Ideas for Wrigley-fying my exposed brick wall

by John Q Freejazz on Aug 3, 2007 1:21 AM CDT Comment 14 comments

So, I have an exposed brick wall in my living room. I recently had the idea of making it seem like a bit of the Wrigley outfield wall, replete with Boston ivy and a yellow "368" sign (it'd probably behoove me not to paint directly on the wall but rather paint specifically cut wood, for example).

Anyways, my query is: have any of you embarked on a similar project, and if so, do you have recommendation or suggestions to proffer? (Perhaps I should mention that it is an apartment and shared with two roommates, neither of whom are Cubs fans, but one of whom is a baseball fanatic; both are receptive to the idea.)

I presume I shouldn't let the ivy just grow on the walls -- perhaps some sort of lattice or something? Or is there an alternative, organic or synthetic, that would give the impression of ivy without the hassle?

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whoa,

you're going to grow ivy inside, in an apartment? that's sweet. you should make a little wire basket at the top. and then hide some baseballs in it.

"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie

by buckmulligan on Aug 3, 2007 3:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

be sure to get the yellow rope line as well.

"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie

by buckmulligan on Aug 3, 2007 3:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apartment?

based on my ivy outside my house, you'd better plan on being in the apartment a few years before you get the whole wall covered. Are you planning on putting some planters at the botthom of the wall for the ivy to grow from?

I think you could just let it grow on the wall without any permanent damage, unless the bricks are very glossy or painted.

by TC Cubby on Aug 3, 2007 7:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If it's an apartment

and you're renting, I wouldn't recommend using real ivy. Ivy uses litle suction cups to attach to walls, and when you pull the ivy off (when you move out), those often stay attached, and they would be a major pain to try to get them all off, or risk losign your security deposit.

then there is the fact that it would take years for the ivy to fill in and not look like scraggly little strands hanging on your wall. then there's the issue of how you water it.

you could go with silk, but that's going to be a few hundred bucks to fill in that much space.
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/siivyga.html

i think this would be a huge time and money investment, something i'm not sure is worth it when you live in an apartment, and your roommates aren't Cubs fans. If you ask me, this is more of a cool idea in theory than reality. I've considered doing things like this in teh past, but practicality stepped in. Maybe wait til you own a house, and you can spend a few years and dollars building something like that in a rec room in your basement.

by jazzypete on Aug 3, 2007 7:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

thats what I was thinking.

i like the idea but if you are renting, or don't plan on staying there long term it may not be worth the effort. As a sidenote, I've decided when I eventually buy a house it has to be brick so that I can grow ivy on it.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike on Aug 3, 2007 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Yes, I am renting, so perhaps it wouldn't be a good idea to go for the full-blown real Boston ivy route, especially considering how rents have a tendency to skyrocket where I live.

I'll check out the silk alternative.

by John Q Freejazz on Aug 3, 2007 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had a 1930's brick garade with Ivy

I suggest you do not paint on the brick for it will be practically impossible to get it off. I was lucky I had a window and purchased some tile that was close enough to the face brick and put it on a board and then trained the ivy around the rest of the window....everytime someone came into the backyard they would chuckle.

Milw-09-24-98--Brown in for defense--bases loaded--flyball--HE DROPPED THE BALL!!!NO NO NO, cubs lose 8-7

by Ivy Walls on Aug 3, 2007 8:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You do want

Boston Ivy, (Parthenocissus tricuspidata); according to the Chicago Botanic Society it is the species at Wrigley

by TC Cubby on Aug 3, 2007 8:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ivy on the walls

I've converted my home office, which has an exposed brick wall, into a Cubs shrine. I used artificial ivy and a hot glue gun. A few pieces have fallen off in seven years, but most have remained on the wall. As far as I can tell you can remove the glue from the bricks with no damage.

I have replicated the right field corner with a 353 sign (with each digit about 8 inches high cut out from three blowups of a digital photo of the real thing).

Al Spangler

by AlSpangler on Aug 3, 2007 9:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs