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.
(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.
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.
This scenic large-scale custom mural was done for two designers’ weekend retreat.
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.
Our Quill pattern colorways, above, and installed, below.
Wallpaper today is alive and kicking. Besides the traditional wallpapers we know and love, contemporary geometric patterns have become extremely popular.
Amy Finkle’s MoRockAnSoul’s array of designs and colorways above, and a more subdued example below.
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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