Perfectly Papered

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of wallpaper. For me, there is something to be said about the simplicity of a freshly painted wall. Being in the Interior Design field, paint offers an "ease of change" ability unlike anything else in my business. I seem to find myself unsettled and in search of change in my own home more than I'd like to admit and often, a fresh coat of paint in a new color is the easiest way to make a big impact on my household budget.

I grew up in the seventies where wallpaper products were hung on every inch of vertical surface in our house. My mother has a knack for design herself and was very proud of her vibrant use of color throughout our humble home. If given the chance, I am sure my dad could set the record for fastest wallpaper hanger in Honolulu. There were many afternoons that I can vividly recall counting yellow and orange daisy's on my bedroom walls as I pretended to nap. I can also remember the metallic, geometric patterned paper that lined my mother's bathroom walls. She always looked so glamours sitting at her three-way mirror as she delicately applied her coral lipstick with the reflection of metallic octagons shaping her tanned face. My visual world as a child was so dominated by wallpaper that somehow, I think as an adult, I tend to rebel against the slightest notion of paper on my walls for fear of not being different enough from my mother's decoration of choice.

But alas, much to my surprise, my misgivings about wall coverings have changed. As I devour my stacks of trade publications on a monthly basis, I am becoming very aware of the resurgence of wall paper applications in residential and commercial settings. While I realize that wall coverings never completely went away, you have to admit, there was a decade or so which the wallpaper business had to be fearing their demise. Everyone was simply using paint to accent their walls and it was becoming more about finding the right shade of white or blue rather than which paper to hang.

We live in a technologically advanced world. Everyone knows this by now, and I'm not preaching to the choir on this subject. We all use some form of gadget to get us through our daily lives. But what continues to fascinate me about technological advancements is the doors it has opened for interesting design trends. Improved technology is allowing the average person like me to share my design interests in an open forum such as blogging. Advancements in technology have also allowed an artist the ability to manipulate their photos to create artwork unlike anything we have seen in the past. Using vibrant colors and unique printing methods, an artist can create custom, one-of-a-kind pieces with ease. Technology has also allowed advancements in the world of wallpaper. For those of you who have not given into the temptations of wallpaper just yet, check out these two companies who are turning out unique, design savvy paper enticements.

My new favorite wallpaper designer, Tracy Kendall has created some of the worlds most unique and artistic wall coverings that I can find. While Tracy remains pure and simple in her design elements, her website explains how 'the graphic images may be printed in many different colours and not loose the sense of being a feather or flower, whether the color is naturalistic or not.' Tracy has an uncanny ability to draw you in with her simple graphics. Her line of wallpapers range from oversized stemware to ethereal feathers and earthy botanicals. Her jumbo versions of everyday images speak to you with simplicity. Perfectly scaled for large impact but not too overdone, Tracy Kendall wallpaper has a way of covering a wall's space while creating art at the same time.

Another wall-coverings company I found and really enjoy is Flavor Paper. Known for their more psychedelic designs, this company offers a line funky and visually stimulating wall coverings for those who want to make a bold statement with their papered walls. Hand silk-screened, the designs range from glorious metallics to Art Nouveau inspired designs. Originally founded in Oregon, but now based in New Orleans, this company has a rich history to draw upon for inspiration including a rebirth so to speak after the wake of the Katrina Disaster. While the company fared well during the floods, the company continues to dedicate themselves to keeping the "Spirit of New Orleans alive". Flavor Paper offers custom colors, logos and designs, which make this company very designer friendly and a must-have bookmark for those looking to make a vertical impact on their next project.

You can always fall back on your paint chips for color inspiration in your home or office but why not consider wall coverings again? With all the advancements and the resurgence of the wall paper trend, you might not look fashion forward enough without it.