...because home doesn't happen overnight.

Everett’s watching Sesame Street right now, so I’m channeling my inner child for today’s post. Here’s a throwback video to get you in the mood…or to share with your kiddos if they happen to be sitting on your lap or looking over your shoulder.

After viewing our current home {which we are trying to sell by owner}, a potential buyer asked about the ‘M’ monogram above our TV, concerned that her surname didn’t begin with the letter ‘M.’

I assured her that it was just a decal and could be removed without damage to the wall.  But the more I thought about it, I figured maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to go ahead and remove the decal now in case other buyers were worried it was permanent and would have to paint over it.  I went to the website I purchased the monogram from to get instructions for proper removal.  {In case you’re interested, I bought the white matte ‘M’ monogram from Dali Decals for ~$25 with shipping and you can see it here.}  Removal seemed easy enough.  I carefully picked at the top of the monogram and slowly peeled it away from the wall.

The decal was off in less than a minute without any damage to the paint or wall.

Dali’s website does state that if a monogram is left on the wall for an extended period of time {not exactly sure what that is} that there could be damage to the wall upon removal.  So, that’s your fair warning.  Our decal was on for a little over a year.  I put it up last March and if you’d like to see how easy it was to hang, click here.  Sadly, once the decal was removed it lost its shape and wasn’t able to be reused.  Decals like these are great for rentals, dorms and even nurseries because there’s a good chance that the living arrangement is going to be temporary.

So, that’s the case of our missing letter ‘M.’  I wouldn’t mind having another wall decal in our next home.  Who knows? Chung, chung.

images:  1) Sesame Street via You Tube  2-4) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

 

 

 

9 Comments

It’s funny how potential buyers can get hung up on such small things, but I say it was definitely smart of you to go ahead and remove the decal. :) Hope you’re having a terrific Thursday!

19.May.2011

I just wanted to stop by and tell you how much your striped walls look like mine in my master bedroom! It’s freaky how similar the colors are! Take a look if you get the chance.
http://camachohouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/le-boudoir.html

Obviously, we have good taste!

19.May.2011

I LOVE the placement of that ‘M’ but I can see why you removed it.

Oh, and loved the video too! I’m a HUGE Law & Order fan.

19.May.2011

Your ‘chung chung’ made me snarff my coffee. Yeouch!

[but insanely funny]

19.May.2011

Staci – Nice stripes!

19.May.2011

Tami – Glad someone caught that little ‘chung, chung’ at the end. I was afraid no one would get it.

20.May.2011

I’ve been enjoying your blog since I came across it on Apartment Therapy! While your previous home is/was a beaut, I am looking forward to how you’ll transform the Underdog. I also am looking forward to how the front and back yards will look, although interior decorating is your thing.

20.May.2011

Too funny with the “chung chung”… we always say “bonk bonk”!

I also love the M but I can see why you took it down. I was wondering, actually, if you’ll have to depersonalize your house more to sell. Personally *I* love your style and would buy your house in a heartbeat (if I had the $$ and lived in your area) but I can imagine buyers wondering if their stuff will fit the existing style, and if they’ll have to do a lot of work to un-do it.

I too am looking forward to what you do with the Underdog. We are moving too and our new rental also has the mid-century modern square brick vibe going on (it’s a two-story two family– picture the Underdog with another Underdog placed right on top of it.)

21.May.2011

Jen – I did also remove tabletop family photos to depersonalize a little. So far, the “You Make Me Happy…” fabric wall hanging is still up along with our family photo wall (because we may consider leaving the frames empty for the new homeowners to have their own family wall), the boys’ monograms above their beds and the sliding barn door. We would take them down (and repair the walls) if someone questions them, but so far everyone has had nothing but good things to say about the decor. We’ve also made it very clear that we are willing to remove anything that doesn’t fit a potential buyer’s style and that furniture items are also negotiable with the sell of the home. As far as any buyers know, we don’t have a second home yet but we tell them that most likely we will be downsizing due to the area we are looking to buy in so that not all furniture will be making the move. Anything to get a sale!