To say I am a wallpaper enthusiast would be putting it mildly. It’s a rare occasion that I don’t want to incorporate it in every space I design. I think wallpaper made its major comeback about seven years ago – though, it never went away, it just got better. Today, there are so many amazing options, it’s hard to pick just one. I have used it on an accent wall for the somewhat fearful client; I have used it to back bookcases, on ceilings and mixed into artwork. Papers these days are works of art. Finishes can include grasscloth, lacquer, embellished, chemical reaction and marbled, to name a few. Papers can incorporate gold and silver leaf, high gloss strie, and beads. I have even seen puzzle pieces hand stitched on paper.
When Tanya Clawson and her daughter Savannah came to me to re-design her room, of course I wanted a paper, and I wanted it to cover all the walls. So, I was happy they were game to do just that and when the reveal came, we all were just stunned at how beautiful this room of elegant flowers turned out. I wanted to create a space that was youthful, yet pulled together and sophisticated. Using the paper just behind the bed would not have provided the impact I was going for. When we started adding layer upon layer of additional patterns and textures it just got better and better. I chose to use an Ikat polka dot for the windows, a new lacquer white dresser mixed with blue glass side tables, and a gold edged mirrored desk. More pattern was added to the floor with a flat weave rug overtop of the new wall to- wall carpet. Each piece that came into this space was unique alone, but grouped together, they became something special.
I hear all the time that paper is such a commitment. It can be… but who cares? The one thing paper can do is warm up a space, and that layer of pattern and texture will add interest that paint just cannot do sometimes. Don’t be afraid of adding multiple art pieces overtop your paper. Be careful in choosing the right content, but keep the layering going. The more you add, the more interesting it becomes. Thankfully, in my opinion, papers these days aren’t what they used to be!
Beth Keim is the owner of Lucy and Company, a full service interior design firm located at 1009 East Blvd. For more information visit www.lucyandcompany.com or call 704-342-6655.