Well folks, wallpaper is back, it’s relevant, and it’s actually being made in America again. While the Brits have owned this category during our slump, it’s nice to be sitting at the table together again, playing and making cool.
But who are the faces behind this cool? We dug. What makes these designers tick? We asked them weird questions to get some insight.
Alistair McAuley
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Opal (that’s British for starburst candy)
2 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Currently the ceiling.
3 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their homes and why shouldn’t they be? I don’t think they are actually.
4| What do you wear to bed? Really?
Paul Simmons
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Tomato
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? Totally deluded
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Ceiling
4 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their homes and why shouldn’t they be? It’s a matter of taste, which is highly subjective, and with so many choices, maybe it’s easier not to choose anything!
5 | What do you wear to bed? Socks
Katie Deedy
1 | What is your favorite fruit? On my deathbed, I want plantains. Fried platanos maduros with salt are the ONLY way to go! Runners-up are mango and guava (can you tell my family is Cuban?).
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? I think sometimes I’m too nice, which can be seen as a positive trait. On the flip side, it can also make you too open and sensitive and cause unnecessary worry. I’m a Southerner with 10 years in NYC under my belt, so I think I’ve finally arrived at a good balance. Though now, as a New Yorker, I probably work too much. Geez, y’all are asking the tough ones, eh?
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Everywhere! C’mon, you know as a wallpaper designer I’m going to go big.
4 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their home and why shouldn’t they be? Aside from concerns with the logistics of removal, it’s an artistic and monetary investment in your home. It can be a big decision. As a way to ease in to it, I see some clients opting to paper spaces such as powder rooms that they feel are safer areas to get creative. Personally, I believe in building a space that is truly yours, and making design decisions based on what you want as opposed to what’s trending. Don’t be afraid of wallpaper; it’s beautiful, it’s a talking point, it adds depth to your space, and, depending on what pattern you choose, reflects who you are. Have fun with it and share it with the world… it’s not just for closets!
5 | What do you wear to bed? I wrap myself in a soft cocoon of freshly silkscreened wallpaper.
Brendan Young
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? Open-minded
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? On doors
4 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their homes and why shouldn’t they be? We don’t know why they don’t use wallcoverings, but they should use more because it’s a great and quick way to change the look and feeling of any room in their homes.
5 | What do you wear to bed? Birthday suit
Vanessa Battaglia
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Strawberry
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? Determined
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Bathrooms
4 | What do you wear to bed? 100% cotton t-shirt
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Mango – delicious!
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? I am quite driven, so I’m really bad at relaxing and I think the best ideas happen when one’s mind is relaxed. But having to walk my dog every day makes me switch off.
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Wallpaper can be used anywhere. I love it when a design wraps around an entire room, including the ceilings. My Brambleweb wallpaper is perfect for this as it feels like the bramble vines have gradually grown up the walls and taken over, creating a bramble thicket.
4 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their homes and why shouldn’t they be? America is braver than some countries about using wallpaper! If anyone feels that wallpapering a whole wall is too big a commitment they should start by just wallpapering inside an alcove or a chimney breast or even at the back of a glass-fronted cabinet to get used to having pattern in their home. Or choose a paper with subtle colours, that doesn’t dominate a space but will make it feel finished and will add another layer of interest. Having said all of this, a bold, dramatic wallpaper can totally transform a bland room, giving it a focal point and atmosphere.
5 | What do you wear to bed? Very cosy pyjamas in the winter, but as soon as the weather is warmer, not much
Avery Thatcher
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon! It’s so hard to pick a good one, though. My brother-in-law is Persian, and he insists that your manliness is determined by your ability to pick a good watermelon. That’s how I know I’m ALL woman. Raaar! The good news is that if you pick a bad one, you can blend it up with ice and mint. Yum!
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? I’m rather well known for telling terrible jokes, often of my own creation. Here’s an example: What did the Norse Thunder God develop after a long day on his trusty stead? Thaddle Thors.
Here’s another one: What did the mean-spirited polar bear serve to his guests as a first course? Iceberg Wedgies.
Barely funny, right? That’s how I do!
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Breakfast nooks. A) Breakfast nooks are awesome. If you are lucky enough to have a breakfast nook, it’s more or less your civic duty to wallpaper it outrageously. B) Small, intimate spaces are incredibly well suited to pattern. It’s a historic trend that has stood the test of time and in fact, looks totally contemporary. The same goes for powder rooms, pantries, closets, and nurseries.
4 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their homes and why shouldn’t they be? I think everyone in our generation has either experienced or witnessed the frustration of trying to remove gross, old wallpaper that was inevitably in every room of a house. No one has time for home decor ideas that aren’t practical anymore.
Today, the sophisticated new latex prep coats that have been developed for wallpaper eliminate those nightmare removal scenarios. Plus, with so many small, independent designers out there printing our own wallpapers and selling them directly to customers through our websites, it’s never been easier to find the kind of rare gems that were previously only available through exclusive showrooms or interior designers. For those who are paying attention (like Genevieve), there is a total revolution going on in wallpaper design right now! I am thrilled to be part of it.
Last but not least, there is the much desired ‘wow factor’ that only a wallpaper can provide – wallpaper underlines the statement, and makes a room look intentional and complete.
5 | What do you wear to bed? Much to my husband’s dismay, but much to my comfort and delight, I sleep in a lightweight 100% merino wool Icebreaker underlayer. Warning: Totally addictive sleepwear. May case marital distress.
Side note* I have JuJu in three rooms of my own home.
1 | What is your favorite fruit? Cherries and peaches
2 | What would you say is your strongest personality trait, good or bad? Perfectionism
3 | Where is your favorite place to use wallpaper? Tall walls
4 | Why is America shy about using wallcoverings in their homes and why shouldn’t they be? Are Americans shy? They shouldn’t be! Wallpaper is undergoing a huge metamorphosis at the moment, becoming cooler than it’s ever been. Plus, it’s so much easier to work with – installing it, caring for it, cleaning it, removing it, and switching it up. All of that is easier now, with the latest generation of materials.
5 | What do you wear to bed? My husband’s underwear
