Where do your patterns come from?
There's not many places we haven't found a great wallpaper pattern: steamer trunks, drawer linings, tucked away corners of old houses and dusty attics. We've even "rescued" some from items left out for the trash.
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What type of wallpaper do you offer?
House Vernacular offers historic wallpapers printed mainly on paper, not vinyl. Wallpapers are supplied untrimmed and unpasted (don't worry, instructions are available for the do-it-yourselfer). These are American style historic papers. Unlike European designs, which offered a more hard-edged look, American papers used dyes which soaked slightly into the paper, giving it a softer look and feel. In America, wallpaper installers were often referred to as "paper stainers" to illustrate the soft, almost watercolor quality of the wallpapers.
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Not every wallpaper is worth the paper it's printed on.
While we want to be as authentic as possible, many of these wallpapers were originally printed on cheap paper. So while we strive for authenticity, paper which cracks, peels and yellows is in no one's best interest. For that reason we use high grade papers. Our papers are specifically chosen to be free of these life-shortening components.
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Our wallpaper is produced using state of the art technology.
Just because you love the past doesn't mean you want to live in it. At House Vernacular, we use modern production and printing methods to give our customers the best of both worlds – old and new. All of our papers are machine printed using the highest quality materials. These production methods allow us to offer options and customizations at prices which are far more affordable than they would be using traditional methods. |
Do I need to buy all my wallpaper from one style?
Having trouble deciding? Don't limit yourself! There's no need to stick with one style. Although large mansions were often done entirely in one design style (such as Victorian or Arts & Crafts), the "regular folk" often decorated their houses in a variety of styles – especially during the period from 1900- 1920 when Victorian, Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts styles were all active. To see an example of the various styles found in one old house, read our About Us section. |
Can I have my wallpaper printed on vinyl?
Of course, and some customers who want a historic pattern in a kitchen or a bathroom prefer to have vinyl. |
Can you print wallpaper on sheets?
Yes! Before it was possible to print on rolls, wallpaper came in sheets. We can print on sheets if desired. Please contact us for specifics. |
Do you have instructions for hanging the wallpaper?
Yes, complete instructions are included with each order. |
What if I want a different color or size than you have listed?
We are glad to accommodate special requests. More information on custom options can be found under our Custom link. |
Are all your patterns on the website?
All completed patterns are on the website. But we always have lots of patterns "in the works". So if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, email us to see what other patterns might be floating around our design studio or consider having a custom pattern made.
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What is your return and warranty policy?
We want to make our customers happy, and will strive to resolve any issues you encounter. Each order is custom manufactured, and is only returnable if there is a defect in materials. We strongly suggest that samples be ordered prior to purchase to ensure colors and style are suitable for your needs. Materials only (not labor) are warranted for 6 months from date of purchase. |
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How do I determine the quantity of wallpaper to order?
The method below outlines a simple way to estimate wallpaper needed, and can be affected by other factors including offset repeats and large patterns. This is an estimate only, and you may want a professional paperhanger to provide your estimate.
An easy way to estimate sidewall quantity is to determine the square footage of the room and divide by the square footage per roll. For example, if your room is 10’ x 15’, the total square footage would be:
(10’ x 15’) = 150 sq.ft.
Subtract any large openings, for example, a 5’ x 9’ window:
150 – (3’ x 9’) = 123 sq. ft.
The wallpaper is 18” x 12’ and square footage is:
1.5’ x 12 = 18 sq. ft.
The room size divided by the wallpaper size equals rolls needed:
123 / 18 = 7 rolls (6.8 rounded up to 5)
For borders, crowns and friezes, determine the linear feet of the room, and divide by the border length supplied.
Using the example above, our 10’ x 15’ room would be:
10’ x 2 = 20’ length
15’ x 2 = 30’ width
20’ + 30’ = 50’
For a border supplied in 6’ lengths:
50’ / 6’ = 9 rolls (8.3 rounded up to 9) |
What is the difference between the various wallpaper types?
Some of the main distinctions in paper types are outlined below. For more information on how to combine the various types of paper, please see our Research Page.
Sidewall:
This is wallpaper meant for the main part of the wall
Ceiling:
This is similar to a sidewall, but is designed for use on the ceiling. These papers can also be used as sidewalls.
Border:
A small size paper meant to be used as trim for crowns, friezes and sidewalls. Borders are usually under 5” in height. A border can also be used to create panel affects and to trim out window and door openings.
Crown:
Larger than a border, but smaller than a frieze, these papers are typically used to separate the sidewall from the ceiling. A crown usually ranges in height from 5” to 10”
Frieze:
A frieze is the largest type of border paper, and ranges in size from 11” to 23”. Friezes can be combines with borders and occasionally crowns to produce stunning focal points in rooms. These papers are normally placed in the upper third of the wall (above chair rail height and below the ceiling line), but can also be used as small dado panels in certain eras
Panel:
A panel is usually scenic in natures, and is wallpaper used as a pictorial focus. Panels can be horizontal or vertical. Panels can also be made out of sidewalls framed by borders or wood trim.
Dado:
A Dado is most easily described as a frieze that is placed at floor level rather than ceiling level. These varied in height depending on the era, and could be as small as 12” or as high as 3’
Medallion:
Medallions are cutouts that are applied to the ceiling, or used to create panel decorations. Medallions can be cut out of crowns and friezes, or can be larger items.
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