Wallpaper has been in and out of fashion for decades. Going back centuries, the Chinese are credited with being the first to decorate their walls with rice paper depicting scenes from nature. By the 12th century, these papers along with other decorative arts from China, spread to Europe via the Silk Road. The style became wildly popular in Europe and the French called it, “chinoiserie”, meaning Chinese.”
Like many of you, I’ve used wallpaper in the past. When it’s been fashionable I loved it, but, after spending hours trying to peel it away after it fell out of favour, I swore I’d never use it again. One year when my daughter was a teenager I wallpapered her bedroom in coordinating Laura Ashley patterns as a surprise for her birthday. I thought it was fabulous…she hated it! Many hours were spent getting it off the walls ASAP! Not only that, I used the same patterns for bedding and other accessories…not a good idea!
Over the winter I’ve spent hours pouring over decorating books. Wallpaper has been featured in almost every one of them. And a tiny seed was planted in my mind last summer when I was in Paris and London. It seemed that the rooms I loved the most were wallpapered and I started thinking…maybe I’m ready to go down that road again. Not ready for a huge commitment, I decided to paper the powder room.
Many, many years ago I bought this print of Sarah Bernhardt, by Georges Clairin, (1876). I’ve never grown tired of looking at it. I was so surprised to see the original of this portrait the first time I visited the Petit Palais in Paris. Although I often move pictures and accessories around the house, Sarah has always been in the powder room. It was imperative that if I was to wallpaper this room, the pattern would have to work for her! Finding such a paper was no easy feat!
The sample (taped to the corner) appears to pick up all the colours in the painting. The paper should arrive sometime this week…now I’m nervous about how it will all come together.
If it works out, I will post a photo…if not, I’ll be spending the following week trying to remove it!
xox Judy❤️
I remember the wallpaper! And I remember not liking it… so sorry, ungrateful at the time!
Hi Jill, You have never waffled on what you like and don’t like…that is a good thing! xox Judy❤️
Hi Judy. I love the look of wall paper in my home and decor books and magazine, too but have always been too afraid to tackle the job. I love the paper you chose, and Sarah is one of my favorite portraits. When we were in Paris last June, we went to the Petit Palais to visit her again, but she was on loan in London. I was so disappointed. I look forward to see the finish project Judy!
Hi Karen, what a shame Sarah wasn’t there to greet you at the entrance of the Petit Palais. She is really making the rounds. The last time I was at the Petit Palais she was visiting somewhere in the US. xox Judy❤️
Judy, I absolutely love your design ideas. What I really don’t understand though is how you manage to fit them all into a single house without adding any rooms!
Thank you Joyce, I’m sure you are busy making beautiful changes to your home too and I have a feeling we have similar tastes…birds of a feather. xox Judy❤️ Gardening season is just around the corner…
I love the paper sample….you must post💕💕
Thank you Brenda…if all goes well, I will. xox Judy❤️
Hi Judy, I love the painting of Sarah and I think the wallpaper will work beautifully with it! The one place in our house I’ve thought of wallpapering is the powder room on the main floor because I think it would make such a lovely statement but I’ll definitely have to get up more courage to attempt it. I can’t wait to see how your turns out….I’m sure it will be stunning! Hugs, Karen xo❤️
Hi Karen, In our previous homes, I always had wallpaper on the walls and I’m not sure why I’ve hesitated to do the same in this home…probably because I was much younger then and if it didn’t look good I’d just strip it and start all over… Besides, powder rooms aren’t that easy to do. There’s very little room to move around in with rolls of wet wallpaper and papering behind toilets in tight corners is not pleasant. In my current powder room the walls have subway tiles up higher than the sink and toilet so it should be much easier to do. I hope you find the “courage” to give it a try. xox Judy❤️