If you’ve ever endured the painful process of removing wallpaper from your walls, you’ve prob- ably sworn it out of your life forever. While wallpaper has been scraped, scoured and peeled right out of de´cor for the last decade, I want to urge you to reconsider this misunderstood design element. History repeats itself, as they say, and I believe we will be seeing a lot more character on our walls in 2014. Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I have always seen wallpaper as tacky, cheap and outdated. Over the years, I have come to prefer and appreciate a more clean, crisp and monochromatic aesthetic. However, I’ve noticed many of our clients going beyond the basic painted sheetrock wall and incor- porating various wall coverings in their homes instead. And I have to admit; the special pop it adds has really won me over.
Today’s wallpaper has come a long way from our mother’s homes. You will find bold colors and patterns, some textured grass cloths and even some luxurious fabrics. The options are endless, so make a statement and don’t be afraid to use it in unconventional places. Use it in your laundry room or stairway, for example. It’s an easy way to instantly add character to drab rooms.
Wallpaper is not the only upgrade you can make to your walls, however. Another old-new trend is wood paneling. Wood slats can be hung horizontally or vertically, and can be applied in either tongue-and-groove style or butted. Instead of slats, you can add constructed panels that are built-in like cabinets. Many people are using antique or reclaimed wood for a rustic feel, but new wood will give a more sleek appearance. Either way, wood adds a lot of warmth to a room, whether you do an accent wall for a little pop or the whole room for that cabin feel.
Stone is another option for your walls. Depending on the look you are going for, you can use full slabs or smaller tiles with grout joints. Where wood adds warmth, stone adds grandeur and formality. Stone has been very popular in kitchen and bath applications, but take it to your foyer or formal living areas for that special wow-factor.
If you are just not friends with wallpaper, can’t warm up to wood and feel cold about stone, you can always just change the paint for an updated look. A lot of people feel married to the wall colors in their homes, but remember, paint is the easiest and cheapest way to update and spice up your home. If you haven’t changed the paint colors in your home in the last decade, give it a try! Go for a textured paint, do a bold accent wall or paint a pattern. Do something different to make your home feel brand new.
Whatever your style, I urge you to make 2014 the year of upgrades in your home. If your walls could talk, I think they’d thank you.
Will McKendry, vice president of Andrew Roby Triangle, and Ryan Crosser vice president of Andrew Roby Coastal, both have extensive experience in custom home project management focusing on style and craftsmanship. For more information visit our website at www.andrewroby.com or call 919-210-2928 for Triangle projects and 252-648-8007 for coastal projects.