Well my sweet husband finished the LR wallpaper stenciling this weekend!! The stencil was roughly 17 x 20 inches & it took 3 days of painting. (RL stencil from here )
He says the worst part about it was having to wash out the stencil between every few applications of the stencil. We used a latex paint: Sherwin Williams 'Ancestral Gold' recommended by Maria from Colour Me Happy & the color coudn't be more perfect!! (a pale goldy-green- awesome with the sofa- Thank you Maria!!! :) He didn't use a stencil brush & we just went with a Home Depot cheapie about 2-3 inches wide. The application isn't even & is just what I was looking for. (perfect imperfection!!)
Here's what our living room looked like before:
And here it is after the stenciling:
(A clear glass floor lamp is on its way to the right of the fireplace to balance out the chandelier & we're adding a custom mirror in the fireplace box.) It's hard to see in the far away photos because of the light coming in through the windows, but there is a sort of grid-like pattern where the stencil applications meet. I've been going around by hand to fill in these areas (this will also take FOREVER) but it's worth it because it makes it look continuous.
It reminds me a little of my grandparents' wallpaper (where I lived growing up) and looking at it just gives me this feeling of "home." I seriously teared up when Dave finished it. (ha pregnancy! ;) It looks like a timeworn wallpaper & I couldn't be happier. It really warmed up the room & made that huge high wall feel smaller.
Now my dilemma is this: I don't think I can cover it up with my 30 Leonardo Da Vinci sketches!! (At least not right away because I just want to gaze at it lovingly.. not kidding.) But I already ordered them... SO now I think I'm going for a CRAZY gallery entry with them going all the way up the 3 walls in the entryway. Any thoughts??? Should I put them in the living room or entry? If I put them in the entry, what your thoughts on the living room? Should I put the black window-like mirrors back? (in above before pic-- they're very loft-like & strong.) Just keep it empty & lean whichever mirror and/ or art I feel like at any given time? (below) Do you think it feels too empty as it is now? (This is tough because it feels "emptier" in photos than in person because the wallpaper stencil stands out much more in person...)
Ok, would love your thoughts & ideas. And one last pic of my chemistry beakers!! (In case you didn't read the comments in a previous post, I had to laugh so hard when Terri of WindLost said she loved everything in the room except for the chemistry beakers because she's a scientist. hahaha Yes, I have to agree that I wouldn't feel the same way about them had I her job!!)
Looking back over the weekend stenciling project: YES, I almost told my husband to quit after it took an hour and a half to do the first 3 stencils. He was a serious trooper & just kept going & going but I KNOW I wouldn't have done it myself. I don't have the patience. IF you have an insane stash of patience, it's a project worth doing, but I agree with many of the comments in my last post that wallpaper doesn't seem nearly as expensive now. He's moving onto the foyer this weekend & that will be rough on a ladder the whole time but I'll post when we have pics!xoxo,
lauren
ps- Head over to Velvet & Linen to vote for which readers' rooms you think deserve the GORGEOUS brickmaker's coffee table!!! I took part in the selection of the finalists & I cannot tell you how many beautiful well-designed rooms were sent in!! It was SO tough- bloggers & readers are so talented!!!
xoxo
As a decorator & a textile designer, this is my place to muse... perfection doesn't interest me; Reality and charm do. Fresh floppy flowers from the garden over long-stemmed roses any day, I love it when things are slightly off and tell a story. 
68 comments:
This looks incredible Lauren! Yay to you for your design vision, but honestly, I'm really patting your dear husband on the back (ouch, sorry about that) for his outstanding stick-to-it attitude. What a huge amount of work! But well worth the effort.
I vote for no mirrors on top of the mantel. I love those particular mirrors, but I think they are a little harsh against the stencil and stand out too much in that room. Which is strange, because I'm normally all for contrast and juxtaposition. Just my two cents worth.
A truly beautiful space!
xo-nelya
Gorgeous! Your husband did a wonderful job ... all that hard work/patience paid off handsomely. It's beautiful.
I like it w/out the mirrors as well. Makes the wall/room look larger.
Holy cow!!!!!! That is just out of this world stunning, I love love love love love it!!!
Dave, you rock! Want to come do my house next :)
Gosh, you just continue to amaze me! I looooooooooove this...its so subtle but totally dramatic at the same time, just really adds that extra layer to the whole room. I've always thought one could achieve anything with paint that one would want from wallpaper, and you just proved me right:) Your husband deserves mad props for getting this done. It looks completely amazing!!!
oh my gosh that is insane (in a very good way) i LOVE it. your husband is seriously a trooper! I love the way it adds depth and interest to that wall and kinda just pulls the entire room together.
I vote no on covering it up with artwork as well as no for the grid like mirror. I think it's beautiful and wouldn't want to cover it up with art (it is art itself) and the mirror, with the grid pattern, i think will compete with it too much. However, I do like the dark frame of the mirror and like the idea of having something there....so my suggestion is perhaps an oversized round mirror with a simple dark frame.
whatever you do i'm sure it'll look fantastic.
I love how this turned out! It looks so beautiful! Sounds like it was a lot of work though. I have been wanting to do something like this in our bedroom, but haven't found the motivation. :-)
When I think of stencils you think of a really bad '90's border, with hearts and cows, my goodness, this is absolutely beautiful! I know readers say wallpaper isn't as expensive as it once was I think this is 10 times better then wallpaper and unique, how many people can say they have this in their house? The room looks stunning! I hope you're extra sweet to your husband because he deserves it!
Now THAT was a project! But totally worth it, it appears! Beautiful...
pk @ ROOM REMIX
The wall looks amazing. I love the look. I don't think the room looks empty at all. I just think it looks airy. I would leave it as if for a while if it were me. I know you will decide what's right for you. Have a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Hugs, Marty
Stunning, love its worn quality. Big points for the husband on this one!!!!!
Janell
Love the look -i say leave it bare -i love it that way! Go for drama in the entryway and 'wallpaper' the walls with the gallery affect of the prints!
It is beautifull and I wouldn't hide it at all. Maybe a mirror or architect piece.
This looks A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!! I think you should just put up some empty frames to show off the pattern and put the sketches elsewhere.
Wow, it look amazing. I love the warmth that this adds to the room. Your a very lucky lady to have such a wonderful husband willing to do this.
What a fabulous design idea! It looks fantastic. You have an incredible eye for design. I absolutely love your blog.
Perhaps you can reward your hubby with a nice long back rub, LOL!
Looks beautiful. I am also blessed to have a husband who will spend hours making my design ideas come to life.
It looks really really pretty. I would be lovin' it too! I think I'm more amazed at the patience and love your husband has. What a great guy. :)
looks so pretty and so YOU! great job, Dave :)
Lauren, it looks totally amazing!!!!!! I cannot believe the effect. I can see why you teared up looking at it - I am teary-eyed and I am not even pregnant. I think it is so touching because of all Dave's work and also the final effect, which is so old-world charming! I love this old historical vibe you have going on. And DaVinci prints, did you say? That will be insanely amazing. I have always loved the look of old academic sort of things like this. One of my friends once told me they thought I was secretly an old man because I liked old man stuff. haha. (I used to love old globes, etc.)
Anyway, it looks killer good and so classic and lovely. So glad it worked out. Use your discretion with the prints. I don't think it looks empty- you want to see it and enjoy it for full effect. Enjoy for a while until you feel it is time to put some stuff up!
That Dave. Boy, is he crazy about you. The things he does for love. :)
Big hug, xo cous'n Terri
I'm blown away by your results, Lauren - FAB! Like you, I love the lovingly worn, classic look of the walls. Beautiful!
As for art on the walls... I do think they'll need something... but it'll have to be the right thing. Something classic. What might be great is an archectural find (or two) of some kind. Something with it's own history. Perhaps something that will balance with the dining room chandi. Until you find the perfect something, leave the walls as they are and enjoy!!
Victoria @ DesignTies
unbelievable. really. it looks so soft and warm. i would stare at it too. right after loads of husband make out sessions. he deserves it.
Absolutely gorgeous, Lauren!!!!! OMG. Love it, love it all. The stenciling. Oh my. What patience. I want your room, and I love the green sofa!! I vote for something large over the mantel -- for balance and punctuation. I like the black mirrors. I personally like a touch of black -- or two or three -- in a room. It conveys elegance . . . . And I like the reflective qualities, as it appears you have nice light. I'd like to see the sketches; they sound wonderfu, and I like the idea of a gallery perhaps in the foyer. Hmmmm..You'll make the right decision; you always do! best and congratulations, -susan
well worth the effort !!! gorgeous.
It looks fantastic! congratulations you made the right decision :)
Lauren...this room just gets better and better! You are a great talent!
Best,
Michelle
Love it! Do not hang anything on it, especially the big mirror. I like the idea of a leaning piece of art...a canvas hand painted.
Lauren it's absolutely beautiful. I am completely in awe of the transformation. It's just breathtaking. I'd have a hard time covering it up too...I like your idea of re-hanging the black mirror over the mantle as it has a really nice height. And the gallery wall in the entry sounds fabulous. I've always loved artwork going up a stairwell - classic. xoxxoTrina
Fabulous.
Where do you guys find these DIY men? I got a bookwork in my house. And that's all. HA.
I like the idea of taking the photos all the way up the entryway wall.
It's amazing!!!!!!!! What a gorgeous result. I don't think you need anything else...the room is currently both interesting yet calm.
Kudos to you and your very patient husband!
This looks so beautiful and it has made such a huge impact. You both make a great design team!
Best wishes, Natasha.
what a wonderful idea, I love it - so effective :)
It looks beautiful, and you have an amazing husband - congrats!
OMG! It's beautiful! I don't blame you for not wanting to cover it with anything. Live with it for awhile. You don't have to decide this issue tonight. Take your time to get it right.
so beautiful! I have been tempted but have never done such a huge job. I could see large framed mirrors on each side of the fire place.
Lauren -- I am seriously speechless. This looks SO good.
Hi Lauren,
This is a beautiful room and with a few more touches it will be perfect.
The drawings? I would put them all together in the entrance. Crazy gallery ...I like the term, or salon style?
Actually, I know what you mean about not covering it. I did a stencil wall in my living room (dark gray-blue with Art Nouveau floral medallions a shade lighter) and I liked it so much nothing is on that wall.
Mine is simpler than yours—just a single stencil I laid out in uneven staggered rows. The rows alternate between starting at the top of the room and the bottom and overlap each other slightly about 2/3 of the way up, with some room to breathe on either side. This description makes no sense without a picture! I designed the pattern in Adobe Illustrator and that doc's on my other computer.
I have a red couch against it so that's pretty dramatic. My pictures migrated to an in-progress gallery wall in my dining nook.
I would say let your husband's hard work shine alone and go for the crazy entry. And I would urge people not to be scared away from stenciling. I rent so it is a better option than wallpaper. I thought it was pretty easy. I used paint sparingly on a super cheapo foam brush, and I did wipe out the stencil every so often, but didn't wash it.
Lauren-- you kill me! I love the subtlety of the paper, and although you say it looks barer in person, I'm in love with the picture. Nothing competes for attention, and the stenciling ties the whole room together.
I agree with the people who say to wait and live with it awhile before adding anything.
As always, you, your home, and your superman husband are super inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
Oh I love it. At first I thought the stencil was going to be to much all over the space but with that color and the huge wall it looks awesome. I do think it needs something like the mirror though because it starts to look empty. Great job. Love it.
This is absolutely fabulous! & What a sweet husband you have!
Lauren- amazing. As always. xx- brooke
Lauren-you truly have vision! I don't think I would have thought of doing what you just did in a million years! You are very brave and the results are stunning! It is so unique! I don't think wallpaper would have given the same result. It is so "you" and works with everything in the room.
I love how the room looks but I think you do need something else on the walls. Not the large mirror though. I am sure it is hard right now to start hammering all those prints you ordered into your beautiful walls. Maybe sit with it for awhile. I do think the prints will add even more interest,depth and warmth to your home. And the stencil will still shine through!
Good luck and enjoy it!
~jamilyn~
Wow it looks amazing, and such a professional job, your husband is a genius!! Which colour did you end up with by the way? Your house just keeps getting more beautiful!
x
Maria
Your husband is amazing. I would have given up for sure but so worth it as the final product is gorgeous! Makes me want to stencil as well - maybe in a small room like a bathroom. I think you need something about the fireplace. Maybe a smaller mirror?
back again to see this beautiful room!!
It looks amazing! I can't believe that he stuck it out for three days!!
I did a simple wallpaper stencil project in my bathroom, but there's no way that I'd have the energy to do a giant space like that!
Wow, you must be the best wife ever, because your hubby is a saint. I can't imagine what a pain that was.
It's very beautiful, but I am far too lazy to ever attempt anything so time consuming unless I hired someone to do it for me. I'll all about the quick fix :)
L, this is the best! You have really out done yourself. I love it! I want to do a "style maker" post on you! Is that okay?
Lauren, that looks great! Wow, at the intricate details of that stencil. Your hubby is a saint. I can see ME asking my hubby to try something like that. He would laugh me silly. It really does add a lot of detail.
I'm not sure what to tell you about the art, but I know you will figure it out, you've got a great eye. I do love that big bold grid mirror though, maybe it could come back?! Everytime I see your green sofa, I get serious envy.
I voted on Brooke's table thing, and you are right, there were some seriously beautiful rooms from all those readers!
Happy THanksgiving!
I'm completely in awe! It is so beautiful and a brilliant idea.
this looks INCREDIBLE! It adds so much depth to your room. and your husband is a saint for doing all that. SO WORTH IT THOUGH!
xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi! I love your blog and have now started my own. If you get some time please check it out. Not too much to write home about now but it is a work in progress! Thanks for inspiring me every day!
Ashley
your husband is such a hero. It looks beyond amazing! Love it.
yep, it looks amazing. good job!! soooooooooooo thankful it didn't have to be me. :-)
I love the stenciled wall. What a job that must have been. I would have considered doing something like this myself instead of wallpapering my dining room recently ($1500) I could have saved lots of money and achieved a similar look. I vote to not put the sketches up and put them in the hallway. To be honest, I liked the paintings you had originally with the large mirror. Overall, the room is warmer and more inviting. --Delores
Lauren:
The looks simply amazing. I'm not kidding - glossy-mag worthy, to be sure! You knocked it out of the park,girl, on this one (but you always do!)
I'm thinking the Da Vinci sketches should find a home in your entry - how striking to have a floor-to-ceiling print look?!
I love the mirror you had before, but actually like the simpleness and beauty of the stenciling. I would save it for another room. Right now, your room reads as a modern update to a loving, vintage home. Pure(style!) Perfection!!
P.S. - I came THIS CLOSE to buying a cowhide rug in Rio this weekend (they are beautiful, soft, and very inexpensive down here!) Now I know for sure I have to go back to get one!!
I'm speechless Lauren....
Ok, this is amazing. What a transformation.
Fantastic color, and you husband did an amazing job.
Wow!!!
xo
Brooke
Looks beautiful!!! I don't know if I could cover it up!!! I think a huge round mirror from Uttermost would be fabulous...the Vega, Hemani, or Tarika would compliment the chandelier and break up the angles of the room a bit...can't wait to see what you decide!
absolutely beautiful...i just discovered your blog...LOVE it.
I so love your wall. It is so "classy" no other word for it. Love it! Your blog is wonderful too.
Happy weekend to you. Hope it's a restful one for you all ~
Looks fabulous.
I have been dying to see this! Your husband is the best, looks BEYOND amazing!
I'm literally speechless! This looks AMAZING!!!! LOVE IT!
Love it Lauren! What sheen was the paint you used?
It looks AMAZING! I wouldn't cover it with any too big...BUT I have a major obsession with the mirror that used to be above the mantle...can you tell me where it's from? PB has one that looks similar but each pane has beveled edges...
Again, amazing job - I'm a huge fan of your blog. Thanks!
Your walls look incredible! I can't believe that is a STENCIL!
I'm so glad to see some color entering 2011...and this stencil is subtle chic and so great looking-
I saw your link on my sweet savannah and so glad I stopped by!
xo+new years blessings,
anne marie
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