My great-grandparents survived the Great Depression by becoming paperhangers. Nanny taught my mother how to hang wallpaper, and my mother taught me. I am genetically predisposed to hang wallpaper. I have wallpapered rooms of every kind in both of the houses that I've owned and even, in a fit of madness last winter, the inside of a closet.
All of our bedrooms had wallpaper at one point or another, but they've since been painted. Now I'm working my way downstairs. Last week I started on the dining room.
Yes, the blue-striped dining-room wallpaper that has figured in so many photos over the years is gone. It took me two full days to peel it off, inch by inch. Turns out it was not strippable, which meant that instead of coming down in nice, satisfying sheets, it came off in tiny confetti-sized pieces.
I'll explain the photos of the barns in our neighborhood in a moment.
I hope you can see the cows out back - by the trees along the left. I love cows. Just adore them. Pet-wise, though, I think they command a greater commitment than I'm able to offer. So instead, I admire the neighbors' cows.
Anyway, I say this at considerable risk, but I've been kind of enjoying the winter. The weather has been exhilarating, and the landscapes have been breathtaking. White snow, gray skies, green pines, red barns - just the colors I want in my house.
So the great downstairs home renovation has begun, inspired by the farms in my neighborhood and, no doubt, a serious case of cabin fever. I expect that I'll be in home renovation mode the next few days weeks months, emerging every few days, paint covered and weary, to report in.
Here we are on Day 3: the wallpaper is off. The color scheme at the moment is beige. If I liked beige more, I could save myself a whole lot of trouble.
Oh boy ! I am looking forward to seeing what you have in mind for that room !
Posted by: Lisa W. | February 21, 2011 at 11:01 PM
Curious to see what you do with the unadorned beige...what a project, stripping wallpaper. We once stripped off 3 layers in our old house, including a lovely gold flocked number...and no it did not come of in sheets, but confetti like yours.
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | February 21, 2011 at 11:42 PM
Your posts always make me smile. It is good to know that you have had the worst part now (especially with your wallpapering skills).
Posted by: LiLi M. | February 22, 2011 at 04:26 AM
Thank for sharing some scenes from the hood. Beautiful! I'd love seeing your 4 legged neighbors everyday, too. I don't even mind smelling them. Maybe I should stop revealing so much about myself now.
Posted by: Tina | February 22, 2011 at 06:28 AM
Man you are energetic? I've got a border in a bathroom I've been "stripping" since last summer - want to come over to my house (LOL). Can't wait to see what you do - we got dumped on this past weekend to but heh its still Feb in these here parts...J
Posted by: Julie | February 22, 2011 at 06:30 AM
You have such great taste I can't help myself at being excited to see your mad wallpapering skills. Hurry up!
Posted by: freckled hen | February 22, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Beautiful barns and neighborhood! Seriously can't wait to see what you do with the walls, this is going to be good!
Posted by: Mrs. Cozy Home | February 22, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Can't wait to see what you do! Your neighborhood is lovely.
Posted by: Kim G. | February 22, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Lovely photos as always. Our last house had so many layers of wallpaper in the living/dining room (11 that we could count!) that we finally asked the neighbors about it. Turns out the previous homeowner worked for a wallpaper company. "Ahhhh, now we get it."
xox
Pam
Posted by: one gal's trash | February 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM
I love those red barns...are we going the red route in our redo?? Can't wait to find out!
Posted by: Retromamaramblings.blogspot.com | February 22, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Nothing like a good redo...I have a stack of clothes I wear with paint all over them already...you know for those days I feel energetic enough to take on the task of painting. Good luck...Renee
Posted by: Renee | February 22, 2011 at 02:22 PM
This post could have been written about me. I learned to wallpaper from my mother, who learned from her father... It took me YEARS to afford to wallpaper every room in my house and yes, I struggled through a closet with nine foot ceilings and my face next to the lightbulb. And now I am sick of all the wallpaper and thinking of going back to paint. Go figure!
Posted by: Kathy | February 22, 2011 at 02:51 PM
I HIGHLY recommend uisng a product called 'Chomp' to strip the paper. It's MAGIC, I swear. I did our 8x6 bathroom in less than 2 hours.
Good luck! Can't wait to see the finished project.
Posted by: jenn | February 22, 2011 at 11:02 PM