Wallpaper Wednesday - Chinoiserie Wallpaper in Grey Gardens Style

Hello!  Happy Wednesday! 

I am so in love with Chinoiserie!  It first caught my attention when I was watching the 2009 HBO film "Grey Gardens" starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange.  It was based on the 1975 documentary film by Albert and David Maysles based on the life stories of a mother and daughter both named Edith Bouvier Beale but known as "Big and Little Edie."   After a rough period they become reclusive and would not leave their Long Island Summer Home, "Grey Gardens."  Big Edie was the Aunt of Jackie Onassis. 

If you haven't seen "Grey Gardens," I do recommend it.  It can be a tough film to watch as the two women deteriorate along with their beautiful "Grey Gardens."  Not only will you see the decorating eye candy but you will get to witness the great sense of personal style of Little Edie, socialite, former fashion model and cabaret performer.  She was very creative and came up with some stunning and sometimes quirky outfits.  She has had quite an influence on style and is considered a fashion visionary and style icon.

"Grey Gardens" itself was such a gorgeous property.  When I saw the 2009 film my jaw dropped at the decorating.  Please enjoy some of my favorite photos from the film.   You have to give a lot of credit to the set and wardrobe designers.  They did a fantastic job capturing the time period and the graciousness of the home and the personalities of Big and Little Edie.

Click this for movie info on "Grey Gardens"

 Big Edie's Bedroom

 

Love - love - love this hand painted Chinoiserie Wallpaper!

Dining Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Exterior of Grey Gardens

Movie versions of Big and Little Edie looking fabulous during the good times...

Thanks for sharing in my love of beautiful wallpaper! 

 

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Presenting Wallpaper Wednesday - Totally Toile

I've been obsessed with beautiful wallpaper for well over a decade.  I could spend days looking through wallpaper books and be in heaven.  This love of wallpaper has inspired me to have "Wallpaper Wednesday."  Each week (or as often as possible) I'll have some beautiful wallpapers to view for inspiration.  We won't just be limited to designer wallpapers, we'll look at all kinds even the cheap stuff.  Just because it's a bargain doesn't mean it can't be beautiful!

I taught myself to wallpaper when I was in high school.  My parent's had a very old house.  My Mom wasn't very handy and my Dad had a Depression Era mindset; if it isn't broke - don't fix it!  If I wanted my room painted or wallpapered I had to learn to do it myself.  SO I DID!  I'm so thankful that I have that skill today.  It has saved me a lot of money fixing up old Victorian Homes.  Old Victorian's love wallpaper and they use a lot of it!

I've run into all kinds of challenges with wallpapering.  If you know old homes, you know that nothing is level or easy to work with.  You could say I learned in the boot camp of wallpapering: old homes with unlevel walls and ceilings and sometimes smoke stained or crumbling old horsehair plaster.  You learn quickly how to fix plaster and work with unlevel areas.  There are tricks to wallpapering.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask.  I don't guarantee my advice, so if you take it and it doesn't work - please remember it was free advice.  :-)  The best advice I can give you is to ALWAYS buy extra wallpaper.  Buy more than you need.  It may seem expensive at the time, but imagine if you screw up an area or your measurements are incorrect and you end up a roll (or even a sheet!) short and the paper is discontinued.  It has happened and it is just a nightmare.  Consider it your insurance policy to protect your expensive wallpaper investment.  Trust me and buy at least one extra double roll.  If you have a big pattern that loses a lot with the pattern match then buy two extra!

So let's start our first Wallpaper Wednesday. 

This week's theme is The Toile Light Zone... 

You're traveling through another dimension,
a dimension not only of sight but of mind;
a journey into a wondrous wallpapering land whose boundaries are that of imagination...
That's the signpost up ahead-- your next stop . . . the Toile Light Zone!

Sorry... haha.  Okay on to business.

Which are your favorites?

Powder Room: 

Powder Room with Black and White toile wallpaper
By Joe Cook Interior Design

Blue and White Toile - Schumacher, Pinterest

 

Elegant Bath!  Just love this gold toile wallpaper by Scalamandre wallpaper, Decorated by Pamela Laney

Kitchen:

Daring bright yellow and white toile in the kitchen.  Very cheerful and bright!  Pinterest

Cottage Style - Blue and White Toile Kitchen.  How adorable!  Pinterest

Dining Room:

Brown and White Toile-de-jouy-wallpaper - Pinterest

If you've seen my dining room you already know I'm partial to the brown and white look above.  I love the brown toile.  It really isn't dull at all.  It's very versatile, sophisticated, warm and it's neutral.


Bedroom:

Wonderful gold and cranberry toile.  Love the monogrammed pillows.  Pinterest.

Bedroom in Gray Toile - Pinterest

Please let me know if there are any particular wallpaper topics you want to discuss.  This is just the first of many posts on this topic.

If you've enjoyed this post please subscribe to my page, leave a comment or pass this along to a friend. 

Have a wonderful day!