Contact Paper Chronicles-Part 2

If you asked me how I felt about contact paper fifteen years ago I would have said, "that stuff is hideous.  Not just hideous, but HID.E.OUS!!!"

 I'm sure every one of us has had an ill fated run in with the stuff at one time or another.  I'm taken back to the first apartment Studly and I shared.  It was 1996, we were young and newly married and sporting ridiculously, embarrasing hair-do's {I had a shag...or the Monica as it were, and he, the short lived Caeser}.  We were so excited to start playing house together.  The apartment was perfect...aside from the nightly cockroach rave and the fact that every drawer in the place was lined with peeling, dated, disgusting contact paper.  Good times, good times. 

It took awhile for me to acknowledge the existance of contact paper again.  I mean, I would occasionally bump into it at the Home Depot or Walmart, but thought nothing of it.  Eventually, we made ammends and I started using it for homemade stensils and what not.  We were on good terms but nothing serious.  But then one day I had a vision...a vision of a gorgeous lamp with a wood veneer drum shade.  I didn't want to spend a ton of money on wood veneer, so I used the cheapest alternative I could find...wood grain contact paper.  After my $3 Lamp Shade Revamp project, I realized that this stuff {I once considered an interior design faux pas} could have potential when used in the right way.  So, I took that ball and ran with it...down the hall and to my daughter Quinn's bedroom.

Quinn's room had been lacking something for awhile, so I started toying around with the idea of putting in a wood accent wall.  I kept putting it off because I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to something that permanent, especially when it required a moderate amount of labor.  Then I remembered that I had an extra role of faux wood contact paper lying around, so I decided to conduct a little experiment.  I decided to try making a focal wall using contact paper instead of real wood.  I was a little skeptical at first...worried that rather than looking like a tasteful, wood accent wall, it would look like, well, a wall with a bunch of contact paper on it.  

But I persisted, and once I had filled up a large portion of the wall, I realized that it didn't look half bad.  In fact, I was really starting to dig it.  It gave the room sort of a cool, reto vibe.

Once I brought in all of the bedding and accessories it started coming together and made sense.

It took about two and half roles to fill the entire wall...which translates to just under $20.  I was able to complete the project in four or five hours...most of which was spent cutting the contact paper into squares.  The application process went by fairly quickly.  Ah, I'm such a sucker for a quick transformation. 

It definately adds and element of warmth and interest to the room, which it was lacking before.

And the best part about it, I can remove it all in a matter of minutes if I decide to.

So, I quess I'll let you be the judge.  Contact paper:  still an interior design faux pas, or an old friend has simply gotten a bad "wrap"?

Accent Walls Part Deux: Choosing a Color

I tend to be a fly-by-the seat of my pants type gal. It's not necessarily a good or a bad thing, but occasionally I will do something which has me scratching my head later. So, in regards to the accent wall{s} I am thinking about doing, I have really tried to take my time deciding so that I don't end wanting to repaint it in a week...which brings me to my second accent wall installment: choosing a color. Again, these are just a few guidelines to consider if you are in the market for painting an accent wall.

• Accent walls are usually a bolder/darker color than the other walls, but that doesn't always have to be {as a rule of thumb, dark accent walls result in a smaller, more intimate space whereas light accent walls help to make a room seem larger.}


• Choose a color that is in great enough contrast to all of the furniture pieces and accents in the room. If you have a light couch/chair/bed on the wall you might want to consider a darker wall color...or if you have a dark couch/chair/bed choose a lighter wall color.
I love how the white bed and light lamps pop against the dark plum wall.

• Use your existing decor to pick an accent color. Refer to throw pillows, artwork and other decorative pieces when choosing. Again, making sure that the color will offer enough of a contrast with else in the room.


I love how the yellow from these fun throw pillows was carried onto the walls behind the couch. Instead of using exsting decor to choose just a color for the wall, both color and a similar pattern from the bedspread were carried onto the wall.

• And if your really having a hard time choosing a wall color, how about letting your children decide for you...mine always seem to have an opinion on my decorating. Okay just kidding, but it could make for an interesting result. Instead, list the 4 most used colors in the room, ranking them from most dominant to least. Then, choose your wall color based on either one of the last 2 colors listed.


• And if you are going for uber drama...consider a wall with pattern or sheen.

Here are some inspiration pics to get the creative juices flowing.

Modern metallic sheen and sophisticated design...

Simple stripes... Another large, sophistaced pattern, but with an earthy overtone{I remember when this room was revealed on Design Star. I loved it then and I love it still.} Fun harlequin... Bright floral...

All righty peeps. I'm feeling adequately inspired now and I'm off to get jiggy with some color/pattern. I can't wait to show you what I have up my sleeve. Make sure to have your Depends on hand just in case.

Peace out!

Accent Walls: Choosing a Wall to Highlight

Every year about this time, I start brainstorming ideas for projects I want to do. The list is getting pretty long, to Studly's chagrin, but whatever. One of the projects near the top of the list is painting a cool accent wall in my older boys bedroom. I already have an idea for the color/pattern, but I have been struggling to choose a wall to highlight. Some of you might say, just pick a dang wall already psycho lady, but I want to make sure that I don't commit any decorating sins. So, I did a little research and found the info quite enlightening. I thought I would share, ya know, in case someone else out there in bloggyland is dying to know. Besides, I have to do my part to keep America's homes beautiful. Enjoy!

• A feature wall does not necessarily have to be the first wall you see when entering the room.


• An accent wall is usually a "solid" wall, meaning there are no windows or doors on it. However, if a wall has a widow with a spectacular view, beautiful French doors, or other interesting architectural element then choosing to accent it would create a great "frame" for these things.

If I had a view like this out my window, I'd "frame" it for sure.

• Take a minute and determine the focal point of the room. Perhaps it is a ...

great piece of artwork

Or a fabulous headboard

or a fireplace

• If there isn't really a focal point, create one. Find a painting or piece of artwork you like and highlight it. Feature something you collect i.e. old family photos, clocks, pictures of David Beckham {swoon}. On an accent wall these things will really stand out. Here are some other fun collections to consider...

mirrors

frames or plates

Finally, a little rule of thumb. If the room you are working with is long and narrow, the best wall to feature is the farthest, short wall. Painting this wall will help make the wall seem closer and room less constricting. Perhaps you already knew these guidelines for picking the perfect accent wall, but if not, I hope this helps. Stay tuned for Accent Walls: Choosing a Color...coming soon.