I’m not entirely sure how a week has gone by already. I’ve been caught up in the whirlwind of wallpaper installation and client projects and finalizing details for my own, and somehow I feel like I missed the weekend in there!

Just in case you’ve missed them and want to get caught up, my Week One and Week Two posts about the One Room Challenge will fill you in on all the scheming and starting that has happened to date.

THE PROGRESS

I’m grateful to say that the Thibaut wallpaper is UP and looking gorgeous! If you follow me on Instagram, you saw my live post during the process of  installing it.

MY TOP TIPS FOR INSTALLING WALLPAPER YOURSELF

Gratefully, it wasn’t too traumatic in the end! The key was to paste the paper and “book” it {fold it over itself and let it rest for 2-5 minutes so it could absorb the wallpaper paste} and to paste the wall before hanging it. Every wallpaper will have its own set of instructions, so be sure to start there as they will tell you the right kind of paste and process to use for that particular paper. My other tips?

1. Have the right tools, namely:

  • a smoothing brush {we used a foam one so as not to lift the thousands of little vertical strips of paper that make up this gorgeous Ikat, but you can get a coarse bristle brush if your paper is less delicate}
  • an edger {see what Graham is holding in the photo above?} – use this as your ruler for cutting your edges
  • a utility knife with a ton of blade refills
  • and a soft wet cloth ready to wipe up any excess paste along the edges

2. Make sure you have a fresh blade for trimming for every length of paper you hang. This is critical!

3. Work top down and make sure you have all the air bubbles out before you trim.

4. Be patient and work as a team. This is definitely a two person job unless you are a pro.

The texture and sophistication of this Thibaut Ikat really are changing the room already. So worth the effort!! I must admit that I love this stage in a project: the messy middle where the dust has far from settled, but things have started to take shape. It’s that blur between initial vision and reality merging together. So fun!

THE FIREPLACE

Other things starting to come into focus? The beautiful Metrie mouldings were delivered to my furniture maker last week and the surround portion of the new fireplace surround and mantel is done!

Superstar that he is, my furniture maker came and dry fitted the back board of MDF to our existing cabinets and then built the surround on top of that. I really think the new fireplace design is going to add major sophistication to this room, and I’m super excited to see it installed. Today is spraying day on that front, so we are getting close!
THE FURNISHINGS
Other exciting progress? I painted up the legs of our little bench for in front of the fireplace. The process was basically sand, prime with Para 777 Superstick, then paint with two coats of high gloss Para trim paint in a rich black called Walkin In The Rain.

This sweet little number is now in the capable hands of Staci at Switch Studio who will be replacing all of the foam and then upholstering it in this gorgeous ombré chevron from Cassaro:

Don’t worry, she will actually centre the fabric – I just draped it over the bench quickly here to get a sneak peek preview, and all I can say is hello lovah! So excited to see her all done up and ready for her debut!

But for now, it’s time to tackle what’s next.

THE TO-DO LIST

This week I have a ton to get done, namely:

1. Touch up paint on the sides of the built-ins before the fireplace is installed.

2. Pick up tile for fireplace surround and get it installed.

3. Pick up the faux bamboo chairs, get the seats templated for new cushions being made and then paint them.

4. Create the custom pin board for the back wall of my desk area.

5. Finalize art and framing along with a special little DIY on that front.

6. About a thousand other client-related projects that are on the go.

I’m pretty sure this week is going to blur by yet again, and gratefully that is in part because we are taking Sunday and Monday off for a quick belated anniversary celebration. The timing might seem nuts, but I think crow-barring in a break in the midst of all the madness is just what the doctor ordered.

Be sure to check out what all of the other superstar design daredevils have been cooking up in their spaces. There are some serious over-achievers on this list and I can’t wait for reveal day!

Apartment 34 | Arianna Belle | Because It’s Awesome | Coco+Kelley | Christine Dovey | Design Darling | Design Indulgence | Design Manifest | The English Room | Vanessa Francis | Hi Sugarplum | Honey We’re Home | Jojotastic | The Pink Clutch | The Pink Pagoda | Simplified Bee | Style Your Senses | A Thoughtful Place | Kimberly Whitman | The Zhush | Guest Participants

Until next week!

xx
s.