Today’s wallpapers infuse retro style with modern chic
Q. Fifteen years ago my husband and I removed all the old wallpaper from our first tiny home and painted all the walls. We’ve enjoyed changing colors and have even applied some of the paint finishes that have been so popular (we sponged the nursery). Now we are looking at all the great wallpaper patterns and thinking, “Why not?” Is wallpaper back in fashion?
A. Painted surfaces will never go out of fashion. Paint is the simplest and most economical decorating tool anywhere — add a few coats of color, and you have transformed a room to fit your mood, age and lifestyle. Paint finishes have journeyed from sponging and rag-rolling to more subtle patinas.
And yes, wallpaper is back in vogue, taking the design scene by storm with stylish patterns and eye-popping colors that resonate with midcentury style. The 1950s have returned with an edge; the sleek chrome, vibrant shades, geometric shapes, bold floral patterns and stripes, hanging lamps and wood floors are inspiring this generation. Beads, candles, psychedelic shapes and symbols, flower power and nature themes have reinvented the 1960s’ Summer of Love with a 21st-century vibe.
Check out the fabulous wallpaper collections offered online at Brewster Home Fashions,
www.brewsterwallcovering.com. Shown here, a floral wallpaper by Beacon House features swirling lush peony trails in watercolor taupe, gold and wine hues. The vignette mixes nostalgic prints of Granny’s past with today’s trends with a shiny chrome chandelier; the chairs have chrome handles on the backs, too.
Ultra-modern choices include an abstract feather print in a chic spectrum of grays by Eijffinger’s Fleurique Collection. This would make a dazzling statement in a hallway, along with a long white bench lined with a riot of cushions in a wild mix of colors.
Paint and wallpaper should complement each other, one building on the strength of the other. Paint a large, open space in a warm, neutral shade, then paper a feature wall, such as the dining area or a dull hallway. A bold pattern covering one wall is all that is required to make your statement.
Q. The pocket door and trim around the door and baseboards in my living room are all stained brown and are in great shape. The floor is wood; the walls are peachy beige. However, all I see in magazines and on TV are white baseboards. We are remodeling. To be in style should I be painting them white?
A. Yours is not so much a style question. Always think personal preference first. Staining allows the grain and quality of the wood to shine and creates a warm, comfortable atmosphere in a room. If you like the look and feel of your wood trim, including the baseboard, then there’s no reason to change it. Painting baseboards white is preferable if the baseboards are small and/or not made of wood, a common practice in new construction. White trim gives a clean fresh line that suits a modern, minimal style. Older homes with significant baseboards are shown with white as a means of lightening up the space. But this is only one way to go. If you feel that there is too much dark wood in the room, then paint, but it sounds to me like you are happy with what you have, so stick with it.
Debbie Travis’ House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email questions to house2home@debbietravis. com. Follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.
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