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Wall décor 4 dummies
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Several years ago I painted a 1900s period piece of nearly life-size golfers in a mural on a primary wall in my home. It was facing
a bay window and it was not unusual for passing drivers to stop in front of the house to see the painting. While most homeowners would think that daunting, there are other ways to decorate your walls to make them singular and interesting. For this column, I tried out three different products that anyone could use to decorate their walls.
Nouvelles Images
This vendor has image products they say are, “designed to arouse and share emotion.” They specialize in paper wall stickers of vibrant designs and are especially proud of their children’s line, which features prehistoric dinosaurs, menacing monsters, and swashbuckling pirates.
“Nouvelles Images’ Children’s Home Stickers provide an easy and affordable way to decorate children’s rooms to reflect their individual personalities and current interests,” said Steven Hawla, general manager of U.S. operations. “As they grow up, and their tastes change, the wall stickers can be removed effortlessly and replaced without damaging the surface or having to re-paint.”
I tried out an image from their Tulips package and it was easy. I would suggest however that you cut very close to the individual stickers and lay out your design before application. With the flowers, the stems fit certain flowers better than others and are thin, so they are not good for pull up and replacement too many times.
Q.: We had fun time putting up the photo-realistic tulips, can you tell Home and Living Readers about some of your other designs?
A.: Nouvelles Images Homestickers are currently available in an assortment of designs ranging from modish sketches of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic profiles, to a striking New York City skyline, to an elegant olive tree.
Q.: What are the properties of the stickers that make them good for children's rooms and can you give an approximate cost of the packages?
A.: Unlike other decorative stickers on the market printed on vinyl, Nouvelles Images are printed on paper for a natural, warm look without the shiny, plastic appearance associated with vinyl imagery. Paper guarantees excellent quality and superb rendition of pictures and bold colors. Additionally, the adhesive is guaranteed non-toxic and won’t damage the surface underneath. The distinctive décor is economical, available for only $30. The Children’s Homestickers are available for purchase on Amazon.com, AllPosters.com and ChangeYourWalls.com. www.nouvellesimages.com
Smart Tiles
Q.: Smart Tiles is a clever product for someone who wants to add a little zing to their walls in an inexpensive way, who came up with the concept?
A.: We are two women who came up with the idea about nine years ago. We developed the product and started a manufacturing plant a few years later (2002) to produce it. They are designed and manufactured in Canada. We are from Quebec and that is where the French (titles) come from.
Q.: Is there anything you would like to tell Readers about Smart Tiles?
A.: We believe we have a revolutionary and unique world product. The do-it-yourself peel and stick tile concept of smart tiles is made of an adhesive substrate topped with a clear gel component called Gel-0™ (which gives it its 3-dimensional effect) that makes the product so easy to handle, cut and maintain, you will wonder why it was not invented before.
They install in minutes without any mess or specialized tools over any clean and sleek surface. Especially designed for kitchen and bathroom environments, Smart Tiles are resistant to the heat of stovetops and the humidity of bathrooms. All of these would work around a fireplace as long as the surface it's on does not get melting hot. They are removable by simply heating the surface with a hairdryer and peeling them off.
Our website is: www.thesmarttiles.com and phone number: 1-877-784-2733
When I got the Smart Tiles I was surprised to see how light they are, they are not actual porcelain tiles but like a heavier vinyl replica. They are so easy to use: just lay out a chalk line to make sure they are level, have a cleaned, dry surface ready and place. The designs are really kicky and I love the metallic stainless steel dots for a kitchen backsplash (1011 Mosaik SS Dots). Elaine Pacquin, one of the founders, is also a lovely cooperative lady of design.
Tatouage
Q.: Dianna, what can you tell Readers about Tatouage Products?
A.: Tatouage is artwork that is printed onto sheets that transfer from the sheet to your wall in a simple process that anyone can do. The result is the look and feel of professional hand painted artwork in minutes. Tatouage is an easy and affordable way to decorate your home yourself. There are no paints, glue, water or mess…and no artistic ability needed! You design your mural to fit your space. We have done the hard part of painting the various designs and you have the fun of making them work for your space. From trompe l’oeil window designs to jungle murals we have designs to fit all décor. Tatouage can be cleaned by wiping over with a damp cloth. When you are ready to remove or change your design, simply prime and paint over it.
Q.: Do you have tips on how to use the designs?
A.: Make sure the surface is clean and dry. Keep the protective backing on until you are ready to apply it to your wall. You can lay your design out on the floor or tape it up on the wall (keeping backing on) to ensure your mural fits your space and to get the look you want. Once you are happy with the positioning, peel away the protective backing, place the design down (sticky side on the wall), rub the applicator stick over the design to transfer it and slowly peel away sheet. Take your time. Hold the sheet in place with one hand while rubbing with the other. If for any reason a piece did not adhere, place it back down and rub over it again.
Get creative! Layer the designs. For example, if you are doing a jungle design you can put up the giraffe first, and then layer the greenery over it to make it appear it is behind the foliage. Add in reptiles. If you are doing the garden, add butterflies and birds as accents. Use pieces on accessories in the room such as furniture, lampshades, mirrors etc.
www.tatouagedesigns.com
Dianne over at Tatouage is one of the most enthusiastic and helpful vendors around. I put some birds on my walls and found the whole process addictive. You can create “mural-type scenes” and with careful planning and a little extra shading, the designs look as though they were hand done. Tatouage is coming out with a new product in June of vinyl letters and phrases. Dianne said they run from a “Welcome” for an entryway to “At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.” (Plato) for the bedroom. You will be able to pick the color it is produced in to match your décor. A team of top graphic designers worked on the script.
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