Kitchen Project #1: Remove Wallpaper

Our plan for the kitchen broke down into many little projects - the first being take down the wallpaper. 

Step 1: Lay down towels and/or plastic to catch the water and wallpaper as it falls.

Step 2: Use a scoring tool to create many small holes in the paper

Step 3: Wet the paper with scalding hot water mixed with vinegar in a spray bottle. A steamer can also do this. We opted for the spray bottle this time (my fiance is convinced this is the best way). When we tackle the master bedroom we plan to test which way is faster. Stay tuned to find out.

Step 3: Wait. Be patient. Let the solution do it's job.

Step 4: Start scraping - but be careful not to damage the wall as you are.

Step 5: Hope for large pieces to come off at once. (see pictures below)

Step 6: Don't be fooled! That is only the top layer. Score, spray, wait, scrape again to remove the bottom layer and glue.

Step 7: Take a break. (Slushies optional, but encouraged.)

Step 8: Talk visitors into helping.

Step 9: Put fiance to work the minute he's home.

Step 10: Be proud of your progress - even if it's not pretty.

Step 11: You'll notice at this point, we still had the spots above the windows and doorways left. You may (like we did) need a smaller scraper to fit in these areas. We used a putty knife for this.

Step 12: Shower.

Sharing reno projects means being brutally honest. The one wall in the kitchen and areas surrounding the windows/doorways took my mom and I 4 hours. Worth it - but very time consuming. It makes me a little nervous for the master bedroom with 4 big walls (insert scared face emoji).

Next project - cabinets!