Wallpaper Happiness
I am not an interior decorator, nor am I a graphic designer. Years ago, I broke down and started hiring a home design professional to pare down any decor decision to a dozen or so selections. In addition, the decorator provides a majority vote on any ideas, because there is no majority with two people (you get my drift).
My first wallpaper selection adventures started with my mom, heading to the paint store to look at all those wallpaper catalog books. This tradition continued with my five year old son, Jeremy, as we looked for a design he loved for his own bedroom. He sat on a tall stool next to me as I pulled maybe three books out, again at a paint store, and we began our search. “How about this one?” I asked, after showing him the fifth option in the first book. “I like it!,” he exclaimed, and jumped off the stool heading for the door. I shouted, “Where are you going?”. His gleeful response -“I found the one I liked! Let’s go.”
Fast forward twenty years, my designer, Claudine Maidique helps cull the masses of options. Except now I can’t find anyone to install any wallpaper in New Orleans. If anyone wants to pick up a trade guaranteeing a month-long pipeline, it’s high-end wallpaper hanging in the Crescent City. Thank you, Covid, no one’s available. So I got creative, and contacted a wallpaper designer, who sent me to a wallpaper vendor, who finally gave me three wallpaper installers. The star of this post is the wallpaper vendor, The Pattern Collective, who not only recommended said craftsmen, but also sells amazing patterns. Brittany Ellis-Anthony selects her vendors by not only reviewing their work, but also getting to know the designers personally, when possible.
People – I have spent maybe hours looking at The Pattern Collective’s selection. It’s large, assorted, outlandish, and gorgeous. If it weren’t so hard to find an installer, I would make up a redecorating excuse and use at least a couple of these impressive prints.
Before you think, “I can’t believe she is blogging about wallpaper”, let’s look at “‘Ere Be Dragons” by Paperboy I think I deprived my two boys by not having wallpaper like this for them. (See, my son, we didn’t look long enough at the wallpaper books!). The crisp block print has just enough scary dragon to it, offset by kites, dragon eggs and castles.
Adorned Snakar, by Kristjana S. Williams is fiercely colorful. I am now thinking, “which room would handle the divine color and design of this wallpaper?” It doesn’t belong in a Xanax house (you know, the ones that are all grey and white). A powder room would be great, but the snakes could be overpowering, especially if your guests don’t like them. A room flowing to the outdoors would be perfect. Williams also has a beetles print, but I couldn’t handle looking at insects myself, even for a bathroom break. Williams’ wallpaper artwork, though is stunning.
Here’s yet another reptilian wallpaper pattern that intrigued me. (I don’t have a thing for lizards or snakes, so I’m not sure why these attracted me.) This COULD be in a Xanax house, but Pearled Metallic by Bethan Gray has such a subtle warmth to it. I loved this soft, scaled textured look that I am sure would make any room feel more cozy. It’s a neutral that can work in a large or small space.
For all of you who like more traditional, regal wallcoverings, this pattern is for you. After all, it’s called Heraldic Lining, Wedgewood Blue .The pale powder blue is calming, and the lions make you feel like you’re in a castle somewhere. This would offset a modern setting, or create luxury in a modest space. The color would soothe anyone, so how about a bedroom?
Barnaby Gates has wallpapers with chairs, horses, butterflies, and even lip designs.
For all my sugar-holic, sweet-tooth friends, this one’s for us! Cupcakes, lollipops, linzer tart cookies, Witch and Watchman’s Belladonna makes “visions of sugarplums” real. This whimsical wallpaper will have you and your guests mesmerized. There is so much eye candy going on!
And if you’re still with me, I love you. This wallpaper, which is so dramatically gorgeous, is for the cat lover, or Mardi Gras lover. Madame Visage by Santorus provides a dramatic, rich effect, with its velvet looking background.
I want to thank Brittany, for not only helping me finally find a wallpaper installer, but also helping me obsess where I can put some of her product on my walls. Check The Pattern Collective on Instagram, too.
