We didn't get a lot of in progress shots (errr...any) and we generally followed the directions here. But I will say this, when they say the rice paper backing on grasscloth soaks up a lot of glue. They aren't lying. Apply liberally!! We picked up wallpaper adhesive at Home Depot and an adhesive roller next to the regular paint rollers (did you know those existed?!) and rolled it on the wall just like paint. Except real thick.
The instructions that came with the grasscloth said not to use a wallpaper smoother (basically a plastic scraper to push out air bubbles) because it could damage it. So we didn't pick one up and ended up using our level to go down and push out any (a lot) of air pockets that popped up. I honestly have no idea how one could get by not using a smoother or whatever they are called. In our case, a level worked.
We started in the center of the room to avoid having any seams right in between the posts on Greta's bed, and worked our way out. When we were prepping our third panel, we discovered there was no more! And then laughed and then really realized, Oh--we're out? That's can't be right. I looked back at the description and realized I read the amount wrong. The good people at Eades Wallpaper sent a double roll (which is 24 ft, although I originally thought a single roll was 24 ft when I ordered a double roll--lost yet?) but since they sent us the grasscloth on their dime, we weren't about to complain. Since there were just about 7 inches on each side--we decided to trim out the whole wall with molding--just like us to add a project.
So that's where we are right now. The grasscloth is really really pretty. Chris keeps teasing me for staring at it. We couldn't be happier it is up and done (!!) and that we can add wallpapered to our DIY resume. It's almost feels like a rite of passage. Have you ever wallpapered before? Although we felt we were a little over our heads at one point while staring at a sea of bubbled grasscloth, we got it smoothed out and now I am with Kim--it is soooo worth it.
Psst. Eades Wallpaper was an absolute peach for sending us this grasscloth on their dime but didn't pay us to write a positive review. The grasscloth is honestly gorgeous and their service was quick and friendly. My kind of people.
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not sure if you want to add 'wallpaper installer' to your resume just yet. that installation looks terrible! nice try, but not everything is a DIY job!
I adore every bit of this room so far! I was wondering for the baseboards you've added so far, what do you do on the corners? Do you use a saw to cut angles or do you do a "butt-joint." I'm not sure if that's correct wording and feel weird about it ... so that's why it's in quotations.
Thanks!
Whoa, who knew wallpaper could be so controversial?! (Nice job handling that snarky comment gracefully, btw) Regardless, it looks great and I think it will look even more awesome once it's all framed out! Can't wait to see!!
Thanks Dacia. Updates just went live here: https://chrislovesjulia.com/2013/01/trimmed-out-and-butterflied.html
I am in love with grasscloth wallpaper! Great choice! It's one of my considerations for a future nursery... when we decide to have kiddos :)Can't wait to see the finished room!
Wasn't sure if I would like it or not as I am not much of a wallpaper fan. But...I love it. Great job guys. The grass cloth will look great with the bed. I'm impressed.
Choose love, not hate. learn from Dr.. Martin Luther King
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy."
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."
"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."
"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Looks great Julia! Can't wait to see the finished room.
Oh, and it seems someone never learned "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!" I'll never understand how some people can be so rude. I LOVE your response. You have class!
No Grasscloth isn't for me, but neither is a 20 year old fictional SLUT's room as insperation for a 2 year old. You know you love me. XOXO Gossip Girl.
#1 you're a coward for not standing behind your NAME and choosing to be anonymous.
#2 Why be so rude? This is JULIA'S blog. and JULIA'S decor taste. She didn't ask you what your opinion was. They have obviously done the research for the wallpaper. I trust Julia when it comes to their choices in materials because I KNOW she has done the research. If you have followed her blog for any length of time, she has ALWAYS done the research for the products she uses. And she isn't afraid to say it didn't work out and change to something different.
#3 the Gossip Girl follow up tells me that you have zero respect for anyone and seriously need to check yourself.
i TOTALLY know what you mean. even though the set is designed by professionals, if it's for a slutty fictional character, there can NEVER be appealing design elements. and obviously, julia is trying to get her toddler to act like the fictional character by having her room inspired by said set. you're really making a genius point here. maybe you should leave a link to YOUR successful design blog so we can all witness perfection!
Use spell check.
The comment above is so strange to me. I think it looks great - and seams are indeed part of grasscloth. Just to make sure I'm not crazy, I just scrolled through dozens of "grasscloth" photos on Houzz -- yup, just about every singe one had visible seams. I think it's a great look and just part of the beauty of grasscloth. - Mary
Yeahhhh. Grasscloth isn't for everyone I guess. Hahaha.
Sadly wallpapering does take a lot longer than you alotted. Put up properly the seams shoud not and do not show. That is not a characteristic of the gresscloth. You need to spend a lot of time working the seams together, pressing and smoothing to make sure they are not visable. Some jobs just should be left to the professionals. Now you have framed "art" that looks sloppy. I don't think Eades will really appreciate this endorsement
While I agree some jobs are best for professionals, wallpapering is something we knew we could handle and we did. It actually IS the nature of grasscloth for seams to show. Not that they aren't smooth and flat, but because no two pieces are the same in real grasscloth--it is impossible to match them up. So even professionals who install grasscloth say to expect seams. And if you look at any room with grasscloth (we looked at hundreds before we decided to go with it), you'll be able to see the seams. It's natural and beautiful. Sorry you disapprove. Maybe grasscloth isn't for you.
Sloppy art? Never heard of it. Imperfections are beautiful. And hours of wallpapering deserves a pat on the back. Perhaps if they had as much money as Gossip Girl inspirations they would not be writing a DIY blog. Maybe you might enjoy a professional wallpapering blog, instead.
THE GRASSCLOTH!!!! THE GRASSCLOTH!!!...finally (sigh) Oh I can hardly even take it!!! :D Sooooooo greattttt. Greta really is lucky!
I actually like the idea of putting trim around the edge. I think it'll make the wall look like art. I can't wait to see it put together!!!
I cannot WAIT to see how it looks once you add in trim and bed Greta's bed back in place! The warm wood color of the bed frame are going to look fantastic against the grasscloth. I just know it.
So worth it, indeed.
Can you see the seams very much? Does it bother you if so? It seems like you can in the pictures but it might be my OCD. Looks great though. And with the trimming that accent wall will POP even more in her room!
You actually can see the seams, but that is a characteristic of grasscloth--visible seems. So it is best to embrace it and we definitely are. :)
What a dream!! It looks so rich and sophisticated. Definitely making me think about changing some of My ideas with brinleys big girl room style!