Unfortunately, I love it
The next foyer progress video should be out tomorrow afternoon, but you get to see my test patch of wall first! The colors are looking a bit messed up from nighttime iphone lighting, but the general idea has been tested, and unfortunately, I love it.
I say unfortunately because stenciling the foyer was absolutely not on the schedule, but look, two words-- gothic tracery. I will film a few more clips tomorrow showing how I hand paint in the "shading" and then wrap up the video to post it! Also, I have got to hurry up because I just can't look at the burgundy floor any longer blehhh
Thank you for your comments and encouragement!
Comments (74)
Regarding the electrical work: if you are doing custom millwork for the wainscoting, you can make it hollow (by having one or more grooves routed in the back), allowing for the millwork to be used as a wiring conduit. (In such a case, one could imagine, say, replica bullseye blocks being used as lamp rosettes.) In terms of safety and electrical code, it would probably be easiest if you had low-voltage direct-current wiring, like 12-volt or 24-volt LEDs. Low-voltage lighting can present difficulties if you’re trying to do historic lighting, since most of it tends to be custom LED, but there are also electrical devices specifically intended for RVs that work more like traditional hardwiring. Another option is wiring infrastructure originally intended for low-voltage halogen fixtures. The usual bulb type with those is MR16 spotlights with a G5.3 bi-pin base, though you can also find non-spotlight bulbs with a G4 base. (The designations G4 and G5.3 refer to push-in bi-pin connectors with 4mm and 5.3mm spacing, respectively. This is in contrast to, say, GU10, which refers to a twist-lock bi-pin connector with a 10mm spacing, or E26/E27, which refers to an Edison screw base with a 26mm/27mm diameter, both of which tend to be 100-240-volt alternating current, i.e. mains electricity. MR16 bulbs are multifaceted reflectors [“MR”] with a diameter of 16 eighths of an inch, because sure why not combine inches and millimeters, and they can have G5.3 or GU10 bases, depending on the voltage, though “MR16” usually refers to low-voltage G5.3 bulbs, and “GU10” usually refers to line-voltage MR16 bulbs.) Anyway! So if you went this route, you would need to have any line-voltage sconces rewired with sockets intended for 12-volt bulbs. (Or you could use low-voltage Edison-based bulbs, which are weird and non-standard, so you may wish to avoid that.) But retrofit G4 sockets for 1/8IP fixtures are pretty straightforward, e.g.: https://grandbrass.com/g4-base-porcelain-lamp-socket-with-1-8ips-threaded-brass-skirt/ The reason I mention all this is that 12-volt lighting doesn’t require an electrician, beyond perhaps hardwired transformers or dimmers, and you can stick 12-volt wiring pretty much anywhere, e.g. inside hollow millwork, without it being a fire risk.
If you were doing line-voltage electrical work, the simplest way of doing things would be to add a second electrical box at the height you want directly above the existing one, connect the two, and put a blank plate over the original box. The reason for the blank plate is that anywhere you have wires joined together needs to be accessible, so you can’t just plaster over it. (You could put a light switch there, though.) Generally speaking, it’s pretty straightforward to install additional electrical boxes directly above or below existing ones, with any lateral offset limited by the wall studs. I have lathe-and-plaster in my apartment, and while I’ve cut into it for electrical work, I’m lazy enough that any larger holes I’ve patched with drywall rather than proper lathe-and-plaster to match. (I think the conventional approach here in NYC when rewiring lathe-and-plaster without completely gutting is to remove the baseboard and everything else up to 18in above the floor, do the electrical work, then cover the 18in strip with drywall and reinstall the baseboard. This is what you would do if you wanted to completely modernize the electrical wiring in your house.)
Thinking wallpaper is absolutely not necessary with this artistry on the walls!
I wish, but the wallpaper I'm painting this on top of is awful, so it will all need to be replaced! It's pieced and patched 1970's thick paper with layers of paint that isn't holding onto the walls well anymore as it is 😂
I love it!!
Thank you Marlee!
OMG! Would you be willing to share the svg files you made for this??? Or even sell it somehow? SO FANTASTIC! I understand if it's a no. I get it. Just had to ask. It's a for-sure-no if I don't! So amazing. I think who cares about wall paper now! So good. Why cover it!
Thank you Alexia! I always put the png files I make for stenciling up on pinterest, but I can send you the silhouette cut files via email perhaps? DM me if you'd like them!
I would love to do something like that. So gorgeous.
Thank you Rhonda! I'm always adding more nonsense onto my plans 😂
It's stunning. I love it!
Thank you! Can't go wrong with tracery!
The stencil is gorgeous and adds so much detail to the wall.
Thank you Mónica!
It's so yummy. I want to eat it
Not as tasty in practice I assure you ✨😂
Yeah, but think how good it'll be to be able to relax with your evening cocktail and admire your foyer when its all done and dusted.....
I indeed look forward to the letting myself relax portion of the whole affair 🤣❤️
Fabulosa indeed. Gorgeous
Thank you Marie!
It looks fantastic and honestly I don’t know how you possibly could have helped yourself once you got the idea. It was too perfect.
Thanks Elizabeth! It's actually rare for me to start quite so many different bits at once, but the house demands creative distractions!
I can also see it on dark green walls with gold accents
Gold accents are indeed on the way I promise!
I can't imagine a wallpaper that looks better than this. I LOVE it! If you sell a pdf of the stencil, I'll buy.
Png files always available over on pinterest I promise! I may have to simply get wallpaper of this design made to hang instead, which would be hilarious after all the time I spent sourcing wallpapers I liked 😂
Oh my goooood I love it!
Had to be done! Thank you Katerrinah!
💪🏻💪🏻 It ROCKS! Looks amazing. Honestly - Bianca…. I groan a little because you are … smittsom we say in Norwegian. It means infectious… but there is another word I think, in English? Little nicer way of saying same thing. Anyway - LOVE this. My husband might not be happy if I were to start painting walls black though… but I truly enjoy this adventure!! And that is so freaking beautiful. I love it too. And maybe it would work with an accent wall or can one fake stencil a giant tapestry? Even to stencilling the fringe? I mean… not to add to the work load but ones imagination does begin to pick up some speed… 😂😂💪🏻 Awesome work! Who cares about sewing when there is this kind of beauty to follow along with?? (Altho - yes I am here for the sewing and pattern adjusting & have big dreams there… working on getting in shape finally & plan to use handmade clothes to motivate me to STAY in shape. I want to be an elegant old dame 😂) Cheering you on!
Thank you Lynne! This is why I could never have a partner around who would not allow me decorate as ridiculously as I could dream up 🤣
You might not have put it on your schedule, but we were pretty sure it would happen! It's beautiful, do what makes you happy. 😘
It's a troublesome side of my brain that simply never shuts off 😅✨
really loving your bits and bites of the home reno ongoing! 🩷
So many ideas, so little time (and energy)!
Correctttt 🥲
It really does look amazing... although I feel your pain on the schedule interruptus.
I am the queen of destroying my own schedule 😒
You’re not wrong, it looks ahhhhhmazing! 🖤
Thank you!!
Yes, very unfortunate! And really, who needs wallpaper with someone else's designs when you can do *this*!
Thank you Sam! Yeah I may have to have this design printed and simply rehung on fresh paper oopsie...
Everything about "unfortunately, I love it" is so painfully relatable 🤣🤣
Magical 🪄
Oh that’s simply incredible. The look of it is just gorgeous. I’m afraid you are correct, you’ll be very much disappointed with anything else.
Thank you! Indeed it's a problem 😂
Yup "unfortunately" its undeniably gothic, cool and very you. I love your work. 😁
Thank you Nena!
It looks amazing!
Thank you Audrey!
Stunning!
It's like an anemic arsenic green and I love it.
Do what I can ✨💚
The 3D effect looks way cooler on the wall than it did in the mock up!
Unfortunately, I love it too
Oh jeez, that looks incredible.
Thank you Christine!
So, so good.
Thank you Julie!
It looks amazing so far! Hopefully it'll be be even better with a less distracting floor. ;)
I have to do the floor last due to the scuffing potential of moving the ladder around and it is /painful/ oofa
It looks amazing, I'm sorry you love it. ❤️
Thank you Sarah!
It's gorgeous already but it's going to be even more outstanding once it's finished. Deep and moody with such arts and crafts flair, I'm obsessed! I keep imagining trick-or-treaters at your door, catching glimpses of your walls and decor and being so impressed with what they see. Afaic, you win at the home decor game. 100% 🎮 📐 🔥 game, set, match!
Thank you!! I may just stand outside on the porch though for Halloween so my kitties don't get too scared from the doorbell, the things we do for pets...
It's going to be amazing when it's done.
You're videos have me desiring to do stencils and add some more decorations to my walls.
Do itttt!
Nailed it!
All this hard work will be so worth it! You are doing great making your dream house manifest!
Thank you Sandra!
Keep swimming! You're doing great.
Thank you Michelle!
looks amazing! 🖤
Thank you Arlene!