one done

Our little upstairs landing is finally a checked off project, moved to the complete row on our "Mighty Big Ambitions" list. We have scratched our head for some time now trying to address the pealing paint on walls and ceiling due to milk paint used in the late 1800's...new paint will not adhere! We have consulted, googled, brought in a professional painter...all with the same result, more head scratching. Add to that the fact that this area has several access points well beyond the safe scope of even our extension ladder.

After considerable contemplation, we made a plan. We would sand the walls as best we could, laying a patchwork of wallpaper squares on the two hardest to access walls (easier to put up a square of wallpaper while balancing precariously on a ladder than a sheet 10 foot in length). We would wallpaper the opposite two walls  ~ ~ And we would paste the crap out of what we put up!  We also called in our wonderful carpenter, Charlie, to put up a new ceiling.

I knew we could add some drama to this area as it really is a pass through to rooms on our upper floor.....so I pulled out one purchased wallpaper pattern and grabbed two other patterns I had purchased at thrift sales. Our end result.....we love. We have officially titled this space the "Lilac Tree Inn" after our favorite place to stay on Mackinac Island. It is fresh, vibrant and quite charming. And there's my McCoy...our upstairs cat adding his approval.