Houzz had a great ideabook this week by Gabrielle de Stafano about the history of wallpaper with wonderful illustrations of types of wallpapers through the ages.  It struck me that many of our designs could also be used as illustrations.  Here are a few quotes from Gabrielle’s ideabook, and our examples.

During the 1500s more ornate designs mimicking fabric patterns — such as brocade  and damask — covered the walls and lined the armoires and chests of the gentry.

Casart coverings’ French Peacock Damask

(Chinoiserie) This  style became popular with European designers during the 1600s, who used rice paper panels to depict landscapes with delicate flowers and birds.

Our Birds and Birch uses vinyl, not rice paper, and there are no delicate flowers in the landscape.

Casart colored version of Birds and Birch colored in a Dining Room

Wallpaper in the 18th century was all about color and pattern.  During this era artists translated pictorial depictions from tapestry design onto papers. Scenic, large-scale papers were very popular in France.

Kristin Nicholas’ Garden of Family Farm Life is definitely  all about color and pattern.

Kristin Nicolas’ Garden of Family Farm Life Mural

This scenic large-scale custom mural was done for two designers’ weekend retreat.

Casart custom mural installation

Wallpaper in the 19th century included many distinctive wallpaper patterns designed by William Morris, father of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Using stylized forms and motifs from nature, Morris created flat but intricate patterns…

I think our Flower Power fits that description.

Vinyl and prepasted papers also appeared in the ’50s, making wallpaper even more accessible.  The peacock design… is reminiscent of the art nouveau revival design that emerged during the middle of the century.

Casart’s Peacock Pattern-Quill

Our Quill pattern colorways, above, and installed, below.

Casart Quill Pattern in Indigo / White

Wallpaper today is alive and kicking. Besides the traditional wallpapers we know and love, contemporary geometric patterns have become extremely popular.

MoRockAnSoul Designs

Amy Finkle’s MoRockAnSoul’s array of designs and colorways above, and a more subdued example below.

Amy Finkle’s MoRockanSoul XOXO Design for Casart

Gabrielle, thank you for providing the research and the quotes which allowed me to have the fun of finding similar examples in Casart’s collection of removable, and reusable wallcoverings.  We’ve come a long way since wallpaper’s beginnings!

Here is Gabrielle’s ideabook for Houzz so you can see the entire article and all of her illustrations.

-  Lorre Lei

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Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Do you have flowers in mind? According to the latest in interior design, you may want to consider more than just a bouquet. Here are some examples of where floral decor is making a comeback.

Interior designer Laura Bielecki writes on her Luxury Interior Design Journal:

Pattern is making a comeback. Let’s not over focus on color blocking as historic patterns are being recreated with the strongest new trend: a white background. Foresee fabrics and wall coverings bringing small and massive florals with white backdrops, vintage prints with a twist of white, bold colors and patterns thrown onto a white canvas…. you get the jist! Whatever it is do it on white to make it in style.

Via Luxury Interior Design Journal. Fabric Manufacturer Unknown

This gorgeous floral mosaic-tile background used by Fava Design Group in their Sanibel House as shown on Home Adore makes me think what a beautiful solution this is to adding design in often overlooked areas. This could also be achieved with wallpaper.

Fava Design Group interior design via Home Adore

We’ve shown the Bookcase Backing concept with Faux Tortoiseshell by the Karen Robertson Collection but it can be done with anything to add personalization and serve as a backdrop to showcase items in your bookcase.

Casart Karen Robertson Collection-Natural Tortoiseshell

Florals can be found on unexpected surfaces — even on  Sink Vessels.  This one has a floral glass insert.

We like flowers in design, especially when they make an impact or when they are presented in a different way than expected. I’ve always loved this image because the giant scale of the flowers makes you feel as if you’re an ant enjoying their beautiful canopy that surrounds and envelops you.

Largescale mural by Millree Hughes

We wanted to do something that took this concept of being surrounded by flowers, so we came up with Flower Power where the pattern is indescernable because every space is filled with flowers, much like looking through a Rose Bowl Parade float from the inside. We wanted to show how this design could be used in multiple scenarios.

Flower Power – reusable wallcovering

Flower Power – reusable wallcovering

Of course, you don’t have to use over the entire room or even an accent wall. Here’s a clever way to use panels of wallcovering as room accents (I like this pretty in pink one) and in the process, treat them as art — Casart — art for your home. If you like these Bedroom Eyes above, btw,  you can get them here.

Wallcovering as accent panels

Decorate from the inside out

Remember these flowers never fade!

Happy Springtime Decorating!

– Ashley

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Edward Doyle Designs has been showcasing the Euro Chic all-weather pillow collection in creative conceptual Olioboards. These are great visuals to inspire design styles for most any setting. It’s nice to know that if you’re looking for that special something that can make your place memorable for any occasion be it entertaining, staging or selling a home or everyday living, Casart Décor can give you the look with Edward Doyle Design Euro Chic Pillows.

Check them out below and let us know what you think. You can rate the board,  use the items in your own Olioboards, share on Facebook and Twitter and shop the pillows at the Casart Décor website.

Items used: Casart repositionable stripe + Gentleman & Folk Art Pillows

Gallery of Euro Chic pillows

Folk Art Euro Chic pillows

Gentlemen + Folk Art pillows

Folk Art + Paris No. 9 pillows

Sail the Seven Seas + Moby Dick pillows

Paris Rich + Chateau Bawt Hatailley + Honey Suckle Vine + Queen Bee Candlemakers pillows

Moby Dick & Chateau Bawt Hatailley pillows

Folk Art Euro Chic pillows

Gentlemen + Folk Art pillows

Gentlemen + Folk Art pillows

An assemblage of Euro Chic Collection pillows

Click here to make these concepts a reality.

Edward Doyle Euro Chic Pillow Collection for Casart Décor

Edward Doyle Euro Chic Pillow Collection for Casart Décor

– Ashley

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