ORC Kitchen – Week 5 – Wallpaper and Mural
I need your help this week.
I have found the most beautiful wallpaper from Lucy Tiffney called Siena to use on the side of the kitchen cabinets. Our cabinets are laminated, so they are challenging to paint, this is why I decided to use wallpaper to cover the white sides. Here is the result:
I genuinely LOVE the wallpaper so much. I mean, it is just gorgeous. Lucy has real talent, and all her wallpapers are amazing, BUT, I am not sure if they are the best solution for my kitchen. Let’s see another POV:
In the background, you can see how I started painting a mural. When I am done, It will have a lot of lines that might clash with the wallpaper. Here is what I have in mind:
So, the problem is: should I paint the side of the cabinets or should I keep the wallpaper? I painted the side of the bottom cabinets already. Here is the result:
They don’t look bad! Do they?
Thoughts? I NEED YOUR HELP! Please, leave a comment with your thoughts because I don’t know what to do here.
And, how did I paint the side of those laminated cabinets? It was simple, but now I need to see if the painting lasts. Here are the instructions:
How to paint laminate furniture
- Clean the surface of your furniture/cabinets.
- Lightly sand the surface of the cabinets. Make sure the shine is gone but don’t sand too much that you go through the lamina.
- Wipe the surface of the cabinets to take out the dust from sanding.
- Apply a good oil primer. This primer will stick to the laminated surface better than a latex primer. Let it dry.
- Apply two or three coats of paint. Our cabinets needed three coats.
Now, about that mural:
I created the inspiration drawing above in Adobe Draw. I LOVE that app. It has been such a great way of coming up with ideas for this ORC and also other projects that I have going on (more on that later). The mural is simple enough that I used a pencil to draw it on the wall and painted from there. 
What is left to do?
- Finish mural
- Get leather cushions for breakfast nook
- Get black chairs for the dining room
- Get runner
- Paint side of the cabinets?
- Style the kitchen by adding art, random decor and a LOT of plants
- Sand countertops
- Take a LOT of photos for your viewing pleasure
Here are some more photos of what we have done so far:
I super like this sculpture by Curtis Jere… It gives the kitchen a fancy feeling. 
Black switch plates. Somebody in IG recommended that I go to Rejuvenation to get cute lighting plates and, although I wanted something more fun and eye-catching, these black plates are l cute and less busy. I love them.
I also love how the ceiling medallion looks on top of the chandelier. I wish I had a more prominent light fixture here, but I don’t have money to get what I wanted. This is a gorgeous compromise, don’t you think?
I can’t wait to see how the new cushions look in that breakfast nook. I have a good feeling about this! And, don’t miss the reveal next week. Also, don’t forget to let me know what do you think about the wallpaper v/s paint situation!!
Week 1 | Week 2| Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 6
I love the sides of the cabinets, I think they are super cool. The fact that you hand painted them too makes them even more special. 🙂
Hi Jen, they are actually wallpaper… but I am happy to know you like them! one point to keep them as is.
thanks!
Oh MILA!!!! IT’S LOOKING SOOOOO GOOD!!! YOU ROCK GIRL!
Thanks, lady!!!!
Goodness I love that coral and raspberry color combo! I’d paint the sides of the cabinets if it was me. The wallpaper looks nice but I agree it might compete with the mural once it’s in the background
ah! It is so hard!!! I agree with you but I love the wallpaper SO much… one point for paint and one point for wallpaper… I will probably flip a coin
I love the side of the cabinet with the wallpaper (I should be so bold). I say leave them that way until your mural is done. If you feel they compete too much then you can always paint the cabinets later. You have so may cool things going on in your kitchen, I can’t wait to see the reveal next week.!
That is true… I can make the decision later. I think I will keep them for now.
I never thought of putting wallpaper on the side of cabinets but it works and looks great!
Happy you like it!
Keep the wallpaper!! It is super cool, adds dimension and interest PLUS it does not compete with the mural. Win, win, win;) Nice job lady!
Excellent! That seems to be the consensus!!! Thanks for the input!
I love the wallpaper so much! I would simplify the mural and keep the wallpaper. Or if you do both, add in one or two more crazy elements. Like another pattern in fabric, maybe something geometric or striped to be different than the organic patterns in the wallpaper and mural. Go big! 🙂
That is a great idea, Emy… thanks!
Hi! You have great original style to think out-of-the-box and add wallpaper to the end of laminate cabinets ! it looks fantastic ! I think you should keep the wallpaper, it is beautiful!! what if you modify the black squiggle shapes of your Mural to mimic the ones in the wallpaper ? not to full-on copy the wallpaper onto the dining room wall per se but to make them not compete with one another? Aft r all if you don’t like it you could paint over the mural.
I love this advice!!!! I am definitely going to have it in mind when I paint this thing today… Thanks!
I’m a fan of pattern on pattern. I say keep it!!
You are right! Pattern and pattern is my LOVE.I will keep it.
I love the wallpaper – it’s unexpected so I say keep it!!
I do love the wallpaper, too! So much… I think I will keep it for now. Thanks for the support!
paint it! The wallpaper is competing with you mural, which will stand out beautifully without the wallpaper to clash
I think I will make my final decision once the mural is done… thanks!
loooove the black switch plate covers! Need to look into getting some for our hosue! Your photography is gorg…can’t wait for your reveal next week 🙂
They are from Rejuvenation. I love them, too.. thanks!
Wallpaper. Ties in the color of the cabinets with the color of the floor tile. Bold and fab!
Thank you so much! I think almost everybody is in agreement to keep wallpaper! thanks!
I love the wallpaper and vote keep it!! Our cabinets are the same laminate on the ends, please keep us updated if the paint sticks!! I tried painting them, but the paint didn’t stick. Lookin forward to reveal!!
It is going great so far. No scratches or anything!!!! I am impressed. But, also, this is a place with low traffic… this helps.
You have s very fun and playful style. This really goes with that. I’m a firm believer of going with your gut in design even if it’s scary. So if you like it than it’ll be great for your room. You obviously have great style. Can’t wait to see the big reveal
Thank you! the wallpaper stayed!!!
This project has been really fun for me to watch come together. I cannot wait to see what your finial reveal looks like! You have done a rad job so far.
Danielle
clarkandaldine.com