There’s no mystery as to why foyers and entries have been a popular feature in residential design for centuries: It’s nice to step into a transitional space as you swap the pressures of the outside world for the comforts of home.
But if your front door opens right into your living room, don’t despair. There are tricks to creating a sense of entrance, such as catching the eye with a dramatic piece of oversize art.
Besides delivering a striking first impression, a framed length of wallpaper sets the color palette for the rest of the space. The peachy-hued frame echoes the tones in the floral image. Follow our instructions to get this look.
What You’ll Need
- Level
- Pencil
- Removable wallpaper (we used Fuji Garden #AT7094 from York Wallcoverings)
- Water in a spray bottle
- Sponge or wallpaper brush
- Drop cloth
- Scissors
- Canvas stretcher bars (ours are 60 x 48 inches)
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Sawtooth hangers
- Small nails, hammer
Assemble the canvas stretchers so they make a frame and paint it in a color that matches or coordinates with the wallpaper. When dry, push sawtooth hangers into the top back of the frame in the left and right corners.
Cut a piece of wallpaper just under the size of the frame and lay it out flat and face up. Assuming the frame is wider than the wallpaper, roll out another piece of paper and carefully match the motifs at the side of the first piece. There will likely be overhang on both ends of this second piece in order to match it correctly. Cut the second piece and trim to the same size as the first, keeping the motifs in their matching positions.
On the wall, mark where the edge of the first piece of wallpaper will be installed. Place a straightedge level on the mark and, using a pencil, strike a vertical line on the wall the full length of the level.
Lay a drop cloth on the floor and place the first piece of wallpaper pattern-side down on the drop cloth. Activate the paste by spraying a fine mist of clean water on the pasted surface. Spray the length of the paper, making sure to thoroughly wet the entire back of the strip. Let the paper sit for two to three minutes, then align the edge with the vertical level line on the wall. Using a brush, gently smooth the entire strip so that it adheres to the wall. Work diagonally from the top down and center outward, removing all air bubbles and wrinkles. Wipe down the surface of the strip with clean water and a sponge to remove any excess paste.
Follow the same steps to prepare the second strip and slide it into position on the wall with its edge butted against the edge of the first strip at eye level. Don’t overlap the seams. Follow the same steps to finish the installation.
When paper is dry, hold the painted frame around the paper to determine placement of nails. Mark the position of the sawtooth hangers lightly on the wall. Hammer nails into the wall and hang the frame.
Make a unique umbrella stand from a concrete-footing tube wrapped with graphic wallpaper.
What You’ll Need
- Concrete footing tube
- Hacksaw
- Linoleum or vinyl scrap
- Liquid nails adhesive
- Wallpaper (we used Kumo #NN7210 from York Wallcoverings)
- Matching paint
- Spray adhesive
- Craft knife and cutting mat
- Straightedge
With a hacksaw, cut tube to 20 inches high. Trace the diameter of the tube onto a scrap of vinyl and cut the circle out. Using liquid nails, glue the circle to the bottom of the tube and let dry. Paint the top edge of the tube and down inside as far as you can reach with your brush. Let dry.
Roll out a piece of wallpaper on the floor or on a table. Place the tube on the paper and, holding the end of the wallpaper in place, roll the tube along the paper until the end meets the paper again. Add a couple of inches for overlap and mark the spot. Remove the tube. Put the paper on the cutting mat and, using a straightedge and craft knife, cut the paper at the marked line.
Apply spray adhesive to the paper and to the tube’s outer surface. Align the paper with the top edge of the tube and slowly roll the paper around it, smoothing air bubbles and wrinkles as you go. Overlap the starting edge. Using the craft knife and cutting mat, trim any excess paper from the bottom of the tube.
The rich blue background shade in the artwork reappears in these wallpaper-bound books. Here’s how to add some graphic punch while protecting the covers at the same time.
What You’ll Need
- Wallpaper samples or scraps (we used Fuji Garden #AT7094, Kumo #NN7210 and Garden Gate #GP5962 from York Wallcoverings)
- Scissors
- Hardcover books
Cut a piece of paper large enough to wrap around a closed book, adding 2 inches on all sides. Lay the wallpaper facedown on a flat surface.
Put the book in the center of the wallpaper piece and fold paper against the top and bottom edges of the book to make creases. Remove the book and fold the paper down along these creases; keep folds smooth and even.
With the book closed, place the book on the folded paper, 2 inches from the right side. Wrap the long side of the paper around the front cover of the book and crease along the edge of the cover.
Remove the book, fold paper crisply, then open the book and slide the front cover into the created sleeve. Close the book and crease the other end of the paper against its back cover. Fold down, then open the back cover and slide it into the created sleeve.
Photography by Chris Hennessey
Thanks to our sponsor: York Wallcoverings
© Caruth Studio