ASK DEB NELSON: WALLPAPER

Deborah Nelson October 6, 2015

Often people ask about using wallpaper and I'm a fan of wallpaper. There are so many beautiful patterns, colours and styles you can find just about anything these days. When you're picking wallpaper, it often depends on a few factors, such as: ...

DEB'S DIY: CREATE A COLOURFUL VASE

Deborah Nelson September 17, 2015

This is an easy DIY and all you need is a clear vase and some decorative paper. The idea is to line a clear vase with patterned paper – it can be any kind of paper – maybe left over wallpaper, wrapping paper, etc. You can use the vase to hold items, like rolls of wrapping paper or branches (any dry arrangement that doesn't require water). Another fun part of this DIY is that you can use it over the holiday season with your favourite wrapping paper, or for a children's birthday party and match the wrapping paper in the vase to the theme of the party. The options are endless! Here are the simple steps:

Use a clear, clean vase.

Make sure the paper is wide enough to wrap in the vase. Use the vase to measure the height of paper.

Use a pencil to mark where you need to cut the paper to fit.

Place the paper in the vase, I put the 'cut' edge of the paper at the bottom of the vase. I also used a bit of clear tape on the inside to keep the paper taped in place.

NEW FARROW & BALL WALLPAPER

Deborah Nelson January 27, 2015

Farrow & Ball has some fabulous new wallpaper! I'm SO excited to be trying several of these new styles with a client. I might be most excited about this, a gorgeous dark blue going in a powder room (the image below), but really can't wait to see all of them. Wallpaper can quickly transform a room and these are going to be amazing.

More images from Farrow & Ball:

Images: All from Farrow & Ball

Dining room ideas

Deborah Nelson August 22, 2014

In my newspaper column, 'Ask Deb Nelson', I had a question about how to add more colour to a dining room. The homeowner had an oak pedestal table they were planning on painting white. I found the image above as 'inspiration' for the room. I thought the addition of a modern, graphic wallpaper would look be a great backdrop to the room. I suggested this paper in green, because I thought it looked so fresh with the white, but any colour paper would work to add a burst of pattern. I also suggested these chairs in white, they are affordable and can be easily wiped clean in case of spills. I also like these chairs because they can be stacked, so it's easy to store a couple of extras elsewhere and bring them out for additional seating as needed. A large piece of artwork or a mirror can be a great way to add a focal point on one wall. And last but not least, the addition of a drum shade chandelier really works well above the round table.

Powder room inspiration: wallpaper

Deborah Nelson July 31, 2014

Powder rooms are typically small and are a great place to experiment with colour or wallpaper since it's not a huge investment in time or material. The room above is one I like because it has a modern, stylish vibe. Sometimes wallpaper can feel very traditional, but there are more modern and graphic options available these days. Here's another 'dotty' look that I like, paired with more traditional fixtures.

Another great looking wallpaper is Ocelot by Farrow & Ball. After using this in a bedroom last year for a client, I was definitely a fan. In the lightest shade available, it adds a subtle pattern to a room, but nothing too bold. Here it is in a traditional setting.