Wow walls with wallpaper

DEAR GAIL: When I walk through model homes, I see that they are still using wallpaper. Is it still "in" or are they just using it to add more splash to the models? I’ve never used wallpaper but was thinking of wallpapering my kitchen and powder bath for something different. I am usually a do-it-yourself person and was wondering if it is something that I could hang myself. — Connor O.

DEAR CONNOR: Wallpaper is still a wonderful wall-treatment option. In the last seven to 10 years, the wallpaper industry has come so far in producing gorgeous wallpaper for every room. With wallpaper you can get a very detailed and intricate design that you can’t get with any other treatment, except for hiring a very expensive artist. The age of computers has created realistic designs that are amazing.

The two accompanying pictures are of identical condos that I decorated for a client. Since they had two condos in the same location, I gave each one a different feel and color scheme so that they would stand apart from each other. I wallpapered the baths and was able to give them completely different looks, even though everything else was the same. You can get a lot of punch for your dollar with the patterns and colors that are now available.

To keep your décor from being dated, start by looking at the most recently introduced patterns. Depending upon the theme of your home, realize that you can end up dating your look pretty quickly if you select a design that is a bit trendy or too themed. Or, at least realize that and don’t invest in an expensive paper you might be removing in a couple of years.

With wallpaper you will be making a more significant investment than straight paint since wallpaper runs an average of $30 per single roll. So, when you find a couple of wallpapers that you are considering, ask the store to order you a memo sample. There will be a small charge for this, usually under $5, but it will allow you to place a fairly large piece up on your wall to live with for a week or so to decide if you like the paper or not.

Also, know that wallpaper is priced by the single roll but is packaged in double rolls. You can purchase a single roll, but you will pay a significant cut charge to do so. Plus, it is always good to have some extra in case of any installation mishaps or for even later on if any wall repairs need to be done.

As far as installing the paper yourself, if this is not your area of expertise, I would highly recommend hiring a licensed wallpaper installer to handle it for you. Unless you have just one straight wall with no tricky cuts, it is not as easy as it might seem.

You’ll also want the installer to figure the amount of wallpaper that you’ll need. Make sure that you provide the square footage on a single roll, the size of the pattern repeat and whether the pattern is a straight, random or drop match. Your wallpaper store can supply you with all of this information.

The cost to have the paper installed depends upon the type of paper and the complexity of the job, but it averages between $18 to $25 per single roll or spool. Remember there are no paper stretchers, so make sure that your installer has enough to do the job properly. Most installers have a minimum set-up charge of around $75. This means that if you have just two rolls of wallpaper to install, you will be charged the minimum fee versus, for example, $18 per roll or $36.

Before heading out to look at wallpaper, gather up any fabric, flooring and paint samples from the room and give yourself a couple of hours. There are hundreds of books and thousands of patterns to look through, so schedule an afternoon and not just an hour to find a wallpaper that you love. I guarantee that you will.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.