Chad Graci ShowHouse Wine Room with Casart

We couldn’t be more thrilled to have New Orleans interior designer Chad Graci contact us about using Casart Faux Tortoiseshell 2 self-adhesive wallpaper on the ceiling of his Wine Room for the Baton Rouge Ivy Design Show House!

Wow, what a transformation from this nothing-there ‘before’ picture to the sublime, divine, transport-me-anytime-there reveal.

Chad Graci Wine Room before Casart — Wine Room before installation. Photo by Sara Essex Bradley

Frank Schnieder, Chad’s smart and conscientious wallpaper installer, contacted us beforehand to make sure he understood the installation application and that he had enough wallcovering to cover the space, knowing the pattern match might be difficult since it was random and they wanted to keep an authentic tortoiseshell appearance.

“We would need [an extra] section equal to the part to the left of the yellow line of the tape measure. This is essentially 52” wide by 24” long. This area is comprised of 12 rectangles.”

Casart Faux Tortoiseshell 2 pattern to match for Wine Room. Photo by Frank Schnieder

A medium roll of Faux Tortoiseshell 2 Natural in Casart Light covered the main part of the ceiling and a separate Bookcase Backing size was purchased to fill in the sides.

We directed him to our About Product page where he could click the caterpillar for specs / prep and the butterfly for installation pdf downloads. We explained the process is very easy; simply peel and stick the 52″ wide wallcovering to the ceiling and fill in on the sides with the extra amount to fill in the space with a butt-edge alignment as appropriate.

There were some steps to take beforehand like making sure the surface was clean and using a paint finish with a slight sheen (eggshell, for instance) as opposed to a flat (typical for ceilings), which would make it easier to reposition (remove and reuse) the wallpaper without complication. If newly painted, this would need to cure a couple weeks so the wallcovering could be removed, if needed, when the Show House ended. Frank followed all the instructions precisely and communicated with us throughout to prevent any unexpected surprises. We know from experience that a ceiling installation can be a little cumbersome, not to mention the potential neck strain — just because of the location. Fortunately, Casart wallcovering can make it easier than painting or traditional wallpaper because it goes on and comes off easily without hassle or mess.

Here’s Frank’s picture of the installation in progress. You can’t even see where the extra wallcovering was added. Frank did an excellent job! Just seamless! 😉

Casart Faux Tortoiseshell peel and stick wallpaper on ceiling in Chad Graci Wine Room — Installation process. Photo by Frank Schnieder

We asked Chad to send us his ‘after picture’ and for his thoughts about the project.

We were taken aback by how drop-dead-gorgeous the design was and the awesome talent Chad has to pull it all together! It’s hard to imagine the space going from such a blank canvas to this Divine Wine Room. He had the perfect vision.

Chad Graci Wine Room After Casart Faux Tortoiseshell. ©Photo – Sara Essex Bradley

We are always intrigued to learn about a designer’s creative process and our customers’ feedback when using Casart Coverings. Here’s what Chad had to say about the project with his answers to some interview questions that we asked:

1. What sparked your idea for the interior design? What was the inspiration?

I WAS INSPIRED BY A TRIP TO VENICE OVER THE SUMMER. THE LAYERING OF LUX MATERIALS AND TEXTURES.

2. What was the overall look you wanted to achieve?

A WINE ROOM THAT FELT LIKE A DESTINATION

3. What feature do you like best?

THE CEILING! AND THE FLOOR

4. Would the interior design have been complete without the Casart wallcovering?

NO! THE CEILING WAS THE CRUX OF THE CONCEPT.

5. Why did you decide to use it on the ceiling?

TO HIGHLIGHT THE CHANDELIER AND TO GIVE A JEWEL BOX EFFECT

6. What makes this wallcovering so different from others you may have used?

LOOKS LIKE AUTHENTIC TORTOISESHELL.

7. Did using a peel and stick application make it easier than a paste to wall wallpaper type — especially for the ceiling?

YES, IT REALLY DID.

8. If so, what were those benefits?

COST, CLEANABILITY AND EASE IN REMOVAL

9. Did it take long to install?

NOT REALLY

10. Were there any complications?

JUST THE PATTERN MATCH

11. Was the AC/ receiver grate painted to match?

— (What a great detail, where paint and wallpaper can work together.)

YES, I HAD MY DECORATIVE PAINTER EXECUTE. HER INSTA IS @IVYJMABIUS

12. The border is a great complement to all the other features. Who makes it and is it also peel and stick?

COLE AND SON AND NOT PEEL AND STICK

13. Is the wall finish painted? If so, what decorative painting style, strié? (credit to whom?)

IT IS A STRIE BY @IVYJMABIUS

14. Who can you see, both present and / or in the past hanging out in your Wine Room?

ME? LOL

15. What music would be playing?

1960’S JAZZ OR WHATEVER WAS PLAYING AT EL MOROCCO NIGHTCLUB

16. What’s your favorite wine? And with a meal?

I LOVE A WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT

We love the lagniappe answers too!

Here’s the uncanny thing, what are the odds that both Chad and Casart Coverings have New Orleans connections, which was not discovered until after a purchase was made? Who would guess that Venice is our favorite city, where we also get a lot of inspiration, and maybe why we like Chad’s design so much? Chad’s Wine Room also imibes that eccentric, European New Orleans magic. Finally, we look forward to meeting Chad in person when we travel back to our home town so we can sit down together with a delicious Willamette Valley Pinot Noir in hand while listening to a little Nina Simone, Ella, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and other jazz great singers in the background, all in a divine wine room.

We’ve really enjoyed working with you, Chad! Thank you so much for sharing your project which we know will inspire many others.

What do you think? How did we do? Give it your review and comment below.

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