Handmade papers brighten up everyday items

Dear Sandi: My kitchen is done in blue and yellow, and I couldn’t believe it when I saw the blue and yellow story in the September issue of Woman’s Day magazine, with your papers.

The magazine didn’t tell me enough about the storage boxes. Could I use these in the kitchen, how are they made, etc. Thanks. —Samantha T., Salem

Blue and yellow handmade paper brings together a kitchen. LOOSE ENDS

Hi Samantha: Yes, we received lots of inquiries from people wanting to know the “hows and whats” of that feature.

The process is extremely simple. The boxes are made of a very heavy-duty papier-mâché, making them sturdy but lightweight, and the lids come down to the bottom of the box, which gives them a very smooth, smart look.

We originally created these for a French provencal project. We had a designer that needed a quick and inexpensive look for a client’s kitchen, so these storage boxes, along with some other appropriate pieces, were all covered in our blue and yellow collection of hand-painted, handmade papers.

Though you could use the same technique with any paper, the important thing is to find ones that carry the same theme through a number of different papers yet aren’t boring or repetitive. Graphic patterns are especially good because you can arrange stripes, dots or checks in an almost endless variety of ways.

Whether you're looking for handmade paper, furniture, fabric or accessories, you will find it at loose ends. If it is unusual, organic and fabulous, then loose ends is the place. Showroom hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and the first Saturday of each month 10 am - 3pm at 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, or visit us online at www.looseends.com Questions? Give us a call at (503) 390-2348.

Because these were for a kitchen, along with the boxes, we used teapot and water-pitcher shapes, also made from papier-mâché. You also could use glass or china pieces rather than the papier-mâché forms. The “serving tray” was made from an old kitchen cabinet door. Check out the cabinet shops for seconds. Scratches or flaws will be covered up by the paper.

Once you have all your “forms” and papers, you are ready to start.

You will need to measure and cut your paper to fit the shapes you are working with. Some are easy, like the boxes, but the other shapes, like the teapot, can be pieced together. Actually, we first covered the entire teapot with the blue paper, then cut out the yellow squares from another paper, layering those on over the blue. You will have to play with this as there is no real right way to do it.

After you have your paper cut, the important thing is to work with a good, medium-weight, water-based, premixed wallpaper paste. I buy this stuff in 5-gallon buckets from home improvement stores. You also can find it in most paint stores.

Apply the paste to the form with a short bristled, stiff brush or a sponge brush and apply it fairly liberally. Work your paper onto the surface. Don’t be afraid to move the paper around or even take it back up and re-apply it. Of course this will depend on the weight and integrity of the paper that you are using, so it is better to work with something that is a bit heavier than standard wrapping papers.

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

Although we covered the boxes with larger, single pieces of paper, you also could use strips, squares or other smaller pieces.

If you are going to use a variety of patterns, as we did on a selection of different items, then you need to work with a consistent color scheme to tie it all together and keep it from looking too chaotic.

A kitchen cabinet door would be treated the same way as the other pieces, but when it is dry, you will want to apply three or four coats of a clear acrylic sealer (again, available at home improvement stores) to protect the surface. Add a couple of handles, one at each end, and you have a great little serving tray.

Hope this helped you out Samantha, and I also hope you have as much fun with your project as we did with ours.

August 27, 2004