NAME: Christine
LOCATION: Ithaca, New York
PAINT USED: Behr Premium Plus "Windsurf" (walls) and "Cafe Creme" (trim); Sherwin Williams Illusions Translucent Metallic Silver
I have never really painted a whole room before, so the whole process was new to me. But I used quality paint and watched any Youtube videos I could find! I also have never stenciled before, so I'm thrilled it actually worked out.
I made the stencil from 4 sheets of dry-erase poster board that I found at the local craft store, the finished stencil was 88x28 inches. I drew the abstract trees freehand so that the lines had lots of organic character. There are more details and a video of me doing the feature wall on my blog, Unlikely Nest. The closet was an afterthought, but it I thought it would be fun to look behind your clothes and see glimpses of a forest.
Thanks Christine!
MORE READER PAINTING PROJECTS:
• Color Therapy: Michael's Traditional Foyer & Grand Staircase
• Color Therapy: Sylvain's Brother's Big Backdrop
• Color Therapy: Tim's Stairwell Feature Wall
Do you have a painting project you'd like to share with Apartment Therapy? Send us your Before & After photos and a brief description with our Painting Project Submission Form.
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Wow, what a great job!
Really exquisite.
There is a wallpaper somewhat similar to this but is is quite expensive.
I love how subtle the color is, but how much of an impact the image makes. Beautiful work.
I love this, will you come and do my bedroom, please :). You did a great job, thanks for sharing.
Awesome! The colors you used work perfectly :)
That's so beautiful. It looks like a hundred-thousand-dollar job, and it's not at all what I think of when I hear the word "stenciled."
This is quite lovely and kudos to you on all the hard work!
Wow. I think you picked the perfect colours and design to make this look beautiful and not corny (which is how I would have initially assumed a roomful of stenciled trees might end up looking...).
absolutely AWESOME!!
Wow, fantastic! I'm with Riffraffa, will you come and do my house now?
And the closet makes me thing of Narnia in the best possible way.
Amazing!
so inspirational, thank you for sharing!
Really amazing.
My mom hates blue in home design (for no reason - but we've gotten her past it), and loves birch trees. I wonder how she'd feel about this room. It's lovely.
Also, I adore the closet. If it were mine, I know I'd think, "NARNIA!" as soon as I saw the back wall... and I'm all right with that.
Wonderful job! I love that you did the closet as well.
I also love trees, and created one in my bedroom based on the string artist that was published here a while back. If you would like to see it check out http://kitchenundone.blogspot.com/2010/07/because-remodeling-and-full-time-job.html
Wow, that's so beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful and it looks like you did a first-rate job, to boot. Add me to the list of posters who want you to do the same thing in their homes.
lovely! and doing the inside of the closet was such a nice touch
First time, wha????? Way to tackle a project, good job!
outstanding job
That's a great effect!
I would never have gone to the trouble within any of my closets tho - I don't believe I've seen the back walls of any them in years!!!
Thanks everyone! (You're making me blush)
gorgeous!
This is just perfect.
Ithaca is gorges.
Great job! An idea like this could have so easily been disastrous but you made it work perfectly! :) Really inspiring.
ditto everyone else! I am totally in love with your work.
this looks fantastic! and i love the bedding. can you share where you got that quilt? thanks in advance!
Bravo! A great idea, well executed.
I was just blabbing on and on and on to a friend the other day about how I hate stenciled walls, and now I have to reconsider, because this room looks great. Kudos!
Spectacular! This is truly different from anything else I've seen in blogland - it is so fresh and original. I am just stunned.
Yes, splendid paint job and I love the beadspead with it too. The lamp - not so much.
Beautiful, great job.
This is amazing. The colors are perfect and the trees are just so lovely. I am so glad you got the results you wanted.
that is amazing... bravo
I think it's really cool and amazing that you made this by yourself. it's a spiritual room, i think you will have nice dreams in this room!
Trust me, you DO NOT want that comforter set. It says that it is machine washable but the colors absolutely bleed. I own this and didn't read the reviews before purchasing (from Target). I've heard that even with professional cleaning, the colors still bleed. Steer clear!
I know this post is about painting but where is that comforter from? I love it!
If you fancy the idea of stenciling tall tree trunks over walls or fabric and lack Christine's courage or stencil making skill then there is one very similar for sale from The Stencil Library. I posted about it in July 2008.
http://designinspiration.typepad.com/design_inspiration_planet/2008/07/new-bare-trees.html It is also silver on a blue wall.
Christine, beautiful room! I too had preconceived notions about stencils based on the 80s, and the subtle silver on blue totally shattered my ideas! Very nicely done.
Stencil-Helen, thanks for posting about The Stencil Library, those are beautiful stencils!
love this- really beautiful colors
A creative painting job. Now Ithaca is even more gorges.
I looove how this turned out, but I don't think I have the skill do cut my own...so I looked up birch forest stencils and I found this stencil. Thought I might share it with those of you who also feel intimidated to make your own :) Great job!!
Oops...my link didn't work... it is www.cuttingedgestencils.com :) Search for their birch forest stencil cause it looks a lot like what was done by hand in this project.
Wow, that's such an inspirational project, it turned out AMAZINGLY! If I could trust myself to hand-cut stencils I would totally do that - I think I would need to buy one though!
@Gabi Your link didn't work, did you mean this stencil? It definitely seems like something I could do!
The comforter set was from Target-- I think it was part of the Dwell for Target series. Personally I didn't have any trouble with colors bleeding and I machine wash and dry it all the time. I did have trouble with some of the embroidery coming undone at the edges, which does point to a possible quality control problem. I fixed it with some hand sewing, but I guess you get what you pay for!
I'm thinking about a new project for a wall in our living room/kitchen. I find this much more difficult! I'm okay with the bedroom wall being sort of dreamy, but I want something in the living room that would be unique but appropriate to a space where my whole family lives, works and plays. I would love to do something nature-themed, but more contemporary. Any ideas?