Designing #SocietySocialHome: Wallpaper 101
Our bar and dining room are the first things you see when you walk through the front door so they will truly set the tone for our home. I've decided to make this my starting point and I've decided we are going to go for it with wallpaper! You can check out my inspiration here. It is going to be FUN!
I've had the hardest time deciding which wallpaper will have the honor of gracing the "first impression zone" (and looks like you guys are going to be loads of help lol) so I've asked a few of my most favorite, most fabulous, and most talented designers to weigh in on all things wallpaper.
Scroll below to hear from the experts!
And follow along here if you would like!
Ariel Okin
I happen to love anything chinoiserie in style, so De Gournay and Gracie are eternal favorite vendors of mine. For a less expensive yet likeminded option, I really like Tempaper's chinoiserie collection, which is also good for renters, since it is easily applied and easily removable from walls. I also like covering a vintage screen in a really beautiful wallpaper for a shot of interesting pattern in a room. It is really important - especially for intricately patterned papers like chinoiserie - to find an expert installer in your area. Oftentimes wallpaper vendors will have a list of approved installers, so always check with them if you aren't working with an interior designer! There are so many amazing wallpaper vendors out there - some of my favorites are Schumacher, Kravet, Hygge & West, and Osborne & Little. I also love Chasing Paper for removable paper, and Brewster Home Fashions for really great, affordable finds!
Andrew Howard
I love wallpaper! I don’t think I have ever heard anyone leave someone’s house admiring all of their drywall… In fact I know for certain I have never heard someone say, “That house had the most beautiful drywall I have ever seen.” I have heard people frequently point out how much they loved the wallpaper in a certain room. Wallpaper adds character to a space and I especially love it in rooms that feel new or unfinished. It can really bring those spaces to life. If we put into law today that everyone should be required to at least wallpaper their powder room I would not be against it. And before some family member chimes in with, “What if I get tired of it?” I will tell you this. You will get tired of just about everything you own at some point (including your car which costs a lot more than this wallpaper). So when the time comes you just replace it or scrape it off and start fresh. It’s not all that hard. And if you love more than one wallpaper do the smaller scale one on the ceiling and the larger scale on the walls.
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Eighteen years ago, Andrew walked into a design store for an interview and walked out with a job that would change his life. It was his parents’ shop, after all. As it turns out, a love for beautiful homes and happy people was in his blood, and he's been doing his best to nurture that ever since. He truly believes passion is key in design, and he feels more and more passionate about what he does each day. Andrew Howard was named by House Beautiful and Traditional Home as one of the Top Young Designers in America in 2013. He's also been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Living, Coastal Living, Luxe, Country Living, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, Real Simple, and Trad Home.
Parker Kennedy Living
Parker Kennedy, founded by David Ecton & Lance Jackson is a nationally recognized design firm working across the country. Parker Kennedy Living focuses on high-end residential interior design, vintage furniture restoration and product development. Their look is “Preppy on the Edge” – taking a traditional interior and elevating it to an updated look using lacquer finishes and mixing textures and vintage details with young colors and patterns. Their interiors are fresh while maintaining a deep-rooted interest in the traditional and Palm Beach overtones.
Emily Williams
I love to use wallpaper for maximum impact in color and pattern. I chose this Clarence House Lyford Key paper to emphasize the height of the ceilings in the Society Social Suite at our 3rd annual Orlando Parade of Homes entry, #1160Mayfield. This paper was my jumping off point for all of the other selections in the suite.
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The Grove, founded by Emily Williams, is a retail store and design firm that strives to bring color and personality into every aspect of your life. We're lucky to call her a Society Social Shop Partner! Together with her husband (owner & builder of Z Properties) the two have partnered together on multiple Orlando Parade of Homes entries and countless design projects.
