This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
About 4 years ago, Brian and I moved into condo that is nestled in a quiet neighborhood on a huge lake. We were smitten with the laid back, quiet feel of the development and the beautiful scenery.
Over the course of a few months, we worked to transform the condo into our own by removing more layers of wallpaper than I could count, painting, and other random odds and ends. Please, people…I beg you to NEVER wallpaper over wallpaper. It’s bad news and can move you to tears in a matter of minutes. I will not recount my experience with the half bath and the 3 yes, 3 layers of odd wallpaper because it may bring on nightmares.
Once we got the first floor the way we wanted it, we kinda just gave up. It’s not like anyone really hangs out in our bedroom anyways. We started to get used to the safari theme and it became more of a joke than an eyesore. By safari, I mean cheetah and zebra print wallpaper that adorned the walls of our master bath that beautifully corresponded with the wrought iron elephant mirrors above the sinks. I’m not knocking the animal print, it’s just not me…not in the slightest.
About two weeks ago we got new carpet installed throughout the house and it ignited the decorating spark in me once again. I spent about three hours creating a bedroom pin board on Pinterest and set out to find the perfect paint color. Once I narrowed it down, I went and purchased samples. I immediately painted three large stripes on our bedroom walls. Since Brian is a little bit of a neat freak, I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle the newly striped walls for long. Total manipulation…I know.
Thanks to the bribe of a steak dinner, Brian and his friend, Dave spent their day off stripping that safari wallpaper and covering our walls in two shades of gorgeous gray paint! I wanted to give you an actual before photo, but I completely forgot to take pics, so instead, Brian dug out some wallpaper scraps because this post needed to be accompanied with a visual representation of that wallpaper…I simply could not do it justice by a description alone.
I have ordered our new duvet, pillows, and shower curtain from West Elm and have my cart loaded with other beautiful things to fill our room with. Farewell Safari Bedroom…Now, let the redecorating begin.
The duplex my fiance and I live in was built in the late 1950s and its age is VERY apparent. The front door leads you into our very spacious kitchen…complete with electric teal tiling that goes halfway up the walls and edging in some sort of bright yellow plastic. The rest of the apartment is lovely with dark hardwoods and textured ceilings, but that kitchen, ugh. However, we’re only here for another year so no remodling for us.
I never feel *finished* with painting and such. There always seems to be something else to do…
Oh I know the journey you’ve been on so well. When I bought the house I’m in now…it was supposed to be an interim residence; you know, maybe a year or three.
Nineteen years later that dark, dingy, wallpaper filled space is my pride and joy but it didn’t get there without having had to experience removing layer upon layer of wallpaper. Maybe even worse were the poorly prepped walls that resulted in torn sheetrock. I have walls I’ve textured with a sand coat and then color washed and I love the effect but that was born out of having to repair the wall as the paper came off!
I love your zebra paper Jamie…we could compare but I think I got rid of that red flocked and as you would surely call it…Hot Mess!
Love the new colors and accessories; you might actually sleep better in a room with such tranquility…congrats on a job well done!
I don’t know how you lived with that cheetah and zebra print for 4 years! I wouldn’t have been able to sleep LOL.
I love your new colour choices, the two greys are wonderful and your duvet is going to be absolutely stunning against your newly painted walls, as will your new shower curtain.
Enjoy the new look, I think you are just going to love it.
It’s my day for a blog hop, I’d love it if you came over and shared one of your great recipes at savory sunday!! Have a great day :)
the kitchen! we’ve done almost every other room and now it’s that room’s turn but as you know if it involves new cupboards that’s a but more cone!!
Good for you for sticking to it and customizing your home. I’ve only had to remove wallpaper once, one layer, and that was tough enough. I couldn’t imagine 3! You house sounds absolutely amazing!
Have fun working on this together and really making it your own! I cant wait to see the after photos!
Last month we did finally did some painting after almost 4 years since we bought this house. I still want to refresh the color we have in the kitchen/dining but I think 3 rooms in one month is more than I can take. There’s always next year, LOL
Our bathroom is a disgusting shade of light brown. The tile on the floor is a smoky blue. When we moved in I bought paint that would match the floor. That was 6 years ago.