Hi Everyone,<\/p>\n
This is part 1 and 2 of the Gracie Panel installation that did actually happen last week.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sorry I couldn\u2019t do another post on Thursday night. I don\u2019t know how, but I hurt my back, and it is quite angry with me. It may have begun after I was moving furniture<\/a> on Tuesday. But by Thursday evening (after moving furniture<\/a> back), I was in bad shape.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been alternating between ice and heat, and I had a massage yesterday with CBD ointment. Additionally, I\u2019m taking some Tylenol, which has been helpful.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If you missed part 1, please begin from the top. Or, if you\u2019re in a hurry or have read part 1 already, please click the link below to skip to part 2.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n (part 1 below)<\/em><\/p>\n Hi Everyone,<\/p>\n Okay, some of you will hate me, or at least be a bit miffed.<\/p>\n And you have every right to be.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They were supposed<\/em> to be installed\u2013 TODAY, the 28th of May, which is why I planned for the post to come out tonight. However, last night at 8:51 PM, I received a text from the installer apologizing that she had forgotten about a doctor\u2019s appointment scheduled for today, and she wanted to ensure there was enough time for the Gracie panels to be installed.<\/p>\n After all, there is zero margin for error when installing hand-painted Gracie wallpaper panels.<\/p>\n However, she is coming tomorrow (Thursday, May 29th) to install the panels.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Even though I was asleep by 2:00 AM, I still slept until 10:15 this morning . I know.<\/p>\n And, please, no judging.<\/em><\/p>\n I am trying very hard to change this hideous habit, and I realize I\u2019ve been playing this record for the last several years.<\/p>\n However, the reality is that most nights, my lights are not out until at LEAST 4:00 AM.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And especially, since that\u2019s closer to when the majority of folks wake up. I joke around that in caveman times, I\u2019d be the one guarding the cave from a wild boar attack during wee hours.<\/p>\n Okay, please spare me the:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Guys, there is no \u201cjust.\u201d And, please show me someone who doesn\u2019t have something about themselves they have struggled to change, but find it very difficult.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As a possible solution, I\u2019ve considered hiring a hitman to show up at 1:00 AM with a loaded pistol.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n That might<\/em> work.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure. ;]<\/p>\n However, there are people who do work night shifts, and their bedtime might be 8:00 AM.\u00a0 That\u2019s rough. Imagine telling people, \u201cI can\u2019t schedule anything before 3:00 PM.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Go on 8:30 AM walks with a group of my friends \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Never mind how, because it was an idiotic move on my part, but it could\u2019ve been muuuuuch worse. Suffice it to say, while nothing is broken, the ankle is a bit wobbly with a chronically angry peroneal tendon and a newly pissed-off anterior talofibular ligament. (ATL)<\/p>\n Scheduled before the ligament mishap was an appointment with a horribly hunched-over (hmmmm) bone doc yesterday. He gave me this hideously ugly and<\/em> uncomfortable plastic splint thing to wear. And then I walked home from Brookline!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Anyway, I\u2019ve had the lights out before 2:00 AM three nights in a row. However, except for Tuesday, I\u2019m still waking up late. In fact, on Sunday, I slept for over ten hours. I guess I needed it. I am aiming to have the lights out by 1:00 AM. Then, I can be up early enough to enjoy morning activities.<\/p>\n Please, dear God.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Yes. That is correct.<\/p>\n Now, before half of you reach for the unsubscribe link, please know that I\u2019m only half serious.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s take a look at what\u2019s been done so far and who I finally found to do the work for me.<\/p>\n First of all, I recently mentioned to you the struggle I had in finding someone qualified to hang the Gracie Panels<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They are the magnificent, hand-painted Chinoiserie panels from a family brand, Gracie,<\/a> that has been around for well over one hundred years.<\/p>\n I knew two weeks ago that Melanie Harvey, master wallpaper installer<\/a>, would be arriving at 7:30.<\/p>\n That\u2019s AM, in case that\u2019s not clear. haha<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n However, originally, she told me it wouldn\u2019t be before June, and now she was giving me a May 27th and 28th time slot.<\/p>\n I woke up 15 minutes early, but only saw 20 minutes later that she had gotten caught in traffic and wouldn\u2019t be arriving before 8:20. She arrived around 8:30 and unloaded the most pristine equipment I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n I mean, it looked like she had stopped at Home Depot on her way. But, she didn\u2019t. She actually cleans her stuff.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Above,\u00a0 Melanie Harvey is schlepping everything in.<\/p>\n I had to turn the lights practically all the way up, which I never do. As you can see, the LEDs distort the colors<\/a>, and the imperceptible strobe effect makes it difficult for the camera to focus; hence, the crappy images with the lights on. The Anglo-Indian sconces<\/a> have incandescent bulbs, but everything else is LED. And that is only because of the difficulty in changing bulbs. However, one day, I might have someone come out and change everything to incandescent.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Melanie was still bringing the last of her materials inside. I love her portable table. There, you can see the roll of white lining paper.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Above is a close-up of a panel with the lining paper installed. You can barely make out the line running horizontally across the wall. I can\u2019t believe how precise this is. That\u2019s amazing. What surprised me is how much texture is still visible even with the paper up. However, there is more texture on the other side of the moulding.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In any case, most of the time, a liner wasn\u2019t required.<\/p>\n The liner not only helps smooth out imperfections but also ensures optimal adhesion to the wall. With an expensive hand-painted paper like this, it\u2019s always a good idea to use a lining paper.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today, I was sitting in the den, with everything in disarray. However, I loved the way the light and colors<\/a> looked. That chair fabric in the foreground is brighter than that. However, the camera captured it in a more muted tone.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here, I am standing on the stairs (duh) and had to use a wide-angle lens to get everything in.<\/p>\n Remember this?<\/p>\n Okay, I\u2019m so proud of myself for finishing this at a reasonable time!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n xo,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *********************************************************<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Happy June!<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s start at the beginning of the day, last Thursday.<\/p>\n There was parking available behind the building, but wouldn\u2019t you know, our next-door neighbor\u2019s roof was being redone, and a massive truck was blocking a small portion of the spot. Melanie arrived right at 8:00 AM. The guy couldn\u2019t have been nicer and moved his truck forward so Melanie could pull in.<\/p>\n She brought a larger ladder this time. I have no idea how she carries it. Therefore, I need to stay on her good side because clearly, she could whoop my butt! Well, today, a toddler could whoop my butt.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I know they\u2019re afraid the paper will get messed up, but it makes life more difficult.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n However, below are a couple of close-up detail shots of the Gracie wallpaper panels.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Please notice the seams. That is where the wallpaper is pieced together.<\/a> Some of you may recall that this is how it was done 150 years ago, as they didn\u2019t have paper large enough to do in a 3-foot width.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Yet, now that it\u2019s up close, it\u2019s clear why the paper is so bloody expensive.<\/p>\n Melanie found some paint<\/a> cans to use as weights.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Then we had to figure out which two panels went where..<\/p>\n We ended up doing panels 3\/4 on the left and 1\/2 on the right.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Smoothing once she\u2019s sure the paper is perfectly straight.\u00a0 And yes, the LED bulbs are all the way up<\/a> which is why they look especially awful. Compare that light to the soft incandescent in the Anglo-Indian sconces. True, some of that obnoxious yellow could be a reflection from the brass, but still. The other thing is that they don\u2019t look that bad in real life.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Laurel, what color is the background of the wallpaper? It looks quite gray.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It is a classic celadon blue-green-gray. The wallpaper color does change, and sometimes the background appears more blue-green, while at other times it looks more gray, but not a pure gray. Still, it was a very gray day, so that is part of the reason.<\/p>\n Melanie was all finished in four hours. I was sitting in the den, and the colors looked so beautiful.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The left-side panel is a little more difficult to photograph because I had to turn on artificial lighting.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s like the leaves inside are having a convo with the leaves outside. ;]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Like, do I deserve to have so much finery?<\/p>\n Well, I need to get over that one. haha<\/p>\n Alas, like all of our cherished belongings, they are only ours to borrow.<\/p>\n Still, I feel as though I\u2019m living in a dream; like this must be someone else\u2019s home.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Nope. It\u2019s mine. All mine. Oy! This is how things looked a year ago.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I was a little concerned that my lemon-yellow chairs wouldn\u2019t look so great because they don\u2019t match anything. But then I remembered from my years of experience that as long as one sticks to their palette family, all will look terrific together.<\/a><\/p>\n And this post shares a formula to avoid matchy furniture<\/a>. I need to read that one, too!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n However, I\u2019ve moved them down here.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the link to the Insta reel, and please follow me on Instagram if you aren\u2019t already.<\/a><\/p>\n Okay, next up are the windows. I must figure that one out, even though I\u2019ve already spent hours on it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n June 5, 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Oh man, this has been a very rough week! My back took a turn for the worse, and I\u2019ve been in so much pain, I can\u2019t even think straight.<\/p>\n This morning, I had a scheduled x-ray for my foot and ankle, but when I told the doctor about my back, he recommended that I try to get in to see my PCP ASAP.<\/p>\n Luckily, I was able to see my doctor this afternoon.<\/p>\n It was someone else in the group, and she thought, as I do, that it\u2019s my sacroiliac joint that got inflamed. I\u2019m not sure how that happened last week. However, I think it\u2019s related to all of my ballet training, as I\u2019ve had this before, but not this debilitating.<\/p>\n I have to double-up on Tylenol for a week, (Ibuprofen is off-limits) use a pain patch, alternate hot and cold, and try a muscle relaxant (tiny dose).<\/p>\n That\u2019s why I couldn\u2019t manage the mid-week post. Oh, I wrote it, but don\u2019t have the mental capacity to edit it. I did take some new images.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While you can see them both peripherally, what you\u2019re about to see is not how it looks. Everything appears farther away than it actually is.<\/p>\n Below is the best I could do, but the chandelier looks crooked (it\u2019s not), and elements in the foreground look larger than they are.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The image above is similar to one higher up, but without the lights on and with brighter natural light. I also put this image on Instagram.<\/a> I\u2019m amazed by the kindness of the people in the comments. I even heard from someone at Gracie.<\/p>\n It was a hot one today, but there was a lovely breeze, and it wasn\u2019t oppressively humid.<\/p>\n Oh, it\u2019s coming. This is only early June. Speaking of\u2014 TODAY is the two-year renoversary! Yes, the demo began on June 5, 2023!<\/p>\n While I did take an Uber three times today, I also walked home through the Boston Public Garden once. The roses are not only gorgeous to look at, they\u2019re intoxicating. Their perfume is unreal!<\/p>\n Okay, back to resting.<\/p>\n xo,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below.<\/a> Thank you for the suggestion!<\/p>\n Please note that I have decided not to create a membership site<\/em><\/strong>. However, this website is very expensive to run. To provide this content, I rely on you, the kind readers of my blog, to use my affiliate links whenever possible for items you need and want. There is no extra charge to you.<\/strong> The vendor you\u2019re purchasing from pays me a small commission.<\/p>\n To facilitate this, some readers have asked me to put<\/p>\n A link to <\/a>Amazon.com is on my home page.<\/a><\/p>\n Please click the link before items go into your shopping cart.<\/strong> Some people save their purchases in their \u201csave for later folder.\u201d Then, if you remember, please come back and click my Amazon link<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> and then you\u2019re free to place your orders. While most vendor links have a cookie that lasts a while, Amazon\u2019s cookies only last up to 24 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n Thank you so much!<\/p>\n I very much appreciate your help and support!<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\nIronically, I\u2019ve been getting more sleep. Maybe that\u2019s why! I don\u2019t know.<\/h4>\n
Part 2 Begins Here<\/a><\/h4>\n
It\u2019s because the living room Gracie panels haven\u2019t been installed yet.<\/h4>\n
Truthfully, it\u2019s for the best it worked out this way.<\/h4>\n
Yes, yes, yes, I know. Believe me, I am fully aware how absolutely pathological that sounds.<\/h4>\n
\u201cWell, Laurel, just go to bed earlier.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n
\u201cGet\u00a0 your sorry ass in bed, Laurel, or else I\u2019ll blow your brains out.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n
Still, in my case, my dysfunctional schedule means that I can\u2019t:<\/h4>\n
Go to monthly coffees at 9:00 AM
Can\u2019t take a ballet class at 10:00 AM.<\/p>\nHowever, ballet is off-limits right now, because I totally effed up my already chronically bad ankle.<\/h4>\n
Indeed, I was pooped.<\/h4>\n
So, Laurel, did you provide the click bait, just to tell me about your effed up sleeping schedule and ankle you hurt doing something you had no business doing?<\/h4>\n
While the panels are not yet up, the job *has* commenced.<\/h4>\n
However, if you\u2019re just tuning in and have no idea what Gracie panels are.<\/h4>\n
![\"My](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/My-living-room-desing-Gracie-Hampton-Garden-Chinoiserie-double-panel-celadon-Antique-Light-Gallery-Palladian-alabaster-24-inch-chandelier-Boucher-Louis-XVI-tapestry-.png)
I could have asked her if it was possible to arrive later.<\/h4>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at some photos of the Gracie panel prep work.<\/h4>\n
![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Melanie-preparing-walls-for-Gracie-panels.png)
![\"Walls](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walls-prepped-for-lining-paper.png)
![\"barely](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/barely-visible-seam-lining-paper.png)
While I\u2019ve specked wallpaper for dozens of clients, I\u2019m never there when the walls are being prepped.<\/h4>\n
Above you can see the right panel with its lining paper up.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/view-into-living-room-from-den-before-Gracie-panels-installation.png)
And one last shot, below, of the entire fireplace wall before it gets its adornment\u2013 God willing, in about 12 hours.<\/h4>\n
![\"panels](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/panels-with-lining-paper-installed.png)
Well, in the interest of self-preservation, I simplified the design. However, the Gracie panels are larger than in the rendering. I can\u2019t wait!<\/p>\nI\u2019ll be back soon!<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Laurel-siggy-2022-e1674975056158.png\"\/)
Part 2 Begins Here<\/span><\/h4>\n
June 1, 2025<\/h6>\n
The most difficult part of the job was rolling out the paper, which is rolled inside out.<\/h4>\n
Above, you can see the back of the paper and some of the paint<\/a>, which proves that these are hand-painted.<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Close-up-Gracie-Hampton-Court-elegant-colors.png)
![\"Gracie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gracie-Hampton-Garden-exquisite-detailing-hand-painted-Chinoiserie-wallcovering.png)
See what I mean? The detail is breathtakingly beautiful and intricate.<\/h4>\n
![\"panels](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/panels-with-sky.png)
![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Melanie-checking-matching-of-panels.png)
Above is the first panel waiting for the paste to set up to the right level of tackiness. Melanie said that when the panel goes up, she has a very brief window to make sure it\u2019s in the correct place before it becomes impossible to move it.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s a brave woman.<\/p>\n![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Melanie-smoothing-wallpaper.png)
Melanie leaves about an inch of excess and then trims once in place to ensure a perfect fit inside the panels.<\/p>\n
The den color never looks brighter than on the left, as it is reflecting light from the window. However, what you see on the right is the same color as on the left, but in shadow. I left the furniture in the position Melanie put it back in. It looks nice both ways.<\/p>\n![\"Gracie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gracie-panel-near-kitchen.png)
![\"Gracie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gracie-Hampton-Garden-Installed-May-29-2025.png)
I\u2019m a little taken aback by how beautiful everything is.<\/h4>\n
![\"new](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/new-panel-moulding-living-room.png)
![\"Gracie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gracie-Hampton-Garden-wallpaper-panel-installation.png)
Please pin the graphic below to Pinterest<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"My](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/My-19th-Century-Boston-Brownstone-Living-Room-During-After-Renovation.png)
I did post a short video Thursday night and also a link to a cute time-lapse video on Instagram.<\/h4>\n
Addendum<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n
Getting back to the new Gracie panels. Some of you wanted to see both panels at the same time.<\/h4>\n
![\"My](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/My-living-room-facing-fireplace-wall-June-2025.png)
![\"Gracie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gracie-panel-living-room-June-2025-dining-area.png)
![\"roses](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/roses-Boston-Public-Garden-June-2025-scaled.png)
***<\/span>Please check out the recently updated HOT SALES! <\/a><\/h4>\n
![\"Amazon](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/10-26367-page\/Amazon-ad-600x600.png)
please feel free to share! *Love your comments! Please note however, that the blog is meant as general advice. In addition, it is not possible to give out specific answers to your interior design and\/or paint questions. Thank you for your understanding.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"right](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/right-panel-looking-towards-windows.png)
![\"32](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/32-inch-high-wainscoting-and-panel-moulding-living-room-renovation-2024.png)
![\"handpainted](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/handpainted-wallpaper-by-Gracie.png)
![\"Gracie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gracie-wallpaper-panel-getting-ready-to-hang.png)
![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Melanie-Harvey-at-work.png)
![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Melanie-doing-final-trim-Gracie-wallpaper-panels.png)
![\"First](\"https:\/\/laurelberninteriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/First-pic-after-Gracie-installation.png)