how do i make that look better?

Question

I dont' know the terms of parts. Please look at this picture: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shoebacka/detail?.dir=d423re2&.dnm=57e4re2.jpg&.src=ph

The part circled in red, it's covered with fake wood like paper. It's ugly and I want to know of a way to make it look better. Please advice.

How do you remove the molding without damaging it?

Answer 1

You can remove it and put in your fav wood or sheetrock and paint it
OR you can dress it up with border wall paper
Good Luck and leave a comment.

Answer 2

you could paint it and the cabinets or you could check and see what is under the " paper ". If it is veneer you can strip it off and there will be heap plywood behind it. That can be painted over after you smooth it with spackle. Where it is painting will probably be your best bet because it is too high to get up close to inspect and a visual inspection is fairly quick with most people.

See if you can remove it entirely and leave an open place if there is enough room to make the top of the cabinets like a shelf space. I have a friend that did that and it worked well for her. Do keep in mind though that it will be a dust gatherer.

Answer 3

Wall paper is an idea but you will have to work the wall paper in another part of the kitchen to balance it out.. One thought is whether you wallpaper or paint it I think a shelf the whole length of this circled spot and place favorite plates, cookbooks or another of your collectibles. I did this with teacups and matching saucers, and another time with soup tureens. Another thought is paint this area and place a piece of lattice over it and if you like color, place a few silk flowers with some Ivy, or Tulips in coordinating colors and maybe some Spanish Moss to cover the lower portion of the stems.. Good Luck...

Answer 4

Remove the paper. Wash the wall ... then paint it. Have an artist paint a favorite quote up there. Or you can do it yourself if you are comfortable on a step ladder. Pencil it out on a large sheet of paper the size you want it. Rub the side of a pencil on the reverse side (to make like a carbon paper). Center the paper and tape it up. Then transfer your writing with firm pressure. Follow the lines using a paint marker or paint brush.

Answer 5

First I would strip off the paper stuff, go to nearest lumber yard look at their Stain Samples and then go and talk to a Sales person. There are Veneers you can buy and you want a stain that looks most like your cabnets once it's applied to the Veneer. The sales person can help you decide which Veneers and stain will most look like your cabnets when all is done.

I live in a rual area and all we have are lumber yards, No Home Depot or anything like that..

I do like the 2nd option Bootsjeansnp has given

Answer 6

I'd say you have a couple of options:
1. Start over and redo all the cupboards, by painting them and then you could paint that section and it won't look weird.
2. You could get some matching paneling and put it up.
3. You could just take down the paper and paint that section.
4. You could hang wallpaper up in that section.

What I would do personally is option 1. You'd have a fresh start and they would look nice.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Oh man the things you could hang there! You can hang little signs on there that read KISS THE COOK, you can hang decorative pot holders or country pictures there. You could get some plate hangers and hang some really pretty plates up there! I have some plaques over mine that reads HELP WANTED with a stack of dirty dishes in the pictures, I have one that reads BAKE WITH LOVE with cookies on the picture, and one that says KISS THE COOK. I also have an ash tray hanging on mine of some tropical picture too. And I have some pictures of birds and a few metal trays with bird designs on it. You can do so much with that space it is unreal! And thrift store items are great and cheap to hang up there too! Good luck!

Answer 8

The flat part over the cabinets is called the soffit. You can get wood appliques in a variety of sizes and designs. The company I use is Enkebol. You'll have to order them and specify what kind of wood you want them made of. You will need to finish them.

Answer 9

It looks like compressed very thin plywood.If it is removable, I would take it down..get some pretty ceramic tiles and grout and put them on the plywood and reinstall it up there. If it is not a removeable area, you may have to get a ladder and be prepared to take some time and patience in designing and putting the tiles in. I think ceramic tiles are best..there washable,colorful. durable and can be made to match any decor you have.

Answer 10

You can paint it a neutral color then paint stencils up there or find a border, or if you have the nice fancy handwriting paint it and write a favorite quote on it, say that on Trading Spaces and it was cute