Before and After Collage Wallpaper

 
Kitchen stairwell before

This is one of our kitchen walls before I went on a crazy wallpapering frenzy. One door leads to a small pantry, the other is a cupboard. The holes are for wine bottles, and the two black iron doors are old wood burning oven doors that the previous owner built as cupboards as well. You cannot really see in this photo, but there are two iron doors per cupboard and the open.

 

Kitchen stairwell 2

The walls are a greyish white. The stairwell is open as you can see, and there is a painted stone lion on one of the steps.

 

Wallpaper collage

The doors I repainted, the difference is bearly noticable in the photo. The shade is one step darker. More taupe than grey.

 

Collage wallpaper stair well

 

 

I am not sure that I like the after look better than the before. But it is interesting to look at. I am thinking to paint the desk. And certainly will move the clock. Doesn't it drive you bonkers when someone moves the clock?

 

    Kitchen corey amaro stairwell

 

Yesterday, Sophie came by (our friend who is going to house sit our home while we are gone) she went upstairs to put some of her things away. When she came down she had Stinky Cat in her arms. I nearly threw the paintbrush at her. Instead I sighed,"Where did you find that cat!!! That is the cat the peed all over our house, and fell down the chimney the last time we were gone."

"Oh, it was purring outside the bedroom window, just sitting on the ledge purring, welcoming me. I opened the window and he came right to me." she smiled, carressing the Stinky Cat, "We are going to be good, good friends, I can tell! Isn't he so cute? You never told me that you had a cat?"

Lord help me. The Stinky Cat has now befriended Sophie.

Note:

Stinky Cat is my affectionate name for it. I got the name from my eleven year old niece Marie.

 

 

 



Comments

46 responses to “Before and After Collage Wallpaper”

  1. Dear Corey, (I am writing to you somewhere else too, thank you for your reply!)
    Thank you for sharing your home with us. I cant imagine going up those stairs without a rail! Your collage is great but I wonder if unifying it more with a light while wash (you could mix it with a sealant) would help. As I think its largely a tonal issue you’re responding to. (or perhaps it is too busy on that wall ?) I am only saying this because I too am interested in this sort of technique (only on canvas) and have tried a few ways out. Looking back, I think it works in the toilet as the pieces are larger and the tonal range narrower, if you know what I mean.
    Keep experimenting, your home is your canvas!
    lots of love
    Kdbell

  2. “Your home is your canvas” – Katiebell is right!
    The wall before gave an airy feel to the room, reinforced by the open staircase. I find it impossible to judge the impact of the dΓ©coupage on the room as whole, it certainly looks very interesting.

  3. Hi Corey,
    I like it but maybe it would look softer if you removed the paper that was applied to above the stairway trim edge. With all of the up and down motion removed it might be less busy.
    This seems to be the time of year that I experiment at my home too, when the winter dole-drums take over !

  4. Perhaps Sophie will tame Stinky Cat’s wild ways, a man needs a good woman. I love the wall, the color is soothing and it adds interest. Who is the child in the collage, Sacha?

  5. Maybe Stinky Cat has learned from being banished to the outdoors. I have a kitty I named Fat Kitty because she was obese when she came to us. She is now thin and sleek, yet I still call her Fat Kitty. She doesn’t mind.

  6. Hi Corey,
    I kind of like it, but it’s maybe little bit too busy. I’m not sure if it’s all the furniture in front or the painted doors. It would be interesting to see a photo, with without or with less stuff in front, be it just the clock or all.
    Take Care,
    Maria (once in Sanary now near Paris)

  7. You didn’t ask but I see you have had opinions on your new wall. I’m not sure. A little busy for me. I did like the shapes and openness of the wall before. Where do you put your wine bottles now?
    As for Stinky Cat, maybe with Sophie there you won’t have to worry about him peeing all over your house again:)

  8. I love it. And I love the color of the natural wood of the desk with your collage wallpapering. I even like the reflective clock where it is. You did a beautiful job.

  9. I do love the wall. It’s really a focal point. Not sure I’d be painting the desk though. I have a bathroom.. now to gather materials!

  10. C, I love it! I am sure it complements what you did in the bathroom. Love the grey paint on the doors too! The only thing I think you need to do is remove what you put on the riser. Take your straight edge an go straight down were the riser begins and you will have a perfect edge. Hopefully, that paper will come off and you will not have to repaint the riser. With just paint on the riser, the wall wall will have a sort of framed look and I am sure you will love it!
    Don’t change anything else . . it looks just perfect!

  11. Interesting wall now…before…not so πŸ™‚
    Don’t paint the desk! It is lovely just as is. Now that clock; well, perhaps it can be moved πŸ˜‰

  12. Cory ~ Don’t be too hasty to change what you’ve done. You’ve made a fairly drastic change and sometimes you just need to sit with it for a few days before making a decision. Give your eye a chance to adjust to the change. Personally, I like it a lot. I agree maybe a light wash to unify everything is in order. Also, I’d probably change out the clock for something less modern.
    Great job!

  13. I forgot to add that your wall is unique, a one-of-a kind converation wall (ha) since you put all those papers on it. No, seriously, it’s fabulous!

  14. RebeccaNYC

    I would sit with it for a while before changing anything, especially before you paint that beautiful desk…such a huge job, and difficult to do perfectly!
    Too bad about Stinky cat…when you get home he will have claimed everything as his own! I had a cat named Stinky cat.. a beautiful pure black kitten with an evil streak. He was busing marking all of the territory in our very large victorian home. One day he marked the central air conditioner, and efficiently marked the whole house! When my husband found out what he had done, he said “oh you stinky cat!”. The name stuck. We made an appointment with the vet pdq to get poor Stinky neutered so his marking days would end.

  15. Nancy from Mass

    I would NOT paint that desk! I think it adds interest and besides, old things should stay natural color.
    This is just my opinion, of course!

  16. I think it would be too busy for me to live with day after day, but we are all different and isn’t that wonderful!? I think some of the suggestions here in the comments would make it more livable for me: maybe the light wash of paint that one suggested to unify the look and I think the suggestion that a couple of people have made about trimming out at the stair steps would constrain the work you’ve done and serve as the frame that they’ve suggested. Congratulations on following through from inspiration to making it happen!
    About Stinky cat…I hope Sophie can be the mediator that brings harmony between Stinky cat and your home.
    (BTW–I’m loving reading Chelsea’s posts at her blog. It’s wonderful seeing that area of the world through her eyes. Thank you for sharing the link with us a few days ago.)

  17. I can’t count the number of times I’ve expressed a similar sentiment — wondering whether a room ‘after’ is better than ‘before.’
    But I never mind a little fine-tuning, or even a lot, even when it causes me to totally reverse my steps back to ground zero. It’s all progress in answering the question, “What would this room be like if I did this… or that?”
    My big wish is to be as bold with change in everyday life as I am in my decorating. But Corey — your words have reminded me today of the adage (lately forgotten) I endeavor to live by: “It’s no better to be safe than sorry.”
    Thank you for helping me to remember.

  18. Oh dear am I having a good laugh about the cat! That cat wants to be with you Corey. Perhaps Sophie will become so attached while you’re gone, she’ll take it home with her πŸ™‚
    I agree about the riser comments. Otherwise, fantastic!

  19. Love the cat story, I think he wants to make your home his own Corey! Much as I love collage, I too think it’s a little busy and I have to admit I loved the old wall before, with those old iron oven doors. I think I would’ve coated the wall with a rough plaster and added some antique copper pans with iron handles and perhaps an old black and white photo or two. I would’ve white-washed the rough plaster in an off-white or grey-white too. Just an idea πŸ™‚

  20. I love the collage wall!! the warm dresser is perfect. I agree with Kdbell…..the barest wash of the gray over the collage would work to unify the tones. Keep up the creative work….just terrific!
    missy from the bayou

  21. I love it! The piece of furniture in front of the stairway collage looks beautiful as well. That is just the right amount of collage for the room. I’m taking my grandmother’s bound music books to work today. Hopefully no one will notice me using the office copier on break!

  22. Hi Corey ~
    How could possibly leave without the kitty who is obviously attached to you? He/she could travel with you…
    Isn’t it nice we only need decorate for ourselves.

  23. Rebecca, I too wonder whether Stinky Cat’s behavioral problems could largely be solved just by having him neutered.
    In fact, we long ago even had am obnoxious neighbor’s sweet friendly tom-cat (who’d more or less adopted us) neutered, but never told the neighbor (who probably just thought the cat had simply outgrown the habit with maturity — LOL!). Only catch is that you have to tell the vet that the cat is your own, else they won’t perform the surgery, but I figured that since WE were paying for it, the canceled checks made the cat OURS!

  24. Did anyone else immediately think of Phoebe Buffay’s song “Smelly Cat” from “Friends” while reading this?

  25. elizabeth kirkpatrick

    WOW, you GO GIRL!LOOKS GREAT!

  26. robin williams

    Corey, you have such a style about you and great panache. My son and his soon-to-be bride would love what you are doing. When they marry, they will travel to France and might stop by to see the finished project (and the bathroom)! They both have keen eyes for great design and style. Please send more pics.

  27. Yes, paint the desk! I think then the wallpapering will flow more with your look. How ambitious you are.
    I have “outside cats” in the neighborhood who love to come by and stare in the windows at my inside cats. Then running from window to window ensues, as does hissing and puffing up and general bad-ass-ness on both sides of the glass.
    I let an “outside cat” inside once, a silky black little stray kitten who showed up on a very cold Halloween day. And he stayed. And I love him. Be careful – you may have an inside cat after all!

  28. It looks wonderful! You are brave….me…not so much…I am terrified of even hanging something on the wall thinking it might not look good so…..most my walls are bare! I really need to get over it and put something on the wall.

  29. I with the don’t paint the desk camp. It looks lovely, warm just right old wood. I like the collage. I think its brave of you. I’d probably make a mess of it. Where do you find the time???

  30. It looks great, but hard to tell on its whole effect from just seeing it up close. I do so love the desk, as is, but I understand the thought you may have of tweaking the perspective with either a neutral tone with the desk or a color to blend a bit more. But hey, I am no designer, I still have college hodge podge furniture throughout the house. oh, well, some day I will step out and be brave like you….to such good ends too, I hope.

  31. Lieselotte

    Hello,Corey, do you want me to come around with our dog for a couple days ? She LOVES cats !

  32. Sophie, Monsieur Stinky Cat and the Bad Neighbors. A Dinner Party

  33. The wall looks amazing! What a transformation, Corey! Guess what I spy? The pretty dolls – spice bottles!!!
    The naughty cat… maybe Sophie will adopt him and take him away πŸ˜‰

  34. Your collaged wall is to die for! It is wonderful. Stinky cat is also sneaky cat with his charming ways.

  35. I can just imagine the smurk on Stinky Cat`s face as Sophie held him in her arms !
    maria

  36. Tres Chic and it reminds me of Hildi of Trading Spaces. She would love it. I do, too.
    On stinky cat, uh, not in your life, if that cat sprayed my home, he’d better not come back.

  37. Dear Corey,
    I like to stick to classic looks when decorating. Afterall you live in France. Hee Hee.
    I think you gave it your best shot and if you like it then you are successful.
    If it was my wall to decorate I would not put the desk there or large clock because it looks cluttered. I would paint the doors a spring color (apple green) and paint the walls very white. Instead of a desk a large mirror may look good.
    Let the doors be the art. No grey. I think the collaging in the toliet room is a better place for it.
    Hey maybe you should do the collaging on the floor in the toliet room!
    It was a good experiment you tried and you had fun doing it…so that is all that matters. Also I am sure you have inspired many decorators…that is a good thing too.
    Enjoy!

  38. Love the open staircase, but I am such a klutz. Would you recommend it?
    : )
    Julie M.

  39. I love kdbell’s idea of a unifying wash. The collage looks great on this wall and the desk anchors it while reducing the busy surface area. No need to repaint it; the wood relates to the paper. Yes, the clock no longer works there. I moved our kitchen clock once. I was public enemy number one for about a week.

  40. Corey; this post gave me a headache…. πŸ™‚ and a smile for Stinky Cat….
    Whatever else you do, pls leave the desk alone; it’s just simply beautiful the way it is.
    I personally love my kitchen as white as possible; I repainted it completely last spring when I installed an new extractor hood with a better duct outside….
    With the original (1920) tiles in grey/blue/dirt (last one courtesy of writer!) it gives this room a peaceful, happy, and very light-filled feeling which I need for my pretty colourful cooking!!!!
    I have a feeling that you would absolutely adore my kitchen; large, very high, with a door to a beautiful veranda (which I dreamed about for the last 25 years!!! – before coming to France and finding that house!), however with quite horrible grey working surfaces (can’t change them, far too expensive)and idem storage…. but with also literally NO WORKING SPACE. Which just shows that there is no such thing like a perfect life or – come to it – perfect kitchen!!!!
    Happy eating though – and may you find other resting places for your eyes. You ARE courageous! Much love from eating Kiki…. (aaargh, eating at the computer – but if not, I couldn’t write to you now!!!!)

  41. addendum: What a GORGEOUS, GLORIOUS photo of stunningly beautiful mum and children…. It looks just like an advertisement for shampoo, teeth whitener and…. no, scrap that…. it just looks like a VERY HAPPY BUNCH OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE! :))))))))))))))

  42. Hi Corey,
    I like the before AND the after but most especially I LOVE that desk. I would hate to see you paint over that beautiful patina but it’s YOUR house and you can do what ever you darn well please πŸ˜‰ Love that open staircase too. I hope your day has been a good one so far…enjoy the rest of your day!
    Maura πŸ™‚

  43. Maybe Stinky Cat won’t pee in your home if you adopt it. I think it wants to move in with you. Laughing! I would be sad to see that desk painted, the wood is so beautiful.

  44. i like the before wall and i wouldn’t paint the desk…

  45. I agree with RebeccaNYC. I would not do anything yet and just see how you feel about it later. I love the architectural lines of your wall, the stairs, iron doors, and pantry door. I think they are not as noticeable with the collage, but I love your sense of design. I usually have to live with something for a while before I am really sure. Keep the pictures coming. I love them!

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