If you have a steadier hand and more patience than we do, stencils offer another option -- other than vinyl graphics and wallpaper -- for your walls. And Britain's The Stencil Library is reportedly the world's leading designer and manufacturer of decorative stencils.

But these aren't necessarily stencils you'd find in a twee British cottage. Yes, The Stencil Library has the type of stencils you might expect -- Arts and Crafts designs and proverbs and quotations -- but it also has Chinoiserie and modern design selections. There's even a category called Bad Attitude, which includes a footprint, a thumbprint, and barbed wire. We like the Chandelier, shown here -- it reminds us of the Glo Canvas we featured last year.

There are over 3500 designs to choose from, and they can be shipped worldwide.

Clematis

Parquet

Floral Paisley Repeat

Chrysanthemums

The Stencil Library

http://www.stencil-library.com

Stocksfield railway station, Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7, UK

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Comments (5)

Stencil Library is AWESOME - and this post brings back memories! The owner of my last apartment had done the bedroom Vegas-style: Mirrored wall, black wall-to-wall carpet, parchment-colored wallpaper and a black-and-gold valance.

After covering the valance, ripping up the carpet (which covered nice parquet floors!) and painting over the wallpaper (shh, I know), I was stuck with a wallpapered door. I ended up using gold paint with the Chrysanthemum pattern shown here to create a beautiful pattern. It went perfectly with my new Asian theme (vibrant pinks/reds and dark wood floors).

stencil library ROCS! and shipping isn't bad, if the more ornate stencils are expensive, a bit.

eeeck, i would love to see your apt -- pinks/reds, asian and chrysanthemum in gold paint sounds wonderful and intriguing.

I recommend the Stencil Library to anyone who is keen to try out stencilling! I finally managed to find myself a stencil brush and away I went! Shipping is fast (it comes in a roll that sorts itself out after a day of flattening) and efficient, with good instructions on how to use and care for your stencil. I am now onto my third canvas for a series that I'm doing along my walls...