Do you love the look of wallpaper but prefer paint? You can have both with Rollerwall — an embossed paint roller that rolls a design onto your wall. It comes in 146 different patterns, per my count, including lots that look very retro. In fact, this product had a 1950s precursor. It’s shown below, in an ad that we featured as part of an Anne Taintor contest specially for Retro Renovation — I believe the original advertisement was for a “Sherwin-Willia
Thanks to Natasha for this tip. She wrote:
Hi there,
I’m redoing my kitchen and stumbled upon this flashback product that I can’t believe is still on the market! It’s called rollerwall and it’s a paint roller (kinda like the old kem-tone rollers) that makes a pattern as you go. And the patterns…. so many classic retro patterns to choose from it makes me giddy 🙂
There are two videos on YouTube that show this project in action:
AH says
I wonder would this work on a fridge?
Kathy in San Leandro says
I would love to hear how it works on textured walls. The previous owner put knock-down texture in the kitchen and spray-on orange peel texture in the bedrooms — presumably to hide the patched plaster. But now it’s hard to paper over those walls.
And has anyone tried painting over walls treated this way? I’d be concerned about the extra layer of paint leaving a ghost of the pattern visible as a 3D shadow in the new paint.
Allison says
Watched my mama use something similar on one of the living room walls as a wee child… late 50s, early 60s.
She did an abstract-ish silver pattern over Indian Red- we thought it looked marvelous!
Ethan says
I did something similar in my house and it came out fantastic. I’ve had several people ask me where I got my wallpaper. They are always amazed when I tell them it’s paint.
Eartha Kitsch says
I’m not sure if I trust my hand being steady enough for this but i love the idea of it! I wonder how well it butts up against ceramic bathroom tile or baseboards.
Ann says
This is interesting. I just finished reading a book about a family that escaped Nazi Germany and ended up living for 8 years in Shanghai, China. They had to do anything and everything to survive. One of the things that the father did was to invent a paint roller that mimicked wallpaper. He partnered with a Chinese man that did painting and wallpaper all over the city. They mostly worked at brothels and opium dens that constantly needed repainting. Once the Japanese invaded, the German father was restricted in his ability to move around the city and work. They eventually survived this unbearable life. This post reminded me of their story and the father’s ability to overcome his unjust circumstances with this product.
Barbara says
I have been looking at wallpaper for the last three months.
Now this certainly catches my attention. Real different and looks like fun!
I’m in!
Thanks, Pamela!
Barbara
Dan says
Those darn old folks, tearing off the wallpaper; and just try wallpapering your toilet seat, indeed! A fun idea, but I don’t see how you avoid little unpainted bands along the top and bottom of the wall, and how do you handle any bit of wall narrower than the roller? Someone must test this and file a full report.
Karin says
Great product. I’d like to know how you line up the patterns. I would imagine VERY carefully.
Carolyn says
I saw this product and bookmarked it for future reference (possible side business) a few years ago, maybe saw it in a magazine or side ad…initial outlay for the main component and a couple of patterns was around $100. You follow its laser pointer to keep your lines straight – so much easier than wallpapering.
Handy-dandy tool!