"Wallpaper Weekend Warrior"

As busy as I've been, I'm not sure how I managed to squeeze in a little home improvement project of my own, but somehow I did.  

Yep, I finally tackled the wallpaper project in my guest bathroom a couple of weeks ago.  It began as a weekend project but soon spilled over into the week.  I worked on a little at a time and it took me about a week and a half to finally finish.  Honestly, with a little motivation, I totally could've done it in one day.  

If you follow me on social media, you may recall me posting about this wallpaper I scored at the Habitat Restore in High Point, NC.  I think I paid less than $5 per roll, so it was a total score.  They were double rolls, but I knew the amount would be cutting it pretty close.  But for less than $10, I was willing to take the risk.  

Amazon 

P.S. In case you're interested, it is made by York Wallcoverings (Metallic Scenic) and is available online for about $80 per double roll. 

The fact that the wallpaper worked perfectly with my existing decor was a huge added bonus.  I just needed to find the time to get it hung.   That time finally came...

Now, make no mistake about it, my wallpaper installer would likely cringe if he took a close look at the pattern match-up and seams, but for me...it works.  Believe it or not, wallpapering is actually easier than painting if you ask me.  There's no taping required and unlike paint, wallpaper offers a do-over factor that paint doesn't.  I mean, you can move wallpaper around easily (before it dries). 

I thought about replacing the builder grade mirror, but it came down to conserving wallpaper.  You may recall me adding the mirror frame many moons ago.  If not, read about it in the post entitled "Mirror on Mirror".  I knew that unless I planned to foot the bill for a large rectangular mirror (most standard options are a little smaller than I needed), then I'd need to utilize more paper to cover the portion of the wall currently covered by the massive simple mirror already there.

I decided to leave it for now, plus I can always add a Mirror Mate at a later date.  (Hey, that rhymes! 😊 Lol! )

I love wallpaper with a busy print.  Not only does it add so much personality to a space but it is extremely forgiving to those of us who don't have the patience for matching the pattern from row to row.   The pattern has so much going on that it's hard to tell where one scene ends and another begins.

   

This was particularly helpful around the corners and in those small spaces because I was literally able to use scraps without working so much about the pattern.  In fact, that's the ONLY way I had enough paper for the entire bathroom.

I love how it turned out, and I'm thankful to have another small home improvement project off my list.  However, be forewarned should you ever come to visit.  My installation isn't perfect and if you look for the flaws, you'll find them. And I'm completely ok with that.  😉

"Not Your Mama's Formica"

I've been busy this week working on two projects, one nearing completion and the other in its beginning stages.  The latter is a home where we'll be sprucing up the dining room and making some budget-friendly upgrades to the kitchen.  It's a little early to share our plans for the space, but I do want to share with you a product we plan to use.

Several years back, as I thought about the prospect of updating my own kitchen, I stumbled upon a fairly new product by Formica called 180fx.  Formica's 180fx is a revolutionary laminate "with true-to-scale granite patterns that offer visual drama unmatched by any other laminate."

Here's a little sampling of what's available...

Don't get me wrong, I love natural stone as much as the next designer, but home improvements should be smart decisions, and that includes financially.  In this case, investing in a more expensive natural stone product, wouldn't likely yield any increase in the value of my client's home and since this isn't their forever home, they want to be smart about the upgrades they make.  

With over 25 colors/patterns, the options will have you awestruck at the possibilities.  Here are a few of my favorites along with some beautiful in-home applications.

Calacatta Marble

Kylie M Interiors

Simple Details Blog

Golden Mascarello     

Formica

Strata Olympico

via Formica

This one is my top pick for the project I'm working on.  I hope they like it!  

Crema Mascarello

What's cool about this product in addition to it's "look for less" qualities is the fact in 2012 Formica added new options for the counter's edges.  "IdealEdge^® Decorative Edging offers decorative edges that bring a fresh look to laminate countertops, islands and more. What you see is a perfectly finished edge - and no more brown seam lines."

(Images via Formica) 

Pretty awesome considering the fact that I can recall the Formica countertop edging in the home I grew up in peeling off and flapping away at one time.  Unsightly brown seams and  telltale sign of Formica countertops no more!

After ordering a few samples and seeing this product in person, I'm totally convinced that these ain't your mama's Formica countertops (although ironically my mother actually has them).  I can't wait to use them in this upcoming project.