Manhattan Custom Wallpaper Hanging

Instant coffee has a storied history that stretches around the globe, and instant coffee today has a prominent place in the New York City headquarters of Ground Up Coffee & Tea. The company, which ships around the world, was founded by a 3rd generation instant coffee drinker and is dedicated to developing and delivering differentiated coffee and tea. Consumers have always appreciated the convenience afforded by instant coffee. The recent shift toward high grade coffees made with cutting edge processing technology adds premium flavor to the simplicity and portability of instant coffee.  The result is an unmatched experience at the cup and corresponding surge in demand. http://www.gucoffeetea.net.

And while they innovate in the instant coffee and tea arena, they engage a creative approach to making their work space an instant hit with employees and visitors. When Ground Up moved to a new office, they had a custom-styled wallpaper mural designed.  We were the lucky ones who got to install it and keep from getting mixed up on whether we were indoors or outside. The green fields of coffee-growing shrubs, hills beyond and backdrop of mountains are complemented with a captivating motley sky.  

We delicately carved out duct work and air vents while taping and plastering the doorway for a seamless look, except for the hinges and handle. It’s intricate work that our team of craftsmen finds challenging and rewarding. Once we picked up our drop cloths, tables, scaffolding and supplies, we really did not want to depart this glorious mountain scene for the urban concrete and skyscraper scene – like from one jungle to another.

Before. Pointing to the future

Restaurant Wallpaper Installation 

 The condition of restrooms in a business, and perhaps even moreso in a restaurant, can impact the bottom line. Consumers do – consciously or subconsciously – make judgment calls about a business based on their perception of cleanliness in the bathroom. Well-maintained, sanitary facilities are linked to a positive, overall impression of a company. In the case of an eatery, well, clean in the restroom bodes well for someone thinking it’s probably also clean in the kitchen.

For this Midtown East restaurant in Manhattan, we removed old wallpaper to prepare for new wallpaper. Taking down wallpaper entails not only pulling it off and disposing of it all, but also scraping and sanding away old glue and any wall imperfections before setting up for the new covering. Bathrooms are famous for water and humidity, so impeccably prepping the surface assures a long-lasting wallpaper installation.

Putting up wallpaper entails a multi-prong approach to managing large sheets of the product, glue on one side and precision placement to line up the print horizontally from big piece to the adjacent big piece. Hand-eye coordination reaches new levels, along with not getting glue on your elbows, countertop, sinks, sconces or mirrors. There’s a little bit of acrobatic motion involved. Smoothing it and trimming meticulously follows. This handsome, light butterscotch wallpaper contrasts comfortably with the dark wood trim as well as the white molding strip above the backsplash. Between the art deco Chrysler building, awesome skyscrapers, classy residences, 5th Avenue shopping,  Madison Avenue advertising firms and a plethora of interesting restaurants, visitors and residents all expect neat, fresh, spotless, nicely appointed restrooms.

Very cool, very unusual wallpaper to spice up a recent renovation.

Manhattan Wallpaper Install

The humble artichoke ranks number one of all veggies in antioxidant count, according to a study by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Additionally, it is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, protein, vitamins and minerals. Each one is really a bud in the thistle family, as noted by the little thorn in each leaf which softens with cooking. And if you want to know if you can find artichokes in wallpaper, take a gander at this novel interior. Following a dining room and kitchen remodeling project, the homeowner wished to spice up the entry.

Imagine our surprise and delight to find our job entailed installing wallpaper with artichokes in misty gray and cotton white on a background of deep brick red. Wallpaper can be more economical in the long-term than paint, but hey, there’s no disputing the element of interest here. Some of the challenges in working with wallpaper include cutting, pasting and matching patterns. We use very sharp utility knives, changing out blades as needed, and are cautious not to over-paste, a common error. Our team finds lining up the patterns a somewhat stimulating challenge. You just never know where experienced tradesmen find their kicks. These homeowners are not keeping up with the Joneses. They are the Joneses, raising the bar, setting the standard with this memorable wallpaper.  

Upper East Side, where wallpaper makes a big splash!

Wallpaper is back in vogue in the Upper East Side!

Wallpaper Install in Tribeca

Tribeca, yet another New York City acronym neighborhood, signifies Triangle Below Canal Street. It’s a chic, trendy part of town with a glorious history in its cobblestone streets and industrial buildings converted to classy living quarters. New homeowners were motivated to think outside the box for the kids’ room, choosing a geometric wavy neutral wallpaper from Anthropologie. The store is known for its creativity and modern sporty home décor.

We removed and disposed of old wallpaper before inspecting and cleaning the walls for this new look. Then we assembled our tables, water, paste, trowels, and measuring devices to figure out lengths of paper, along with matching the pattern at the seams. It’s an intricate visual exercise in precision line-up of each panel of wallpaper for a smooth application and appearance. The space now projects a modern vibe which we think promotes energy as well as a peaceful haven for rest. Nice combo for the kiddos.  

Freshly painted and wallpapered common hall space

Midtown East Co-Op Wallpaper Installation and Removal 

The advantages of wallpaper start with the almost unlimited styles, colors, shapes, prints and themes. Even if the upfront cost is a tad on the high side, today’s wallpapers can look as rich and perform as functional for 15 years or more. In this common space hallway, we removed some very old damaged wallpaper and applied and smoothed new plaster for a charming, neutral, chevron print.

We painted the ceiling, then brushed satin imprevo on the trim in Linen White. This premium, low luster product is formulated for excellence in leveling and concealing any small imperfections on the molding itself. Once all that was dry, we set up large table spaces for unrolling, cutting, pasting and preparing each wallpaper piece for precise application on the wall, making sure the designs matched at every seam. Hanging wallpapering is the perfect task for being fussy and finicky, and everyone on our team is just that on projects like this. How very cool for these co-op tenants to care enough to call in the very best - that’s us - to clean out, clean up, prime, paint, plaster, hang wallpaper, protect the floors and doors, tidy up and exceed expectations when it’s all done.

Freshly painted and ready for new wallpaper

Wallpaper cut n’ prep station

Wallpaper hanging, trimming, matching lines

Dingy, old, damaged wallpaper had to go