JANUARY 2014 - When it comes to interior design, home decor and DIY I will always encourage anyone to take risks. Go big or go home.
Nothing is irreversible (well, if you tore down a wall you're pretty screwed...): you don't like that bold color you chose for your walls? Well paint them again. Realizing you're not a big fan of these new curtains you bought? Dye them, return them etc.
I am usually pretty happy with my design choices - however there's something bothering me in our place right now. Not talking about the neighbors - referring to the chevron wall I did in our dining room. I was super confident with this idea ("Oh my god, I have a vision: chevrons! Orange chevrons!" - right? Even you can tell it was a bad idea...). I seriously thought that was going to be the focal point of the room - well, it is (it's kind of hard not to notice it) but for me it has become more a focal eyesore. I actually avoid any eye contact with it.
However I don't regret doing it - it was tough (I almost cried) but it just seemed right at the time. People, when something seems right at some point it doesn't mean it will always be right - like silk shirts with shoulders pads in the 80's. It seemed right at the time but when you look at old pictures you just don't understand what happened.
So I have made a decision: this chevron pattern must disappear. I need to be able to look at this wall in the eyes and say "You are beautiful and I am proud of you". I'm not going to lie it was a very difficult decision to make. After all, this chevron wall was one of my greatest achievements. I can hear some of you say "oh my god what a horrible mother! Isn't her daughter her greatest achievement?!!!". Well yes, but a human being is actually easier to make than this freaking chevron pattern.
Before we cover it with something completely different (NOT chevrons) I just wanted to dedicate a post to this
If you have the necessary mental strength (and a "few" hours to spare) - I would actually urge you to try chevroning (I bet you were not expecting that after my anti-chevron lampoon - surpriiiiiise!). It is a huge trend and it does look good in the end. I would just recommend doing it on a small wall for a cool accent in a room without being too predominant.
You can find a lot of nice tutorials online on how to do a chevron wall - there are many ways to do this type of pattern. I used the "squares" technique - basically I measured my wall and then divided it into many (many many many) squares (I used a pencil, you can use a chalk stick - in both cases you have to be prepared to erase the lines once you are done. Thank you Mr. Clean for your magic erasers!). The size of you squares will determine the size of your chevrons (thin or thick stripes, taller or wider pattern, etc). You best friends in this project: a level, a ruler, some painter's tape, a pencil or a chalk stick. Once all your squares are drawn place some painter's tape in the diagonals (up and down, up and down - to outline your chevrons). Be careful to place the tape in the inside of the lines for the chevron you won't be painting. Once you're done (a few hours later) remove the painter's tape before the paint is dry. Step back and enjoy your hard work (auto-congratulate yourself with a firm but friendly pat on the back).
A few pics to visualize the process and the result:
Dear Chevrons, you actually looked pretty good. I was proud to be your creator. But all good things come to an end - so you'll have to disappear. I know, it sounds awful, I'm sorry. There's a silver lining, you're going to become a nice painted wall with no crazy pattern - maybe teal or something super fun. You'll be happy. We'll be happy.
M.
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