Laowai

I’ve finally finished our bedroom painting project. No more nightmares from this strange lady peering at us you from all around the room. I did want to preserve the interesting wallpaper so I had a bit of it framed. I researched the wallpaper company and found it was a popular company in the 50s and 60s and it was from a time when it was very popular to use matching wallpaper and fabric. Yup, that describes our whole house – lots of matching wallpaper and fabric. 

Here’s how our bedroom looked when we bought the house – I sort of wanted that matching bedspread… not really.

Here’s a more recent before photo:

And here it it today. What a change!

I put up new bedside lamps. And got out that sweet old white coverlet that my Mom-in-Law gave me ages ago.

I’m having so much fun with our house. I’m discovering my decorating style and I just love featuring my favorite items. I think I am pretty sentimental with my decor and I like to have lots of empty space to rest your eyes.

Painting in this old house is such a task – first the messy wallpaper removal and wiping down the walls to get the glue off then so much patching and sanding. The dust made such a mess! The kind of mess that I looked at and didn’t really know how to get started cleaning up. The walls are not perfect – I could go on patching and sanding for weeks and weeks and it still would not be perfect. But eventually I just have to move on and get it good enough. I didn’t paint the ceiling – it just made the project too big for right now. But it’s a huge improvement and I’m pleased.

When I was researching the wallpaper I read some quotes from the designer Billy Baldwin. He said, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is every out of style”.

I love, love, love those hand-me-down dressers. And that chair – I just claimed it from my Mom-in-Law’s basement. I love it too. I still need to hang those pictures from our honeymoon and put up our curtains.

Next up – I want to paint my closet. I want to paint it in a fun color and do some faux details on my cupboard doors. I want it to be a little jewel room that you get a glimpse into from the bedroom. I’d like to find some art or a photo to go above our bed but I’m in no hurry. Also, I’m sort of inspired to make a new quilt now that I have a white background and maybe new curtains…