As you learned in my previous post, I am not very good at painting walls. There seems to be a clear disconnect between me and my vision… But I have found another home improvement hobby that I am really hooked on — putting up wallpaper. And without any help, I am proud to report.

Ever since my dear friend Ingrid came to my home and helped me put up this classic Hick’s Hexagon beauty in my foyer I felt that there was something very therapeutic about it.

It takes time, concentration and quiet. I like that. I get totally lost in the process and forget everything around me and thoughts that I may have been pre-occopied with. It is just me and the wall and a lovely pattern. It feels good!

Now, with a busy household of kids and animals running all over — I turn to my wallpaper projects after the kids are in bed and I work until the wee hours. I go to bed exhausted at times but always (so far) content and with a smile!

I am working on 2 small projects right now — and I am going to take my sweet time. No stress here. I want it to be perfect and that is also liberating. Otherwise I tend to want to have things done quickly.

I have bought my first anything with flowers on, I think. I am not a girlie girl. But I really wanted some flowers this time and this is what I came up with. I chose this pattern with a specific antique piece in mind. (The wall is actually already done and you will see it soon!).

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen designed the wallpaper for Graham and Brown. It is called Shantung (in chocolate brown).

The second wallpaper I could not find in the US so I hopped over to Bodie and Fou in London and purchased this vintage bookshelf wallpaper which is going to be an accent wall in a room I have never shown you before. Pretty cool, don’t you think? (No, this is not instead of books, folks – my home will always be filled with lots of good, real books. They can never be replaced).

I recently came across this FANTASTIC metallic grass cloth wallpaper from Crezana Design. Out of this world stunning. Can I find room for it at my house? I feel it has my name on it. How many different wallpapers can a home take?

There you have it  – my new way of filling my head with good thoughts and erasing any daily tension and stress — wallpapers and wallpapering!

Happy new week to you all.

Images: no. 1 via Flickr, no. 2 via AVL Furnishings.

Williams’ room is coming together, just at a snail’s pace, I must say. My husband has been very busy lately so the house handyman has mostly vanished. So I’ve been relying mostly on Moi and even if I know what I want I am far from the most skilled DIY’er.

It was pretty clear to me, before I even started this project, that I wanted a large chalkboard wall for Prince William’s new room. But I wasn’t so sure I wanted a large black wall. He is only three and I want him to have a happy vibe in his room.

Then I saw Reese’s (my happy and sweet blogfriend in Italy! Thank you for the inspiration girl!) red wall and decided that’s what I wanted. A red chalkboard wall.

Easy right? I am sure for everyone else — except me.

I went to Home Depot and got this chalkboard paint that comes in 12 different colors (who knew?) and they mixed it for me. My dear friend Katrine and I measured and masked properly (with Green frog tape wich does not let paint bleed through) and then it was time to paint away.

Everything went wrong. Wrong color (too purple), wrong texture and clearly wrong application. And the more I worked on it — the uglier it got. I got so frusterated I almost called a professional painter. (People, I can’t even paint a few square meters. I am such a loser!).

Fortunately hubby came to the rescue. With a new red color and a different flat sponge brush he got it all even and nice. He was singing away while I stained moldings that I also had also bought at Home depot. (I stained them gray. I felt that white was to common). The Mr. got to cut them nicely and install them.

Now, don’t laugh. You might think this is a hidious looking wall. But we like it. It gives the room some color and it is practical. William practices his spelling all the time and invites his friends to play along.

The room is not done yet (nor styled), but here you at least see the wall in its full glory (and a little bit of the new blue ceiling). Note: the camera is making the walls more pink than they are!

Now I am on the hunt for a great sconce above the frame. I am really liking the Boston Library lamps. Both classic and current. A little pricey perhaps but I don’t mind splurging on quality lamps (and quality shoes!).

Next time I show this room — it will be done. I promise!

Thank you for all your e-mails and comments about my new 2 cents series. I really like this series and I am putting together a list of topics I want to learn more about (thank you for your suggestions) & I will be knocking on blog friends’ doors. Let’s hear the best from the best!

Warm hugs to all of my readers.

Images: no. 2 via Thomascbyrd, no. 3 via Rambles with Reese

If I could, I would have blog friends over for dinner all the time. There is so much talent to tap into and by nature I’m a very curious person. I love to learn.

 Today, I am starting a brand new series, I’ve named:

“Two cents” on topics I personally want to learn more about.

 This is as close to a dinner conversation as it gets with virtual friends.

I am kicking off the series with these four wonderful, kind, smart and incredibly design savvy blog friends. I seriously want to live inside their heads.

Today they are sharing 2 cents on ONE design trend which they have really taken to heart.

ENJOY!

P.S Can I tell you just how thrilled I am to start building an extensive portfolio on my blog with personal thoughts by really great & talented people! The button for this series will permanently be listed in the right hand column of my blog.

My 2 cents on a design trend I seriously heart; the perfect pairing of old and new, modern and vintage, sleek and rough … I can’t get enough of this beautiful layered look. It combines a good dose history with a touch of modernity. These rooms give us the feel that pieces have been added and altered over a long period of time, rather than selected from the same store and plopped into place all in one afternoon! I adore the tension between old herringbone floors and a clean-lined sofa, or the sparkle and shine of a crystal chandelier juxtaposed against a lovely raw wood table. This look is very fitting with the ‘Rustic Glam’ trend that has really taken off this year, and I have been itching to attempt a little bit of this striking contrast in my own home!

You will find the talented Nancy over at Marcus Design.

Just the word alone elicits feelings of grandeur and glamour. Say it quietly to yourself….gold. An instant feeling of warmth surely transcends. From the very beginnings of history, gold has signified wealth and prestige. Molded into opulent jewelry and made into furnishings fit for royalty, gold has always elicited great reverence.

It is this historical root that makes gold such a delicious trend. Timeless and safe from faddish whims, gold enjoys a stable desirability that makes it a perfect choice.

You will find the talented Julie over at Belle Vivir.

Thank you so much friends for sharing your personal design thoughts with us! I’m really looking forward to building a great archive on many topics from around the blog world. Perhaps enough so I won’t have to stress about going to all the magazines to keep current (ha!). 

All of my blog friends will be involved — sooner or later. They are sitting on a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

Warm hugs to you all.

Image credits: No. 1 (2 cents button) via Splendid Willow. Images via Bijou and Boheme: {via Elle Decor, Left in the Dirt, Pinterest, From Me-To You, Everything Fab, This is Glamorous,  World Gallery, Erin Ever After, The Die Line, Lonny, We Heart It, Design Crisis, Desire to Inspire}. Images via Belle Vivir: (no. 1 via Hamish Bowel’s house , no. 2 via  Michael Bruno’s house).