Not sure if I needed to post this here or in Homemaker, but here goes. I plan on wallpapering two upstair bedrooms...what I need to do first if remove border (only) in them and wondered if anyone had done this before and could give me any hints to the easiest approach. The borders have probably been up for about 8 years and are in good condition.
Also, I found the most awesome web site called Steve's Borders and Wallpaper and found some to die for patterns. My home was built in 1870 so I want to match the wallpaper with the period of house and so far I'm blown away with the selection...the prices choke me on some of them but I think I've found a couple I can live with. Anyway, if there are any wallpapering mama's out there I'd love to hear from you.

If anyone knows of any great wallpaper sites I'd appreciate that, too. Thanks ladies.

Dee,

I hope the wallpaper/border you are removing has not been applied straight onto the drywall. I think wallpaper is beautiful, but it is a B**** to get off if it was applied to the drywall. What a nightmare to get off. When we bought our house, one of the first things I wanted to do was to put up new wallpaper. The kitchen was partly wallpapered and it had 3 layers of the stuff. Evidently, previous owners just wallpapered over the old stuff instead of removing it. Now I know why! The bathrooms was wallpapered like that also. No matter what I used, the paper came off the size of postage stamps. It was sooooo stuck to the drywall! If you scrap to hard, you can tear the drywall. Then you will have to patch/mud the drywall and get it all smooth again. I bought every product and gadget there was to remove it. I surfed the net for pointers. No one could offer any good advice except never to wallpaper again. I used fabric softener and hot water, hot water and vinegar, goo be gone, wall paper strippers...you name it, I tried it. None of it worked all that great for me....not even the all cussin'! I had sore arms, elbows, and wrists. Working off a ladder with my arms over my head was the worse. I did not re-wallpaper....I painted.

However, if anyone wants to wallpaper, and change it often, here is a tip. Make sure you paint your walls with a semi-gloss or glossy paint. The wallpaper will come off so much easier, leaving only the glue behind, and it can easily be washed down with a warm water solution. Do not wallpaper directly onto walls with a primer or a flat paint. That wallpaper will stick to the wall untill hell freezes over!

What a fantastic tip Cookie! It's too late for some of our rooms...but for further rooms, I will follow your advice and paint the walls first.

Cookie...wow...what a nightmare for you. I think that would cure me of ever wanting to wallpaper again. Fortunately, the borders were applied over semi-gloss paint so hopefully it will come off easily. I'm pretty stubborn when it comes to not being defeated by things liket his...but, that being said, I've not tried to remove any of it yet so I may change my mind.
I have always used primer over any shiny walls so the wallpaper will stick better and that's what I'll do here. I'm not one to remove wallpaper at all...I just paint over the old paper and go on. Too much work trying to strip entire walls of wallpaper off.

I'll let you know the progress of my project...and the finished result...it's either the border or me...and the wallpaper I've picked out is so beautiful and country looking. Wish me luck!!! I'm ordering it tomorrow.

Today I found out I'd mis-calculated my wallpaper rolls. I'd calculated for single verses double rolls of wallpaper...and that can be costly...I found out I'd counted the price of 8 single rolls instead of 16 single rolls which turns out to be 8 double rolls...and that's how they're shipped. What I thought was a good bargain really wasn't because of my goof, and instead of buying all the wallpaper for two rooms I decided just to buy one room at a time...finish the one room and then get the other wallpaper. And if that wasn't enough the one wallpaper pattern that is absolutely precious is being discontinued by the manufacturer and there wasn't enough rolls to buy to complete my room. Oh, well...twasn't meant to be, I guess. Tomorrow I try to figure out how to get the border off...thank goodness that's the only wall paper in the room. Here goes nothin'

Dee, what is the web address for the site you were referring to? I love looking at wall paper and haven't done it in years.

I wish I could remember what we used to get the wallpaper off. They do have a steamer that you can rent. I think we've done that approach. I seem to remember coating the paper with warm water. Does that make sense?

One time we needed to get more wallpaper and the next batch should have been the same but it was made at tiddferent time and so the colors weren't as bright. IT was a nightmare. All the former paper had to come back down and we had to begin again with paper from all the same batch.

One thing I recall from my wall papering days was that when hanging it, I used a straight edge, 12 inch ruler in addition to the wallpaper brush right after I hung it. Running the ruler over the paper got the excess glue to come out the sides of the paper and really made it adnere well.

Hope this helps. It's been a long time but I've done some papering in my life so if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

I will be facing the wallpaper nightmare in the house we bought in AZ. I think I'm going to hire someone to remove it. The ceilings are very high and I'm a klutz so don't want to be on a ladder. I tore a little piece off the wall and they had put something on the walls...don't have a clue what it's called but I'm guessing it smoothed the texture of the walls to get them ready for the wallpaper. I'm wondering how difficult it will be to get that off!

Dotsie...do a google search for STEVE'S BLINDS AND WALLPAPER
On the left side you can do a search for wallpaper by pattern #. Click on that and enter the numbers below and you can see what I've just ordered...the yellow is pattern # X4GUR7SW6 (what do you think?)
The pink is pattern # X4GU8UEE6 (so sweet and girly)
The one that is my favorite and is of course discontinued is: # X2AGSSWH (I cannot believe I can't get ahold of this pattern..sigh). Thanks for the advice and offer to help...I'll probably take you up on that.

DIANE: I've heard of folks having nightmares with removing wallpaper...I'm hoping this is going to be okay in the end. We'll see. I think I'll do a before picture and an after picture and post it so ya'll can see (that is if it turns out okay...LOL

Do people still wallpaper nowadays. I get this impression it's painting walls...the trend.

I think wallpaper is coming back. Our bedroom is Laura Ashley style...old fashioned, but I don't care; I love it. We have white wooden panelling the lower half, and wallpaper the upper half. The floor is ship deck wood.
The rest of the house is painted. Come to think of it, every room has it's own style. Our living room has a Tuscany flair. Our kitchen is an interesting combination of "things"...then I have my Cape Cod room, a modern room, a Bavarian room, and our offices are contemporary done in green and sand colour.
There is no style consistency in our house. I guess it's a little like me… a little bit of this and that…wishy-washy; sort of like a dinner made from leftovers, but mm-mm good.

What kind of interior do you all have?

Dee...my cousin just used fabric softener to remove borders in the house that I am moving into. The walls were painted underneath...and it worked very well...and smelled nice...just put in in a spray bottle...spray a small section...let it soak...and peel away...stubborn areas may take more than one application.

Oh...is your house in Fairhope? I lived in Gulf Shores for 4 years...it is so pretty there!

Oh Hannelore...I just ADORE Laura Ashley. I first found out about her products while living in Cambridge, England...OMGosh there is a LS store there and I bought so much of her clothing line. Of course I was a stick back then and could wear just about anything...now, at my age if I tried wearing her style I'd look like a great big hydrangia. I bought two LS chairs which were so comfortable...low to the ground but comfortable...feather pillow cushions...which were great...you just punched them back into shape...I wish I could afford her wallpaper. I looked at some of her WP online last night and it's way out of my reach...even the lowest priced stuff is more than I want to pay.

Larry and I bought our home two years ago and it was built in 1870 and is a two-story country home with a wrap around porch, porch swing, live-oak trees that are huge, so my style is country. The living room was a horrible dark blue wallpaper...I painted over that a soft, pale yellow and the 1/3rd half of the wall is beaded board which is high gloss white...kitchen is wallpapered in tiny flowers, and the rest of the house is painted in greens and soft pinks...the two rooms I'm redoing will be wallpapered to bring back a country touch to them...wallpaper reminds me of my childhood and I have this weird knack for putting it up so I guess that's also why I love it.
Hannelore...leftovers are wonderful...and I'm sure your home is lovely.

Hi Carol...nope, I live in Satsuma, just north of Mobile. Gulf Shores is so beautiful...Where do you live?

Dee,

Your house sounds soooooo lovely! I love the live oaks! I live in north Alabama...actually near da Queen...so I occassionally get to see her! (When I'm good and not afraid she'll throw me in the moat! Ha!)

I adored Mobile...driving downtown with all the old trees and houses...you're bringing back fond memories!

I know, Dee. Laura Ashley is very expensive. We saved a little by wallpapering only three sides, and only the upper half of the walls. I love her borders as well. The room is done in white and a soft yellow. Feels sunny even when it's raining outside. Isn't this funny? My bedroom sounds like your living room. You have white 1/3 up the wall as well, and then painted yellow above. That's so awesome.

Your house sounds beautiful. A wrap around porch? Oh, I'm drooling. I'm a big tree fan. We just got rid of 5 trees though, because I love my sunlight more then my trees.

I'm going to check her feather pillow cushions out; sounds lovely.

http://www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com/

The yellow is pretty. That would look nice with white trim. Is that what you're doing? The pink is very similar. And the one you liked best seemed more Victorian to me. All very pretty and dainty.

Carol...I'm just going to have to make a trip up north to see da girls...do you think JJ would let me across the moat? While I'm there I can go visit my old homestead, Glencoe. Ahhhh...fond memories. And ya'll can come on down here...once this heatwave is over we can sit on the front porch and have a nice class of tea or lemonaid...(mint julips are weird to me...I must have had a bad one cuz it tasted horrible...so, I won't be making those). I do however make a mean chocolate cake!!!!

Hannelore, gosh it sounds like we have a lot in common in the decorating department. Yellow is very pretty, bright and a happy color to me...soft yellow with white is very pretty. Let me know what you find out about Laura Ashley's feather cushions.

Dotsie...The trim through the house is high gloss white...I fell in love with high gloss paint in England...it's very easy to clean and it looks great against other colors. I'm waiting with baited (thanks JJ) breath for the wallpaper to arrive...probably next week. Dotsie, did you like the wallpaper site? And Steve's right...they do have the lowest prices...I've seen these wallpaper choices in other sites and they're 4-6 dollars a roll higher...whew!! Blimey, wallpaper can be high.

Did anyone else get measured against the stripped wall and their name height and the date written.Only to be seen again next time decoration was done.
I wonder what the new owners think in my birth home.We all are calalogued in behind the front door!
Mountain ash

That sounds so sweet Mountain Ash. We never lived in one place long enough for that unfortunately. Where in the UK do you live? Do you know Winslow in Buckinghamshire? I lived there for awhile, then in Waterbridge, just outside Cambridge and then in Thetford. I miss England so much. I still keep in touch with my landlady, Bridget. In fact if you do a search for B&B's in Winslow, hers comes up under Tuckey Farm (not turkey farm)...very pretty place. I love to get back there one day and visit her and her husband, Barry.

My home is near Edinburgh in the Kingdom of Fife.Scotland.
St Andrews the home of golf nearby.
Mountain ash

Mountain, my first love is Edinburgh. I cried when I left.

Dee, I ran into the identical situation as Cookie when I first moved into this house. What a nightmare, and I use to wallpaper for people, so I knew what I was doing. Nu uh...it was H-e-double hockey sticks. Finally, I gave up and painted over the paper. You can't even tell it. The kitchen I left alone but I'm thinking of tackling it and trying again. I may paint over it though. The bozo's that built this house did NOT prime any walls. Cutting corners, I'm sure.

I tell you what...priming is so important...it's a pain having to take that extra step, but I'm a firm believer in doing it right the firt time. Okay, JJ, now I've learned something else about you...a professional wallpaper hanger? Goodness woman, what haven't you done?

Mountain...Edinburgh...what a lovely city. I am sooooooo envious of you. I'd give anything to move to Scotland and live. My family came from there many many years ago...all but one of our family perished at sea...the only one who survived was a baby boy...no one knew his name so they gave hi the last name of Scott because they knew the family had come from Scotland. So my true Scottish name...I haven't a clue...we can't trace back any further our ancestors from over there because we stop in the Atlantic ocean. Hey, who knows...maybe we're really related...wouldn't that be amazing? Okay, I can wish that I knew my family that probably is there someplace.
When were you there JJ?

I was there in 1998, on business. We stayed about 3 or 4 days in England, then 3 days in Scotland. While I loved "things" about England, I left my heart in Scotland. I'm Scot-Irish, so no wonder, eh?

As a matter of fact, there is a book written about my family (my family is in it) called Scot-Irish Forever. Its out of print, but I have the electronic copy that the author gave me. How cool is that?

Hey, Northwest Airlines has some really cheap flights to London. I'm tempted!

GIRLS DAY OVER SCOTLAND!!!!!!

Little boy orphaned..well records were kept of all exiles.Some where here will have a baptism record wish I knew more I'd research for you.
The Highland clearances..a sad time when economics mean people were evicted from their homes.Sad in our history;

I was born in Edinburgh Any one who is coming here ...I would hug you.

Dee..you are formally my relation..choose the connection.
Mountain ash

Some people think Scotland is all tartam and bagpipes.I wrote this to show we have diversity.For Dee and Jaw Jaw...
I'll explain and translate anyone is puzzled.
.............................................
I am a woman from Edinburgh
I have no plaid
I have no pibroch
My name is not Fiona

My home does not look
Like a shortbread tin
I do not keep cooked porridge
In a table drawer

I do not have the monarch
Of the glen
Above my fireplace
I have no chimney anyway

Had I been born earlier
I may have gutted fish
Picked blue flax
Up to my knees in water

I would not have worn tartan
I am a lowlander

No one in my family
can play the bagpipes.

I adore the landscape of Scotland
and weep for those who were
pushed from their own back door
by a circular letter
Mountain ash

Oh Mountain Ash...what a sad, strong poem. First, I'm touched that you've welcomed me as your family. That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever offered to do for me and I'm humbled by it. You're precious. Thank you.

The story I have from my Uncle is a wee bit confusing. He isn't sure if the ship they sailed on or the ship that picked up my Great-gggggg-grandfather was called the Peacock. He says he isn't sure which but Peacock is in there somewhere. That's all I have.

Tell me, what is a lowlander? I must say that when I knew I was going to be visiting Scotland I got out of the car and walked over the border (can't remember what area it was now), but I actually became emotional. I had the most incredible feeling...goose bumps, a familiar feeling as if I knew I was home and tears of joy fell as I breathed in air that I knew had been my families somewhere in the past. I didn't want to leave. My grandparents lived in Glencoe Alabama and my fondest memories are there as a child...so when I saw there is a Glencoe Scotland, I had to go there...and what a delight it was. Stayed in an old B&B, learned of the sad history between the McDonalds and the Campbells, Signal rock, etc. I just found out that several scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot there...Hagridg's hut...it was always a magical place for me to be there. Who knows, perhaps my family came from there. I'll never know but it would be nice to put a name to my family and a village from where we originated.

Dee
seemed to have veered off Walpapering.Just as in a girlie chat
A lowlander lives geographicly in the part of Scotland south of the highlands.Fertile lands and agriculture.Rivers used for papermakng and associated industries.Being a small nation everwhere is accessible.Retired people have free off peak travel in my county(Fife)
Ill send you a calendar later...imaging your roots.
Mointain ash

Thank you Mountain Ash...yes, I got sidetracked, but what a wonderful topic to get sidetracks to...Scotland...God was in an awfully good mood the day he created her.

The much anticipated wallpaper came in and lo and behold it was the wrong shade (throwing temper tantrum now). No where is there yellow in the darn thing...a beige, but no yellow. I called the company and now have to send it back and pick out another pattern altogether. Sheesh...and since I cannot find anything in yellow that I like I did find a rose pattern in a soft baby blue that is really, really pretty so after I talk to my SIL tomorrow and show the new pattern to her I'll decide if it's what I want. So for now my wallpaper project is on hold.

Dee, can you just go to a local store and buy?

I have looked but haven't found anything locally I like...plus you add on tax and their overhead I end up paying more so that's why I keep looking online. I have found another pattern/color and will see how this one goes. Actually, it's even prettier...now I have to wait for UPS to mail me the return labels, have UPS ship it, have the manufacturer contact the place I purchased the wallpaper from before I get credit for the money I spent on the wallpaper that is wrong...so, in about two weeks, hopefully, I'll be back on track. Not to worry. It will all work out in the end. Thanks for asking, though, Dotsie.

That's the only problem with shopping online.

I remember being in limbo with our kitchen wallpaper when the different dye lots didn't match. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I wan't very patient. We went through the waiting too because the store didn't stock it.

I'm not very patient either...so I feel your pain. Hopefully, this will turn out okay. I'll send you a pix when I'm finished.

THe border is down and I did it in under two hours with no fuss. I used something Larry found in our storage shed. It's Bondex Wallcovering Remover. You mix it with water and after scoring the border I wet it with this mixture. Some places were easier than others but all in all it worked great without a lot of mess and fuss. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of removing wallpaper border. You can also remove wallpaper but I'm not that brave...I just paint over old wallpaper or wallpaper over old wallpaper.

I didn't know you could wallpaper over old wallpaper. I didn't think it would stick.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to be removing a wall of paper in one of my son's rooms in a couple months, and then simply painting it.

Hi everyone,

I've been absent once again...busy redoing rooms in the house. Seems slow work and like I'm getting no where fast but hopefully, things will begin to get into shape soon. Preparing the rooms takes the longest...painting the windows, doors, kick boards, priming the walls, painting the ceilings...good grief!!!

I'm still waiting on the wallpaper to arrive. The wallpaper that was sent a few weeks ago was the wrong color so I sent that back, reordered a new wallpaper and then decided to see if the 'original' wallpaper (my favorite) I wanted had indeed been discontinued. Lo and behold it hadn't and so I ordered that as well. Yesterday I received a call from the wallpaper co. saying my favorite was on backorder and wouldn't be available until the end of October and did I still want it. I said yes and am hoping it will be here in time for me to put up before my kids arrive for Thanksgiving. A housefull is descending upon me for Thanksgiving and I need to have that room finished by then...because we're having Christmas at Thanksgiving which means I begin decorating the house two weeks before Thanksgiving...my house is huge and it takes about 2 weeks to get everything decorated. (I'm offering to pay hefty in the cookie, chocolate, desert department if anyone wants to come help me.)
My MIL thinks I'm nuts for going all out in the deocrating department but when I was little we didn't have anything and most of my life I couldn't afford to splurge for decorations. By the grace of God I'm at a place in my life now where lots of garage sales and friends having estate sales has enabled me to stock up on lots of Christmas decorations and now I get to turn my home into a winter wonder land...the way I imagined as a child. I'm not one to go out and spend lots of money on decorations...I'm a bargain shopper and you'd be surprised what you can find in thrift stores and dollar stores. With a little bit of imagination I can turn something quite plain into something really cute.
Have any of you done the same thing?
I just wanted to pop in and say hello to all my dear friends and now I'm off to painting some more.
I miss you all and will pop in from time to time. Take care.
Lots of love,
Dee

A winter wonderland.yes we can do that now.Commodities were scare post war and we made do.i still remember the paper chains and bells from home.I also have kept my daughters first banbi and litle santa from her frst ever tree.I like pre Christmas.Advent and the buzz. Cards and hearing from friends who live away.
I'd come to help...just the little problem of the Atlantic ocean.
Mountain ash