Adelphi Paper Hangings

Many times I am amazed at the vibrancy of color and the intricacy of pattern of antique wallpapers and fabrics. I think that there is a misconception that many of these historical patterns were limited to florals and damasks with an occasional Chinoiserie or Neo-Classical print thrown in for good measure. How untrue! Some of our ancestors, if they had the means, chose to live surrounded by some pretty snazzy patterns.

Adelphi Paper Hangings is a wonderful source for block printed reproductions of historical wallpapers. Many of their clients are museums and historical homes, but they do sell to designers too. Some of the prints do seem a little dated for a modern home, but a majority of them would, in my opinion, fit right in to a contemporary design scheme. How about that fantastic "Plymouth Ashlar" (above) in an entryway? Or the "Hamilton Urns Stenciled" in a powder room? What means the most to me, though, is the fact that there are artisans and scholars whose passion is keeping this part of design history alive.



"Pagodas", English, circa 1763. This Chinoiserie print was used in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion (1768), Marblehead, Massachusetts. The colors seen here are the original colorway.


"Hamilton Urns Stenciled", Boston, 1787-90. According to Adelphi, this print is "one of the earliest examples of American neo-classical wallpaper design." I think the graphic nature of this print makes it a viable print for today.


"Laurel Trellis", French, 1800-15. Think the popularity of Trellis is limited to the 20th and 21st centuries? Well, this print was discovered adorning a wedding box that was made in Paris in 1804.


"Pebbles and Flowerpots", Philadelphia, c. 1810. This wallpaper was hung in the dining room of Pope Villa, Lexington, Kentucky. The grisaille tones and the trompe l'oeil pebble design make this print truly stunning.


"Pineapples", American, c. 1845. Stylish in the 19th c., equally so today!


Image at top: "Plymouth Ashlar", French or American, c. 1805-25. Ashlar papers were characterized by faux masonry blocks that were usually adorned with some type of ornamentation. These papers were generally used in hallways and stairwells (high traffic areas), and when an area began to show signs of wear, a new "block" could be applied over the affected area only. No need to hang new sheets of paper.

Birdcages Part II

While I was searching for antique birdcages for yesterday's post, I came across a few wallpaper prints that incorporate aviaries. Some are drop-dead gorgeous, like the handpainted paper from Gracie, while others are a little cutesy (such as that from Thibaut). Just another way to add a little humor or a little beauty to one's walls!


"Cotillion" wallpaper from Tyler Hall


Handpainted scene by Gracie


"Birdcage" wallpaper from Thibaut

Image at top: "Birdcage Walk" wallpaper by Nina Campbell for Osborne and Little

Hit Parade- Chinoiserie Prints

Have you had enough of me talking about Chinoiserie prints? I hope I don't sound like a broken record, but I truly don't think I could live without having something Chinoiserie in my home (how's that for drama!). Since I've never met a Asian print that I didn't like, it was hard for me to narrow my choices down, but here are a few that have struck my fancy.



"China Rose" chintz by Scalamandre


"Ping" linen by Scalamandre (this is my favorite- I have two armchairs upholstered in this print but in a glazed cotton.)


"Les Fetes d'Orient" by Clarence House


"Kings Dynasty" at Lewis & Sheron


"Masquerade" fabric by Thibaut


"Tea House" wallpaper by Thibaut


"Fishing Village" fabric by Thibaut


"Marco Polo" wallpaper by Thibaut

Photo at top: "Shanghai" fabric by Scalamandre

A Designer After My Own Heart

Bamboo prints are one of my all-time favorites. Imagine my excitement when I was reading the August issue of House Beautiful and found this Atlanta home decorated by John Oetgen. The kitchen (shown above) has walls and ceiling papered in Cowtan & Tout's "Bamboo" wallpaper. You'll probably need to click on the picture to clearly see the print on the ceiling. (I'm also crazy for the custom zinc stove hood!) And then, on the screened pavilion at the back of the house, there is a great bamboo print by Kolo Collection on the wicker sofa. I know we've been having a "bamboo moment" for a while now, but I think that these prints are true classics!




Another image of "Bamboo" from the Cowtan & Tout website

Photos of the home from the August issue of House Beautiful

More Cole and Son

In case you haven't had your fill of wallpaper posts this week, I thought I would include some more images of various prints by Cole and Son. They have so many wonderful designs that it's difficult for me to choose my favorites. Whether your style is traditional or contemporary, they truly have something to offer for everyone. And, I'd love to hear which ones are your favorites. Enjoy!



"Chinese Paper" , part of the Florence II collection


"Humming Birds"


"Hicks Moghul", part of the New Contemporary line


"The India Paper", part of the Richmond collection


"Raffles", part of the Richmond collection


"Catwalk", in the Classix collection


"St James Trellis"

Image at top: Glamorous, mirrored dressing room papered in "Paisley Flowers"

Fornasetti Collection at Cole and Son

Attention Fornasetti fans! Cole and Son, the legendary English wallpaper firm, has a collection devoted solely to the designs of Piero Fornasetti. Many of the designs are quintessential Fornasetti, such as "Il Sole" and "Tema a Variazoni" (seen at top). Other designs, especially some of the floral prints, are actually rather sweet- something that I would not normally associate with him. All designs are hand screenprinted and come in various colorways. And although I don't consider myself to be a huge fan of Fornasetti's work, some of these prints may make me change my mind.



"Ex Libris"- this reminds me of Brunschwig's "Bibliotheque" (which I posted about on Tuesday), but done in a more contemporary way.


"Fiori"


"Frutto Proibito"


"Il Sole"


"Malachite" -how fun would this be in a smallish sized room?


"Peonie"


"Riflesso"

Image at top: "Tema a Variazoni"

Old Fashioned Prints

For a few years now, certain prints have held our attention; graphic prints, prints with that 1960s/70s vibe, and exotic prints have reigned supreme. This is certainly not a criticism because I too have used many of these. That said, wouldn't it be nice if some of the "old fashioned" prints made a comeback? There are beautiful floral prints that were designed many, many years ago that are still just as charming today. Or what about document prints, which are reproductions of historical prints and patterns? Here are a few designs that truly are vintage (such as those from Secondhand Rose), some that were inspired by old prints, and others that are new but look old.


"Barley Twist" fabric by Robert Kime


"Sunburst" wallpaper by Robert Kime


"Marblehead" wallpaper by Tyler Hall. This print was inspired by an early 19th c. American document print.


"Nosegay" wallpaper by Tyler Hall, inspired by an 1850 English document.

Vintage sea creature wallpaper from Secondhand Rose


Vintage bird wallpaper from Secondhand Rose

Photo at top: "Shannongrove Blue" fabric from Carleton Varney

Stencil Library

Not a month goes by in which one of the design magazines does not feature a home that has beautiful de Gournay or Gracie Chinoiserie wallpaper. Some homeowners are fortunate enough to be able to cover every wall in their room with it, while others settle for a framed panel or two. If this handpainted wallpaper is a little out of your design budget, then you may want to visit Stencil Library's website. This UK site sells all kinds of stencils, from neoclassical to geometric designs. Some of the stencils are perfect for borders, while others are a little larger and can be used to decorate an entire wall.

Recently, they added some fantastic Chinoiserie panel stencils that can be used to create your very own de Gournay-esque walls. There are 4 different panels that can be used together to create a seamless scene, or you can just purchase one panel and repeat that design over and over. The site also includes photos of the painted designs using metallic paints on different colored backgrounds. If this is a little too ambitious for you, there are also smaller Chinoiserie designs that you could use on a door, a piece of furniture, or anywhere else that could use a touch of Chinoiserie.



A graphic representation of the four panels when used together.


Stenciled panels painted with gold and silver metallic paint on a Chinese red wall.


Stenciled panels painted with silvers, blues, and irridescent purples on an eggplant colored wall.


For a different repeat pattern, here is the Willow Pattern


"Diamond Trellis" stencil

(All photos courtesy of Stencil Library)