Downstairs toilet wallpaper, Alsager

What did the customer need?

The customer wanted their downstairs toilet papered in Claret & Key's Penelope wallpaper, which they had already chosen. Penelope is a soft leaf trellis with small geese and flower motifs, here in the Spring colourway on a Linen White background. The room is small, with a sloping ceiling, one window and tongue-and-groove panelling below the dado rail. The brief was to paper everything above the dado, including the slope and the window reveal, so the pattern belongs to the whole room instead of stopping at awkward edges.

What condition was it in?

The walls had to be checked carefully, because peel-and-stick paper shows up anything underneath it. It relies on its own adhesive, so it grips best on a smooth, clean, sound surface. Any bumps, cracks or dust behind it will show through or stop it sticking properly. In a small room like this, every wall is close to eye level, so the surface needed to be right before the first drop went up.

What preparation was needed?

The walls needed to be smooth, clean and sound before the peel-and-stick paper went up, and the pattern had to be planned around the slope and window.

Which paints and materials were used?

The main material was Claret & Key's Penelope removable wallpaper, in the Spring pattern on a Linen White background. Claret & Key is a British wallpaper brand, and Penelope is a peel-and-stick paper, which means the adhesive is already on the back and no paste is needed. It comes on 48 cm wide rolls with a 48 cm pattern repeat and a straight match, so each drop lines up with the next at the same height. In a small room every join is close to eye level, so getting that match right matters.

What was the result?

The trellis now runs continuously across the walls, up the sloping ceiling and into the window reveal. Wrapping the paper into the reveal frames the window, rather than leaving a plain painted edge. The soft sage and cream tones sit well against the white panelling, white basin and brushed brass tap, and the little geese give the room some character without overpowering a small space. It's a simple room, but it now feels finished and considered.

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