Friday 8 March 2013

An Executive Decision

As much as I love interiors, faffing about with paint charts, re-arranging furniture and bits and pieces, I am an absolutely, humongous procrastinator when it comes to making actual decorating decisions.

Ideas on colour, pattern and form consume me for ages. Like months - years even.
We've lived in this house for five years and 90% of our walls are the same colour they were when we moved in, perhaps re-coated, but essentially the same.

The practical side of decorating is down to me in this house - unless the boys bedrooms are the project of the moment, then Woody swings into action and progress is remarkably rapid. When it comes to communal areas of our home however, I must do it myself and it has always been thus.
In our dozen years together I have repainted 3 sets of kitchen units and tiles (some twice), 3 bathrooms (+ tiles again) and redecorated at least 8 bedrooms. I finally put my foot down a few months ago and insisted on a brand new, not make-do-and mend, bathroom project. I say project, we just had a new suite fitted for £500 and spent £300 on our first ever set of new tiles.

I was enormously impressed.Woody is still reeling - he thinks everything decor-wise costs less than £100.

Now I'm working full time though and we're back on a more even financial keel (for the time being), the possibility to tackle some decorating is back on the agenda. The awful, awful kitchen I make do with is on the horizon for a bargain Ikea refit later in the year, thank heavens.
 
In the meantime I want to spruce up the sitting room and a feature wall (the chimney breast) has been on my mind. It struck me as relatively thrifty to focus on a single wall and I can use up our stock of play safe, neutral paint for the others.
 (A flea market painting to add to my little collection of watercolours and it might hang on the chimney breast)

But what paper to choose?

Most "feature" wallpapers make my teeth ache if I'm honest. Screamingly loud florals, Gothic prints or graphic designs that I know will not let my eyes relax in the evening.
And then at my hairdresser's last month I noticed the salon door covered in "the paper". Following a little investigation I learnt it was a William Morris design - Marigold in Artichoke. I am saved.

This sample has been tacked to the wall for a few nights and is perfect. I think its just beautiful and is just the right balance of texture, colour and print for this room.

Thanks to the rather lovely Avenue Interiors in town, two pricey but pretty rolls are on their way to bring a focus to our front room. I even think our existing curtains can probably stay too, so all in all quite a find.

I'm *almost* looking forward to the decorating bit now!

25 comments:

Linda said...

The wallpaper is gorgeous. I usually have to do most of the decorating in this house too, other half never seems to actually get around to it!

sweetbriardreams said...

I'm the same, most of the painting and ideas come from me and he just goes along with it and watches me do it! The paper looks just right, not too garish like some can be and it will also reflect light with it's lighter tones. Chel

Rubyred said...

The wallpaper looks lovely, very pretty with your twinkley lights too! I do all the decorating in our house, and the Hubby just goes along with it, he just likes things to be tidy!
Rachel x

just Gai said...

I'm going to buck the trend. It's my husband who does our painting and decorating. But like you it takes us ages to come to any decisions. I've decided I'd like to redecorate my elder daughter's room for when she returns at Easter. I'll need to get a move on.

PS William Morris designed some marvelous prints, including the one you've chosen.

old cottage industry said...

The paper is lovely and you can't go wrong with a Morris print. It also echoes the block prints of the cards you love so much.

Frances said...

I agree with the prior comment, that you cannot go wrong with a William Morris design. All you have to do is decide which sort of colorway will suit your very own home.

May I tell you a little tale about my own tiny apartment. I've got just about every cranny of this place filled with stuff. Stuff might be furniture, might be art supplies, might be antique china,might be craft supplies, definitely includes totally filled bookshelves.

I lived here for over twenty years before every thinking that the landlord's employed painter and I might be able to find a way to give the apartment a fresh coat of paint.

We did it! What a difference it made, even though the color of choice was a very mild ivory.

Just the fresh coat livened it all up. I was also encouraged to do away with just a little bit of my clutter.

xo

GardenOfDaisies said...

That wallpaper is very soothing on the eyes. I have a hard time figuring out what to do with walls, too. So although I do have some blue and green painted walls, most of the house interior is still plain ol' boring white.

haggiz said...

I love your choice of paper and look forward to seeing the finished product! I feel like my whole house needs a new lick of paint, but can't work up any enthusiasm just yet, maybe when spring really arrives. Julie x

Country Rabbit said...

i love that colour and design...a perfect choice...im sure it will look lovely x

dottycookie said...

I am not a fan of wallpaper but I would make an exception for that Morris print. It is beautiful.

And we have an Ikea kitchen - the units cost less than the fridge but it stil gets compliments 5 years after we put it in. Good luck with yours!

Swallow Barn said...

gorgeous wallpaper - I love it!!!

Katy Noelle said...

I cannot even express or explain how riveted I am to your situation. I can simply relate in a lot of ways! Best wishes with it all and I can't wait to see.... =]

xo

a little vintage said...

I love that wallpaper!.. I do most of the decorating...........but I quite enjoy it (he's a lucky husband is'nt he!)Hope to see pics of the finished result, Sue

Unknown said...

I was eyeing that wallpaper even before I got to the end of your post! Beautiful! I love using wallpaper to change a look of a room. Enjoy your decorating! Sharon

Amanda said...

Its lovely and I bet it will make such a difference. We use Al-Murid a great tile/paint/wallpaper shop at the bottom of Weston Coyney road. They have some real bargains in the top branded names.

Jay said...

It sounds exciting and the snippet of paper looks great - I'm looking forward to seeing the finished room. I seem to have lost my decorating mojo at the moment.....

Anonymous said...

I grew up with this in red, it is fabulous and thank goodness my mother 40 years later still has the curtains. It is timeless classic and worth the money

clare said...

Oops sorry I commented under my husbands name and now he is mortified!! But anyway still love the wallpaper .

brookeslay said...

I thought art&crafts when I saw that paper. Looking forward to a pictorial tour of the house when it`s finished. The bathroom was a bargain.

Jane said...

that is such a beautiful print,it's great when you realize it is "the one"
I've been looking for ages for suitable material for a roller blind for our bedroom and when i googled william morris i knew i had arrived!
Now just to choose as most of the prints i adore!

Karoline said...

That wallpaper is gorgeous

saraeden said...

Loving the choice of paper!

Not sure if you made it too the last totally locally market but if you do get to the next one come and say hello!

Sara x

LinenandRoses said...

The wallpaper is beautiful. I love William Morris. It will be gorgeous as a feature wall. I'm interested to read about you painting the tiles in your bathroom as I'm thinking of doing the same with ours. Our bathroom suite is basically fine but the tiles are horrible and the walls need a freshen up. We have no budget for anything other than some paint to spruce it up. I was wondering how good tile paint is though, especially for use in a bathroom. Any tips? Which do you use? Fiona x

ALoadofOldTat said...

Gorgeous paper, I love your comment re Woody and £100 decoration budget. I too, used to think you could do it on fifty quid!

Unknown said...

The price of quality wallpapers is eye-watering isn't - at least with a feature wall you can get away with only a couple of rolls and still enjoy the gorgeousness - enjoy!