I’m finally getting around to decorating the girls’ room. It’s not a huge space – about 12×15. Just enough room for two twin beds with a dresser in between. The other side of the room has a big toy box (you can see it peeking out here) and a tall dresser to the right and a closet area, play table and bookshelves to the left.
Obviously there will be new bedding and the rug will probably be moved to our bedroom. I’m also going to reupholster the headboards and add canopies, which will help with the funky wall situation (these old loft walls are quirky and I love them).
But the temporary walls to the right and left of the beds, which we added when we moved in, need something fun. The background needs to stay white so it won’t look too off from the loft walls (which I don’t want to paint at all). I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I wanted something sort of loose and juvenile – almost like the girls did it themselves. I considered doing something like this with sharpies, which I still really like:
I also thought about stenciling a cute bow pattern, but I didn’t get around to any of those projects. Then one day a couple months ago I tweeted about how my girls were sneakily decorating their walls with stickers. (that period is supposed be a comma btw. Fingers were tired from peeling I guess) :)
Okay, now here’s the good part. You will flip out like I did when you put two and two together here. This “wallpaper” is actually made up of hundreds of different stickers!!! What!?
I LOVE this so, so so much. I think it is so cool with it’s traditional design references but also so modern and kitsch. It’s like a giant I Spy book!
I’ve been picking up big lots of stickers on eBay for a couple bucks here and there for the past month or two, but I think I’m ready to get started now. My idea was to wallpaper just the temporary walls with white contact paper maybe? and then do the sticker patterns and then paint a coat of Polycrylic over the top to keep little hands from messing with all my hard work! The contact paper approach should make it easy to remove the pattern when we move.
I can’t wait to share how it goes. Obviously mine will be A LOT more amateur, but I think it will be a fun project. And if after a couple hours it feels like it isn’t going to work, I won’t be out more than a couple bucks.
PS Payton was featured in Elle Decor this month. Page 74! You can get more information about commissioning Payton for custom work and also check out her line of beautiful wallpapers here at Flat Vernacular.
Love this ….. Boy oh boy is she talented. Thanks for sharing…. Can not wait to see what the girls room looks like……
Xxx
Ceo
That is one of the coolest, most original things I have seen in a long time! Thanks for sharing!! I had come across a picture of Payton and her walls, but had no idea they were stickers!! Perfect and totally I Spy!
This is such a neat find to share with us! I agree that Payton has major talent, and patience! So refreshing to see something totally new and different on a design blog. Cheers! Ana
That is absolutely incredible! It reminds me so much of my tween years, when I collected some of those very same stickers. Can't wait to see how yours turns out!
I saw the article in Elle Decor ans thought this was such a clever idea. I am looking forward to seeing how your sticker wallpaper turns out.
Those are stickers?! That "wallpaper" looks amazing. Can't wait to see how your project turns out.
That is just awesome. I loved stickers when I was a kid and remember taking my allowance money to go pick out special ones.
I really love the whimsy of this.
fab!
pve
This is one of the neatest ideas I've seen on a blog, anywhere. I love it! Thanks so much for sharing Jenny. And I sure hope you share your project with us, even if it does turn out to be too time-consuming to complete!!!
I love her work. It reminds me a lot of a girl I went to college with a few years ago who had a similar aesthetic. Instead of patterns though she did landscapes and she only used Lisa Frank stickers that she stole from the store. Still cracks me up when I think about it.
super awesome!
how fun! are you going to do a similar design as Payton's? a damask or chandelier shape??
can't wait to see the finished project!!
Wow that's awesome! But it seems you'd need the patience of a saint to do it so kudos to you for giving it a shot! Can't wait to see the finished product!
This is amazing. I love the idea of even one as art. I can't wait to see what you do.
Amazing work from Payton, and I just *know* that you'll do similarly wonderful work, Jenny! Cna't wait to see the results. Your girls will be so impressed! Cheers, Whitney from Consider Yourself At Home
That is amazing! Who knew a wall could look so Chic with stickers!!
Whoa, that is talent!
wow, that looks so meticulous! and i love the sharpie idea! is that what is on the walls of the picture with the stripes?
-meesch
http://aperfectkindofday.blogspot.com
So cool! Love this *smart* idea!
This is so cool! I wonder if she sells "prints" of her paper to frame and hang? Going to find all her information right now, thanks for sharing!
That is such a genius idea. So unusual…love her patterns. But the TIME involved must be massive!
I saw the article and was super impressed. I'm glad you posted on this!! Can't wait to see how it turns out!
That is jaw dropping! I cant wait to see what you come up with. I never would have guessed those were stickers, and I cant imagine the patience that woman must have.
Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife
Thank you for sharing this wallpaper idea, Jenny. Woweee! It is so original and yet…traditional. I'm looking forward to hearing about your DIY process. Please let us know how you select the stickers…
wow, that is incredible!
I LOOOOOOOOOVE this. Can't wait to see how it turns out! Good Luck =)
That is unbelievable! I'm so excited to see your take on it! I'm not sure I could have the patience for it. Looking forward to a great girls room too!
This is unbelievable! Thank you so much for posting. Mind. Blown.
WOW!!! I was blown away with the up close picture! That is so cool! Good for her!
This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! But the work involved! Oh my. I can't wait to see what you come up with! Oh and I adore that rug in the girls' room, it is sooooo cool! ~Melissa
Wow that truly incredible. One of the coolest things ever. I would have never known those were stickers until I saw the picture close up!
I have to ask what happened to the beautiful Chiang Mai Dragon headboards in the girls room before. I am just starting a total makeover in my girls (8 1/2 and 6) room. I got a whole bedroom set with two twin beds, a vanity and a dresser for a steal on craigslist. I am contemplating on doing a twist on the Pink and Hermes Orange Palmer Weiss room that was in Lonny. It has not been changed since the were out of cribs and needing more of a change! Good Luck!
what a great way to use up sandylion stickers! I can't wait to see the outcome!
she is brilliant! i want to do this…oh man.
Wow! She is so talented! I love using wallpaper whenever I can- and her wall coverings are incredibly beautiful and unique! Thanks for sharing.
wow that looks amazing! i love it so creative
http://shayyyyy.blogspot.com/
I'm completely blown away by this–I don't know when I've seen anything so pretty and original. really, really beautiful!
PURE AWESOMESAUCE!! I loved stickers as a kid and I love big bold patterns. I'm totally going to try this in my new place when I move to NY next week. WOOT!
I love this. This would be SO COOL in my kids playroom!
I saw and admired this on Apartment Therapy last year and saved the pics in my inspiration file (pre-Pinterest, I guess). I will probably attempt something similar but as a piece of movable/framed wall decor for the nursery of the daughter I'm expecting. I'd love to do a whole wall or more, but I'm not the artist Payton is! I love that she thought of this, and that she executes it so amazingly well. I'm excited to see how your take on it turns out.
wow, that is what I LOVE about this blog. I love that you introduce us to these ideas and you're always willing to go ahead and try it out in your own home! I can't wait to see if you pull it off! This would also be cool to do as DIY decor on a smaller scale for a frame (like in the picture above). I could use more art for my stairwell…
Oh.My.God! *running to raid children's sticker stash*
Hey there Jen-
Been following your blog for a while now. Am so impressed with your decorative ideas and your ideas for being frugal in the process. It always seems difficult to decorate space on a small budget, however you have given me ideas on how exactly to do that. Im a fan of Savers & Goodwill. When finances are tight, it seems thats where we survive. I have taken old, yucky things and made them new and unique to my taste. Thanks for your tips. My house is feeling more like a home….
Thanks for sharing your amazing talent with all of us….You;ve been blessed with a natural ability to share your talent with others. I've learned a lot from you :)
Oops….the last comment sent was from *me* Tonya Lundgren by the way….not ur aunt Sharon…..my email is lundgrenville@msn.com. I was signed on to her account…..oops. sorry
Wow she is super talented! Thanks for sharing with us. I can't imagine the amount of patience it takes to pull something like this off.
http://designpardeux.com
there are no words to explain how much i adore this. AMAZING!!!!! can't wait to see your finished product!
fantastic…
this is a crazy-cool idea fo rsure- so darn original. My daughter would L-O-V-E this!!! Can't wait to see your results.
wow…just…wow. that is really, really cool.
Wow!!! Ms. Turner's work is just drop-dead gorgeous!! SO creative and original. Though the idea is accessible, I fear that I would have difficulty emulating this wall paper. You really have to be an artist with the utmost patience to pull that off! She is a stunning girl, too! So very fortunate.
Wow! That "wallpaper" is AMAZING!