When I purchased the Dollhouse a little over a year ago, this is how the guest/half bath on the main floor looked. The red was striking and a fun look for a small guest bath, but not what I wanted for this space.
Updating this bath has been a slow process, as I’ve been working on other projects, plus I’ve encountered a couple of speed bumps along the way. I had an electrician remove the existing wall lighting. It was starting to show signs of pitting, but the main thing that bugged me was how no matter what type of bulb I tried, the bulb always stuck out a bit creating glare right into your face/eyes.
These were the walls sconces that I chose.
Next, I replaced the broken half-shutters with new shutters. Though I went with 3.5-inch louver panels in all of the other windows in this house, I chose a smaller 2.5-inch louver for the shutters in this space since it’s such a small room. I’m really happy with how those look in this space.
I don’t normally do a lot of wallpaper in my home since it can be a chore to remove when you want a change, but I do love seeing it in bathrooms. For this bathroom, I wanted something that would be a happy, fun surprise for guests, especially since you’re never more than just a few inches away from it when you’re in this room. I lucked out and found a wallpaper I loved almost as soon as I started looking.
So, the plan is to wallpaper above the molding, paint the wall white below the molding, and, have picture molding (or some type of molding) added below. I may change my mind and paint the wall below a color that’s in the wallpaper, but I kinda doubt it. We’ll see how it looks once the paper is up and the wall is painted white.
The two speedbumps I ran into that slowed me down were a missing baseboard molding issue and a paint-matching issue. When the bathroom was renovated many years ago and the old cabinet was removed and replaced with a pedestal sink, a gap was left in the baseboard molding where the old cabinet had been. Recently, I discovered an old piece of baseboard in the garage, probably from when the Butler’s Pantry was renovated. I was so happy to see that it matched all the other molding in the house, including the guest bath. The other speed bump I had was trying to match to the existing white paint on the molding. Eventually, I realized that I just needed to choose a paint color that matched the color of the new shutters, since that was a great match to the existing white paint in this room. My shutter company gave me a sample that I was able to take to the paint store for matching.
With those two obstacles out of the way, the work has finally begun. The wallpaper hanger just finished applying the first coat of primer today. He’ll be back to do a second coat tomorrow. Already this room feels so much lighter! The Benjamin Moore paint store that I have been working with is excellent, and they suggested tinting the primer to a color that’s close to the background of the wallpaper. As I’ve been going through this process, I’ve been learning more about wallpaper, and apparently, “peel-and-stick” wallpaper is a pain to hang and doesn’t always want to stay stuck to the wall. Unfortunately, the Harrison Howard “designer” wallpaper I chose for this room appears to only be available in the peel-and-stick version. I’ve looked everywhere and haven’t been able to find it in a pre-pasted version, which is what wallpaper hangers prefer and the paint store recommends.
The wallpaper technician that I’m using has been hanging paper for over 50 years, so if anyone can make it work, I feel like he can. Fortunately, I bought more than enough wallpaper for this small room, so if he runs into an issue installing a piece, he can toss it and cut another piece. The wallpaper store suggested waiting 2 weeks to a month after priming the walls before hanging the paper, but I don’t think the wallpaper hanger wants to wait that long. Update: I noticed the information that came with the wallpaper recommends waiting 4 weeks after priming the walls before hanging the paper. So it looks like that’s what we will need to do. Ugh. Another reason to not go with Peel-and-Stick wallpaper!
To summarize, the wallpaper will go above the molding, the wall below the molding will be painted white, as will all the trim. Even the laundry chute door will get a fresh coat of white paint.
The ceiling will be painted a soft blue that will complement the background of the wallpaper.
I hadn’t noticed until recently that this room doesn’t have crown molding. Boo, hiss. After the wallpaper and painting are done, I’ll have crown molding added when the picture molding is added to the lower wall. Ideally, I probably should have done all the molding stuff first, but that’s okay. I’d much rather get the wallpaper up now and worry about the molding later. Finding available craftsmen these days can be a real challenge. At least we are finally seeing some progress in this room! Yay, for that!
The primer looks like a light blue and very pretty. Changes the entire look.
It is, they were trying to match the background of the wallpaper to cover the red paint.
So the answer is Yes! I’ve done it twice in 2 different homes! It didn’t stick in our first home, a brick cape cod/English cottage home. However, in our new home we switched and made the dining room a music/sitting room. It’s now the home for our baby grand, a cute love seat, etc. The new dining room is SO much roomier! We can fully extend the table and easily seat 10+ in that room, with room for the china hutch and buffet as well!
That sounds so nice, Donna! Love that!
Progress!! My hubs & I just finished hanging wallpaper mural & painting under chair rail
Installing ceiling moulding after paper installed was “way to go” for us…since alignment at top wasn’t “as critical. The peel & stick we chose was “almost like canvas”…the mural was just what I wanted. We chose complimentary paint for underneath…what an improvement…I absolutely ❤️ it!! (You w/love yours, too!!) franki
Oh, I love the murals I’m seeing online. What type of mural did you hang, Franki? I would love to see it! I def want to have crown molding installed along with some picture molding. I hope I can find someone to do that for me.
I cannot wait to see the finished room!! I love that wallpaper.
Thanks, Barbara! I do, too! It’s so fun! 🙂
Once the wallpaper is up, you may want to paint the area below the chair rail / molding the same background blue color, as you are doing with the ceiling, instead of white. Since it’s a small space, it may help “enlarge” the walls so the space flows a bit better and not look broken up. I find that in small spaces, the more monochromatic you can make it, the better. Just a thought.. Love the wallpaper! And love the blue background color too!
For right now, the lower section will be painted white with the goal of adding some picture molding later for interest, which will also be painted white. If I don’t like how that looks, I can always paint it the a similar color to the background of the paper, although the background color is a tricky color to match since it’s blue with sort of a black wash over the blue. Hard to explain but it’s not a true blue.
It is going to be so wonderful to have this room re-done. I am very excited for you! I am a big Harrison Howard fan and have some of his prints framed and hung in my formal dining room.
Thanks, Vickie! I’m looking forward to sharing it once it’s complete. Looks like that won’t happen for about a month since the info on the wallpaper states that it shouldn’t be applied to primed walls until the primer has had a full month to cure. I wish this paper weren’t peel-and-stick; then we wouldn’t have to wait so long.
Oh it’s all so very exciting, Susan!!! And I hope your hanger can wait the alloted time and that you can get molding up – that’s ideal. Also I do like Caren’s idea about using the background light blue on ceiling and below chair rail. I think it’d flow beautifully. But whatever you do it will be stunning. And FUN!
Thanks, Michele! Yes, I will def be using on the ceiling. I’ve already purchased the paint for that. I’ll be going with white below the chair rail for now, but if I don’t like how that looks, I can always do something different.
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I finished in my half bath in a similar way. The wallpaper installer also asked if it was peel and stick – I got the impression that it was not preferred and now I know why. I found my wallpaper via a YouTube channel I follow – the print was hand cut by the creator and it was manufactured in England. I also did a chair rail with picture molding, but I matched the all the trim (including the door) to the background green of the wallpaper. I love it! The room is about as small as a closet but it’s now so dramatic. I’m sure yours will be lovely, especially with a window and the blue ceiling.
Heather, that sounds beautiful! Could you share a photo of it with me? I would love to see it! If yes, you can email it to me at: [email protected]
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Dear Susan, I remember a September blog which asked us if you should sell the house and move. If you might sell your home, I suggest that you pick a different wallpaper, with keeping the blue below the chair rail and on the ceiling. William Morris wallpapers are very popular right now and there are many lovely prints to choose from with several color combinations in each of his prints. My Home Goods often has some of his prints framed in their art selections. Good luck with your powder room.
Thanks, Patricia! I was talking about selling the house in Georgia, not the “Dollhouse” here in Ohio. I do need to redo my bathrooms in GA though before I ever think of selling it.
I will check out William Morris wallpaper. I think I’ve seen some of those online when I was looking for a wallpaper for the mudroom here in Ohio. I believe I have a William Morris decor book, he does beautiful work!
I think you would love William Morris. Williams Sonoma has some of the designs available in dishes and linens. I just recently bought one of the table runners and napkins sets. My absolute favorite is Strawberry Thief which comes in many colors. I get a magazine from England, “Period Living,” Which shows a lot of William Morris used in British homes. I have not yet used the wallpaper in my home but would like to someday. Nice to see wallpaper coming back.
I’m excited to see the end results! Enjoying the thoughts and plans too.
So glad you’re making progress, Susan. I’m sure it’s frustrating to have to wait for the wallpaper to go up, but you have plenty of other projects to keep your mind off it in the meantime. That bathroom is going to be adorable! Can’t wait to see the final project and I’m confident you’ll be very happy with your choices.