Wallcoverings

Yesterday we discussed patterned floors, seen throughout the centuries in historic palaces and museums, and how they are having a resurgence today with the painted floors of Mary Macdonald, cement tiles and marble mosaics featuring in many modern designs.

Another feature from the past that has gained popularity in recent years are wallpapers, murals and panoramics. In general, wallpaper can have a transformative effect on a space, particularly a mural, but in certain circumstances, it is the only possible solution to a room. In my own Kirkland dining room, I had an awkward angled wall to contend with, as it was part of the staircase. Hanging a piece of rectangular art only accentuated the meager dimensions and awkward angles of the room.

My solution was to add wallpaper. It provides dimension to the space by creating a depth that would not exist with a rectangular piece of art. In the last year, I added the same mural to the wall behind the dining room wall, the second part of the stairwell. This really has the effect that I intended. It completes the rectangle, distracts you from the angled wall, and gives the eye a place to go, beyond the room, adding an interest the room would otherwise lack. I also love the added dimension of the layered walls, making the trees look like some are in the distance.

Murals

There are so many great wall murals these days, both iconic like in the De Gournay and Zuber brands, as well as modern takes on this tried and true concept.