When we first moved into our house, we hadn’t the time to renovate or decorate anything that didn’t need immediate attention. That meant that the dark and gloomy but otherwise fully functional hall, stairs and landing was not a priority. The ugly peach coloured woodchip wallpaper was given a very hasty coat of white emulsion and that was it.
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The dreadful peach walls being painted over.
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| The Stairs. |
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| The state of one of the walls when we removed the woodchip wallpaper.
But we’d statrted, so we had to see it through to the end. We got the hall and the wall along the stairs plastered but we decided to keep the woodchip wallpaper on the landing. Now I never imagined I would agree to woodchip wallpaper in my house. I really didn’t. But it was relatively new, it came up nicely painted white and we really did not have the endurance it would have taken to strip it. *Maybe* some day. But, I mean look at the angles we would have been dealing with:  After the plaster dried, we painted the whole hall, stairs and landing area white and put in new pre-painted white skirting boards. We also had the stairs painted white with a pale grey handrail. 
White seems a bit mad for a house full of little boys but it was our only option to brighten the gloomy space up. I really wanted a bit of contrast somewhere, so we painted the wall along the stairs a very pale grey with a hint of lavender. Looking directly at it, it looks like white but when you see it against the white of the stairs, you notice the difference. I was very keen on having a pretty wall-mounted light-fitting at the top of the stairs. I found this one at the online shop Mirabeau and in reality it was even prettier than it seemed online. I love how it finished off the top of the stairs. For weeks after we installed it I would come out to the hall, look up at it and smile. I just adore it.   |
To make things even more complicated, there is a sloping ceiling. After much deliberation, we opted for a Hemnes chest of drawers in white from Ikea. It is the right depth and height for that space and offers a lot of storage. Above it we’ve hung some Irish art we got as wedding presents.
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A mirror I made from a cupboard door
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One of three limited edition children 😉
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A print of Pooh and Piglet
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| Part of Edward Lear’s Nonsense Alphabet |
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| My own left hand, painted by my own right hand |
We had to take a few short cuts along the way, but we are happy with how it has turned about. It may not be perfect, but it is comfortable, lived in and a damn sight better than peach woodchip.
Fabulous transformation. Totally different looking.
Woodchip is a nightmare to remove isn't it? I think quite often it's the only thing holding the walls up too, so when you take it down… yeap, your experience sounds like one I had in a previous house. But it's looking great now, and it is a lovely staircase 🙂 #HomeEtc
Ohh I feel your woodchip pain, our littlest bedroom was covered in it when we moved into our house last year. We did strip it all off to convert into an office but I totally appreciate for you even what a difference just making it white instead of peach would make! It looks really lovely, well done x #HomeEtc
Thank you Elaine. It is so much brighter and more welcoming now.
A nightmare indeed Stephanie! The Germans love it. So many people here still put it up now and I have never found out why.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Thanks Lins! The peach HAD to go. It made the hall seem so dark and narrow. It is a much nicer, brighter space now, even with the occasional woodchip wall.
Ha! A limited edition child – brilliant! Wow a brilliant transformation of your hall. I love that pale grey wall and have the same in mind for mine to match a print I recently ordered. Your light fitting is beautiful X #HomeEtc
Thanks Lisa. The colour is from a German brand Schöner Wohnen and is called Pearl. Good luck with yours. x
What IS it with woodchip wallpaper?? Who on earth — ever — thought it was a lovely feature? And peach paint on top?? Blimey.
But just LOOK how gorgeous it is now — just lovely — I absolutely love the bannister!! Thanks so much for linking up with #HomeEtc — hope to see you again tomorrow! x
Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
Oh my – wood chip. Yes I think I had this in our entire house! Love the mirror you made. Amazing! Thanks for linking up and sharing. Jess x #HomeEtc
Thanks Caro. Yes, the potential shone through, despite the wood chip. I'm pleased with the result, but it was a hard job getting it transformed.
See or rather read you tomorrow! x
You too? It is such a curse. I suppose wood chip was robust and covered a multitude in terms of old or damaged walls.
Read you tomorrow!