Sounds like you have some great ideas. I hope you'll keep us posted on your progress!

Well, I'd say you're off to a good start. The laminate flooring will definitely change the look and warm things up. Are you going to put a different wallpaper in the kitchen or paint the walls?

Laurie

Where is the conflict in ideas? I agree with everything you said that you are going to do. That wallpaper.... The wall color will depend on what your furniture looks like.

OH, Heavens, I had that wallpaper in 1984.

Yes Laurie, we're going to paint the kitchen.

We actually are going to paint OVER the wallpaper. People look at me funny when I say that, but we've done it before and it turned out fine.

The builder put up the wallpaper without painting, priming, or sizing and there is no way to remove it without damaging the wallpaper.

We saw SW Killim Beige recently and liked it. I'll try a sample quart in Satin and post a pic for feedback.

Mark

We've worked through most conflicts to get to this point, but more issues are coming up. We're at the point where we're having to make decisions fast.

Mark

Here's a picture of our furniture. We're thinking about buying new, but will use this for now.

Any wall color suggestions?

Mark

Why do you have to make decisions so fast? Are you planning on selling soon? Destin, FL is a resort vacation destination, lots of golf, fishing, ect. Its a lovely place to visit.

How funny Patricia...I remember the wallpaper too. And my mom had the same carpet color, she was so excited when it was installed.

MD, the house has some wonderful angles with great possibilities. I'd take a couple of tours of new home construction and see what is "in" around your area. You may be surprised how quick new ideas can crop up and help elimate long decisions on color, style, textures, etc. for final decisions.

Keep us posted on the transitions.

With your looking at a beige paint, I have wanted to ask the group a question regarding beige. Is anyone getting tired of "beige". Am finding it a bore for me, the color has been sourrounding me for 4 years in the livingroom. This is a personal take not a complaint about other's rooms on the forum. And I have no clue regarding another direction. And I just jumped this thread...

I suppose the best example of new construction around here would be the Southern Living Dream Home. Here are a few pix.

We're not selling soon, but resale is a factor. We put Cider Toddy (orangish) on the walls of our last home. The first realtor we interviewed was insistent we neutralize and paint over it. I have to admit, it was a little out of the ordinary.

Anyway, another realtor said no way so we listed it with her and sold it within 48 hours for the same price the first realtor said we could get if we repainted everything.

MD, go over to San Destin and look at the new homes, the ones that have not sold. Some great design and decorating ideas can be had there. We spent a week earlier in the season in one of the approximately 10-year-old ones that has been revamped secondary to "weather," and then a 3-day weekend in a new one.

I would not put hardwood floors on the main floor in a house in Destin. The sand will kill it. Use travertine or slate, etc. On the second floor, use the hardwood.

You can have a good painter come in and prepare your wallpaper so that they can be painted. It can be done but it takes a little expertise in tearing away, spackling and sanding all the edges so they will not show.

I am not really fond of the sofa but if it fits your family, then go for it. But, do go see some of the houses in San Destin, which are cutting edge.

Those are cute pictures but you need to go see the homes in the new part of San Destin.

Thanks Patricia, I'll check out those homes. We're not wild about this furniture either. That's what I'm looking for, honest feedback.

We're inland so sand won't be an issue for us. The laminate is one of the compromises I mentioned. I like the big 18" travertine tile (or a quality ceramic copy) laid on a diagonal. It's all the rage down here on the coast.

Unless you are planning on flipping this house, I wouldn't paint over the wallpaper. It is well established that you should not paint over wallpaper. It can easily be removed. Many people will think more than twice about purchasing a house with painted wallpaper due to the removal problems.

Hi Mark,

Your home is quite pretty, and it will be fun to see what you do with it!

we often visit your area, and fell in love with a home there during a visit this past summer. The colors were so pretty and restful (we tried them here, but they didn't work as well in our Tennessee lighting). I posted about it in a thread about "beach decor" after we came back:

Posted by southernheart (My Page) on Wed, Aug 15, 07 at 20:13

"We recently returned from a long trip to FL, and were able to go to a high-end Decorator's Show House in Watercolor (just outside of Seaside, FL) while we were there. They didn't allow photos as it was a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, but I did write down the colors used.
The entire house (which had Craftsman elements on the interior---such as wide-board trim) was done in very natural elements such as wood blinds, lots of granite and stone, mixed with natural, earthy colors and dark hardwood floors with dhurrie and oriental rugs (and similar pillows). Most of the beachy decorating I see in that area is rooted in natural elements and tones rather than what might first come to mind when you mention "beach decor".

The two wall colors used were SW Ramie and SW Oyster Bay, and we both commented that it was the most calming house we had ever visited. Oyster Bay is a gorgeous color...a grayed blue-green. It is so pretty that I picked up a swatch at the local SW store just so that I wouldn't forget it. I tried it on my walls at home and it washed out to a paler aqua in my lighting, but is going to be a great ceiling color for my bedroom. I'll be able to have a little touch of the calming colors of our beach visit all year long."

Please do keep us updated on your progress with your home!

Premier, where was it established that you should not paint over wallpaper? It has been being done for centuries. I have done many a paint-over-wallpaper and if it is done right, it is no different from drywall. In fact, what do you think the outer cover of sheetrock is?

Well since you have neutral leather furniture- you could do any paint combo- I would definately do a different color paint for the island wall and dropped island ceiling in kitchen to make it pop out. It is an interesting design- place an up light up there for evening use.

The all through wood floors would be a great update and a nice modern area rug for the dining area.

Get rid of the ceiling fan in kitchen get a modern drop light or a can light. same w/ dining area a new modern light. No gold! Trash the sliding glass blinds!

This place could rock if you go modern.

Tammy :)

Ditto Patricia.

We've primed, textured, and painted over several rooms of wallpaper. It's a *heckuva* lot easier to do that, than to strip wallpaper.

This house looks like a fun one to re-do. I'd love to see more examples of your inspirations, though, before I shoot off suggestions.

MD, welcome to the forum and to Florida. We've been here 3 years and love it.

Another "ok" for painting over wallpaper, especially if it is well-adhered and not sized, etc, underneath. My sitting room is paint-over-paper, for over 20 years now. No problems whatsover. We removed the paper from our master bath (improperly prepped by builder or POs), and are going to have to repair those walls.

Emagineer, I actually have found that "camel" is an integral part of my own personal color palette (grayed beiges and taupes don't do well in our lighting). I understand what you are saying, as I am a "color person" and like to use a lot of color in my decor. But, I've found that in my home, we need the occasional visual relief of a neutral as we also have a lot of color in our fabrics, paintings, rugs, and accessories. I can see where some might become bored by beiges if the overall decor is more monochromatic (unless their preferance is monochromatic ;-).

Premier, if you can tell that the wallpaper is painted over then it is a bad job. I have painted over wallpaper in a bathroom. I stripped part of it and then gave up.The wallpaper was horribly stuck on. It took hours to strip just what I did and I used a steamer.

You can not tell which part has wallpaper and which part was stripped. The seams were smoothed and the walls were texured and primed.

patricia...novices and lay people may paint over wallpaper but any true professional would tell you it is a no-no. This is basic and well established. Pros do not recommend this. Only DIYers do. And where is it stated that painting over wallpaper is the recommended method? Wallpaper is not like the paper on drywall. Wallpaper is glued on. When you apply paint, that paint has moisture which eventually will affect the glue behind the wallpaper. The paint softens the glue behind the wallpaper...bubbles and eventual peeling. Painted wallpaper has a different texture than drywall. It is always obvious when wallpaper has been painted over. It looks like a cheap fix. What about the seams? Seams require additional work to try to hide them. It is almost impossible to remove painted wallpaper from drywall without damaging the drywall. It is possibly more successful with plaster walls. It is always a huge job compared to the simple job of removing the wallpaper to begin with. Try talking to some pros or doing a simple google on the topic.

I realize there are a lot of people on this forum that do things against standards and claim that they work out great. I also realize many people have painted over wallpaper. And despite the claims of how well it has worked out, I have seen plenty of problems with it. Most potential buyers are turned off by it. And it simply never looks right. It always looks like painted over wallpaper just like painted paneling always looks like painted paneling.

I simply never understood why anyone would choose to paint over wallpaper and put themselves at risk for serious problems than simply removing the wallpaper to begin with which is so easy to do.

Good grief Premier.

What on earth makes you think that you're the authority on all subjects? Especially when others have chimed in to say that, yes, you can do something...I've done it at my house...it's held up fine for 20 years, etc. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

If you prime the wallpaper with oil-based primer, it seals it from any moisture. Seams are easily handled with even a modicum of drywall mudding abilities. If primed and textured correctly, you can achieve amazing results, and I have done this in 2 homes.

And you're wrong about it being only DIYers that do that. There are SEVERAL companies in my area that specialize in this kind of wallpaper remedy.

And I think that reno is also in real estate and understands the nuances of buyers' preferances and that market, if I remember correctly? :)

From reading quite a few of premier's posts the past few weeks, perhaps premier just prefers the role of devil's advocate...

You are correct southernheart. I can tell you for certain that buyers balk at wallpaper, but readily will buy a home that has been textured properly.

My house, with 4 rooms of textured-over and painted wallpaper sold in 8 days with multiple offers.

I agree about the devil's advocate part.

reno What makes you an authority or any other DIYer who has done this to their home? People who renovate houses for a living will tell you that homeowners do a lot of dumb things. I guess all the renovation and painting experts will just have to forfeit their long held standards and learn from you.

I don't care how well you claim your painted wallpaper looks or anyone else's claims. Despite people doing this, it has never been the recommended method. It is ridiculous to even deny this. And yes reno I have made it my business to know what the experts recommend as I have been renovating houses as a business for years.

Well, I am NOT a novice. My husband and I owned a fire-reno business which was borne of me hanging wallpaper for a fire contractor and then deciding the wallpaper could be painted in some cases. So, no, I am not a novice. I was hanging wallpaper in the early 1970s.

True, the paper on sheetrock is not the same as that on good quality wallpaper, it's inferior.

Some experts think painting wallpaper after it is prepped and primed, is superior since it offers another layer of insulation.

Just how long anyone has been reno'ing who does not understand that houses built with paneling in the 1960s and 1970s did not have sheetrock under the paneling. NO, most were built with paneling which omitted the sheetrock. How many reno's must one do to not understand that.

premier, would you please clue us in on your "simple" method of removing wallpaper from unprepped walls. I have been trying to do just that and it is a mess, the paper will come off in areas where compound was used at seams and to cover nails otherwise it could be impossible. I spent hours and hours in trying to remove paper in our smallish powder room. And DH has spent more hours trying to cover all the scrapes and dings.
All of us DIY's would be eternally grateful if you would just wave your magic wand for us so we can do what the Pros do!

There is no magic wand. And I have discovered that each case may require a different method. What works great in one house may not be as great in another house. Many pros recommend steamers. Personally I have gotten better results with other methods. Chemicals do work. But you really have to wet down the wallpaper and allow the chemical to soak it so that the glue is soften. You can't rush it. I have successfully used DIP. My favorite method is a mixture of yellow ammonia in very hot water. One part ammonia to 2 parts hot water. After soaking in good, I use a window scraper to peel off the wallpaper. Ammonia is very good at loosening the wallpaper paste. Fill up a spray bottle with the mixture and spray it on a section of a wall. Scoring will open up holes to allow the chemical to get behind the wallpaper. You may have to gently score if it is one layer on unprepped drywall. Scrapes and dings are usually due to digging in and putting to much pressure on a blade that is held at the wrong angle. Using a window scraper is safer and won't leave dings as long as you hold it at the right angle and don't dig in.

Even if you end up creating some dings, it is not difficult to fix them. Fixing dings is preferable to painting over wallpaper.

I have never encountered wallpaper that I couldn't remove. Some are more timeconsuming than others but it can be done. In the event you can't remove it or don't want to spend the time, cut out the sheetrock and install new sheetrock. Sheetrock is inexpensive.

The ammonia mixture is helpful for many different types of jobs. I have used it to totally remove paint from a wall. The person who painted it must have used some cheap roller and the wall was not smooth. It had all these little bumps all over it. I got it all off down to the bare wall.

Again, more than one way to skin a cat. And again, I'm not the only one to do it that way. When reputable paint and wallpaper companies offer this service *professionally*, then it's apparent that your way is not the only way. I don't care how long you've been doing whatever. Still doesn't make your opinion the final say. (Or mine for that matter....still making thepoint that there is more than one to be "right.") It's annoying for you to insist that just because it's not how you do something that it's not an acceptable method, when so clearly it is for so many people, including professionals.

mdindestin: Is it really humid where you live? My concern about painting over wallpaper would be the effect of humidity over time. Also, is the wallpaper peeling anywhere? I'm sure that people have painted over wallpaper and the result has been great and has endured, but personally, I would rather spend the time removing wallpaper--starting from scratch, as it were--then prepare and prime the walls for paint. It would just make me feel better, somehow. When we have the new linoleum put in, the installers said they could just install it over the old stuff, but I had them remove all the old stuff. I like the feeling that when I walk on my floor, I'm not walking on top of layers of old materials. Just my preference, I'm sure.

P.S. Pros and cons of painting over wallpaper, according to one site. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Painting Wallpaper

"This Old House" guys don't recommend it. But doesn't mean it can't be done!

Here is a link that might be useful: This Old House: Painting Wallpaper?

Wow, I didn't mean to stir things up. A couple of things. I've renovated thirteen homes and would rather watch HGTV than NFL. My point being that I've been around the block a time or two.

First, I scored the walls with a paper tiger then soaked the paper in DIF and let the enzyme eat away. I also tried fabric softener (don't laugh, it works for many people) and hot water in a pump-up sprayer. No matter what we combination we did, we couldn't remove the paper without tearing up the drywall.

The key to successful painting is to use a good primer like KILZ (not water based KILZ 2). This seals down the paper.

Mark Price of Painter's Plus has a local radio show and suggested it. This guy's good.

For what it's worth,

MD

I've worked in several historic house museums with painted wallpaper - people have been painting over wallpaper for generations with excellent results. If the wallpaper is in good condition and it is primed, painting it should look great and it will last for many years to come.

"It's annoying for you to insist that just because it's not how you do something that it's not an acceptable method, when so clearly it is for so many people, including professionals."

reno The way I do it has nothing to do with it. It is an industry standard not to paint over wallpaper. You seem to believe that anything goes at all times and that there are no standards or recommended methods. But that simply is not true. You, me and anyone else here don't create standards and recommended methods. And just because you and some other people here have painted over wallpaper doesn't mean that it is an equally acceptable method. And you can pay businesses to do lots of things including substandard work.

When a topic like this is brought up, I try to convey the accepted industry standard. Even if people do end up painting over wallpaper, at least they have the proper information to make that decision. I feel you mislead people by telling them that painting over wallpaper is equally acceptable without also warning them of all of the potential problems. I find it annoying that you keep insisting that there are no industry standards and recommended methods. This isn't an issue of personal opinion like you keep trying to say.

mdindestin: I think that, in your case, painting over the wallpaper is probably the best bet. One of the links I visited specifically stated that when the drywall is at risk of being ruined through wallpaper removal, then painting over the wallpaper is the best alternative option.

"It's possible, but it's bad practice and we don't recommend it. First of all, the job can never be made to look good. Second, it's a sign of lazy workmanship. Third, painted wallpaper is a real bear to remove, so you'll make the job even tougher for yourself or someone else down the road. If the paper is unpainted now, a wallpaper steamer will make fairly short work of removal, then you can clean the wall with a solution of vinegar and water, then prep, prime, and paint as if it were a raw plaster wall."

Although the link to This Old house didn't elaborate on all of the pitfalls, I found this statement most appropriate.

"it's a sign of lazy workmanship."

To answer one of the questions above, it is humid here; but, this wallpaper is stuck like glue. It's not peeling up anywhere.

MD

We're going to have to agree to disagree. It *can* be done to look amazing, but one clarification needs to be made: We live in an area where smooth coat drywall is not done. All new construction has either a hand-troweled finish, or your basic knock-down.

If primed properly, no moisture will get in, and if textured in the areas' accepted texture of choice, you can tell no difference whatsoever.

Now in areas of the country where smooth coated walls are the norm, then I agree that it just would look awful to have paint over wallpaper.

You can't tell me about "industry-wide" anything, as what's accepted by the "industry" is different from place to place. I work closely with said industry for selling houses. I'm telling you that it IS accepted *by professional painters* in our area to do it this way. That's not just my opinion, that's fact. So you can argue with me all you want, and I can argue with you, and no good will come of it.

Agree to disagree.

The link to This Old House also said to wash down the walls with water and vinegar. Tell me, how in the devil do you wash unfinished drywall? If walls have had numerous coats of oil based paints before someone applied the wallpaper you can remove the paper with minimal damage to the walls because I have done it. I would like thes professional people show me how they WASH drywall after they have EASILY removed the paper.

By the way, I have successfully removed wallpaper in the past. This time we spent hours picking at the wallpaper and only did a very small section. Even after the paper was removed, I still have to finish coat and sand all the damage. I would cover the old drywall with new 3/8 drywall before I would continue that tedious process.

Bottom line, if my painted wallpaper ever peels off I'll cover it with new dryall. I have nothing to lose by trying and it's worked for me in the past.

Mark, I live in a town near Memphis, which is Humidity Central. Mine has held up fine. :)

Best wishes with your project...I hope you post pics!