Nowhere is

this technique more useful than in the kitchen. Kitchens typically contain

permanent appliances and cabinets that separate wall space. By installing

this elegant leopard print border above the crown molding, the overall

space has been unified while also giving the room greater depth and height.

The border

also provides a visual transition between the kitchen and the living room

beyond it. Both the leopard border and the banana leaf wallpaper are from

the Winnetka collection from S. A. Maxwell Co. Like all Maxwell collections,

Winnetka is arranged in groups according to color. This assures easy coordination

among patterns within the same room and from one room to another. All

design groups in collections by S.A. Maxwell contain several borders in

different widths.

Double-bordering

more than doubles your creativity. By combining two borders from the Winnetka

collection, we created a truly custom border in the living room. The four-inch

leopard border, placed along the outside perimeter of the ceiling, is

the "anchor." Banana leaves on the die-cut border repeat the

theme of the wallpaper pattern, while their sculptured, outlined edges

reach into the room.

Die-cut borders

provide sculptured-edge detailing that was once only achieved by tedious

hand-trimming around a pattern. To install a double custom border, combine

the two patterns on a table, positioning them exactly the way you want

them to overlap and join. Measure their combined width. Beginning at the

point where the ceiling meets the wall, make a light pencil mark on the

ceiling to show how far your custom double border will extend onto the

ceiling. Install the straight border first, then overlap it with the sculptured

design. This idea works equally well along the bottom of walls, at chair

rail height, or wherever else you want to surprise the eye with something

special.

Double borders

don't have to be joined together to give a room a lift. In a guest room,

we ran two different, sculptured ivy patterns parallel to each other,

20 inches apart. Both are from S.A. Maxwell's Wicker Park collection.

The large basket and ivy border runs just beneath the crown molding at

the ceiling, and the diminutive die-cut ivy border "underlines"

it 20 inches below. Even more layering is possible. You might add a vertical

stripe wallpaper between the two borders and even place the coordinating

ivy trail wallpaper from the same collection under all these layers.

Now you're

on a roll. So why not use your border leftovers to decorate a hat box

or a group of shoe boxes and make the inside of your guest room closet

as appealing and unique as the room you've created?

For more border

ideas, locate a retailer near you that carries coordinated wallpaper and

border collections from S.A. Maxwell Co. by calling (847) 932-3700 or

visiting www.samaxwell.com .

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