Hi! We are the proud owners of a 1924 Arts and Crafts bungalow. Trying to restore it to as original as possible. In the process of stripping and refinishing the woodwork in the living room and next, is wallpaper and paint. The nice repro wallpaper is expensive. Any help with finding discount wallpaper?

Thanks.

Have you considered stenciling instead? It was as popular as wallpaper during the height of the bunalow mania (1905-1920), but a heck of lot less expensive. A lot of bungalow owners did interior decoration without a lot of expensive supplies or products. Stenciling was extremely common and the variety was huge. Publications constantly ran articles showcasing various stencil patterns.

You could try doing some kind of a "green finish" with American Clay. The color is integral to the product (not inexpensive though) and it has a kind of matte, almost suede-like finish. I've never seen Alabastine, but it sounds a lot like that. Then stencils were applied, often around the top of the room.

Wallpapers became more common in ordinary middle-class homes during the 1920s. Almost any simple pattern (no frou-frou!) would be suitable.

Food for thought.
Rikki

I second that. A stencil or wallpaper frieze (border) was more typical, and less expensive than wallpapering the entire room. Here is a dining room interior drawing from 1910, showing the stenciling. The walls below the border might have been papered - but it would have been a burlap type which would be a less expensive alternative.


Check our marketplace for merchants selling both stencils and paper reproductions: Marketplace - Walls & Windows

Good Luck with the remodel. We'd love to see photos.

Lauren

Thanks for your help. Hadn't thought of stenciling, although I know it was popular and era-appropriate. We'll throw that in the mix as we continue to bring this great home back!

Or, if you know a theatrical scenic artist, you could commission them to make you some wallpaper.

People still have these skills!

howsrobb.blogspot.com/2008/10/hand-printed-wallpaper.html
howsrobb.blogspot.com/2009/01/drowning-in-sea-of-wallpaper.html

These aren't exactly "discount" solutions, because they're hand-made by artisans.

But you can get *exactly* what you want, this way.