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(Still) Mad About … Wallpaper

Just when I think I’ve seen all the fabulous wallpaper there is to see and starting to wonder if, perhaps, wallpaper is a little bit over and it’s really all about paint, something new comes along and I fall in love all over again. When I saw this chipped plasterwork in the new issue of Elle Deco I was completely smitten (you may have noticed a corresponding background change).

worn from rebelwalls.com
worn from rebelwalls.com

Now I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to live in a Toast Catalogue (read this very funny blog post by Ellie Tennant ) but certainly when I moved into this house, which needed completely redoing, there was a moment when the woodchip wallpaper was being stripped from the walls. I say “was being” like l didn’t do it myself … well I didn’t do all of it/most of it. But I did do (some) of it.

see rebelwalls.com for the full, fabulous collection
see rebelwalls.com for the full, fabulous collection

Anyway, there was definitely a point when I wanted to leave the walls in all their semi-stripped and faded glory. And if it wasn’t for the fact that I couldn’t face an endless stream of visitors saying: “But when are you going to finish decorating.” I would have.

surfaces steel from rebelwalls.com
surfaces steel from rebelwalls.com

And then there’s that second point when the walls have been plastered and you think: “Ooh maybe I’ll just leave it in this fabulous pale pink colour …” And then you realise you’ll still get the same questions.

Cole & Son macchine volanti by Fornasetti
Cole & Son macchine volanti by Fornasetti

So, the realisation comes that you must decorate your walls. And as if there wasn’t enough paint choice out there, in comes the wallpaper too. Regular readers will know I’m a huge fan of trompe l’oeil papers. My son’s bedroom door was completely remade to show off the fabulous Young & Battaglia bookshelf wall paper to full advantage.

the secret door to my son's bedroom covered in Young & Battaglia bookshelf wallpaper
the secret door to my son’s bedroom covered in Young & Battaglia bookshelf wallpaper

And just look at that wonderful Fornasetti above. That’s a mix of flying machines and balustrade. Or what about this designed by his son Barnaba?

cole ad son fornasetti procuratie wallpaper from rockett st george
cole ad son fornasetti procuratie wallpaper from rockett st george

Here it is again with monkeys instead of zebras.

image by stacey bewkes
image by stacey bewkes

And finally we end this post with a look at the fabulous papers by Deborah Bowness. She also did a books wallpaper but has just launched some wonderful new ranges at the recent London Design Festival.

part of the new standards collection of wallpaper by Deborah Bowness
part of the new standards collection of wallpaper by Deborah Bowness

I love this suitcase border but what about this shelf version too?

coffee pot border wallpaper by Deborah Bowness
coffee pot border wallpaper by Deborah Bowness

Or this tube station tiles version.

tube station tiles wallpaper
tube station tiles wallpaper

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.