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sochi

Thoughts about wallpaper as wall mural?

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

I've come across quite a few lately and am considering using one or two in my project. Would you consider it? Why?

A few random examples, not ones I'm necessarily considering.

Considering this one for a shower wall (yes, shower). It is water proofed.

Not a wall but I love this:

Comments (37)

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Great idea!

  • 8 years ago

    April, I am going to owe you a commission for all the great things you show me. Maybe you should start a simple Instagram account with your finds? Just a few words to go with ... nothing much.

  • 8 years ago

    that would seriously undermine my mysteriousness lol

    (given that I have the same nickname everywhere - not much left to worry about))

    I'm happy to share all my finds, some things are just too beautiful! I'd feel like a cheat though?..it's not like I made them..I just saw them..and Instagram is more about being creative, or did I get all wrong?

    I do have Pinterest..including huge board on walls and murals and tiles etc. I'd be very flattered if you want to look at it and/or follow..if you're on Pinterest of course..

    https://www.pinterest.com/aprilneverends/paint-and-finishesand-tiles-and-wallpaper-and-mura/

  • 8 years ago

    Yes. My preference is non-photographic painterly ones.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I love wallpaper murals! In my last home many of the rooms were small but tall. I did photographic forest trees in my sons room. Instead of one feature wall I did two part walls. The effect was wonderful. Unfortunately the mural was not tall enough for the wall so I had to start at the top with the mural and paint the open bottom darker matching shades of the forest while working my way up. I also painted a few branch sprigs coming out of the mural onto the wall.

  • 8 years ago

    April, wow. I followed you on Pinterest. I use the site for lists, nothing special. I wish I could DM you on this site.

  • 8 years ago

    I've always been a wallpaper junkie so yes, I would put a mural on my walls. And I wish I could afford a mural tile on my shower. I had one picked out when I did the remodel but it wasn't "just right" so for the money, I didn't do it.

  • 8 years ago

    Thank you Rita, I'll follow you too then, with your permision!

    (what's "DM"?)

    sochi, sorry for some off topic, but your question definitely made me giddy..:) Murals can be wonderfully beautiful..

  • 8 years ago

    The 40 odd linear foot Zuber Eldorado may still be for sale on eBay for half price. Half price of $63,000 or something like that.

  • 8 years ago

    April- it's direct message- if you click on my profile things it will take you to a page with my screen name and there you will find a button that says Message me or something like that. Yours is not enabled. I think you have to adjust your settings. At any rate if you message me I can get back to you.

  • 8 years ago

    Mine is enabled..as far as I know..have to check into it, I'll adjust it back, Rita

    Zuber Eldorado is something out of this world..just googled it. I also love all but photographs, less so..

    Surface View has some enormous amount of things that can be turned into murals..not the same as painted for sure, yet still, their selection is amazing, as they take images from museums, galleries, you name it..

    https://www.surfaceview.co.uk/

  • 8 years ago

  • 8 years ago

    love some of these but can I use wallpaper in a bathroom that is not big and has shower used daily? Thank you!

  • 8 years ago

    Love the stairs!!! Thanks foe sharing.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Thank you for the comments. April, no problem going off topic and spasiba za shutku! I will check out your Pinterest site.

    madismom5 - I've found two different wallpaper companies that make wallpaper that can be used directly in the shower. They have a special water proof coating applied to the paper. Both companies are European but at least one of the companies has an office in Florida. I've been lusting after this one for several months, still may pull the trigger:

    This Dutch company ships around the world and carries hundreds of amazing wall murals, so many spectacular examples, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the choice. https://www.behangfabriek.com/

    Pal, I prefer the painted ones as well, I'm leaning towards a modern interpretation of a floral still life. That Zuber Eldorado is something else! Sadly I don't have 40 linear feet. Nor do I have that much in my wallpaper budget!

    I have two possible spots for a wall mural: master shower (about a 6' x 8'6" wall) and a long wall (~15' long by 10' high) in the kitchen that will have nothing on it but a walnut buffet with a small bar sink in it.

    A few more;

  • 8 years ago

    A few more beautiful examples:

  • 8 years ago

    I like them best in very spare spaces rather than traditional rooms. Those stairs are gorgeous. What I don't know is how they would look when you are standing in the room versus how they look in an edited photograph. We all know what a difference lighting and other room elements can make.

  • 8 years ago

    Good points Fun2behere. I wish I could see one IRL. Agree about a spare room being a good match, although I've seen a few that look pretty spectacular in formal, traditionally spaces too. But again, staged photos.

  • 8 years ago

    Oh my.....absolutely love the florals! I think it would look spectacular. Here is another image of the stairs done by Candis Meredith. She got a copy write free image from a museum and had it printed in a lightweight vinyl at a local sign shop. She also said they didn't worry about the images perfectly lining up on the stairs.
    Most likely much cheaper than ordering but a bit more work.

    Here are links to one of the museums offering the images. I haven't had time to go through it yet.
    https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksstudio?ii=0&p=0&from=2017-08-26T05%3A38%3A47.1701306Z 

    https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksstudio-inspiration 

    Can you please give the link to the waterproof wallpaper for showers?


    A close-up


  • 8 years ago

    Traditionally the French scenics were hung in dining rooms, ballrooms and hallways where there are expanses of wall and little or no furniture against the walls.

    sochi thanked palimpsest
  • 8 years ago

    I love the swaying reed one you posted ((Swoon)). I'm in the prairies so reminds me of wheat. Hmmm. Might be something to put on my bare bedroom wall! (And have my dh wonder what in the world I am doing!)

  • 8 years ago

    Neverbedone, those stairs are stunning. Wow.

    Here is a link to the first company I found that offers a wet wallpaper system: http://www.wallanddeco.com/en/18-collections--Wet-System

    They have a distributor in Florida, or you can order online though the Dutch company I listed earlier.

    akl, I love the swaying reeds too! So lovely and calm.

    Pal, yes, more evidence for a spare large room being the ideal application spot for something like this. I've found a few images from the '60s and '70s where murals are used in busy, contemporary houses, behind couches and tables. Haven't seen one I love in that sort of setting though.

  • 8 years ago

    These are hand painted by an artist in a French Chateau.


  • 8 years ago

    Here is the link to a second company that has a wet system. http://www.glamora.it/en/collections/


  • 8 years ago

    Love the swaying reeds too.

  • 8 years ago

    neverbedone thank you for that link!..I haven't looked into everything yet but wow, ceramics! stopped me in my tracks. going to explore further..

    and sochi..since you're so kind to put up with me and the constant OT..guys I made a total fool out of myself on Pinterest, since several people followed me and I didn't know who is who so I might have sent the wrong DM..:) I followed everybody back so if you want to send me message please do so I save the whatever left of my face..:)

    hoovb these are gorgeous I especially love the first ones..

    what a great thread

  • 8 years ago

    Lol, I showed DH and he loved the swaying reeds! Now "How much" was the next question....I don't know if I have it in me to actually DO this, but will check it out.

    I have too many little projects on the go and I keep getting distracted!

  • 8 years ago

    Thank you for the links, Sochi. I'm off to look!


  • PRO
    8 years ago

    I think they can be wonderful, but they must be SUPER high quality or they end up looking kitchy or even tacky. The super high quality ones are also SUPER expensive!

    sochi thanked Anglophilia
  • 8 years ago

    Thanks Anglo. I'm sure you're right. Other than price, what are the markers of a high quality wall mural? I'm not familiar with many wall paper manufacturers. Almost all of the companies I've looked at are European, so difficult to see in person.

  • 8 years ago
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    SUPER high quality (which also means $$$$$) are Zuber, Gracie, and de Gournay. They are usually handpainted or hand-blocked, are always hung using liner paper (so they can be removed and used in another place), and look best in very grand houses. They are usually used in halls, up grand staircases, in dining rooms, and occasionally in a very large and grand bedroom.

    Farrow & Ball makes some papers that are not murals but large scale paper. While expensive, they are not something that one must win the lottery to even consider.

    Here are some examples of how it is used.

    https://www.curbed.com/2016/9/1/12748496/old-house-wallpaper-history-zuber-china

    https://www.graciestudio.com

    https://degournay.com/wallpapers

    For those of you who saw the movie "FIfty Shades of Gray", you might have noticed the fabulous wallpaper behind the bed. According to the NYTImes review of the movie, the de Gournay wallpaper was the best part of the movie. I have not seen the movie but I'm sure I would have spotted the de Gournay wallpaper!

    I love Farrow & Ball papers and have used them in multiple rooms in my house (I still love wallpaper, even though it is out of fashion).

    http://us.farrow-ball.com/patterns/wallpaper/fcp-category/sub

  • 8 years ago

    From where I am, wallpaper is making a big come-back, so much so that I feel uncomfortable doing a beautiful Chinoiserie because it is getting overdone (but I couldn't afford it until now and now everybody has it :-(

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    "de Gournay wallpaper was the best part of the movie"-I'm sure of that..and I didn't see the movie lol

    Rita, they all are different! Chinoiserie I mean. All different, all gorgeous. And "everybody" is still probably 1% of the population

    Tempaper sells Chinoiserie:) I wanted to buy samples to decoupage an old desk(and to have my Chinoiserie fix lol)-well each sample is 35 dollars, and I want like eight, to overlap them and all..it's not that I can't afford it but it's a lot for several samples of temporary paper even of nice quality

    Everybody who has it had it all this time..we just see these homes mostly in AD, House Beautiful, and Living Etc

    since the moment I bought my first (i think was House Beautiful?) shelter magazine, I knew that people love wallpaper here too))

    and it was 2010.

  • 8 years ago

    Good point, april. I will see how things develop in the new house. I was thinking of wallpapering a folding screen with a deGournay chinoiserie for behind my bed- something in a duck egg blue.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Thank you Anglo, I really enjoyed going through those links! My home couldn’t pull off one of the de gurney papers but I wish I had a house that could. I love some of those F&B papers as well.

    I’ve ordered the paper for my master shower, fingers crossed! I will report back.

    Here is the simulation of the paper in the size I need: