wallpaper removal

There are many ways to remove wallpaper. I initially tried a mixture of fabric softner and water on wallpaper that had been scored - I've heard of this working, but it didn't fair too well. It would have taken months to finish the job we have - and I imagine it would take ten bottles of fabric softner. So we rented a steamer for $34.


...still a slow process, but it helped immensely. It's easy to use and no chemicals. First, you fill the tank with hot water - it took about 30 minutes before the steam started, so the hotter you start with the sooner you'll be working. It's a relatively small tank, but it lasted a good amount of time. While you're waiting for steam, score the paper so that the steam can permeate the glue. Slowly run the steamer plate over the paper and it should start loosening from the wall.

The stuff in the bedroom was horrible and took much longer. It came off in two layers, first the decorative easter egg layer, then the backing paper.

The walls will need repair and primer before painting, but it's nice to take a step in the right direction.

The ivy paper was thicker and held together, so removing it was much easier. You can also see that we ended up exposing the brick all the way up the stairs. The darker diagnol line is where the roof over the basement stairs used to be.

Some tips:
-Keep a spray bottle nearby. If the walls are very wet, it comes down easier;
-Using the scraper is sometimes inevitable, but I tried to keep it's use to a minimum. If everything is wet, you can use your fingers to pull it down with less damage to the wall;
-Pull slowly and try to get as big a piece as possible.

Circe's Kitchen

Just had to provide a link to the Circe's Kitchen blog post on The History of the Kitchen in art.

Thanks to writer and kitchenista Kirsten!

Peggy

Marble Countertops in Your Kitchen?

I recently had a client who was enamored with some green marble countertops he had seen in a showroom display and wanted to use them in his own kitchen. I counseled him to beware because of the softness and stainability of marble.

This has been my practice throughout my 25 years as a kitchen designer. As a result I have seldom seen marble countertops installed in kitchens I have designed, except as pastry counters separated from everyday use.

Today I ran across a lengthy blog discussion on Apartment Therapy on just the subject of marble in the kitchen. Most of the posters seem to be biased toward using marble in their kitchens, so you have to read it with that understanding; but it is certainly a thorough analysis of the benefits and drawbacks.

I am a cook who likes countertops that are easy to care for and last a lifetime without great expense or drudgery. I have thoroughly loved the Corian countertops and integral sink in my own kitchen since they were installed in 1989 and I would do them again in any future kitchen (unless something better comes along).

For those of my clients who want the period look of marble I always recommend honed granite as an alternative that will be more stain and scratch resistant. There is a kitchen on my web site that shows this look.






















This particular granite is very light with some garnet crystals. Honing blurs and softens the graininess of the granite. The look isn't exactly the look of marble but the overall effect is of aged countertops.

The undermounted Corian sink also contributes to the aged look.



























So there are viable alternatives to fragile marble countertops in the kitchen for all but the most determined purists.

As a homeowner and cook you have to ask yourself how far you are willing to go in maintaining your own countertops. Answering that question will direct you toward the countertops that will serve your time constraints and aesthetic considerations as well.

Peggy