Has the summer heat driven you indoors? Tired of looking at your air-conditioned space? Want a change? Here are a few simple suggestions to update a space in a home, rented apartment or even a dorm room. Southern Living updated a breakfast nook by adding a window seat while still retaining the storage space below and concealing it with a gathered curtain.
Yes, it’s the same space. Removing the dated scalloped cupboard trim, changing the paint color and chandelier made the space feel brighter. The use of wallcovering on only a very small area above the window and cupboards was a great cost-saving idea plus a way to keep it out of the reach of jelly- covered little hands! Although, if you use a Casart design, it is cleanable and very durable but still a great idea to keep it high on the wall in a dining area. One of my favorite designers, Sarah Richardson did the same thing in her farmhouse dining room. She used beadboard on the lower walls ending at a plate rack height with wallcovering above.
While we’re in dining spaces, you can line the back of a china cabinet with wallpaper to match that on the walls or even use a wood-grained pattern as in this picture from Southern Living’s Before and After magazine. If using a wood-grained pattern be sure to select one that will contrast and not compete with the exterior wood of the cabinet. Casart has several wood designs from which to choose.
Moving on to the bedroom, how about considering a faux padded or linen headboard? Here are 2 examples of Casart headboards. The first is applied directly to the wall while the second is applied directly over the glass of a wood picture frame.
Behind a Murphy bed would be another great place to use the Casart faux padded headboard since it would not take up any room and would give it a finished look similar to the next picture.
Another Southern Living Before and After magazine illustration shows $5 flea market sewing tables covered with wallpaper and used as bedside tables. The application required the services of a wallpaper hanger which could be avoided if a Casart wallcovering was used. However, I think this would require some patience due to the small scale of the table legs.
An idea that could be used in a bedroom or any room, for that matter, is a screen. It’s the perfect answer if you can’t or don’t want to change a wall treatment, if you are renting or just want a seasonal change. You can even hang objects directly on the screen as designer Suzanne Kasler did for the latest Ballard Designs catalog.
Suzanne says, “The green color and pattern are layered in with upholstery, so you’re only committed to it for right now. It’s an affordable way to make a big statement.”
– Lorre Lei
Leave a Reply