Trying to entertain myself between meetings on a rainy day last week, I popped into the Container Store. After feeling overwhelmed by all the things I could be organizing in my life, but am not, I picked up some cardboard magazine holders and pencil cups as a first step into tidy storage. Of course, I covered them with wallpaper scraps... because I might have some kind of wallpaper addiction problem. It is so easy though! Just apply the wallpaper with spray adhesive and use a craft knife to cut around the edges. I'm heading back for more next week. See you there!

I was so excited to put up this Vertigo Wallpaper by Ferm Living that I forgot to take pictures of the process.  Luckily, it was pretty easy! You can follow the basic steps here. The only thing that was tricky was figuring out where to start the stripe. I decided to include the wood trim in the measurement as part of the white stripe to make that stripe the same width as the others. 

In other news, I got a new camera! So, I promise to figure out how to use it and to provide more helpful tips and photos for my next project... Thinking shelves. Hope your 2012 is off to a great start!

I know, I know, another non-wallpaper project. However, it is wallpaper related, in that I used Tres Tintas fabric, so there you have it! 

This is my kitchen window. It used to have some real ugly blinds that I took down pretty much immediately. Not wanting to look in at my neighbors, I needed a quick solution. Introducing sew it yourself Roman shades...

Here's about the 5th step, after I realized I forgot to take pictures of the first 4 steps. That is also when I realized it would be much better to recommend to you these AMAZING directions for how to make Roman shades rather than providing my own half-baked ones... 

Okay, so mine sort of balloon down in the middle. But, maybe that was the look I was going for?  Who's to say? :)

This month's wallpaper project isn't actually about wallpaper. I know. I also realize it barely falls within the defintion of a project because it is so easy. But... the thing is that I really love my new pillow made with Erica Wakerly's Mini Teepee fabric (also available in Teepee wallpaper...) so I thought I'd share anyway. 

First, I measured the pillow I'd made previously out of an old scarf so that the new one could be the same size - 20" X 20".

Then I measured and cut the Teepee fabric to be 21" X 21" to leave a half inch for sewing around the sides...

Next, I pinned the right sides facing together. The shoe pin cushion isn't necessary, just awesomely bad.

Yep, then I sewe it up. Sooooo simple. I suppose you could add some kind of piping or a zipper, but that would require both the motivation and skills I don't have :)

I left part of one side open so I could stuff the insert in. Here's is where I'm about to sew that up by hand. Some of you might notice what could look like a prescription pills bottle, but I promise is it just diet Root Beer which I really enjoy.

Voila!

After much contemplation and indecision, I decided to put up Erica Wakerly's Pinstripes in Cream/Gold to my entry way.  They feel so classic, yet the metallic adds a touch of contemporary.  A perfect introduction to my little apt, I think!

Here's the snoozer before.

Step 1. Prep walls. Just filled in a few misplaced nail holes and sanded them down along with a few bumps.

Step 2. Measure the paper. 21.5 inches...

Step 4. Subtract an inch for trim and mark where to align the edge of the first strip.

Step 5. Use a level to draw a straight line where the mark was above so that the paper will hang straight.  This is super important with such a linear pattern!

Step 6. Apply paste. I was too lazy to run to the hardware store when I realized I didn't have a roller paint brush cover.  But, learn from my mistakes...don't use a sponge :)  Definitely better and faster to use a roller brush to apply a thin layer of paste.

Steps 7. Start wallpapering. Step 8. When you hit a light or electrical cover, carefully cut from the middle of it out to the sides.

Step 8.5. After cutting over it, I flattened out the paper around it and then used a straight edge to cut of the paper that remained.

Step 9. Keep going!

Getting closer...

Done. And getting ready to head out for nourishment and sunshine!

Our upstairs built in linen cabinet is really functional and original to the house, but it was a little lacking in the "wow" department. Nothing that some Lush wallpaper can't fix!

Our puppy Margot helping me show you the somewhat boring "before." Plus, all our towels and toiletries were on display through the frosted glass which was less than ideal.

Here's what you'll need - some fabulous wallpaper, a cutting mat (not necessary, but a good idea), an x-acto knife, and some double stick tape.

Start by measuring your cabinet and cut panels of wallpaper to fit - I made mine an inch wider and taller so that I could trim it to fit exactly. Depending on what kind of repeat you have, you may have to account for it. Make sure to cut the paper panels so the repeat will match up properly.

When your panels are cut, apply the double stick tape to the border of the area that you'll be filling with the wallpaper. You could also use spray adhesive if you wanted something more permanent.

Before trimming. Take your metal ruler and push it right up to the edge of the trim so you can make a nice clean cut. I don't have any photos of this part of the process because I only have 2 hands, but my most important tip would be to take your time with this. I can't tell you how many times I've rushed and taken too much wallpaper off...

And the finished project! All in all it took about 45 minutes - not a lot of time for a lot of impact. Now that the cabinets look so great, I'm inspired to get around to finally painting the walls the same nice light gray we have downstairs (Christiana recommend Balboa Mist and as always, she was on the money)...

One of my favorite makelike wallpapers is Pointy, maybe because it reminds of New Mexico or maybe just because it is unique and so pretty!  To add a little Pointy pattern into my small apartment, I decided to frame a section.  So, I picked which part of the repeat I wanted framing and cut it a bit longer than the frame.

Then I picked up a small sheet of foam core and traced the frame's opening with a pencil to get it to fit in just right.

Cut the foam core with a craft knife following the pencil lines.

Using my favorite spray adhesive by 3M (it works really well!), I sprayed the foam core with a hearty amount and let is sit for a couple minutes.

Next, I pressed out the section of wallpaper on to the pasted foam core sheet.  Using a wallpaper squeegie, I then pushed out any air bubbles.

Insert the wallpaper foam core into the back of the frame.  It pretty much stuck in and stayed firmly, but you could always use tape or little staples for extra hold.

Last step was finding a wall to hang it on!  We have extra yardage of the pointy for sale.  If you're interested in purchasing a remnant yardage, just email us at info@hyggeandwest.com.

One of my favorite wallpapers at Hygge Cooperative is Daks by Tres Tintas. There's something about the bright, colorful flowers against the black backdrop that I just love. It feels feminine but with a bit of edge. An empty corner in my bedroom was screaming out for some pattern, so I thought I'd put together a wallpapered screen and silence the poor blank space once and for all.

Because I don't have a car, the hardest part of this project was getting to the hardware store. When I did get there, I asked them to precut three pieces of particle board. I went for six feet tall and made the width just a touch less wide than the roll, so 20.8 inches, to allow for any irregularity yet still make it easy to match the pattern. I then primed the front of the boards using some extra black paint I had so that the wallpaper would adhere better to the wood. I used six hinges to join them all together; three hinges per joint, five inches from the top and bottom and one in the middle. Pretty easy.

Using a small roller brush, I applied a thin layer of paste directly to the board. Super easy.

Then I cut the first strip of wallpaper allowing an inch of trim at the top and bottom.  I smoothed out the wallpaper using a wallpaper tool that I don't actually know the technical name of.  Scraper? Squeegie?  As I was doing this, I realized that if you were a perfectionist, you'd likely be inclined to apply a layer of wallpaper liner on the wood first to eliminate any minor bumps on the surface. I'm not a perfectionist and it worked out just fine without though. Onward.  Easiness dependent on whether you are a perfectionist :)

Next, I just used a wet sponge to wipe off any of the excess paste that managed to get on the wallpaper. Probably, don't use the same sponge you use in your kitchen. That's my safety tip.

Repeat two more times being sure to match up the pattern and enjoy the daisies. To motivate you to get started, we're offering free Daks samples through the end of July - just email me with your mailing address and we'll send one over to you!