Progress continues on my Citadel House. I have attacked one side of the house with a vengeance...I WILL convert the traditional decor, even if it means many late nights of sticky wallpapering and Exacto-knifing.
I already posted on a ground floor room, with groovy brown and creme graphic paper, here.
Then I went upstairs to the very top floor and went to work there, using the same vintage brown and silver striped papers I used on the main wall that runs the length of the house. Here's a quick scene to test the waters:
But what of the imposing opposite wall that runs two floors high? I decided to use existing paper I had in my workroom -- color printed versions of Annina's fine scans of her own VERO house papers. I like the result.
This paper also made its way to the second floor room. I painted the ledge nice and white, to hide the scrapes and remnants of paint/paper layers. Here's before and after:
Now I have stopped short. What shall I do with the remaining wall, which runs two floors?
Shall I use the matching papers to adjacent walls (so, brown/silver on top half and VERO paper on the bottom half) or do it all VERO? I'm stumped.
Ideas?
Credits: Eames lounger by Reac; lamp is AG Minis; sideboard is vintage VERO; plant is vintage TOMY; rug is by Peppercorn Minis; glass case is a German eBay find.
Seeing your work, I'm in acute danger of trying to start a modern house before my others are even out of their boxes!! Mercy!
ReplyDeleteIt's all too much, buckets of inspiration - thanks!
I think I'm leaning towards the all VERO. I'll look at it with a fresh eye in the morning. I'm trying to figure out how all the rooms of the house relate. I'll have to go through your photos again and any other shots I can find online (not much of a range).
ReplyDeleteFantastic job so far, and the VERO paper looks great with the other wallpaper!
ReplyDeleteHmm, looks like you have wallpapered yourself into a corner :-) I definitely would give the whole height the same treatment, and I think the most logical choice is the VERO paper, since you already have used it on the opposite wall. I would perhaps have chosen to use the VERO wallpaper on the right wall of the top floor as well instead of the born and silver one, I prefer to change wallpapers in corners instead of in the middle of the wall, but I think it will look good either way!
And I love that you haven't wallpapered the ledge, the clean white looks great as a contrast to the wallpapers.
I'd say all VERO. I think brown/silver on the top half would make it seem a bit heavy, but just having the brown/silver (in this part of the house) in the upper, mezzanine room, makes that feel cosy and self-contained.
ReplyDeleteOr else pick a different wallpaper to set off those huge picture windows! But I think I'd prefer the VERO.
I really like your photos and how you show the progress. This is my thought, what if you painted that wall white. It would look like an extension of the existing white area and let it flow. This is just my gut reaction. Curious to see what others think. Love this house so much and you are making it so very nice, clean and decedant.
ReplyDeleteFor what it is worth this popped to mind: breaking a thin mirror into small pieces, placing or scattering (would have to experiment) the pieces on a piece of sticky paper or gluing them onto a linen cloth and then attaching to wall. A reflective mosaic. I recently came across your blog and the modern resonates and is presently being translated into ideas for furniture. My experience has been with building and furnishing Little Orphan Annie's Victorian dollhouse many years ago - but the enchantment never goes away and the way of seeing continues. I am very pleased with Call of the Small.
ReplyDeleteNice use of the white furniture; I'm in love with that chair and missing it in my houses.
ReplyDeleteAnd the work with the wallpaper, really great. You had a good flow with this work I guess, I know that from some of my projects.
Is this the wallpaper Annina scanned for you? It is cool, I love it.
Hi I think painting it (papering it) one color that ties both patterns together would look good like grey. I know it's ubiquitious, but it would work.
ReplyDeleteDid your blogroll disappear or is it me? CM
Don't chop the space in half. Painting it white would work too as it would keep the space airy and you could display art. Hmmm where did I hear this? Madwomen Design
ReplyDeleteThanks, Glenda! I loved using your rug -- it is fabulous! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kate! Thanks for weighing in! Sorry about not posting more pics. I neglected to mention that there is a door that closes over this side, so I would have to consider how to handle that.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pubdoll! It was actually my husband's idea to paint the ledge. I had started to paper it, and he said it was not realistic and that in a "real" house the ledge would not be papered (necessarily). I think he was right and it was also quite a challenge wrapping the paper cleanly around so I was glad to paint!
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca! I think you are right about the brown; it is a "heavy" paper in look and in feel and the VERO has an airiness to it. I am also not ruling out a completely different light paper.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy! I do like your idea about white and am strongly considering it. It's going to be a bear stripping those paint/paper layers, though. They are painful to get off!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen! I appreciate your comments and what a neat idea! I do like the concept of "activating" the wall with a mosaic, or at least using it as a canvas. I will keep an eye out for mosaic material :)
ReplyDeleteHi Oese! Yes, this is one of the papers Annina scanned for me and it's great. I think it is likely horizontal on her walls, but I like it vertical here. And it worked really well to print it on color Xerox paper...thin, but durable! Thank you Kinkos! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Carol! Yes, I like the idea of white, and of a "canvas" for artwork. Wise madwoman!! :) I don't have a blogroll, never have. Hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteWhite is definitely a nice option. Perhaps you could do a subtle texture? Or even Venetian finish. I know you still need to do a lot of scraping to prep, but I think the underlayer(s) of the Venetian can be thick(ish) and then you polish. You'd have to research this or perhaps someone who has tried this technique in miniature may share their experience. Either way, the Citadel is looking fab and I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome(no pressure, I promise)!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate! I am leaning toward white, and I like the idea of some form of texture as well. It may be hard for me to commit to something, though, and I also need to resolve the door that closes over this side of the house and connects to both sides. I appreciate your encouragement -- thanks!
ReplyDeletehi.. just dropping by here... have a nice day! http://kantahanan.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in, tagskie!
ReplyDeleteyou should make stripes alternating the two wallpapers
ReplyDeleteThe asian cork carving is too much! It's like a dollhouse inside a dollhouse.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anonymous! Great, bold idea!
ReplyDeleteHi elZaphod! Yes, the case is a unique, lovely piece and I do see it as a mini mini scene!
ReplyDeletei just read about your blog in the new york times this morning. i love it! my parents built a mid-century modern home on 5 acres in maryland in the 1950's. my dad built us a doll house exactly like the real house. i wish i could give it to you.
ReplyDeletei create little sets with pez and other little toys, and photograph them. if i'm stumped, i'll come here for inspiration!
Hi Diana! Thanks for your comment. I would LOVE to see this house your Dad built. It sounds amazing. If you want, please email me some pictures at chris@chrisandsteve.org. Come back and visit often:)
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