In refinishing the walls of the house, the new owners discovered that removing the four layers of wallpaper brought the plaster down too. As a result, the design challenge Nancy Golden faced was that much tougher: not only were the plaster walls damaged, the wainscoting and ceiling needed renovating - and there was a useless door next to the fireplace that didn't serve any purpose.

This is what the house's new owners faced when they decided to renovate the study.





The wainscoting had to be painted (paint is much more forgiving than stain), but not until damaged sections had been replaced. Then the entire area was sanded and painted a glossy white. After being repaired, the walls and ceiling were covered with a heavily embossed wallpaper, which was painted a deep merlot on the walls and left ivory on the ceiling. (This type of wall covering accepts paint very readily but must be painted with a fuzzy-napped roller so as not to crush the raised design.) Golden explained that modern embossed wallpapers are descendants of classic Lincrusta (a heavy, expensive product made from linseed oil and having a burnished pattern) and Anaglypta (a more affordable product made from wood pulp and with a pressed-in design).

Refurbished trim, embossed wallpaper - painted a rich merlot color - and a strategically placed bookcase help bring the study into the 21st century while retaining the charm of the past.




The ceilings were enhanced by the addition of thick crown molding (the thicker size adds weight and richness to the walls) and teardrop corners (for added architectural interest). Semigloss paint was added to give a bit of sheen to the finish.

Golden replaced the unnecessary door with a heavily scaled, movable bookcase; in addition to adding valuable storage space, the bookcase also balanced the windows on the opposite side of the room. Above the entry door she added a leaded-glass transom light with crackle-finish accents.