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Above: "Vertical strips of embossed nonwoven
wallpaper,” Henry Variation 3” by Extratapete adds a contemporary look. Order Extratapete products through www.extratapete.de.
add punch to your home
with today’s bold and beautiful wallcovering options
BY debi bryant
Sumptuous. Rich. Opulent. The latest collections of wallcoverings are all about luxury. Forget minimalism. Forget restraint, even. These days, walls cry out for adornment.
“The general buying public is much more adventurous today,” says designer
Nina Campbell. “Where before there was a preference for plain and simple, now it is about more, about glitter, about big scale.”
Campbell’s “Fleur de Lys Court” design, a flocked damask wallpaper in tomato red on cream looks like something Marie Antoinette might have selected.
BIG & GRAPHIC
At Scalamandré, Design Director Julie Kaminska sees a trend toward graphic patterns that are less realistic and more stylized.
“The new generation is willing to take a chance on design,” she says. “We see them mixing unique wallpapers with their modern furniture and accessories. It really individualizes the space.”
Stacy Senior Allan, marketing director for Thibaut Design, says the company brings out six new collections a year “because there is never just one trend.” She says, “We see Texas homeowners who like big, repeating patterns that work well in the big rooms you find there. The big-scale rooms can take a bigger scale pattern on the walls. Plus, it’s a great way to warm up a big space.”
“Abstract Matters” is the name of a collection from Designtex, part of its relationship with the Guggenheim Museum. Steven Rappos, manager at Designtex, says this collection was inspired by major European artists such as Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian and Alexander Calder. Like the original masterpieces, these wallpapers reflect an abstract approach filled with pure artistic invention and bright colors.
CLASSICS REVISITED
Classics are being updated as well. “We’ve drawn on the classic patterns in our archive and played with scale, tone and texture,” says Kate Premo, spokeswoman for F. Schumacher & Co. “For example, we’ve put herringbone onto a grass cloth
to give it new dimension. With the botanicals, we’ve taken it up a notch by printing a botanical pattern onto a background of actual leaves pressed flat.”
As for current color preferences, Allan says, “People really like the organic colors. Any shade of blue, for example. Green, in shades of celery and chartreuse, continues to be popular. Brown is still strong.”
At Schumacher, Premo says, “We see a movement to warmer tones; for instance, in the metallics, from silver to bronze. One of our new collections contains “Copper Cork,” which has the rough texture of cork with a peek-a-boo background of warm, bronzy gold.”
WALLCOVERING MAGIC
The love affair with wallpaper is understandable. “Wallpaper is an affordable luxury, adding richness to a room,” Campbell explains. “It also creates depth and perspective.”
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RESOURCES
DESIGNTEX
Decorative Center of Houston
5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 207
www.designtex.com
EXTRATAPETE
www.extratapete.de
GRAMERCY
800.332.3384
ID COLLECTIONS
Decorative Center of Houston
5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 4001
713.623.2344
MAYA ROMANOFF
Donghia Showroom, To the trade
Decorative Center of Houston
5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 1000
713.355.7777, www.mayaromanoff.com
SCALAMANDRÉ
Scalamandré, To the trade
www.scalamandre.com
F. SCHUMACHER & CO.
Decorative Center of Houston
5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 6022
713.877.8195
THIBAUT
Multiple locations
www.thibautdesign.com
WALLPAPER DEPOT
3505 S. Dairy Ashford, Suite 135
281.531.8348
WALLPAPERS TO GO
Multiple locations
www.wallpaperstogo.com |
