The living room (she calls it lounge, my mother-in-law would call it front room) of one of my sisters-in-law in England is like that, one wall covered in a very beautiful wallpaper, and the others painted in a matching shade. I like her room very much, and although mine will never (and is not supposed to) look exactly like hers, the idea is the same.
I need to decide on a pattern for my living room and the bedroom. It wasn't difficult to decide about colours: Since Steve redecorated the entire flat in 2009, the living room has always looked like it does in this picture, all done in warm, earthy tones; a peachy shade for the wall, terracotta-coloured borders matching the armchair, and a brown-beige settee that I would have never chosen. Don't get me wrong - I liked this room, but it isn't really "me".
My colours are different, and my favourite combination is yellow and grey, as shown here. That is what I am thinking of when I picture my new living room.
The new settee (which has not yet been chosen) shall be grey (neither too light nor too dark). The coffee table (an original 1960s one which belonged to my grandparents, just as their 1930s sideboards and the 1950s armchair) and sideboards will stay. The armchair is going to get a new (grey?) cover. The TV table is going to be replaced, and the desk can go - I have three desks for one person in this flat, which is really not necessary.
Today, my sister accompanied me to a shop where I was given a wide choice of wallpapers. I have narrowed it down to three, but not yet made my decision. They are all really beautiful, but will I like looking at them on one wall for longer than a year? I am certainly not going to start redecorating all the time - this is supposed to last a few more years.
I am of course not under any pressure to decide quickly, but I would like to finish the whole project in the course of this spring - probably some time after Easter.
First-world problems indeed...!
Love the first and last ones. I'd play it safe were it me and go with the cherry blossoms. Though I do love the last bold one. Gray and yellow go beautifully together and even wood goes with gray. Love it. If I used the space all of the time, I would definitely go for soothing.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the patterns again today, I think the last one - as great as it is - will be a little too extreme for me, seeing it every day on my wall. The other two are still firm favourites!
DeleteI like the middle one best!
ReplyDeleteIn the pattern book at the shop, they had a photo of a room where a whole wall was with that paper. It really did look beautiful.
DeleteI like the middle one too, but we all like different things, so I think you have to go with your gut feeling.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's exactly what I'll be doing :-)
DeleteI love the first one with the blossoms. For my home I would choose that one. They are all pretty you really can not lose with any of them.
ReplyDeleteThe first one is very much like what I had in mind when I arrived at the shop. I described my idea to the man behind the counter, and he seemed to understand what I was trying to say, because he came up with the most wonderful pattern books.
DeleteSpontaneously I like the first wallpaper best, but it's not always easy to tell what impression a whole wall of a pattern will give, compared to just a sample. The third I suspect could get a bit overwhelming. The middle one I'd probably not pick myself, but I think I can imagine it going rather well with your pieces of furniture... Is the floor the same in both rooms? I've never had a feature wall... Living in a rented flat, one usually gets a limited choice (if any). I did get this flat re-wallpapered before I moved in though, except the living room (which had been rather recently done and was ok).
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the overwhelming third one!
DeleteYes, the floor is the same throughout my flat, except for the kitchen and bathroom, which are both tiled.
You are right, it's not easy to imagine an entire wall when one only has a comparatively small square of paper to look at.
I like the first wallpaper best....And remember to be careful with the choice of yellow paint. Some tones of yellow can make people feel rather agitated! It's going to be great fun to transform your living space!
ReplyDeleteThree of the walls in my current bedroom are painted in a pale vanilla-yellow shade, and one in a very light blue. I've lived well with this shade of yellow for more than 6 years now and have never felt agitated in this room - at least not because of the paint :-)
DeleteThe first wallpaper is really very pretty, isn't it!
I like the first wallpaper best too. Should look fabulous with the grey settee. Maybe you could re-upholster the armchair in a soft grey and cream stripe, and use some soft yellow throw cushions (in a variety of weaves amd textures) for accent cushions. Maybe a soft creamy white flokati area rug under your coffee table, and a vase of yellow flowers and a stack of books on the coffee table as accents? When you decide what to do, I hope you'll share the final result with us. Hugs, Carol
ReplyDeleteNot sure yet about a pattern for the armchair; maybe it will be just grey. But cushions will certainly come in yellow, and maybe sometimes I'll add a splash of some other colour such as turquoise/teal to liven things up a bit when I feel like it.
DeleteNo rugs or carpets for me; I prefer smooth surfaces for my floors, although I must admit a flokati rug would suit the style of the coffee table really well.
Of course you'll all get to see the final results - but it'll be some months before that :-)
Haha! Indeed a First World problem! It's good problem to have.
ReplyDeleteI like yellow and grey as a color combination. The third wallpaper is my pick. It stands out among the others!
The third one certainly has "got" something, doesn't it? But I'm really not sure I want to look at it on an entire wall, day after day, for years to come...
DeleteHi, just left a comment on your previous post - and became a Follower!
ReplyDeleteBack here now as I love interior design (as well as books!) and am interested in your proposed project. One boldly wallpapered wall in a room is making a huge comeback, and I like it because there are some amazingly beautiful wallpapers available these days. Although I told myself 'no more papered walls' some years back after a lot of painting, I think I too could fall for this lovely idea. Of your three choices, all of which I love, personally I would go with the middle one (wish I could see a larger sample) with plenty of 'white space' and a beautiful selection of mixed floral illustrations which seem less seasonal than the first all blossom design. The third choice is definitely more graphic and contemporary - exciting, but perhaps not as relaxing on the eye and, although not my style, would be stunning with modern furniture. I do LOVE grey, in all its many hues, and yellow will look really good mixed in on cushions, and accessories. Whichever you choose I'm sure you will love - fresh and new is always enjoyable - good luck with your project, we'll all be looking forward to the reveal later!
Mary -
Hi Mary, I've just replied to your comment on my previous post. Once again, welcome to my blog!
DeleteI am very much leaning towards the middle one, too. I love the first one a lot (and also the third), but my next post will show why I probably will not go for the first one in the end.
Anyway, the whole project is going to be much work, but a lot of fun, too! So many of my friends and family have already offered to help, and I am going to need them - especially to shift my wardrobe, which is really heavy with sliding doors, one of which is a full-length mirror...
I like the middle one, I think. Whatever you choose, I know it will look great!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Kay! I am sure it will look good in the end. For the papering, I'll have a professional do it, as the pattern needs to be really perfectly joined and I don't want to try my hand at it myself. The rest - painting, and shifting the furniture - can be done by me and my friends.
DeleteI have little or no ability to envisage what a room would look like using the patterns and colours you describe. I used to have rely on a very close friend for that help but she has moved away from the Island now. When I do any redecorating I either try and do someting similar to that which is existing or keep things as neutral as possible. So I couldn't possibly express an opinion on your plans. However I'm sure the last wallpaper would be the most difficult to live with and that sems to be agreed by you and other commenters anyway. It will be very interesting to see the finished result.
ReplyDeleteI do hope it will look they way I imagine it!
DeleteThe current colours have been on my walls for more than six years now, and were mostly Steve's choice, which was entirely fine by me, but it is now time for something different and more "me".