Some things get worse before they get better. That certainly seems to be the case in our family room.
Our weekend-o-wallpaper removal started out promising. The vinyl "grasscloth" came down easily in long strips, just like the
wallpaper guy said it would.
Unfortunately, there was another layer of paper under the vinyl. It was a layer of wallpaper that had been painted. Awesome.
Painted over paper isn't easy to remove. We tried scoring the walls and soaking them with DIF, but got the best results using a steamer.
It took FOREVER.
A surprising discovery was the plaster in one section of the room was once dark burgundy. It was kind of interesting to see what the room may have looked like at one point.
We could make out a faint design where the burgundy met the white stripe at the top of the wall. Can you see it?
Lots of patch jobs done to the plaster over the years.
If Harry could talk, he'd say, "No offense or anything guys, but the room looked way better before you touched it. Just saying."
So what's next?
Skim coating. We need to smooth out the rough and pitted texture of the plaster so that the imperfections don't show through the wallpaper. Good times.
30 comments:
Oh no, this reminds me of our house. I think it was the same paper. Ours came off like that, but the glue stayed on the walls. We had to have the walls smoothed over by our painter. Ugh.
Brings back memories, but looks like you guys made some great progress. The end result is going to be spectacular! Really interesting though to see what the plaster looked like. I also love that glass door you have in the room!
I forgot to mention that we also found the steamer to work the best too but it did take forever.
Yikes!!! That's alot of work. Hope it all works out in the end.
Oh my goodness! This is making me re-consider wallpaper in my new home:) Can't wait to see what you all do! Take care, Caroline
I'm with Harry. ;)
Holy cow that looks like a lot of work!! At least you can stare at your pretty office while doing this and remind yourself that it's totally worth it!
I sooooo feel your pain! I went through the exact same process in my son Elliott's room (and it was much smaller). I had a few choice words for the wallpaper-ers of the 1930s. Can't wait to see what you do with it next!
I love the look of wallpaper, but it has to come down one day! It is not a fun process. Can not wait to see what you do.
Doesn't it always feel like projects create more projects? It's going to look amazing!!!
Oh my goodness---you two have really gotten involved in a project with a capital "P". For a week-end, you accomplished a lot. It's going to be a beautiful room. Hope the skim coating goes well!
Wow! No going back now, right? :) It's so cool to see all the old stuff under the paper. Good luck!
As a participant in this process I overflowed with love for my home design warrior princess as she called a bit of wallpaper a "Mother-F'er" before violently ripping it clean from the wall.
I turned to Carrie at one point and said that some people would consider this hell, and she appropriately commented that it was.... But we are out of purgatory! Next level here we come, things are looking up.
Thanks for being such a bada$$ wife Carrie.
OMG. that is crazy. I cannot wait to see what yall do with those walls! I am sure it is going to be amazing :)
I love older homes but after seeing the work you've put in I'm kind of thinking it's not so bad living in a newer home,lol. (You're dog is adorable!)
Wow, what a process! I hope you are proud of the fruits of your labor, because this room will thank you for making it so much prettier.
Way to go!
Wow, what a process! I hope you are proud of the fruits of your labor, because this room will thank you for making it so much prettier.
Way to go!
It sounds like you have a house full of surprises. Hopefully, you'll find some good ones as well as the labour-intensive ones.
Oh Lady! I feel for you guys. But it will be so worth it in the end, right?
That design on the burgundy plaster IS intriguing.
Camille
Holy crapballs! I'm pretty sure I would've just walked out and gone shopping after I discovered the painted over wallpaper...pretending that it would be *all better* by the time I got back...ha! Like that ever happens! But I am completely interested in the plaster underneath...it's like an excavation site! Love it.
Argh! Yes, it looks horrific, but it's darkest just before the dawn...or something like that! It's going to look great. You are well on your way to gorgeousness now!
Oh wow what a mess! Yes it does get worse before it gets better. It is fun to see what the room used to look like though.
I feel your pain. I helped my daughter remove wallpaper in her apartment. Wallpapered plaster is never pretty. Can't wait to see your finished project!
Oh my! Just remember the prize at the end. It'll all be worth it!
Wowzers! I have removed a lot of wallpaper over the years and those older papers are a pain in the butt. It's going to look fabulous when it's all done! Nice smooth walls - it'll all be worth it! Look forward to seeing your end result!
Great job! Last week a woman was telling me about a mural in the plaster over her fireplace. She discovered it under paneling and three layers of wallpaper!
Do you know anything about the original owners?
This could be a version of "If Walls Could Talk" ..it is so interesting to uncover something old that has been in the house a long time. This was very labor-intensive though. I remember needing help removing what turned out to be contact/draw-liner paper off the walls of a bedroom !
Wow, you must be so patient! I cannot wait to see the result! =)
http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com
Wha ha ho...what a job! I would have given up for sure.
Oh my gosh, I want Harry to come live with me! This is going to be wonderful one day ;)
WOW! This is a lot of work! Cannot wait to see it all come together!
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