Hey! I'm Stephanie from Atlanta, GA. I've been an interior designer at Balance Design for nearly 25 years and I'm passionate about curating a life of beauty, curiosity, and adventure! Come along as we explore the small details that make everyday life more beautiful — all through the lens of someone who has spent a lifetime paying attention to how spaces shape the way we live.
Hi friends!
I have a confession to make-I love wallpaper. As an interior designer, this is probably not a surprise. I love the way wallpapers add personality and make a space completely personal. With so many possibilities, it can also be very difficult to choose! I wanted to share some of my favorite wallpaper companies that not only look good, but have a great story behind them. Some are women-owned, sustainably made, and many are handmade. You will also notice that I chose patterns that reflect my personal wallpaper favorites (organic, nature-inspired, and full of color). But please keep in mind that these sites have lots of patterns and styles, so I encourage you to jump down the rabbit hole and see what speaks to you.

Hovia.com is a British company with a custom and sustainable mindset. From the building where the designs are printed, powered by renewable energy, to carbon offsets for transportation, to non-toxic, odorless inks, this company is paying attention to the environment and the design. We have used this company several times for the paper’s feel and the ability to scale each sheet to the room’s height and width.

Little Greene is a relatively new company to me; however, they have been a paint company near Manchester, England, since 1773! They are family-owned and again, have a sustainable mindset. The paper is responsibly sourced from sustainable forests. For every tree used, another four are planted. Although this is a premium brand, the patterns are very creative and often surprise me. (I loved this lily pad paper, and then I saw the otter and frog, and I was sold!).

Rebecca Atwood is a Charleston, SC based watercolor artist who makes painterly papers and fabrics. We learned about her when a representative from her company reached out to us in person. This rep was so friendly and taught us about Rebecca’s natural inspirations, and showed us tons of her patterns. With a beautiful use of subtle color, we loved the way we could use her wallpaper and then create a matching pillow to top it off. We have used several of her fabrics in bedrooms and children’s rooms.

House of Hackney has been one of our favorites for several years. I gravitate towards the organic leaves and flowers, while some of our other designers are obsessed with the quiet eyes that peer out of some designs. Marlee even used one of the deep saturated florals for the ceiling of a Victorian home in Grant Park. This company is very focused on its regenerative impact, from fabrics to wallpaper; they consider so many factors in their creation. It makes me feel good to use them!

Chasing Paper is from the Midwest US. They have long been focused on accessibility, meaning their paper is very reasonably priced, and they have perfected the peel-and-stick paper to inspire do-it-yourselfers, especially in their nurseries. They also focus on using water-based inks and sustainably sourced papers. I am hopeful that we will get a gender neutral nursery project soon!
I hope that you have found some inspiration for a room in your home! Starting with a powder room or water closet is an easy step with little risk of making a bold choice. Have fun, get some samples, and consider the environmental impact of the companies that you work with. And then…show me what you have been working on-stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com. I cannot wait to see, and get my fix through your wallpaper choice.
Until next week,
Stephanie
