January 11, 2012

• {book page wallpaper}

  In my opinion, wallpaper is like cutting my bangs…
  it’s just never a good idea, in any era, no matter how cute it might look in a magazine.
  
  Several of the rooms in this house had some type of wallpaper, or border.
  and for the most part I was able to just rip it off, and it looks it was never there. {kinda.. in the right lighting}
  But in the entryway, on the wall going up the staircase, the border was separated by a two tone wall,
  making it impossible to simply take off without redoing the entire area.
  And since we’re only renting, we don’t want to pour any more money into this place than we have to..

  
  
  But. the border bugged me.   {and the hole in the wall}
  and so I began to try to think of how to cover it up without spending alot of money~
  
  Months back I was working on hanging book pages on one of the walls in Kate’s room.
  one afternoon while sitting in the area at the top of the steps outside her room,
  tearing apart a book, with the little girls playing around me..
  I started looking at that wall down the staircase, wondering if the book pages might work better there –
  to cover that unwanted border?

  I was going to make a border of sorts from the pages, just wide enough to cover the other..
  but as I began working on it, it went a bit further than that.

  
  
  
  
  I finally finished it up right before the holidays~
  
  not sure if I’m thrilled with the results..
  I think it would be more suited to a library/office space with dark wood and overstuffed leather.
  {maybe my next house}  
  But. for now it fixed the problem of the annoying border, and alteast it’s more unique. more me.
  AND. I only spent $3.75 vs. 50 or 60 on cans of paint!

  
   
  It’s actually become quite the conversation piece when people come in.
  And it strikes me kinda funny that usually the very first questioned asked is,

  “What book is that?”

  As if I read this really great book, then decided to enshrine it on my walls!
  I honestly didn’t know what the title was! it was just something I picked up at the thrift store for that purpose ~
  but after being asked often enough I dug the discarded cover from the garbage –
  so. for the record, it’s “The’ King’s Cavalier.”
  and from the parts I’ve read as I hung it.. it seems fairly interesting.

  If you’d like to read it you’re welcome to come sit on my steps.
  I’ll even provide you with a glass of iced tea!!
  
  There was some language throughout.. but I tried to hang those pages high!
  Didn’t want the kiddos blurting out colorful choice words as they wandered up the steps,
  randomly reading aloud – as they now do that the staircase is plastered with a book!

  

  
  
  I added some branches to try to make the distinction that this was where the pages were supposed to stop -
  and not some unfinished project. which is what it looked like to me before.

  Again, not sure if I’m really sold on them –
  I’m starting to feel there’s maybe tree overkill in my house…
  like it wouldn’t surprise me to see a bird flying round in here before too long, from a nest it’s made in one of the branches!
   
  I have some other thoughts for a “border” across the top, but for now. this is it.

  
  book page frame and sticks on entry table to just tie in w/ wall~
  
  It’s challenging.. and not necessarily a challenge I like, of trying to work with someone else’s style’s and choices -
  sometimes I dream of walking through Home Depot and saying,

  “I’ll take that sink. and that light fixture. and one of THOSE dishwashers!!”

  but I’m reminded nearly every day as I look around at tree branches and ripped books hiding unwanted wallpaper and ugly countertops, that if I’m not content with what I already have I’ll never be content with what I think I want. because contentment isn’t really about my circumstances as much as where I choose to focus in those circumstances~   

  before.
  

  after.
  
  
  
  ————
  
  I’ve been writing this post from the Starbucks in Chapters while waiting on the kids at youth group/ awana.
  I’ve never actually done this before.. taken my computer into a Starbucks!
  I feel so 20th century.

  but now that my chai tea latte is gone though, I think I’ll go check out the books!

  ARe you reading any good ones right now..
  any you’d rather be using as wallpaper. ha!!

  I just started Hunger Games and I’m hooked!

  
  amber. 
  
  

  • 8:18 pm
  • 53 Comments