Paper It Fun!

PaperIllusion™ by Village was originally manufactured in the United States and distributed by F. Schumacher & Co.. In mid-2006 the product switched hands and Blue Mountain Wallcoverings started distributing the product out of Canada. They distributed whatever was left of the old stock, and began to manufacture the product in their Canadian facility as stock for each color/pattern was depleted.

It is my personal opinion that the original version was superior to the newer version. While the new version is still great compared to other wallpaper options, knowing what the original was like (for example, the Script Pearl & Cream was absolutely stunning), it’s tough to get as excited about the remake.

There are currently only two FSC original colors/patterns being distributed from Blue Mountain’s warehouses: Crepe Bronze and Roman Green. While there is still old stock floating around from FSC of the other colors, finding it may require a little detective work.

Here’s how to identify which is the old & which is the new…

1. The label on the old version says “Made in USA” whereas the new version says “Made in Canada“.
2. The weight of the old version was around 3 pounds or more for one roll (85 sq ft) whereas the new version weighs in at less than 2.5 pounds.
3. For Script Only: The old version has legible script written on various angles whereas the new version has very faint script written straight across the roll.

These are your only clues, as far as I can tell as to which version you are getting or already have. You can probably still find the original version sitting on a shelf somewhere, at a yard sale or perhaps on eBay, but they are becoming increasingly scarce. We are doing everything we can to snatch up the old stock to provide for those customers who prefer it.

NOTE: if you have any of the original stock left, we would be willing to purchase it from you. Just contact us indicating the color/pattern you have and we’ll go from there.

What’s the difference?
There are several differences we’ve noticed on the two versions.

1. The older stock was being manufactured on a heavier paper, causing the rolls to be considerably thicker than the new.
2. The glue on the older stock was much gooier than the new.
3. The printing on the older stock does not always match exactly to the new. Here’s an example of the most drastic difference.

What does this mean?
There are a few issues that have resulted from this change.

1. The PaperIllusion™ product claims it “bridges paneling gaps“…it even states this on the box, however there have been cases where the newer version is not as effective in covering paneling as the old.
2. There has been reported problems with the lack of adhesion on a few colors when it was first manufactured at the new facility. I believe those issues have been cleared up at this point, but there’s probably some of that stock still sitting on various retailers’ shelves.
3. Since there are variations in the pattern design/color, it is sometimes difficult to match the new with the old.

All of these issues have been brought to the attention of Blue Mountain and we are waiting to hear what will come of it. When I raised the issue of the ineffectiveness (on some colors) of the new version covering paneling. The response I received was:

“Paper Illusions is to be applied over a primed wall surface as with most other wallcovering products. We recommend Wall Liner as a way to help bridge gaps in paneling.

I think some of the darker colors will do a better job in masking seams and or paneling grooves. Sometimes tinting the primer to the color of the design will do the trick.”

Needless to say, this was not a sufficient response. I’ve been in communication with Jane Gauss, the designer of this product and she is working in conjunction with the higher ups at Blue Mountain to see what can be done to restore the product to its original effectiveness. I will certainly keep you posted.

CONCLUSION:

• If you are considering covering paneling with this product, while there’s only been a limited number of complaints, I encourage you to test an area first if the product you receive is “Made in Canada”.
• If you are attempting to match an old purchase with a new purchase, I encourage you to order a sample first.
• As in the case of all wallpaper orders, if you are purchasing a particular color for the first time, always order more than you think you need. It is better to have extra on hand than to run out and not find anymore later that will match.

Having said all this, PaperIllusion™ (regardless of where it’s made) is still by far the easiest wallpaper on the planet to work with and the results are simply amazing.

REVISED: I originally stated, “The box for the old version shows only pictures of Multi, whereas the new version has a dining room in Cobalt Blue and a kitchen in Terra Cotta represented.” However it has come to my attention, that this is not true. The boxes are being recycled. The other points of difference are still true as best as I can tell.

The Paper Illusions Place
See Photos and Save on All 31 Colors…Samples, Boxes, Mini-Rolls and More