The Pic Wallpapers: Wallcoverings

Wallcoverings Biography
In the early 70's, Bill Archibald started self employment as an interior house painter in the southern 128 area: Dedham, Westwood, Needham, Newton, Weston, Wellesley, and Milton. When a wallcovering installation was needed, Bill hired any one of the old school paper hangers of the day. He watched, he helped, and he learned. In 1972, he felt he had learned enough to hang wallpaper by himself. It wasn't as easy as it looked. He quickly learned that one can never have enough patience, care, and education to hang wallpaper well. A lesson never forgotten.

Although Bill is technically a self taught paperhanger, “self taught” is a misnomer. One would be fool hearted to re-invent a centuries old craft. He thought there may be folly by learning one method from just one mentor or one school, so he picked the brains of many. He drew upon the collective knowledge of dozens of experts and incorporated their many techniques into his own style, validating his thought that here is not just one method best for each situation. He still communicates with other wallpaperhangers around the country and is always eager to store their methods in his forever expanding "toolbox".

For ten years, Bill Archibald was a member of a national organization for professional paperhangers. He volunteered many hours; mostly for it’s communications needs. He was chair of the communications committee, award winning editor of national and local news letters, web committee chair, member of the public relations committee, and member of the by-laws committee. He won the organization’s “Member of The Year Award”in 2004. His membership and active involvement kept him abreast of all the changes in products, materials, tools, and techniques. Time changes everything, as did Bill’s reasons and motivation for membership. Although taking a break from the organization, the good friendships forged live on, and the collective knowledge of some of the best wallpaper installers are still available by telephone, email, and half a dozen internet forums. Bill refuses to be isolated and has found more direct ways to keep current with products, tips, tricks, tools, and techniques.

Bill’s love of New England homes has always seemed to manifest itself in his choice of jobs. Summer vacation employment included working for a top quality Westwood, MA home builder or a landscaper in Norwood, MA. His first "permanent" employment was as a junior draftsman in a Boston Architectural firm while he studied architecture. And many years later, Bill spent two years managing a small paint and wallpaper store in Wellesley, MA. But self employment always proved more satisfying. For many years he painted and hung wallpaper, but since 1989, he has dedicated his energies exclusively to wallcovering installations. He now draws upon a life time of learned skills to expertly install all types of wallpaper in his life long home of Eastern Massachusetts

Bill Archibald has the passion, the patience, the knowledge, the experience, the continued education, and the skills to install your wallpaper in a manner that seems to have been lost in a world where “good enough” is good enough. Bill still strives for perfection but will settle for excellence.

Wallcoverings