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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Here's what we've been doing


Do you know what this is a picture of? If you guessed wallpaper, you are right! We are doing some work in our kitchen and dining area, and we started by taking down the paper. I loved it when I put it up about 17 years ago, but it's time has passed. No more flowers! It was pretty resistant to coming down though. It came off in shreds, first the top layer, then the paper underneath. We were happy it was only on the bottom half of the walls! Bob was helping and told me if I ever put up wallpaper again, it could be grounds for divorce! So the paper is down, there are color swatches painted on the wall to help us decide what color, but we have quite a bit to go before we are ready to put that paint on the wall. Don't hold your breath waiting, but I'll be sure to post more pictures as we go along!


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29 comments:

Shelly said...

Isn't wallpaper removal a blast? NOT!!! Every house I have been in I have taken down wallpaper. I love my steamer. I have the bathroom here to do yet and that is it. Have fun picking a color.

Unknown said...

Oh my husband and I tried wallpaper one time together. Never gain lol. I look forward to seeing the pictures. Have a great weekend. Lisa

Justabeachkat said...

Oh gosh...that brings back nightmares! Never again will I use wallpaper!!!!!

Can't wait to see the finished project. I hope you took "before" pictures and then will take "after" pictures.

Hugs!
Kat

Anonymous said...

If your still working on getting the last of the paper off the walls, a capful of downy dissolved in a gallon of hot water works wonders. You just spray it on the wall and use a putty knife to slide the rest off. You do need to wash the wall down afterward but you have to do that anyway before you can paint. Brandon and I have always said that we intend to rid the world of wallpaper one house at a time. Have fun!
DMS

Cherdecor said...

I think that spring fever has hit Allentown! I love new projects in the spring! Some people like the smell of flowers in the spring, I like the smell of paint.

Have fun picking out paint colors. That can be tricky! Color can look one way at night, and another shade during the day. Good luck on your choices.

Jean said...

Oh fun, fun, fun! I have tons of experience with wallpaper removal and prepping walls for paint. Like Cheryl, I love the smell of new paint. "Grounds for divorce" - that's pretty funny. I've heard that wallpapering a room together is the true test of a marriage!

A Stone Gatherer said...

Wallpaper, yucky! I have been trying to eliminate it from our house for awhile now! The last was in the kitchen and dining room! Just like yours it came off in shreds! I am so glad it's done!

Anonymous said...

Every room in my house except my livingroom had wallpaper. We took the kitchen paper down afew years ago and had the same issues as you. One half of my kitchen has a neutral paper and that's STILL up. We keep talking about taking it down, but it's such a horrid job.

Ha, I was thinking you were making a lovely gift or something. The picture is kinda pretty. I was way off...

Ally said...

Can´t wait to see the before and after photos. Sounds like it was a big mess to get off... hopefully the end results will make it all worthwhile!

Lynn said...

My first thought was....she's working on favors for a birthday party or wedding or something. lol

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Pat said...

Oh what at big job! I just took the wallpaper border off of my Mom's kitchen - that was enough for me, but it's so satisfying once its all completed.
I've got the bug to redecorate and re-paint, my house is due, but so far, it's only an idea in my head! I'd love to hire a crew to come in and do all the work for me! I'll keep dreaming!!

Megan Cobb said...

Jeanne at At A Hen's Pace has been stripping wallpaper from her kitchen this week, too! Y'all could commiserate. It's a huge job - I've only done it once myself but it has guaranteed that I'll never put wallpaper anywhere in any home I ever live in again. It was awful! Good luck with the painting - I'm still a bit raw from my last painting experience - I hope you get exactly what you want the first time! Hugs - M

Earen said...

Oh, have a great time! Ha! I look forward to seeing the end result!!

Krista said...

Thank goodness I've never had to do that. We have a home project scheduled for this Saturday. I had all kinds of things planned, but hubby decided it was time to check something off his honeydo list. So, we'll be turning part of a downstairs laundry room into a closet just for me!! Yippee! I'm extremely excited.

Amy said...

Best of luck getting the paper off! When we bought our house (almost 11 years ago) there were 6 layers of wall paper in each room. Just when we thought we were down to the wall, there would be another layer! It wasn't fun!

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Mari,

Your hatred of wallpaper is probably only second to my hatred for carpet. Our carpet not only is disgusting, well it's really disgusting! I can't wait to get it out of our house completely.

We only have a few more rooms with it left. Praise God!

Don't work too hard. I am sure the paint will look beautiful. I always say, "Paint covers a multitude of sins."

Blessings, Joanne

Rmomof3 said...

We have yet to put up wallpaper in any room! I will be excited to see what you pick!
Sweet blessings for a precious day!
Renee

Shelly said...

Tom, could not even wake me up. I usually don't sleep that hard. Glad you have never had that happen to ya.

Anonymous said...

Oh Mari, we just updated our 18 year old kitchen also. ripping off wallpaper, new paint, wood floors, new counter tops, new back splash tiles. I just need all new appliances someday:) trust me the hard work is so worth it.I will never wallpaper again!! Have Fun:)

nancygrayce said...

10 years ago we took wallpaper off of our living room walls. I vowed a solem vow never to let wallpaper into my home. After you finally get it off, you practically have to replace the walls!

LeslieW. said...

They make wallpaper primer for the wall. Then it comes off much easier. Good luck on your project.

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Rebekah said...

17 years. sounds like it served its time well.

I had to remove "5!" sheets of wallpaper from one room once. I swore I would never wallpaper. EVER! Paint is much easier to "paint over" when I am tired of it. I like to stencil and sponge paint.

Good luck with your decor

jennwa said...

Tearing wallpaper down is no fun. I hope it goes by quickly for you. I hope you show us pictures of the before and after.

Cheri said...

Yup, the last paper I took down I said I'd never put wallpaper back up ever again!

Unknown said...

Wow so many wallpaper haters,,, I only have one border in my kitchen as you well know, but do not plan to ever paper anything again!!!
Glad you feel better.

Myra said...

You said you couldn't get to my photo blog.

Go to

http://myra.lifewithChrist.org

If you comment on a picture, that page will allow you to either subscribe to my devotions or you can put your email address in the form provided and they will be emailed to you automatically.
Have a great week! ---Myra

Saija said...

just catching up on your life! you've been a busy girl ... :)

and i love the slow cooker you got! really versatile ...

blessings on ya ...

Karen said...

I have had to take down wallpaper in ever room of my hose that was not wood grain panneling, AHH!!!!! Oh I hate it and only to be asked by my mother will you help me take down it at my house? Good luck!