Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Following up: Starched fabric walls and loft pics


Prepping the starch (Image from How About Orange)
Starched fabric walls are a hot-talk topic these days! More and more people are trying it -- or thinking of trying it. I got a question from TAA reader Saz...
will it work if your walls are already wallpapered?! I'm guessing not. My new rental house has plain neutral coloured wallpaper in some places which has then been painted on in yet more neutral colour, I was looking for a way to add a splash of colour/pattern to the odd wall or chimney breast.
Hmm. While I don't know for sure because I haven't tried it (nor know anyone who has), my inclination is to say no. You see, to get the fabric properly starched, you have to soak it in the water and starch mixture before slapping it up on your wall. Your walls will be wet to the touch for at least a day. And moisture + traditional wallpaper = bad. I'm envisioning scenarios where the wetness and the weight of the fabric pulls down the original paper, or maybe the fabric goes up on your walls without a hitch, but when it comes time to remove it, it'll yank the paper down too. Either way, the paper underneath will be ruined. So if you're trying to preserve what your landlord already put up, I'd avoid the starched fabric wallcovering. However, if your place has wallpaper that's since been painted on, I wonder if your landlord cares about the condition of the paper? Maybe they'll be cool with you pulling it down (and then putting fabric up). I would definitely ask... or be prepared to lose my deposit.
I also just wanted to share this pic; I tried and tried to find it in my saved pictures folder on my laptop for the lofts post yesterday, and thought it had been lost. I saved it long ago -- I think it was from Curbed LA, but I'm not sure -- I know it was from a real estate listing for a loft in LA -- and I was so taken by the brick wall and spiral staircase that I saved the picture. Mostly because I knew I couldn't afford such a cool apartment. But if it's true that you capture someone or something's soul in a picture, then in some small way, this is my apartment now.

I want to go to there.

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