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Craving: Grasscloth Wallpaper

May 21, 2010

There's a half-wall at the end of my kitchen island that gets a lot of use. As you can see, it's the perfect height for guests to lean against and chat, a great place for setting a drink, and it hides my kitchen clutter from the dining table. Problem is, it's painted with the flat paint I prefer, and it's become pretty shabby-looking in its well-used role. Thinking that the space could use a little more textural interest, I decided to cover the half-wall in grasscloth wallpaper. Sounds simpler than it's going to be.

First, there's choosing the grasscloth. The options include many colors, patterns, and sizes of grass or reeds, with or without a sheen. I started with two big sample books from Sherwin-Williams. (They let you check out the books free for four days.) After eliminating anything with a sheen or metallic elements and focusing on the more natural-looking options, I narrowed it down to three and then settled on this one, from the Design by Color collection by Blue Mountain Wallcovering.

Word to the wise: if you want to use grasscloth for a very small project like mine, be prepared to buy much more than you need. I was informed that even though it's priced in single rolls, it's only sold in double rolls. And the stuff isn't cheap. There was a sale at Sherwin-Williams and I got the two rolls for around $70, including shipping directly to my house. I'm going to have a whole lot left over, so now I'm thinking of ways to use more of it. Maybe cover the seating side of the island with it? Bring a little more onto one wall of the dining room? Use it to cover blah-looking storage boxes? Placemats? Endless possibilities.

But we'll see how ambitious I am after hanging it the first time. Grasscloth has its own quirks and variations that can make installation a challenge even for an experienced wallpaper hanger (which I am not). I did find a very helpful and thorough article on how to do it here. There's a lot of good information on this page by Jim Parodi, but be sure to also download the PDF article he links to about 2/3 of the way down the page.

If you aren't bothered by its natural color variations and visible seams, just a touch of this natural material can be a gorgeous way to bring more texture into a room. It's an eco-friendly choice because it's a natural material, made without any petroleum-based materials. There's no off-gassing like there can be with vinyl wallpaper. Here are a few spaces that use grasscloth to beautiful effect. All photos: decorpad.

Here's a classic example of natural, undyed grasscloth wallpaper in a crisp dining room. Notice how it's used only within the niche. A good wallpaper hanger will trim the width to result in evenly sized panels on the wall.

Grasscloth can work just as nicely in a more modern space. It has a cozy effect in bedrooms.

Muted green dyed grasscloth combines with sleek beadboard in this high-ceilinged space.

Its effect need not be subtle. Flame-red grasscloth makes a bold statement in this sunny room.

When a room is tiny, it's best to play up the cozy factor rather than try to "expand" the room using light colors and spare furnishings. Grasscloth is a smart choice for this small reading nook. I would have used it on the ceiling, too, for a real cocooning effect.

 To soften the effect of modern furniture in a nursery, grasscloth is applied to all walls and the ceiling.

It comes in patterns, too! The Moroccan motif on this grasscloth is the perfect complement to a sinuous focal mirror in an entryway.

No job is too small for Dwelement. Need help choosing wallpaper, now that it's back in style and removing it is easier than ever? I can help. A one-hour consultation for $60 might be all it takes to relieve your anxiety and finally get all those sample books out of the house. Just email me. —Diane

TAGS: how to hang grasscloth wallpaper wallcovering grass cloth pictures photos inspiration rooms texture interior design decorating help selecting wallpaper

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