Interiors: Love Designer wallpaper??? Get the look with Stencils for less

Do you love high end designer wallpaper.....but don't have the pocket book to go with purchasing the paper and having it hung by a professional?  Well I am going to show you how to get the look at a fraction of the cost!

Above are a few of my favorite wallpapers from the likes of Cole & Son, David Hicks, Kelly Wearstler, and Osborne & little.

You may recognize many of these yourself from the shelter magazines.

I started in the design business as a decorative artist.  I created high end paint finishes for local designers as well as my own clientele base.  There are many reasons why a stencil may be chosen over using wallpaper and here are a few.

.You love the design but the color doesn't work

      .The scale of the pattern doesn't work for your space

       .It is prohibitive due to cost, you have the paper and installation costs to consider.

Suggestions to achieve a professional look.  Hire a professional decorative artist...yes it will cost you some money but it will be much less then the paper route.  The beauty of this is also that is can easily be touch up.  Once paper is damaged...you need to replace the whole sheet.  Let's face it a professional is just that a professional!

If you are more of a DIY type of person...great you will can still get a gorgeous finished product.  The key to making stencil designs work and look perfect...take your time.  It is a tedious process even for a professional like myself.  Color combinations are also the key and here are a few of my tips!

My personal style when using stencils is to choose subtle color combinations.  There will be some imperfections as the process is all hand done.  Choosing colors that are close in value but where you still see the difference is key.  The more graphic, you will notice every  imperfection.  I'm not saying don't due it but I am warning you.

I like to use a foam roller and use stencil brushes for the top, bottom and corners of the walls.  It moves the process along and gives a more consistant look.

Here is a two story foyer I recently stenciled.  The walls were painted a very pale gray and the stencil design was a pale silver metallic.  Using metallic paints in my stencil color is a signature of mine.  Depending on how the light enters the space you may see more or less of the design...it creates a beautiful nuance.

STEPPING IT UP A NOTCH

 I apologize for my picture quality...I snapped this in the midst of the project.  This particular powder I did for one of my clients.

I added two layers of a metallic st

rie technique and then I did a white stencil design on top of that.  Itwas a three day project as  each layer needed a 24 hr dry time.  But the finished look....I have to say it was hard to tell it was not wallpaper.

I will tell you that not all wallpapers can be reproduced in a similar fashion.  Some papers have more complicated designs and more layers...the more layers...means next to impossible to get a similar look.  Again, I can't say enough, color choices are the key here...I recommend doing sample boards to be sure you have achieved the look you are after.  Even as a professional, every client gets a sample board to approve.  It allows you to work out the kinks of a project if you will. I should also point out that stencils are not exact reproductions of an actual paper...there are copyright infringements.  A similar look is the goal here. 

I would love to see some finished pictures from any of you who have done this, or plan to try it!

Happy Painting!

Donna