By: Stephanie Andrews
As a designer, few things excite me more than choosing rugs, paint, and wallpaper. To me, these are the items in the home that spell out the personality of those that live there. Paint is the biggest bang for the buck in transforming the look of the home. Fresh paint = fresh start. Rugs make the home cozy, pull the furnishings together and, make a purposeful grouping of elements. But wallpaper– aaah wallpaper- it can be the warmth and texture that can create a smile, the pattern to make a space interesting, or a sparkle of an unexpected surprise.
Many times when I am choosing a wallpaper for a client, I have a clear picture of her/his style from talking to them and seeing what they like on Pinterest and Instagram. Then the hunt begins…color, texture, pattern, it is unbelievable how many options there are to choose from.
Some wallpapers are also beginning to take the environment more into account, but these seem to be more rare than they should be. Sustainable wallpapers consider both responsibly sourced trees for the paper and nontoxic inks for the pattern. These papers are not just focused on environmental responsibility but also help protect the indoor air quality. One line that is new to me is called: Forest Homes. They have some distinct sustainable products including wallpapers that won’t break the bank.
When I was a kid in the 70’s and 80’s there were some beautiful grasscloth wallpapers, (and there were also some very hideous ones). My mom and dad had a simple natural grasscloth in their bedroom that I loved to touch. Grasscloths are still such a wonderful textural option, that can elevate a room with a feeling of nature. Some of my favorite grasscloths come from Schumacher and Romo- the colors, patterns, and textures are endless!
Adding a pattern to your walls can add a touch of whimsy, a dramatic statement, a geometric pattern, or a natural scene. I think that patterned wallpaper is full of possibilities, Yet, it is tricky, because I want to love it for a very long time, and not tire of it. As a visual person, this means so much to me, and I want to get it right and have a client inspired every time they enter that wallpapered space.
One of our Designers Andrea in Collaboration with Copper Sky picked this Whimsical Liana Wallcovering by Romo.
So this brings me to my personal choices for wallpaper. As you may know, I had my dining room painted earlier this year (blog post) and have been looking for a wallpaper that will pull together the spaces in the dining room, kitchen, and living room. I was in such a quandary, that I even asked for each designer at Balance Design to weigh in with their choices. They sent a myriad of beautiful options for different reasons (blog post) and I seemed to flounder longer. Then I did another deep dive, and thought I had found one and ordered a sample. 2-3 weeks later, I hated it. Y’all, this seemed so difficult to choose for myself! So I let it go for a couple of months, stopped obsessing and tried to forget about it for a while. Then, while searching through our design library for another client, I saw something that just may work. It was a grasscloth from Romo with a bamboo pattern to lean into my love for everything Japan: from our Japanese garden, to the multiple buddhas, and my love for bowls. It also had a touch of pink and some blues to relate to the dining room and living room. And to be honest, it was sold by Romo, and although a bit expensive, Katrina from Romo is one of my favorite reps. She visited me 15 years ago, when my office was above my garage. She has supported us and seen us grow, and she is just a wonderful person. That also made me feel good about my wallpaper choice.
Without Further Ado… The Wallpaper of I Chose! Romo Black Edition Papago Wallcovering in Tufa.
I am finally ready to share my choice with you after many months of wondering. The installer just finished yesterday, in time for this article. I am pretty excited about it, and my husband even likes it too! He noticed that it opened up the space to the kitchen, and since he is the cook in our family, that feels like a good thing.
I usually need a few weeks to fully embrace a change in my own home, but I think that this was a beautiful choice.
Before and After of my Wallpaper Install!
Wallpaper is truly a very important and personal decision. Take your time, consider your source, consider the feelings that you get when you look at it, and whether you can live with it for many years. However, I believe that it is worth it to search (and splurge, if necessary) on the right one.
Ok… One More Pic!
