Have you ever wished something along these lines, “Boy, if I could just move that wall,” or “this kitchen could sure use a window; then it would really look great!”  Well if this describes you, you are in good company. Consider the following two scenarios:

Jackie lives in the suburbs and is a devoted wife and soccer mom.  She lives in a 4 bedroom colonial on a lovely tree-lined cul-de-sac.  She recently upgraded her kitchen with matching appliances in beautiful stainless steel.  She also painted the walls a lovely earthy clay color with green undertones.   Finally, her husband installed track lighting to add much needed brightness.  Still, she wanted to add some ‘umph’ to her kitchen, something really unique to make it stand out.

Jason is a single, young attorney who lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.  He rents a small one bedroom apartment.  He lives on the 27^th floor and has a doorman—a fairly standard and desirable living arrangement for a young professional with an upwardly mobile career.   He works long hours and when he does have time to relax, he enjoys entertaining friends with dinner and cocktails.  His small kitchen is functional but dated.  Since he rents, he is limited in what he could do to add some pizzazz to his tiny kitchen.  Still, he wants to do something to that blank wall opposite the counter.

Although Jackie and Jason seem to have polar opposite living arrangements and lifestyle demographics, they do have one thing in common:  a decorating dilemma in the kitchen!   They both have options, and one that will work nicely for both of them is the addition of a wall accent .

Wall accents  are fun and add decorative interest to small spaces. They trick the eye (trompe de l’oeil) by seemingly adding three dimensions to a two dimensional space. They are easy to apply and can be cleaned with mild cleanser on a soft sponge.   They are also easy to remove and  therefore won’t harm the underlying wall (a word of caution: be sure to follow the manufacturers’ instructions for application as some wall accents are peel and stick while others need to be dipped into water prior to hanging).  The fact that there are so many fantastic choices is a sure sign that there is something for everyone here.  Probably the best thing about wall accents is that they are affordable and can work within anyone’s decorating budget.

Although cost is not a major factor for Jackie, she certainly wants the best deal for her money.  Her primary concern is quality.  On the other hand, Jason knows he won’t be living in this apartment long, since he plans to move to Paris in a few years.  He is not going to spend a lot of money on decorating. 

Because of the uniqueness, ease, functionality, and affordability of wall accents, both scenarios have happy endings.  Jackie chose a wall accent mural called Tuscan View Faux Window to add to the end of her kitchen counter.  It is an arched stone lined entry with a breathtaking view of the Tuscan Hills.   Jason chose Café Faux Window and applied it to the wall opposite his kitchen counter.  He is delighted because it now actually appears as if he is looking out onto the street from within his very own café or French Bistro. It even has reversed writing on the “glass.”  Best of all, it makes his kitchen space appear larger.

For unique wall designs at a price that can’t be beat, consider the addition of a wall accent  to your eating space!

Jackie's choice

Jason's choice

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