Wallpapers

[Nigel Watts]

Just been doing one of most hated tasks: sorting through my post. This builds up in large heaps in the hall which my wife periodically bundles up, shoves in plastic bags and dumps in my workshop. Since I cant now get to my workbench I had no option but to tackle it. But I digress.

A number of years ago I joined something called the Wallpaper History Society. Every two years or so they produce a journal and in between they arrange various visits, talks etc none of which I have attended, but all of which sound facinating. In my pile I found their 2008 journal and how interesting it is! Such an array of designs and colours - many far more ambitious, vivid and interesting than most papers on the market today.

Failure to update my standing order has probaly resulted in my being struck off, but I intend to contact them to sort this out. They have a website: http://wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk/

 

[ilona73]

Just been doing one of most hated tasks: sorting through my post. This builds up in large heaps in the hall which my wife periodically bundles up, shoves in plastic bags and dumps in my workshop. Since I cant now get to my workbench I had no option but to tackle it. But I digress.

A number of years ago I joined something called the Wallpaper History Society. Every two years or so they produce a journal and in between they arrange various visits, talks etc none of which I have attended, but all of which sound facinating. In my pile I found their 2008 journal and how interesting it is! Such an array of designs and colours - many far more ambitious, vivid and interesting than most papers on the market today.

Failure to update my standing order has probaly resulted in my being struck off, but I intend to contact them to sort this out. They have a website: http://wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk/

I was looking at it yesterday its rather interesting web site isn't it. Lots of valuable information and a heads up on some of the more traditional suppliers of wallpapers....Shame on you for not checking your post lol... good job there wasn't ancient bills in there or you may have had more to worry about lol! :lol: :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

It was better than that. I found an uncashed cheque for nearly £300.

 

[ilona73]

It was better than that. I found an uncashed cheque for nearly £300.

Lol bet you wish you had checked it sooner .. hope its not out of date as genarally banks will normally only accept them within 6 months of the date on the face of it!

Lucky !! :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

It was the discovery of this in my living room that started my interest in old wallpapers:

I thought for a while that I should try to reproduce it, even contemplating carving my own printing blocks and doing it myself, but in the end I went for a different scheme.

I managed to steam quite a bit of this off in one peice, after reinforcing it with japanese tissue and reversible glue, and have kept it. I took pictures to the V&A but they were rather sniffy about it. Rather too plebian for them I think, but they did confirm it was probaby from the 1840s.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I have never done this juxtaposition before (showing off now). Its pretty much all my own work other than the installation of the mantlepieces and the cornice cleaning in one half. The chandelier in the second picture was made for us by a jewelery designer friend. Bookcases are my work.

Before:

After:

 

[philpjuk100]

Great colour scheme,our house was "house doctored" before we bought it and we see evidence behind pipe boxes,skirtings etc of patterned papers and I have the greatest repect for whoever put them up as the walls are far from flat.We looked at an old farmhouse once which was timber framed with a fair bit of timber on the interior walls,the owner had papered between the wood with a bold stripey paper but none of the panels lined up or were level!phil.

 

[ilona73]

It was the discovery of this in my living room that started my interest in old wallpapers:

I thought for a while that I should try to reproduce it, even contemplating carving my own printing blocks and doing it myself, but in the end I went for a different scheme.

I managed to steam quite a bit of this off in one peice, after reinforcing it with japanese tissue and reversible glue, and have kept it. I took pictures to the V&A but they were rather sniffy about it. Rather too plebian for them I think, but they did confirm it was probaby from the 1840s.

Nigel what have you done with the wallpaper you managed to preserved? have you framed it?
I would most definately have framed it in an ostentatious gold frame and hung it on the wall as it is simply stunning!! i wish i had some lovely finds like that.. all i get is polystyrene backed plastic tiles and expandable foam!!
you are really lucky

 

[ilona73]

I have never done this juxtaposition before (showing off now). Its pretty much all my own work other than the installation of the mantlepieces and the cornice cleaning in one half. The chandelier in the second picture was made for us by a jewelery designer friend. Bookcases are my work.

Before:

After:

simply stunning you should be very proud of yourself what an achievement i love the look of your room lived in but very elegant......When can i move in??? :wink:

 

[Nigel Watts]

Thank you for the kind words. Colour coordination is still a little lacking, especially in the carpet department, but my Executive Style Consultant (aka Joce) is providing great advice. Am currently labouring over the matching set of curtains for the other end of the room.

The wallpaper which I steamed off is carefully stored away. It is rather tatty and still has bits of plaster attached to the back, but one day I might clean it up and paste it own onto some backing paper, frame it and hang it in the hall.

I wrote an article on the wallpaper discovery:

http://www.fitzwalter.com/house/wallpaper.htm

 

[Pford75]

Having received various samples for lots of sources, we've pretty much decided on the Chinese Bridges paper. Some of the hand-painted silks were lovely, but far beyond our budget for this room (which still needs furniture etc.)

Will post pics when complete. Also taking advice from the forum and hoping to have Toby Newell come and 'do' the floor, rather than floating something above this one. This leaves me with just two more areas requiring advice from the PPUK sages....

1. What is your view on mixing mahogany & walnut in the same room? We plan a glazed breakfront bookcase against one end (in Walnut) with either a mahogany or cherry server along one side. Both are 'pre-loved' pieces rather than new repros...which means we don't have the luxury of matching them against each other. Are we worrying about nothing?

2. Hearths - If we install a wood-burner in this room, will we be forced to install a raised hearth? The current tiled hearth is flush with the floorboards (and in my opinion looks lovely)...but our chimney sweep mentioned that the regs would require the hearth to be raised. Why is this and is there any way around it?

 

[ilona73]

Having received various samples for lots of sources, we've pretty much decided on the Chinese Bridges paper. Some of the hand-painted silks were lovely, but far beyond our budget for this room (which still needs furniture etc.)

Will post pics when complete. Also taking advice from the forum and hoping to have Toby Newell come and 'do' the floor, rather than floating something above this one. This leaves me with just two more areas requiring advice from the PPUK sages....

1. What is your view on mixing mahogany & walnut in the same room? We plan a glazed breakfront bookcase against one end (in Walnut) with either a mahogany or cherry server along one side. Both are 'pre-loved' pieces rather than new repros...which means we don't have the luxury of matching them against each other. Are we worrying about nothing?

2. Hearths - If we install a wood-burner in this room, will we be forced to install a raised hearth? The current tiled hearth is flush with the floorboards (and in my opinion looks lovely)...but our chimney sweep mentioned that the regs would require the hearth to be raised. Why is this and is there any way around it?

Walnut and mahogany in the same room???
Go for it an eclectic mix of furniture can work well and is always interesting on the eye. I think you are worrying too much after all its your HOME!

The hearth issue i am not too sure on as its been a while since any of my clients have had one fitted... but i am sure someone else will be a fountain of all knowledge on that!

 

[AMc]

2. Hearths - If we install a wood-burner in this room, will we be forced to install a raised hearth? The current tiled hearth is flush with the floorboards (and in my opinion looks lovely)...but our chimney sweep mentioned that the regs would require the hearth to be raised. Why is this and is there any way around it?

I've just relaid a pamment floor in our vinery conversion, adding a wood burner to give supplementary heat and a warm feeling inside (where my bank balance was). I had to raise the hearth by 15mm (IIRC) against the rest of the floor, even though the stove sits on 12"x12" pamments almost 2 inches thick on a 4" solid screed next to 9"x9" 2 inch thick pamments on the same base in front of an exposed brick wall. There is no chance of any of that catching fire.#

The raised hearth is designed to stop morons from laying carpet up to the stove, lighting the fire and burning down their house. This was the explanation the HEATAS installer gave when he specified the dimensions (9" in front to the side and from the wall IIRC). You will need to make sure the hearth is higher and possibly larger if the adjoining floor is flammable.

While I support natural selection, I also love old houses so I suppose protecting idiots from their own stupidity is good for the house.

It might be worth discussing with your installer putting your stove onto a solid base the right height and just larger than the stove - floor bricks etc. then installing any additional height across the hearth with something the right height but fixed in a reversable way. Once the installation is complete and they've informed HEATAS and Building Control you could then revert to the original hearth (of course breaking building regulations at that point)?

FWIW HEATAS and building control do inspect installations. Friend of mine in a modern house had a flat TV style fire installed and was then inspected and forced to add two eyelets on the sides to attach the fireguard to, even though she lives alone with no children or elderly relatives the installation has to meet the regs. in case occupation changes.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thumbs up on the walnut and mahogany combination too - after all, they're both brown aren't they?

Fantastic choices with the bridges and the original floor too.

 

[MdB]

I believe the regs say that there needs to be a barrier to stop people laying carpets too close. It doesn't need to be a raised hearth, other options are possible.

 

[ilona73]

I called my sister who has recently had one fitted (well about 4 months ago now) and had a similar problem i mentioned it to her as it suddenly occurred to me so though i would be nosey!!... they have a victorian detach and didnt want the tiles altering in her dining room apparently what they did was put a decorative wood bead around the inset hearth and left it at that. so far so good !
so could be an alternative i guess .

 

[Pford75]

Have just finished the lining paper and undercoating all the woodwork. Wallpaper is awaiting delivery and will post when it's up on the walls. Have chosen a Romo fabric for the curtains (but will trim the leading edge in a non-silk which looks like a slub silk to avoid fading as the window is south facing).

This pic shows the fabric from the Romo website

I don't mind papering, but I hate painting woodwork with a passion. Have set myself a target of doing the windows and the skirting/picture rail today.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

That's really lovely Pford, I think you will be very pleased when it's finished.
If you are reading this now, then you are not getting on with the skirtings----- :wink: !!

 

[JoceAndChris]

What a lovely fabric, good choice to go for a polysilk as well. I feel your pain with the woodwork - you'll be finished your dining room before my hallway, if it's any consolation, though your room is much bigger!

Do post pics when it's all done!

 

[ilona73]

I too feel your pain with woodwork, when doing the girls room i had to strip the fake wood effect that had been painted over about 15 layers of paint and body hair all stuck to it... urgh what a task that was , i am dreading doing the hall stairs and landing for the very same reason and my bedroom!

I love wallpapering i find it really theraputic. I also hope you put your lining paper horizontally !
Just kidding i know you would anyway,but you would be amazed the amount of people who don't.


The fabric is stunning i love Romo fabrics, the chinese chinoiserie look is very on trend right now its everywhere!
Can't wait too see your pictures when all if complete i am sure it will look stunning!