apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Any opinions out there on "starching" fabric to walls? It's in my lease that I can't paint, and while I could probably appeal to my landlord, I have a feeling he'd be pretty much against me painting a wall a nice brown or something. So, I was thinking of doing an accent wall in a brown linen or something similar. Any bad experiences with this?

That sounds interesting, but kind of a nightmare. I think that it would be just as bad as painting, or possibily worse, because I just can't imagine taking it down and not needing to paint afterward, anyway. And at that you would need to prime at least. Probably clean the hell out of the wall, then prime, then paint.

However, I CAN see starching some big sheets of masonite and attaching them to the walls, because let's face it, it would make neater joints anyway.

That's an interesting idea, Christine,
and I hope someone (hi Curtis!)
has an answer.

Starch is tasty to bugs however.
My grandmother's starched hand-crotcheted christmas ornaments were eaten up by wasps in our attic.

I really don't think this would be a problem in a living room, but . . .

As promised I took some crap pictures of my crap townhouse in crappy park slope and emailed them to "Brenda@apartmentherapy.com", I think she is on the design team there. Hoping she can post them so you people can enjoy the schaudenfraude of the hell hole i am living in. Once you see these pictures you will understand why I am in such a dark and stormy mood every day. Meanwhile my contractor has two Mercedes and a Hummer - I shit you not.

Hi Christine.
This is my first time to post, so I hope I'm doing it right.

I've been reading AT daily for at least 6 months now and have to say I absolutely love this site and all that it has to offer, both from Maxwell and those who post. Though I live in a locale where I don't absolutely have to live small and efficiently, I much prefer to if I can. It's that paring down that's difficult!

Now on to your question. I don't have any firt hand knowledge with starching fabric to walls. However, when I've rented in the past and was faced with the unappealing prospect of all off-white walls, I simply hung fabric on the walls. I would use a simple wood 1x2, staple the fabric to the 1x2 on the back side, wrap the fabric over the top and then nail the 1x2 into the top of the wall. Yes, this left holes in the wall, but I found I didn't need to use very many nails and the 1x2 could easily be removed and the holes filled when I moved. I would repeat this at the bottom of the wall with another 1x2. The key was in getting the fabric tight and to the right length. I would simply nail the bottom 1x2 to the wall directly through the fabric with a finish nail so it wouldn't show through the fabric.

I hope this helps!

Fun fact. My haircutter is French and he mentioned funny things American's do to tradition in his wife's China shop.

He says you can't buy a five-piece place setting of China in France even today. There....the salad and desert sets go with the coffee set. So...you buy three-piece place settings. Only in America does everything match.

Explained a lot and made me laugh.

Starching (the liquid kind) fabric to walls was a popular trick of Matt and Shari on Room By Room (they actually did a linen once), so maybe check out the HGTV archives for steps and tips. I remember them saying it used tons and tons of starch, was kinda messy (but not irreversibly so), and with great, reversible results.

They did (via trial and error) caution against using a vertical stripe... too hard to straighten the fabric.

In an old apartment, I also stretched artist's Belgian linen over a frame of lathe (and a layer of batting), then tacked that to the wall with just a few brads. My Mom sewed the panels together before I stretched it the way you'd stretch a canvas. It was a comedy of errors getting it up on the wall (myself! what was I thinking?!?) but looked really, really great when I was done.

A tip if going that route: onced the fabric is stretched and the frame is secured to the wall, use a damp sponge and go over the whole wall of fabric... when it dries, it tightens up the fabric and makes it look very professional. Just test that a damp sponge won't screw up the fabric on a test piece beforehand.

this sounds complicated - why not just paint the accent wall and repaint it white when you move out? would your landlord really care about one wall?

Christine, someone in the color contest did that in their kitchen, so you could check that out.

Good one Scott.

Meanwhile, Jonathan is unhappy because he lives in a town house in Park Slope.

Cry me a river.

Christine, to follow up P2's thought: you can get super-large canvas stretchers very inexpensively at Utrecht's (14th or 15th St and New York Ave, I think) and either stretch the fabric you were thinking about, or purchase inexpensive canvas and paint as you please.

I agree with other posters that starching to the walls would result in a worse clean-up post-occupancy than paint.

Didn't a smallest and coolest entrant last year use this technique? Or was it during Got Color? It was quite boldly-colored fabric with marimekko-type graphics. I think s/he wrote extensively about what a nightmare the process was.

Was Brenda the right person to have emailed these pictures to? Site unclear as to whom they should be mailed

On fabric stretching: wood frame and staple gun has worked for me on two occasions. It worked best with a tightly stapled layer of foam between the wood frame and the fabric prevents "rippling" of the fabric when against the wall. I only like the look with Thai silk, otherwise known as pilled or rough silk.

Batting (as I mentioned) and unbleached linen looked just fine, thanks. Since I couldn't afford 30 yards of Thai silk...

Just make sure to reinforce some interior points of the frame if going with lathe... otherwise, the frame bows (somewhat) when you staple the fabric (although you can correct it as you tack it up).

And work center out when stapling, and top down when tacking, since the ceiling line will be your most obvious line.

Christine,

Sounds like a giant pain in the ass to me. Why not ask landlord? Tell him you will repaint the wall when you move out if he doesn't like it. He'll like it; you have good taste. If not, you'll repain the wall. That takes 10 minutes.

Oh boy...yeah, this sounds very complicated--which was my concern in the first place. I'd seen it done on home shows, which always make it look easy and non-permanent. My landlord's a really concientious guy (believe it or not, these types of landlords exist) and he recently renovated the place and painted the walls before I moved in. I feel like I've bothered him a lot lately with other things, so I hate to even bring up the topic now!

I mean, you know something's complicated when Curtis says it is!!!

Stapling the fabric to a frame or to 1x2's at the top and bottom of the wall as I suggested earlier really isn't as difficult or time consuming as it sounds. When I did it, it took very little time. And it's well worth it, being able to personalize the space, if you're going to live there for any length of time at all.

another thought I had was using inexpensive drapery (probably Ikea) on a cord...but I thought that might look tacky. I don't know the big deal with painting either--so long as I'm careful with the floors and paint over it before i leave.

i have never distracted the conversation away from design before, but has anyone seen the lead story from Drudge Report today? (www.drudgereport.com) Is this some kind of joke or they really about to announce that there are aliens? It sort of makes the stretching-fabric-over-a-frame-on-the-wall discussion feel rather tepid.

Oy, i't soooo not a pain in the ass.

I would upholster a wall like this again faster than I would sand, prime, paint, sand, prime, repaint...

Plus, it helps with sound insulation, looks waaay high-end, and when you leave, you still own the fabric...

Ikea does have those great room divider
fabric panels on tracks systems

are you allowed to make holes but not paint?

anyway, they are interchangeable panels
but it will look distinctly Ikea

I can say with a fair amount of certainty there are indeed aliens in our midst. At least on this thread.

I have starched before and absolutely loved the results. I used a nubby, light fabric (like a linen) and put it on an accent wall running vertical. Get a roller brush and, sorta like decoupage, put a layer of the starch on top...

It is also incredibly easy to peel away at the end of your lease...all you need to clean it up is a sponge and some soapy water.

Maybe one of the probes returned evidence of water on Mars.

That would be exciting news, for sure!

Yes, nothing like a successful probe.

Hmmm, choices choices...Yeah, Guido, my lease is only slightly more lenient with holes (you know,the "several small holes for pictures line)--I'm technically not supposed to drill anything into the walls, but I did install shelves in the bathroom and put up curtains. I mean, I can understand where the clauses in the leases come from, but a person's gotta live!

Patrick, if I had made a joke about a rectal probe, this site would be plastered with personal attacks, whiney emails to Maxwell, threats against me and further curtailments of my right to free expression. All this highlights not only the unfairness of life, but the bitter hypocrisy of all you miserable people AND the grand conspiracy that has been there all along.

Nothing on NASA's site, but Drudge now reports it's the Cassini probe that may have discovered evidence of water on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons!

Hooray!

Um, the word "rectal" never appeared in my original post, my good man.

there ladies and gentlemen
we have a fine illustration of the
prohibitive "feeding the troll"

the troll does what it can to draw you in
then takes up with the destructive behavior
over and over and over again

let the man be ignored for a while longer shall we?

I recently accomplished a "successful probe" getting Norfolk Island pine fronds out of my vacuum cleaner hose.

Sorry, Guido.. guilty. Too much time on my hands here today.

You going to the party?!

P2: :) and, maybe at the AT party tonight you can enlighten me on how to properly upholster a wall. I'd like to try this.

To the painting thing: As for landlords not letting a tenant paint, its been my experience that they just want you to leave the place in the same pristine condition they think it was in when you first signed your lease. Most landlords can easily be convinced. Worth a shot No? Yes?

I sort of remember bugs and starched fabric on walls going together..but it does look nice.

Christine: If you decide to go the curtain route, I recently bought an Umbra kit that lets you hand the curtain rod from the ceiling. I really like the full floor-to-ceiling effect and it doesn't look "ikea" (even though the curtains are ikea).

Still, if you want to only have the tinest holes in the wall, I would go either with the canvas stretchers or a baseboard to moulding stretch (it is so easy to spackle small nail holes).

Sorry you can't just paint.

Can I ask a design related but not home related question?

What mens shoes for suits are nice looking? I have looked at about 300 pairs of shoes online, and they just all look so dorky! I might possibly consider one of the pairs by Prada at the Neiman's website, but the toes just look sooo long and pointy on mens shoes. What's up with that?

The reason I'm asking is that my husband needs a new suit, something more conservative and traditional, but at the same time, he doesn't want to look like everyone else. I like the DKNY suits for men, but what about shoes? Guys? WHat do you like for dress shoes?

I like a black loafer with the place for the penny. They're everywhere. And not all have pointy toes on those.

Rachel:

Ignore the previous suggestion to couple a conservative suit with penny loafers, which surely takes the cake as idiotic suggestion of the day. Penny loafers are for (i) casual wear (ii) people stuck in the 80's (iii) pedophilic English teachers at New England boarding schools or (iv) some combination thereof. I have never, ever seen a man wear penny loafers with a suit.

What to buy: unless your husband is a flashy pimp type, a man's shoes should be well-made but essentially not distract from the suit. If he walks in the room and your eyes are drawn to his shoes, they are too loud.

I suggestion either a BOSTONIAN or JOHNSTON & MURPHY cap toe, either black or oxblood. Or wingtips. If he is an edgy type get a square toe which is more European but don't overdo it.

p2,
tonight I'm not sure. my woman seems to think we're having dinner tonight.
so if yes, then early

anyone going early?
curtis? pphillipp? jamie pup? anyone?

I just realized that I left out the word "without". I mean without a place for the penny. It's a clean line.

What time is this shindig getting underway, anyway, just in case my plans end up changing? So far, I can't go at all.

I have the same question about the time tonight

I was googling for the kind of Italian lace up boots I like with suits but couldn't find the right image. A black leather version of the Ferragamo boots on the Nieman Marcus site is close to what I'm thinking of. Trust me, this kind of boots works really well with a lean suit.

Failing that you can't go wrong with Johnston and Murphy and, if memory serves, Bostonian. Good advice from J.

Jamie Pup, did you notice that Rachel is from Colorado? If her husband wears leather Ferragamo suits with his suit he is very likely to get lynched. This is the state in which Passion of the Christ was the top grossing film of the year. I hear you on the look but it's a tad extreme for the heartland, don't you think?

As to getting to the party early and staying late, I could do one or the other but would have to check with my wife for her preference. Will let you know soon!

I would not risk incurring the wrath of space unenthusiasts with this non sequitur, except that I was wrong about the news from Cassini not appearing on NASA's site. Of course it has:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

In response to the shoe question, my boyfriend favors the Mephisto dress shoes. It's a walking shoe company so the shoes are comfortable, but the dress shoes are very sleek and don't have that ugly walking shoe look. They're a bit pricey but last for YEARS, and since you were willing to buy the Pradas I'm guessing they will be in your budget.

Rachel,

I like these Cole Haan's. I used to really like Johnston and Murphy's, but they seem to have gone away from the styles I like. I also don't like the pointy toe, so the Cole Haan's and an old pair of Johnston and Murphy's I have that are more rounded appeal to me. One thing to consider is the width of his feet. I can only wear lace-up dress shoes as slip-ons are usually too loose.

http://tinyurl.com/jj5o5

Methinx there needs to be another spin-off. FashionTherapy.com perhaps?

Was curious, so I put it into the URL thing, and it's for sale at like $2,700. So I'm not sure that Maxwell, et al, would wanna spring for that for Fashion Therapy.

For those with shoe questions: haven't you nheard of The Manolo? (linked to my signature)

Back to Christine's question on starching fabric to her walls that her landlord doesn't want her to paint. Milliken has a new wallpaper product that doesn't require any adhesive. It simply sticks to the wall and peels off when you want to remove it. I received a sample from Milliken (I'm an architect) and it truly works that simply. It doesn't leave behind any residue or anything. I don't know how readily available it is yet since it's a new product, but check it out at this link:

http://www.milliken.com/hr/wwwmlkn.nsf/sweb!OpenFrameSet

Oooops. I see the link didn't work. At the page that opens up at the link, in the search box type in "180 walls"

THAT looks like the REAL answer. But it also looks like it might cost the kind of money that you would only spend on the down payment on a co-op.

Curtis,
That's quite possibly true. I have no idea how much that wallpaper might cost as I only received a product sample. I still think the most affordable, and easiest, solution would be the fabric stretched over the wood frame. As you noted before, and know from firsthand experience, it's really not that difficult. It's a little difficult doing by yourself, but with a second person to help out it's pretty easy.

Rachel--
If your man travels for work via airplane, PLEASE go slip-on.

I'm actually a big fan of Banana Republic's men's shoes.

Otherwise, (dearGOD I can't believe I am saying this) I agree with Jonathan about Johnston & Murphy.

Oh, that hurt just to type it.

And, um, to encourage you all to join Guido as an ealry arrival, I believe Maxwell said the free drinks are limited, and will no doubt go fast/first. I'm shootin' for a 7:15 arrival. I think the official party time is 7 to 9...

Thanks Daily Nuance and everyone. I'll let you know what I end up doing! (Hopefully, what I end up doing won't be "nothing.")

OK, I'm going to aim for 6:15 tonight.

And Tat, thanks for the link. Mens shoes link here:
http://manolomen.com/category/shoes/

Hey everybody -- Have a great time tonight! I'm looking forward to a full debrief. I'll be home, taping off our moldings so we can paint the dining room on Saturday. Because I'm so nightlife like that. Sigh. Have fun!

Tape on Friday. No one in nyc goes out on Fridays.

ok everyone have fun at your parties. we're here in philadelphia with only dreams of being hip and design trendy. but i did just come in from working in the garden. and i have a finished basement. so there. :p

jamie pup--
You've obviously never been to Ty's in the Village on a Friday night.

But I'll tell the boys there they need to go home when I see 'em tomorrow. ;)

obi--
You can't fool us... isn't Usona in Philly? One of the coolest stores around, no?

obi,
look at what I recently sold=>go to "brownstone refurbished" album. It's Brooklyn, not Philly!
(link at my signature)

Jamie: you're welcome. The Manolo, he rules.

6:15? 6:30? what's this I hear??
I thought is was 7-9 . . .

Hey guido, it is supposed to be 7-9 but I was going earlier for you!!! :)
I'll buy.

Yeah p2 you tell 'em that ;p

This is coming from someone who can't remember the last time he went out due to being knackered every night from chasing the twins around (I'm not complaining though).

Thanks everyone for chiming in about the shoes. And I had *no idea* about the shoe blog. O.M.G. I'm so bookmarking that.

Jamie pup, you mean the Giorgio boot? I kind of like that, but still they all seem sooooo pointy. I would really like to get him something with a chunky, square toe, that will still look good with a suit like this: http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod26310010&parentId=cat5300733&masterId=cat000527&index=4&cmCat=cat000000cat000470cat5160747cat000526cat000527cat5300733

Curtis, are the ones linked in my name like what you're thinking of?

Lucy, those Mephistos are nice - I think something like that might work - but does it look too matte with a suit? I know Mephistos are comfy....

Normally my first step would be BR, but the husband doesn't seem to like them much -

THanks everyone!!

Ah damn, I stretched it. SOrry everyone!!!!!

Christine,
Check out this site .... http://www.rentaldecorating.com/quick_fix_fabric_on_walls.htm ... for directions on starching fabric onto walls and taking it off. It doesn't sound to difficult.

By the way, as a resident of dC -- if you live in DC you CAN paint your walls despite the language in the boilerplate lease as long as you return the apartment to the same color when you leave OR are willing to pay for them to do so (from your deposit). You don't need permission -- it's no big deal and everyone I know in DC has painted a rental at some point in time with no problems. In the past decade I have lived in three rental and painted every one of them with no problems when I moved out. If you are concerned about relations with your landlord ... avoid painting the trim. Also - in DC rental management is supposed to repaint your apartment every three years with your permission - so if you live there for more than three years, they can't charge as much to repaint if anything.

Good luck -- can't wait to see the final product!!

jp -- It's true, Thursday is the new Friday, and Monday is the new Thursday. A client just told me recently that afternoon is the new late night. So is black still the new black?

Unfortunately, it's tonight for taping, in part due to other scheduling stuff, babysitting, etc. Maybe when I finish the cure I'll have everyone here for cocktails. How many people are on AT again? :)

Curtis -- fashiontherapy.com . Genius! Although I don't know if I should support one more thing that keeps me from working, or taping my walls.

cheers jamie pup
you and me at the bar, 6:30
(no way can I make it there at 6:15, and you seem like the prompt kind)

Ah, well you see...

I hate not being punctual and hate not keeping commitments but I don't have a 100% record on either. Actually I'm pretty much 100% on keeping committments.

Anyway, I should leave now.

But not before saying I did read an article a couple of years ago about Sundays or Mondays being the new Thursday because it proved that you could party all night without having to worry having to work for a living. Yeah I know, shallow.
Bye.

Hey, jamie pup--

WHAT EXACTLY do we need to call you in front of your wife tonight?

JenniferJA--
What a coincidence! I'm hoping for a full debrief too! Wait...

I'll tell you when I see you ;)

And you're a brief man?

Now I really am leaving!

jamie pup--
What a coincidence! I once got knackered after chasing twins around, too. Wait...

pphillipp
have you decided yet?
surely I owe you a drink
for running my failed bathroom campaign

Now there's something to lead with on the old resume! ;)

So wait, there will be people there at 6:30? I could totally do 6:30. Seeing as I'm sitting here reading AT and totally going to TWOP next.

does anyone owe me a drink?

Rachel, I'd definitely recommend that you check out To Boot by Adam Derrick New York. Click on my name for the website. If you've got access to Neiman Marcus, perhaps you have access to a Nordstrom, which carries them (and has a great mens' show dept., by the way.)

I'd recommend you pay particular attention to the Germaine, which is a cap shoe, and the Owen, which is a traditional laceup with a more squared -- but not overly squared -- toe.

I believe that Jonathan's advice in this matter is right on the money.

Alex...thanks. I still might at least ask/tell my landlord about it, to avoid an uncomfortable "what the heck happened to the walls" moment when he comes to fix something!

Well, when I left my office, it sounded like some people were going to be there at 6:15pm, so I was there at 5:45pm because I'm a maniac, and I had some hope that one of you would be even earlier. I had to leave there by 6:30pm and no one was there yet. whahhm-whaaaaaahn. Oh, well. The place was pretty, even though it was empty.

hello S.F. people!: re: "SCRAP" in South S.F.
(i'm wary of posting this at the end of a long thread, so i may repost in the next one to ensure that people see this, before the weekend):
has anyone been here, in south S.F.?
it could be an odds + ends extravaganza...
i'm particularly intruiged by the "textiles + notions" mention.
i'm looking for fabric for several windows or carpet squares + remnants.

Is it worth the trip...is it hit or miss like thrifting...please share your experience if you've been!

have fun at the gathering tonite, wish i had the night off.

intrigued, oops

Quick question--anyone whos been to the arch digest show know anything about parking? i know i know its for my mother--im taking the train :)

Shoshana, I know that there's a parking lot on the roof of Pier 92 and I think it's $20.

You know, all day I have been so jealous that I don't live in a city cool enough to have an AT party, but when I read (about parking for the arch digest show) "it's $20", I feel just a teensy eensy bit better. Ah, who am I kidding? I'm still jealous as hell. Hope y'all had fun.

orange red,

i've thought of going to scrap (isn't it actually near alemany/bernal heights?) or the place in berkeley, but haven't. i think, though, its worth might depend on whether you're an artist or a crafty person. i remember reading about it here, on this artist's website:

http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/archives/000470.html

my guess would be that it's hit-or-miss. if you go, do fill us in.

me (tfo),
i misread a little map.
you said it; i'm gonna go soon....thanks!

I own a pair of the Adam Derrick Germaines mentioned by Doug, above, which curiously no longer appear on Zappos.com. They are a $400 pair of shoes that look great but developed a crack in the leather after approximately 5 months of wear in my office. I attempted to contact the manufacturer via voicemail and email, as they once had "Customer Service" contacts posted on their recently-disappeared website. It has been a month since, and I have not received a response. Don't be fooled into buying shoes from this unresponsive company that cares nothing about its customers' concerns, and especially steer clear of the faulty Germaines.