Some of you may not have ‘got’ the title today. Those of you who are Fawlty Towers fans will. Basil putting up a moose’s head which then promptly fell down again.
That was us today. Sort of.
Let me explain from the beginning.
We have a large lounge which we love. It is always filled with light but it was a little dated. It was decorated almost as soon as we moved in 19 years ago and styles change, tastes change and it needed a make-over.
This is what it was like before.
It was very very pink and the curtains were dated and it just needed doing.
We put it off for ages and ages but finally succumbed.
I wanted a new modern palette and we went with cream (because actually we are cream sort of people – we don’t do statements and bright and dramatic) and green and chocolate.
We picked a paper we thought we loved and based everything round that.
Shame really, as it happens.
Nij stripped off the old pink wallpaper whilst I was at work last week and he painted the ceiling, coving and all the woodwork.
Sunday we papered the three walls that were staying plain. We went for a textured paper that looked good painted and agonised over the colour.
Monday we painted it. Loved the colour, needed a second coat. Now bear in mind it is a big big room. A second coat isn’t something you undertake lightly.
Tuesday am we painted again and I covered the cat gym (That bit worked – the cats love it)
Tuesday pm we papered the patterned wall.
Now this is where it all goes wrong.
You see on programmes like Extreme makeover, 60 minute make over etc the dark patterns look lush. In reality – well, that’s a different story.
The paper was expensive and thin and had a slight sheen to it.
We papered two runs before we realised it should have been ready mixed paste. I think that might have been the problem and we should have stopped there. But we didn’t.
The paper showed every mark, was difficult to work with, and bubbled wasn’t the word. It was awful. Plus, we actually didn’t like it when it was up.
We are both people quite driven by light and it was dark. It was a statement alright, but not one we liked.
We persevered – which was stupid – and hated it and the bubbles and marks and flaws and joins were awful. We thought it would look better in the morning.
It didn’t. It was dry and rock hard and ridged and bubbled and just horrible.
We went out and picked more wallpaper, perhaps more forgiving and certainly lighter, but we had to go with cream green and chocolate as everything else was based on that scheme.
We returned home to take the paper off. I mean it was bound to come off easily wasn’t it. Wasn’t it? Oh no. It was the hardest paper I have ever ever had to strip. Teeny tiny pieces and lots of soaking.
But we persevered. By this time my hands were a wreck. I had blisters from the pasting on Saturday and new ones from the pasting on Tuesday and a whole new set in different places from the scraping.
But it was finally off and the new went up a dream.
We are not sure we like it, but it is staying.
It is a big big statement for us but at least it is behind where we sit so we won’t have to look at it.
The pictures look odd as the curtains still need to go up and the new carpet is laid on Monday and the new blinds next week. All cream! If we ever buy a cream cat we will loose it!
Hey ho – the tales of rubbish decorators eh.
Still – at least I like my new flowers!
Today I am thankful for
