Last week I joined the hottest party in the blogosphere… Calling it Home‘s One Week Challenge! Click here for my Week One post. Over the next five weeks, I’ll be taking you inside our powder room transformation. The crown jewel of our powder room is definitely this hand painted silk “faux de Gournay” wallpaper. I have received a ton of inquiries about these stunning silk panels, and I’m happy to fill you in on the process…
Let’s admit… we have all lusted over the fabulous Chinoiserie wallpapers by companies such as Gracie, de Gournay, and Griffin & Wong, but the crazy expensive prices keep them firmly out of budget for most, including myself. Thank goodness for Silk Castle in Shanghai! I found them on eBay.
Silk Castle panels range around $360 each, compared to roughly $1,000 per panel at the brand name companies. Our powder room required six panels, so while still a splurge, it was a fraction of the cost of de Gournay.
The hand-painted silk panels are all custom made, and Silk Castle’s design department creates a design layout according to your specifications. The key is to take painstakingly precise measurements. I had Robert Gagner, our fabulous wallpaper installation artist, measure the room for me before placing the order. And then I had to decide upon a pattern and colors… not an easy task! Silk Castle can create or copy any design your heart desires, so your only problem will be deciding which one to choose! I decided to go with “Duck Egg” blue. Here are my final layouts…
While it was a little scary to place such an expensive custom order over the Internet, Silk Castle offers 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed. Click here to read more about their guarantee policy. This guarantee was important for my peace of mind, and also because we actually encountered a small snafu…
I think what happened is that we took measurements when the old Cabana door was up, which had molding, and our new hurricane resistant door has no molding.My fault. I also forgot to take into consideration this little strip to the right of the door from the hall entry… But not to worry! Lily, my saleslady, is having a few butterflies painted for me to blend in that top panel, and she is also sending a strip for the side of the door. All I have to do is pay shipping. I will, of course, keep you updated on our progress!
Stay tuned next week for more of my bargain finds, and a DIY project! Here are a few of my inspiration pictures…
Palm Beach Chic at The Pink Pagoda
One Room Challenge Week Three
Scott Snyder at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show
One Room Challenge Week Five
I love all of the wonderful splurges that you've selected. Watching the transformation has been really enjoyable. I have to admit, I'm enjoying all of the great bargains and treasure hunting on CL just as much! Thank you for sharing all of the great finds and research that you've done. You've become a great resource.
Sharon
Gorgeous!!! Like many, I lust over chinoiserie wallpaper just like these pictures. I dreamt about it, drooled over it, oh so often. Since the real thing (de gournay, etc) is cost prohibitive for many, having a cheaper alternative is what we are after. For our powder room, we hand painted the chinoiserie mural on the wall…. for a fraction of the cost of the wallpaper version. Wished I can show you the pics but I don't have a blog…..
I'd love to see the pics! Please email them to me – [email protected] – and perhaps I can feature them on my blog! 🙂
XOXO,
The Glam Pad
Just sent some to you….. Let me know what you think of this yet, another alternative, of the real thing. We did ours tone-on-tone although I would very much like to have either the green or the blue version, like yours, someday…… 🙂
I haven't seen the pictures come through yet…?
I just sent them again….hopefully this time the email goes through…… Thanks!
I will never stop loving that paper. And what a great company – it sounds like their customer service is as good as their product!
I thought nothing could top that wallpaper, but those sconces are amazing!
They are just heart stoppingly beautiful. Lucky you!
Andrea this wallpaper is so good! what a fabulous find! I can't wait to see more photos!
I love it!!! I used to work at a design showroom that carried Fromental and I absolutely love the look but not the price. I am definitely going to look into doing some framed panels for our next house!
Can't wait to see how the room progresses!!
Brittany
http://www.classicallyb.com
Looking fabulous! Love the sconces.
It looks amazing so far! The panels are stunning!
This is going to be one amazing room when you are finished!
My favorite room. Ever.
Just stunning! Love your inspiration pics…and your sconces are beautiful!!!!
This wallpaper. AMAZING.
Holy freakin cow! Gorgeous beyond compare. That paper and those sconces. Get outta here, sister. So amaze. Gonna go crawl back into my shoe box and cry b/c I have so much painting left to do and no gorgeous chinoisy panels!
GORGEOUS!!!!
Karolyn
I have seen this company on eBay – glad to know they did such a great job! The room is fabulous!
Apparently this bathroom has an exterior door???
Just an amazingly beautiful paper – all of that research, time and effort really paid off congrats to you Andrea — I love it!
OKG- It is gorgeous!!!!
-Linda,ny
I'm still dying over this paper. I would spend an unusual amount of time in the powder room!!!
The wallpaper is gorgeous and what a great find … thank you for the introduction! The sconces, yes and I know the rest is going to be equally as fabulous!! xo
Andrea, this is stunning and how brave of you to place this order. Boy did it pay off big for you. I love that you were smart enough to have your wallpaper person measure for you. So glad to hear that they are sending the extra pieces. This is stunning!
Wow, it's beyond gorgeous, and absolutely worth it! Thanks so much for sharing your source!
That wallpaper is making me swoon! You are so lucky you found it for a great price.
That wallpaper is so lovely!
Wow…this is a showstopping wallpaper – I just love your choice and the color is stunning…can't wait to see more!
Gorgeous, and informative!!! Love it!!
Your bathroom is just absolutely stunning already with the panelling and the lights!!!! Can't wait to find out about your DIY next week!
Your powder room is stunning already! I cannot wait to see what you do next!
Just beautiful!! I almost ordered some panels from that company a while back but ultimately was too afraid to place such a large order over the internet…in another country. I'm sooo happy to hear your story, I feel much more confident now hearing what a good experience you have had 🙂
Can't wait to see your final result, it's going to be stunning! I'm a new reader, so happy to have found your blog, love your style!
LOVE your bathroom. So elegant.
Andrea– just wrote about your wallpaper in my latest post!! I am so in love with this wallpaper!!
SO beautiful! What a great choice, I have actually heard of them. Getting quotes right now from Gracie, Paul Montgomery and Stark but will consider them too…thanks for the tip. Looks so fabulous!
I love knowing about this company! Thanks for sharing and sorry for the lack of commenting lately.
Andrea, THANK YOU for blogging about this paper! I just emailed the contact on Ebay to see how I can order a few panels to create artwork in a niche I have in my house. Was Lily the contact you had on Ebay?
Hi Meg! Fantastic, you will LOVE your panels!! Yes, I worked with Lily ([email protected]) and also Lois ([email protected])… please tell them I sent you, and they will take good care of you! 🙂 And please send me pictures once you have the panels installed… I'd love to feature the pics on my blog!
XOXO,
The Glam Pad
Hi Andrea! Thank you so much for sharing! Your bathroom is beautiful! Just got a quote from Silk Castle and am so happy with the pricing! Thanks again!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Hi all, I bought mine from Griffin & Wong at $450/panel. Please check them out.
This is beautiful…. and the pricing is fantastic. What is the exact pattern and color pattern you choose? I am now following you.
Hi! Can you share what pattern you chose/copied? I’m having a hard time on their site and yours is lovely! Feel free to share via email if you don’t want to post here…and thank you!!