Hello All, what a helpful forum! 🙂
My name is Gi. My hubby and I live in the great Northwest. We occupy a home that was built in the early part of the century…as a barn! From the sides it looks like a large house, but the rooms are rather small. This charming house was passed down through the family, and a few renters. The various people who lived here loved the place, but had their own ideas about decorating, which they did by layering one over the other.
So there’s paint over wallpaper, wallpaper over plaster and slats through most of the house. (In the kitchen this runs up and over an oddly curved ceiling.)
In the living room there are two walls customized this way (with cracks and seams and bubbles appearing in the painted wallpaper) And the other two walls are a lovely honey colored, but very dated wood panelling.
I’m aching for a unified look, and smooth walls. Maybe by adding my own layers of suede look paint over all. *lol*! Or tacking over all some delicately wall papered panels, so that treasured wood panelling does not get painted over.
Honestly, I’d love to do this right. Hubby is about to retire, and I’ll have more help to rennovate, but right now I’m on my own. Any ideas temporary and permanent?
Thanks so much!
🙂
Replies
Gi,
The correct, and best approach I could tell you is to strip it. Its a lot of work, I wont minimize that. No matter if it is a pro, or a youngster that does the job (stripping), There are going to be walls that need repair. Repairing plaster and lath walls is not the same as joint compound. Generally its a setting type plaster.
If you are going to do it yourself, do a small area to see how committed you are to the work. No matter what you add on top of the current condition, it will never be what you seem to be looking for.
-zen
Thanks Zen, for your expertise, and for giving me the sobering truth. Hubby felt quite the same, and that's why with his twelve hour shifts, he's understandibly putting it off.
We've been here four years and its time to paint. A little discouraging that after a lot of work and expense just to do that, it wouldn't be much of an improvement.
Thank you for the good advice to start with a small area. There are places in the old cupboard back walls that have begun to peel, maybe I can start there?
I don't even know how to deal with a setting type plaster. A little at a time would be a very good idea. :)
Gi
Cabinets are a pain in the butt. Its hard to get in there. Even though it needs to be done, I have a few myself, if you start there, dont think the rest of the job will be that tough. lol
I can help with a ton of questions, but setting plaster is not in my expertise. You can ask over in breaktime which type to use for plaster walls, or maybe someone will see this and answer us both.
-zen
*lol* Aren't I good? I pick a tough spot to start. I guess what appealed to me was the thought that however it came out, it was behind a closed door!
Okay Zen, I'll try that. Thanks so much for your help :)
Gi