We painted the cabinets and had custom doors and drawer fronts made. For a final touch my wife did a glaze treatment on the cabinets.

looking through wallpaper books

2) You choose the exact design to fit the scale and style of your space. The options that are now available with paint are infinite.

3) Walls are rarely straight. Floors and ceilings are rarely level. Using paint allows you to disguise these imperfections by adjusting the patterns as you go. Designs can be placed so they are VISUALLY correct rather than MATHEMATICALLY correct.

4) Measuring for wallpaper can be tricky. This is especially true if the walls are curved, angled or have a lot of fixtures to consider. Mistakes are costly. Any unopened packages can be returned but are usually subject to a restocking fee. If you are short, you run the risk of the additional rolls not being a perfect match.

5) Since wallpaper comes in double rolls, you must make sure to order plenty. I hate to see the excess paper go to waste. I would rather see a leftover quart of paint. Chances are, it can be used for another project in that space.

6) Paint can be repaired easily with a paint brush.

7) If you have ever stripped wallpaper you understand the cost and mess that is involved with removing. A painted wall requires only primer and paint when you are ready for a change.

If you are looking to add spice to a room, you may want to explore the options that are now available with paint.

Visit www.kasswilson.com for more transformation ideas.

feature on painting a mural in the style of Rufus Porter (1792-1884), a fascinating man who in addition to being an itinerant mural painter in New England, was also an inventor and the founder of "Scientific American" magazine. I particularly liked his murals in a monochromatic style he called "clara obscuro" and thought a mural might provide a solution for my entry. While there were directions in the magazine, that wasn't enough for me to make the leap of faith to take on painting my own. I did, however, find a weekend course in Vermont on painting a mural Porter's style, which I quickly signed up for. One winter weekend a few months later, I had what is certainly my biggest do-it-yourself success. I never had much luck taking photos of the project (it was a narrow space) but the Realtor who listed that house got one that captures some of its flavor.

#ProudestDIY