Phase I - drink some wine, grab and peel:


Phase II - spray with warm water and scrape with a putty knife:


Phase III - score in spirals and zigzags, spray WP Chomp (I should have used a roller), scrape with putty knife:

the goal is a smooth surface onto which i can paste new paper. i'm loving experiencing the kitchen as it was designed in the 50's, but i'm not going to pretend it looks pretty when you get a little closer... there is still a lot to peel and scrub before i can prime and paper. the green paper has started to come off in some small spots, but i don't feel confident that i can get it all off without causing a lot of damage (and personal trauma). i spend a day like today working on it, and i think, "it's time to hire someone!" but then i wait 2 weeks, forget how much my hands hurt after several hours of scraping and go back in for more.

phase IV is to go back and get the stubborn spots (many!), and clean up all the edges where the paper goes behind cabinets and window vinyl (do i have to remove the vinyl panels? i think i know the answer...)

phase V is cleaning and painting with primer. i swear up and down that even if it looks really great with a freshly painted plain wall, i will not give up on the wallpaper.

p.s. i'm considering a new blog for the house rejuve conversation, since so many remodel blogs have inspired and instructed me in my projects. how many websites do i need?