Help with an old chifferobe

[Lynzee]

I have an old chifferobe that needs help. I finally managed to get all of the old layers of paint off and painted it white. It's really pretty--until I open the door and the drawers. I want to do something to hide the ugly interior since it's the guest room "closet" and thought wallpaper would be pretty. Has anyone ever done anything like that? I have a roll of wallpaper that's pre-pasted. Will that hold, or would I need to use additional glue of some sort? Also, the mirrors are so old that they're virtually useless. They're such odd sizes and shapes--is there any way they can be "repaired" or is there some place I could get mirrors made/cut to fit?

Thanks,
Lynzee

[Lisa S]

I wallpapered an old steamer trunk once. I used prepasted wallpaper and thought it was pretty simple to do. I think Home Depot will custom cut mirror... But a glass shop should do that too.

[Lynzee]

Thanks, Lisa. I'll try Home Depot first for the mirrors. I have zero experience with wallpaper beyond stripping it off walls, but I thought it sounded odd when the lady said I need to use additional wallpaper paste for it to hold up over the long haul. Trying to make another sale, I guess. :confused:

Thanks again--I'm off to wallpaper! :D
Lynz

[Barberry Field]

Hi! I would definelty recommend applying the wallpaper with the paste instead of just soaking it in water! When using the paste it gives a better hold to the paper, it won't peel away from the wood or wall. I am assuming that this item is a wardrobe?

[greenoak]

you could paint the inside white too.... if you could get the mirrors off a glass place might be able to replace them....using the originals for patterns....
ann

[Kristen]

I agree w/ Barberry... I would use paste instead of soaking paper in water. Also, old mirrors that are fogged etc are really charming. Could you use a small stand mirror for guests and then hang an antique picture in an old looking from or on mirror be a possibility. You could find one w/ a chain or attach w/ double sticky stuff directly to mirror?!?!?

[zuzus_garden]

Yep. Wallpaper and paste!

Oh yea. Foggy mirrors are charming!

Uh huh. Won't be too difficult a task.

Toughest wallpaper job I ever did was my daughter's doll house. Kept gettin my head stuck. :rolleyes:

Well, since you all have this figured out already, I guess I'll go shovel more snow. Would rather hang around and visit with you all!

Zuzu

[Lisa S]

Zuzu ~ you crack me up! Sorry you're shoveling snow. Make some snow angles for me!

[Kristen]

Well, since you all have this figured out already, I guess I'll go shovel more snow. Would rather hang around and visit with you all!

Zuzu
Zuzu... I LOVE COLORADO! We skied Keystone at the end of February! Where do you live in CO?

[Lynzee]

Thanks, everyone, for all of the advice and support. I just finished my little wallpaper project and thought I'd share a few of my lessons learned.

1. Since it was my very first wallpaper project, no matter how lovely I thought it was, I probably should have stayed away from a pattern with stripes.

2. Wallpaper glue will drip and makes an awful yellowish/goldish mess on furniture pieces that have just been painted white--especially if it isn't noticed right away.

3. When holding wet wallpaper above my head to straighten the bottom, when it slips out of my hand, it will attempt to attach itself to my hair and face. It will also leave glue in my hair so that it can attach itself to anything I come in contact with later.

4. Even though it is "glue", when it is dripped all over my ceramic tile floor, it will not prevent me from slipping down. :eek:

Probably should have gone with your suggestion, Ann, and painted the inside white. Or shovelled snow for Zuzu instead. :)

Curious about the mirror comments...Really think I should leave them as they are?

:D
Lynz

[Lisa S]

Oh what fun ~ glad you had such a good time!

Yeah, I think you should leave the mirrors the way they are.

P.S. I think we should take before and after pictures of ourselves during a project too! Let's start Reality Forum...

[Kristen]

Lisa... great idea... reality forum!


Yes Lynzee... leave the mirrors the way they are!

[greenoak]

we usually replace mirrors......unless the whole look is super shabby with peely paint etc etc..

if you are going for a white pretty shabby i think the dirty looking mirrors would hurt...

ann of greeenoak

www.greenoakantiques.com

[Lynzee]

The Reality Forum is a great idea, Lisa! You go first. :D

I put both mirrors back on it for now. The big mirror really doesn't look that bad so I think I'm going to keep that one. The small one is too far gone, I think. It's more glass than mirror so I may do something else entirely there. Kristen suggested an antique picture and I'm going to explore that. It's just such an odd shape...

Lynz

[zuzus_garden]

Look at all the fun you've had while I was away! :(

OK - 6 new inches, 100ft of driveway (hubby shovels the other 100ft). Sorry, Lisa...can't make a snow angel. Hubby will think I'm havin' a heart attack, and he'll call 911. Reality Forum? I don't understand. I always look stunning before and after a project. :rolleyes:

Oh goodie - they're forecasting more snow.

Hi Kristen - we live west of Colorado Springs, only straight up another mile. Beautiful up here - glad you had fun skiing.

Lynz - That should have been on video. Is that show 'Funniest Home Videos' still on? Ya coulda made $10,000. Trust me on the foggy mirrors - there's something romantic about them, and as we get older, foggy mirrors and candlelight are a good thing. :D

And Lynz - You. Must. Send. Pictures.

Zuzu

[Lisa S]

I've got my kid's room scheduled to paint next week. I swear I'm taking a before and after picture of myself and I dare you guys to do it too! Zuzu, I better see you in a bee-hive hairdo, pearls and pink rubber gloves ~ and a boa!

[Lynzee]

Now there would be a story for CL! We get to see the before pictures of the project and the beautiful after pictures with the relaxed, smiling owner, but I haven't noticed any pictures of the owner covered in paint (caulk, wallpaper paste :D , grime, drywall dust, whatever) while hard at work. Kind of gives the photographic illusion that it just magically goes from "this" to "this". Hmmm...

Wish I'd had that $10,000 yesterday, Zuzu. I would have bought a new piece of furniture. What a job! I knew I wasn't having fun when I was thinking I'd really rather be shoveling snow.

Did you say dare, Lisa?! Yee-ha! I just love dares! I'll play, but I feel like I'm the only one posting pics lately so I'm looking forward to seeing pictures from everyone else. Yesterday's would not have been the "during" ones to see in my case. Almost scared myself to death when I looked in the mirror--the foggy one at that! :eek:

:D
Lynz

[Lisa S]

Yes, I do believe I said "dare". In fact, I might have said "double dog dare"!

I really needed to get motivated to clean the house yesterday. I had some before pictures that I wanted to take, but told myself I couldn't take the picture until each room was clean. It worked ~ clean house! I'll post them along the way. Now I just need to put some makeup on for a before picture of ME 'cause minus the paint and caulk, I think I look like an "after"!

[zuzus_garden]

Bee-hive hairdo, pearls and pink rubber gloves ~ and a boa?

Howzabout a Pebbles hairdo under a South Park Kenny Hat, chic red winter gloves ~ and a stylin' snow shovel?

Zu

[Lisa S]

Sounds groovy. Gotta see it!

[Lynzee]

Ditto!
Though I'm wishing you warm weather soon so you won't need the shovel.

:)
Lynz