Big, blooming decals are a colourful way to bring the outside in
‘Large-scale florals’ can add a bold punch to a wall, but come off without a trace
Nature is a constant source of inspiration for designers, but the trend seems to really blossom during the spring and summer, with buds and blooms appearing in every brilliant colour.
This summer, florals are bigger than ever — as in the oversized onthe-wall variety, such as those produced by Vancouver decals company Urban Walls, interior designer Ami Mckay of Pure Design says.
“I really love this movement towards playing with large-scale florals,” she says.
The floral wall decals by Urban Walls — which go on and off without damaging walls — allow for unique looks to be achieved through layering, Mckay says. They look fantastic behind live foliage or in places like the kitchen, bathroom or powder room places, where it’s perhaps hard to keep real flowers,” she says.
“You know what I think would be super cool is taking them outside,” Mckay says. “Imagine having a little panel with these wall decals on it out in a small garden area and a birch in front of it. We are always talking about bringing the outside in — I think it’s time to bring the inside out.”
Urban Walls founder Danielle Hardy says with the number of decal companies on the market, her firm wanted to show their customers what sets them apart. For their latest collection, they invited people to come along via Instagram as they photographed peonies flown in from France at Fort Langley’s Floralista flower studio, and then turned these images into decals.
“Flowers are so on trend right now,” Hardy says — especially those in soft yellows and pinks. For their latest range, Hardy says they’ll be selling the floral decals individually as well as in packs so people can opt to create their own bouquets on their walls.
“Not only can you choose to space them differently than the next person who buys them,” she says, “but now you can also add different florals, different colour schemes. I’m installing these peonies in different spaces, and every single time I install, it’s a completely different look in the home.”
Hardy says the best thing about the business is that they’re able to execute custom options in-house without having to go overseas or have prototypes made up. One collaboration she’s particularly proud of is a life-size fig tree decal Urban Walls recently produced for jewelry designer Leah Alexandra.
“She was a little bit frustrated because she can’t keep a fig tree alive in Vancouver,” Hardy says. “There’s no sun, so she’s like, I love the look of greenery and I love the look of those fresh botanicals, but I can’t keep it alive for the life of me.”
The decal was placed on a corner wall in Alexandra’s studio.
“It was a perfect balance of watercolour and realism,” Alexandra says. “From far away, it looks like a gorgeous tree, but up close you’re seeing this artistic side of it. So it’s not looking too juvenile and it’s not looking too real.”
Nature is centre stage in H&M Home’s summer collection, described in company materials as being inspired by “casual living on tropical islands.”
From far away, it looks like a gorgeous tree, but up close you’re seeing this artistic side of it.
Ocean blues and turquoise and lush foliage greens dominate in their bedding, tablecloths and outdoor cushion covers, with their press material stating that “green continues to be in the spotlight and green with pink is a key colour pair this season.”
For those who appreciate nature but are mad about design, it’s hard to look past Italian designer Patricia Urquiola’s latest lamp for Flos, called Serena, a simple yet elegant piece available in copper, black nickel and aluminum finishes with a black base that makes use of the latest in LED technology.
“Serena’s design was inspired by the various shaped and coloured leaves found in the natural world,” Urquiola says. “The rounded leafshaped reflector evokes the pistil of a flower and allows the light to pass through. The collection was designed to be pure, calm and flexible, equal parts sculpture and light source.”