Walls of Renaissance

April 1, 2024

Wallcovering trends showcase bespoke styles, vibrant hues and textured expressions.

Words by Savannah Rieke Newson

Evolving across multiple centuries and design eras, wallcoverings embody a rich, colorful history marked by reinvention and innovation. One interesting yet infamous iteration is Scheele’s Green wallpaper, dyed with an arsenic-laced pigment, which was all the rage in Victorian times. Fortunately, the cycle of technological advancement continued, resulting in the versatile range of health-conscious—and more environmentally friendly—wallcovering products we know today.

The recent pandemic also had a metamorphic effect, spurring home dwellers’ and designers’ creativity and rekindling interest in the walls around them. Vicki Dreste, designer and co-founder of Design & Detail St. Louis, notes how the design community is “moving away from gray” and incorporating more bespoke wallcovering styles, like printed velvet and handwoven and dyed grasscloth.

“There are really great combos of texture, pattern and color that do wonders for interior designers’ projects,” Vicki explains. “You can still have sleek minimalism but with a [wall] accent that amps up the look.” Many European vendors, such as Osborne & Little and Casamance, offer stunning, higher-end options that further heighten—and deepen—the looks that U.S. designers aim to achieve.

The Beverly Collection

The Beverly Collection, or “The Bev” for short, is a curated, to-the-trade collection of interior design resources founded by seasoned designer Brittany Romero and her husband, Roberto. Independent from Else-Wares, the couple’s retail store in the same building, the studio—named after Brittany’s grandmother—proudly represents boutique Aux Abris and Lewis & Wood’s textile and wallcovering lines. Soon, The Bev will also feature Brittany’s original designs that are traditional yet modern. “All [my] designs come from my own sketches,” says Brittany. “They speak for themselves and all have their own personalities.” Historically inspired with modern contexts and palettes, her original prints will be timeless, refined and colorful—each unique with its own intriguing twist.

@thebeverlycollection
thebevcollection.com

Vicki notes deep blues and greens are particularly popular. Art Deco, abstracts, murals, florals and flocked papers are also experiencing a resurgence, many in contemporized patterns and color theory-based palettes. Mainstream trends are following suit, fueling the modern revival of richer color palettes, expressive patterns, organic textures and historic prints.

Similarly, many post-pandemic consumers, eager for a change in their surroundings, are finding joy in the possibilities, individualism and trend accessibility created by wallpaper and similar products.

“[Wallpaper has] something for all tastes,” says interior designer and wallpaper aficionado Anne Golliher of Storied Interiors. “It takes an eye for design to find the right one.” She adds that honing in on the right tone and pattern is crucial for selecting a design that “makes a room sing” without being overwhelming. Establishing this balance helps her clients feel genuinely settled and content at home—a vital aspect of healthful living.

“Design affects us more than we know,” Anne says. “It could just be a really good wallpaper that makes all the difference.”

Poppy Print Studio

Based in Lawrence, Kansas, Poppy was founded by textile designer and artist Jennifer Hunt and her husband in 2016. The highly successful studio offers an original collection of sustainable and bespoke wallcovering designs—produced in-house and shipped worldwide—that exude vitality, vibrance and modern creativity ideal for high-end residential and commercial settings.

“I love creating things,” says Jennifer. “I’m influenced by trends, but I’m also influenced by everything around me, my experiences and historical references that I interpret for today.” For example, her hugely popular Down the Rabbit Hole design (shown left) drew inspiration from real-world events and Picasso.

“People really embraced us,” Jennifer says. “They saw and appreciated the differences in our designs.”

@ poppy.prints

poppyprintstudio.com

“Design affects us more than we know,” Anne says. “It could just be a really good wallpaper that makes all the difference.”

Noble Workroom

New to the KC design scene, Noble Workroom—founded in 2023 by acclaimed interior designer Sara Noble of Noble Designs—is a blossoming e-commerce showroom of curated and original products. One of Sara’s exquisite original designs is the Serpentine, a unique, green-and-red pattern inspired by a door knocker seen during a trip to Paris.

“It’s Paris meets Gucci meets East Coast,” Sara says, explaining that its design was a true labor of love. “It’s more than a pretty paper—it gives off a powerful feeling.” Other original designs are currently in the works. Noble Workroom also features classical prints from famous, long-standing wallcovering designers such as Scalamandrè and Schumacher.

@nobledesigns
nobledesigns.com