the finished product.

Once More with Feeling.

Have you had enough yet?

(this shot styled for Raina a la Lonny :)

It looks like 2009 threw up in here. I love it! (Forgive me for leaving the candle burning. I took these while working because I couldn't leave unfinished pictures of my bedroom on the interwebs.)

I plan to be finished with the sitting room by 2011. Stay tuned. Ha.

I. T. Stencil Sneak Preview.

She is looking pretty, non? (Pretend like I tucked in that top sheet.) Yes, I have a candle going during the day because it smells so good and SOMETHING has to keep me in here. And this smells like spring (that's its name).

Aromatique Smells like Spring

I am still painting because see this?

I must now HANDPAINT every little space doohickey. It's out of control. I am also painting the other side of the room today (sitting room) with two coats of BM Linen White (the ceiling will be painted white) then I will be exhausted so maybe tomorrow or Thursday I will begin stencilling that wall. Maybe.

Meanwhile, I am looking at beds and headboards:

Colette, Crate & Barrel

York, Pottery Barn

Target Uptown

And watching this while working:

Kris Kristofferson in this movie is totally on my Free-Pass Five.

And this:
Or maybe I'll just lie here... just kidding.

World's Most Insane DIY Project: Imperial Trellis Stencil.

Imperial Trellis, alabaster, Decorator's Best

Here's what happens when you have had two blizzards one top of one another for a total of over 45 inches of snow and have been snowbound for one too many days...

You decide that you can't take another day in your gray bedroom and that you need to brighten it up; that you still love Imperial Trellis but do not want to commit to wallpaper, so you...

decide that it's a great idea to make an Imperial Trellis stencil so you can paint your bedroom yourself.

Closeup of my progress (difficult to see because it's a pearlescent pattern)

100 hours later, you begin to question your decision...

Paint It Black.

The Rolling Stones told me to Paint It Black.

So I did.

Quite a few of you also suggested I paint my bathroom black. Remember? Click here for a reminder and the Before photo.

Actually, I used chalkboard paint on the walls (if it's good enough for Jenna Lyons...) and glossy black on the tub. The chalkboard paint is not quite flat and not quite glossy and it reads somewhere between black and the deepest blue.


I tried black feet but it looked blah and I was going to replace all the towel bars, etc., with polished nickel or chrome but we're in a Depression people so I decided to go with the brass since that's what I have (except the lights go either way - I just haven't found anything I like yet). Fresh new white towels are on order from Restoration Hardware (I went here and got 10% off my order which also reduced my shipping - yay for discounts!).

So I think I'm in the market for a gold/gilt mirror (which is why my daughter's 1st grade artwork is on the floor - for frame color reference) - that is, unless I can have chrome lights and mirror and everything else brass? Light ideas? I love this combo - she mixes chrome and gold and more; more of a beach look but you get the idea. Opinions?

Why Is Color So Hard?

The first thing I did this year was remove the Ralph Lauren pelmet and drapes in my bedroom (compliments of the previous owner) and replace them with linen drapes. I also repainted my bedroom from dingy gold to (oddly) brighter gray.

Before:

After:

The sitting area, before (and before I cleaned :-):

After (please ignore ribbons on topiaries; from holidays):

Problem: now I don't like the color. It's BM Revere Pewter and it's greenish gray. The bathroom is limestone with Coastal Fog walls (also a greenish gray) with off-white trim. Here's the master bath:

The hall leading to the bedroom is white but up the stairs is that goldish wallpaper so the gray clashes.


I want to repaint it this color or sort of a French Gray. Thoughts? Color recommendations? Comments?

A Little Help.

(click to enlarge)

I need some opinions. Be honest because I really need some truthiness.

First, what color should I paint this bathroom and the tub (the tub is off-white)? I am painting over the blue today with primer. Should I paint the feet white? black?

Also, would you replace the stained glass? It needs to be repaired in a couple of places, so would you repair or replace? (I'm not sure my husband will let me replace it and I liked it when we first moved here but now it seems so dated.)

Last, the mirror is polished chrome (P. Barn tilted oval) and the fixtures don't match. All other metal is brass. What would you do about mirror/light situation?

Thanks for commenting.