Inspiring Interiors

Wallpapered stair risers.

Months ago, I added Shawna’s wallpapered stair risers to my inspiration files, thinking that something like this would be a great way to bring pattern into my hallway—and to use up some of the leftover Bindweed wallpaper from my bathroom renovation.

And then, in the midst of a million other house projects, I kind of forgot about it.

Just a few minutes ago, though, I was taking a look at Ferm Living’s Clever Spaces blog, and lo! Christiana has wallpapered her stair risers, too! It looks really great, doesn’t it? She’s written up instructions for this and some other fab wallpaper projects over at Sunset magazine’s site.

I think my hallway is going to get a sprucing-up soon…

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25 Comments

  • Reply christiana September 3, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Hi Anna –

    I think your hallway would look great with some more pattern!

    Have you posted a picture of your bindweed in the bathroom? I can’t find it, but I’d love to see it. That’s one of my favorites – I bet it looks great!

    Thanks! –
    Christiana

  • Reply Anna at D16 September 3, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Christiana, I haven’t posted a photo of the wallpaper in the bathroom yet! I’ve been holding off on sharing any more pictures of the bathroom until it’s completely finshed (hopefully this weekend). I’ll let you know when I have some photos for you. 🙂

  • Reply erin@designcrisis September 3, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    Anna, you’re always such a busy bee! Can’t wait to see the renovated bathroom, and I think wallpapered stair risers would be really subtle but fun.

    ps, where are you putting your new Eames chairs?

  • Reply Emily September 4, 2008 at 12:25 am

    wallpapered risers would look fantastic on your hallway.

  • Reply Benita September 4, 2008 at 2:25 am

    Ooooh! Like it. Also love the fact that I would actually be able to wallpaper a space. I have seagrass wall coverings which can’t be wall papered without MAJOR prep work so I stick to painting them. Would love a little bit of wall paper though so this is a great idea. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

  • Reply Elisabet September 4, 2008 at 3:14 am

    I love your hallway! It´s such an inspiration for my own, dark, hallway on our second floor, were we have all our wardrobes since our bedroom is tiny. I will post pictures on my blog as soon as I feel I am happy with it. Which will probably take a while since I am not as quick as you are. And, currently our hallway is not a priority in our budget. Well, this winter I hope!

  • Reply woodley park-zoo September 4, 2008 at 8:27 am

    I think the first pic works much better because the white-to-grey contrast is low and keeps it delicate and subtle. I don’t like the black against (that shade of) wood but I guess it’s one of those ‘brave experiments’ for sure.

    Thinking on yours, with the black treads, you probably could go quite a bit more impactful if you wanted, but I trust that you will have great vision whatever you choose!

    (BTW on Design-Crisis (via design for mankind) they recently posted some papers by a Wakerly? If you haven’t already seen them I imagine they might tickle your fancy as well!) The leaf pattern is starting to really stick in my brain as a growing obsession!

  • Reply lesley September 4, 2008 at 9:59 am

    this would look HAWT. Your stairway is perfect for such a treatment. I’ve been considering it myself but my stairs are not as suited to it as yours are!

  • Reply zee September 4, 2008 at 10:04 am

    Shawna is a pal of mine and having seen that stairs in person I can confirm that yes, yes, yes it’s the coolest thing ever. Plus, I don’t think there’s a more perfect wallpaper for this project than ‘Bindweed’.

  • Reply Anna at D16 September 4, 2008 at 10:41 am

    WP-Z: I do like the Wakerly Teepee pattern quite a lot, but I don’t like that the paper is metallic. I’m just not a metallic wallpaper kind of person!

  • Reply Cupcakes and Cashmere September 4, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    i LOVE the idea of dressing up stairs. one of my favorite images ever from Domino magazine was a red runner that was painted on. check it out!

    http://www.dominomag.com/howtos/diy/2007/09/paint_stair_runner

  • Reply nikamarie September 5, 2008 at 7:30 am

    Beautiful!

  • Reply eclecticcurio September 6, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    love the wallpaper idea on the steps!! how fun! i will have to keep that in the mind for the future.

  • Reply Shawna September 7, 2008 at 8:54 am

    Hey Anna, I think you should totally use that bindweed wallpaper. We can have matching stairs LoL!

  • Reply sherri/the claw September 8, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    I really love this idea. I checked your glog out via Raina’s site (if the lampshade fits). p.s. loved your comment about the palin’s bear rickrack earlier at Design Crisis.

  • Reply yvette September 9, 2008 at 1:05 am

    your hallway = loveliness. can’t wait to see it with wallpapered risers!

  • Reply karina September 9, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    I like the idea!!!

  • Reply ambika September 10, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    This is such an instant wow. I know I would do this if I had a staircase in my home.

  • Reply Jessica September 11, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    That is such a great idea! I would have never thought to do that and it leaves such an impression.

  • Reply Livi October 24, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    I love papered risers!

  • Reply RIchtsje November 1, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    Such a great idea, never saw it before! Our stairs are quite boring, with carpet on it. In the house we owned before, I had painted it bright yellow which looked very nice in the small hallway we used to have…

  • Reply Nancyllev December 31, 2009 at 5:22 am

    I LOVE Love Shawna’s wallpapered risers. I just painted my stairs gloos white and have been looking ALL OVER to find her wallpaper. Do you know what it is where she got it????? Is it vinyl? Also did she put a protective varnish or polyurethene over it after??? I would really appreciate any info you have since you have seen it. It is truely a work of art and THE PERFECT wallpaper. Thanks so much!!!!

  • Reply Anna at D16 December 31, 2009 at 6:51 am

    Nancyllev: That’s Bindweed wallpaper from Ferm Living:
    http://www.fermlivingshop.us/wallpaper/bindweed_3.html

    I have it in my bathroom!
    http://www.doorsixteen.com/2008/12/01/at-last-the-upstairs-bathroom/

    And in my pantry!
    http://www.doorsixteen.com/2008/10/13/kitchen-pantry/
    It’s not vinyl, it’s just regular wallpaper. I don’t think Shawna did anything special with coating it — it’s just applied to the stairs as you would apply it to the wall.

  • Reply Shannon August 11, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    I love the Ferm Living Bindweed pattern on stair risers but $110 per roll is aweful pricey. Any suggestions?

    • Anna @ D16 August 11, 2013 at 5:56 pm

      (1) Save up! or (2) Hand-paint your own design.

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