Wallpaper for the weekend warrior

By Debbe Daley

The idea of renovating another kitchen is exciting in the planning stages. However, I never imagined to be taking down wallpaper ever again. Since my involvement in the wallpaper industry back in the late '90s, wallpaper has definitely taken a turn. I hung wallpaper in most of the rooms in my home at that time. As wallpaper is slowly making a comeback, this project has more windows than walls and wallpaper isn't necessary to enhance this space.

Daley Decor

In updating an oceanside bungalow where an open kitchen/living area will be transformed, the first stage in this remodel is the removal of colonial blue and white mini-print wallpaper applied by the original owner. The goal for the kitchen is to create a calm beach, relaxed and natural theme. Painting the existing stained wainscoting white and removing the wallpaper will enhance the view from the living and kitchen area for little money.

When hanging wallpaper, primer sizing the walls is a must. Sizing helps in the installation of wallpaper because it assists sliding and matching the paper's pattern at the seams and makes for easier installation. Sizing is a light acrylic fluid that helps the adhesion and also aides in the paper removal process.

When removing paper-backed vinyl wallpaper, the top vinyl design layer should peel off easily. With some soaking of the paper, the backing should wipe off with little effort. In this case, the original owners hung wallpaper over lightly skim-coated walls -- no primer, no paint finish, no sizing, just wallpaper directly onto the wall's surface.

With no sizing, implementing the proper steps of lightly scoring the top layer of the vinyl paper with a razor blade knife and spraying a solution of one part hot water with one part white vinegar was a nightmare. Without sizing, the wallpaper glue is absorbed by the surface of the drywall or skim-coated wall. Peeling off the paper turns into peeling off the top skim-coat layer and paper surface of the drywall in small pieces. It's not a pleasant outcome.

It takes patience and lots of soaking of the paper to remove the wallpaper without damaging the walls. In this case, sanding the walls and a new skim coat will be needed to achieve a clean look before painting.

Debbe Daley, owner of Debbe Daley Designs, is an interior designer with more than 25 years of experience as a professional interior redesigner, stylist, stager, trainer and project manager. Follow her blog at http://blogs.lowellsun.com/ daleydecor. She also blogs at http://debbedaleydesignsllc.blogspot.com/. Wallpaper Tips

* Before installing wallpaper, prep walls with acrylic latex-based primer/sizing.

The rest is here:
Wallpaper for the weekend warrior