Friday, October 15, 2010

The Wallpaper Dilemma

We moved into our home in August 2008.  We loved many things about it, but we did NOT love the dining room.  Specifically the wallpaper and the chandelier.  Jim and I have a pretty laid back.. uh... style.  I hesitate to use the word "style", since I'm not sure we have any.  But when we looked at this wallpaper...


we knew it just wasn't "us".  It's a little too fancy.  A little too stuffy.  A little too Donald Trump for our taste.  We planned to get rid of it.  But, well, life happened.

One day back in August, I was sitting looking at that darn wallpaper, and it just made me mad.  "What is wrong with us?!  Why don't we ever get anything done?!", I shouted internally to myself.  Then I walked over and did this...



Yep, I just ripped a section right off the wall.  No preparation.  No planning.  No tools.  I knew it was the only way we would ever get started.

We had recently been to a friend's new home, which they had only lived in a few months.  She had already removed the wallpaper and painted her dining room.  She told us "It's really not that bad.  It's kind of fun, actually".

This week I started the project in earnest. (Yep.  Two months AFTER ripping off those first few pieces. Pure SUCKITUDE.)  You know, it IS kind of fun!  Like going to the dentist, grocery store, and gynecologist is fun.  Our friend had to be high on wallpaper remover fumes, because... uh... NOT FUN AT ALL.  I can only do a small section at a time, and then take a break for oh, say, a few days, because it just annoys me.  So, maybe I'll get done by Christmas?

Now is where I tell you I need your help.  Have I mentioned that Jim and I can NOT pick paint colors?  Have I mentioned that although we both are creative, artistic people, we are completely clueless when it comes to decorating?  No, really.  Do you want to know how many walls we have painted in this home, since moving in in 2008?  One.  We painted Dylan's room, and I actually do like the color, which is shocking.  Usually, when I stand in the paint chip aisle at Home Depot I am suddenly a complete dodo head.  "Colors!... Purdy!...", said with a blank stare.

So, what I need is pictures of your dining room, or just suggestions in general.  We plan to keep the chair rail.  Our plates are blue, but we can buy new plates at some point, so don't go by that.  Here's a picture.
HELP?!?  (Go ahead and ignore the mess on the table and the car seat we are hoping to sell).




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Repeat after me: It is just paint. If I don't like it, I can paint over it! (Just teasing!) I LOVE to paint and pick out new colors - it is kind-of a bad habit and I sometimes think that my husband conceeded to having another child only so I would be too busy to paint and re-paint. I love warm, soothing colors - I think that room would look great with a rich, darker brown below the chair rail and a creamy beige/off-white above the rail. I love blue with brown as an accent color! The other thing you could do is find a curtain or tablecloth or placemat that appeals to you and pull colors from it (try to find something with a few different colors so that you aren't stuck with having to keep a certain color or replace the item when you get tired of it. Good luck! I can't wait to see after pictures!

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I like Driven's ideas. What I might do would be to pick out some chair covers (IKEA maybe) that I loved and then use that for my inspiration.

feather said...

you have so many possibilities, jen! go simple, since you are not a flashy decorator. a nice, neutral cream or taupe or beige will work well for you. if you are wanting a little boldness, go darker with any of those shades. i struggle with colors, too, but i'm a risk-taker...i say just slap it up there and if it's not right, just return it and try again! home depo returns paint, did you know that?

Burgh Baby said...

I need more information, ma'am. Go find something that you love (anything--a fabric or a painting or a piece of art or absolutely anything) and that you want to use in that room and post a pic. Then I can help. :-)

Elissa said...

ooh! jen!!! we need to TALK. i might need your phone number ;-)

i LOVE to decorate and LOVE to choose paint colors. don't look at MY house. I have no money. but i have helped a ton of my friends with this process and think it is THE bomb. you'll probably get emails from me.

PS. don't bother with all the stinky wallpaper remover. vinegar and hot water will work just as well and won't give you toxic headaches. do you have a paper scorer?

Elissa said...

and, PPS, you were right. that wallpaper was ACK.

The Girls' Mommy said...

Do you use it as a dining room? We never did- we eat in the kitchen. So we lined ours with Ikea bookcases and turned it into a play room :)

I suck at color, our house is beige and brown. Sad.

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

paint it blue.

There. Decision made.