Oscar Wilde Had an Issue with Wallpaper…
Do You?
“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.” ― Oscar Wilde
This quote has long been rumored to be the final words of the famed, 19th century poet, writer and playwright, Oscar Wilde. Through his clever use of words Mr. Wilde has inadvertently encapsulated what some may feel about using wallpaper for today’s homes. Fear of picking the wrong paper, dealing with the laborious aspects of removal, preparation and application can be downright exhausting. In addition, the aspect of paper being a semi-permanent design choice only helps to encourage a sense of dread and vacillation.
Ok, maybe it’s an over-exaggeration saying that using wallpaper is a duel to the death, however consistently thinking of it as “no go” design choice can often lead to a lackluster home environment. Mr. Wilde was very clear about his thoughts concerning this age-old design element, but what do interiors designers have to say about today’s wall coverings?
The 2017 Decorators’ Show House And Gardens, located at the childhood home of Kurt Vonnegut, will display two very different rooms with beautiful wall coverings. Both Julie O’Brien of Julie O’Brien Design Group and Constance Vinson of Constance Vinson Interiors have chosen to apply exquisite wallpaper to the dining room and the 1st floor half bath. Their expertise can act as a guide for overcoming common issues and anxieties associated with wall paper such as: What is the new look of wallpaper, will it be timeless and what are the pros and cons of using wallpaper for a home’s interior design. We know that Oscar had issues with wallcoverings but do they feel the same way?
How did the designer incorporate wallpaper into this year home?
Julie O’Brien...One of the most distinctive details about this year’s DSH Dining Room is the wall covering used in the space. 
It is dramatic and subtle all at the same time. It ties together the architectural elements of the room creating a link between it and the glazed tile floors, but also becomes a backdrop that moves the beautiful leaded window and doors and the dramatic chandelier visually forward.
What is the new look of today’s wallpaper and what rooms are designers placing it in most often?
Constance Vinson…
The look of modern wallpaper is less plastic looking than the in the past when easy clean vinyl was typical. Larger patterns are popular and vibrant color ways are popular as well. I’ve seen wallpaper being used quite a bit in dining rooms and powder rooms. In living rooms I’ve seen it used on an accent wall in either a pattern print or a mural.
Julie O’Brien...
Today’s wall covering fall into two camps, texture and pattern. Textures have the ability to elicit feelings that shape our view of a space in a deeper way. It doesn’t appear to be covering a wall, but rather is the wall. It has shape and dimension, therefore, we respond to it in the same way we would architecture. Poor Oscar Wilde clearly was not dealing with a textured wall covering as he surely would have felt better about it.
Patterned papers are more about color and specific style. They are often trendy and if not, they are most certainly busier than a texture, but feeling more like adornment rather than environment. They both have their place and are important to modern interiors.
Can wallpaper be timeless?
Constance Vinson...Wallpaper can be timeless. I think one of the most timeless looks is toile de jouy. Traditional toile is shown with pastoral vignettes of outdoor leisure activities. But, if you want to shake things up there are a number of manufacturers who produce toile in bright contemporary color ways and some with vignettes depicting modern urban life. Another timeless classic is grass cloth. It adds texture and color with a subtle neutral pattern and can be used in traditional design as well as modern design schemes.
What are the pros and cons of using wallpaper for design?
Constance Vinson... Wallpaper is more durable than paint and can last 20 years or more. It can hide slight imperfections on a wall as well. However, removing wallpaper can be laborious, and if you choose a pattern that is too trendy, the look might not hold up over a long period of time.
Julie O’Brien...The beauty of using wall coverings is that they fill the rooms they inhabit giving it instant style, pattern and color. They are fun and relatively easy to change when we are ready for a new look or feeling. The only disadvantage is cost as, obviously, it is less costly to just paint. Likewise, there are many price points with the most significant and interesting coverings being pricier than a more basic paper or vinyl wall covering.
While many believe wallpaper is something they are familiar with and it just wasn’t for them, more than likely, they aren’t aware of the many versions of wall covering that exist. Textures are created from such things as wood, capiz shell, silk, linen and industrial materials. Patterns are everything under the sun and have moved more toward the look of paintings or graphic designs. It is hard not to be impressed by them and the beauty or energy they bring.
What are the new design trends in wallpaper?
Julie O’Brien...
The beauty of using wall coverings is that they fill the rooms they inhabit giving it instant style, pattern and color. They are fun and relatively easy to change when we are ready for a new look or feeling. The only disadvantage is cost as, obviously, it is less costly to just paint. Likewise, there are many price points with the most significant and interesting coverings being pricier than a more basic paper or vinyl wall covering.
While many believe wallpaper is something they are familiar with and it just wasn’t for them, more than likely, they aren’t aware of the many versions of wall covering that exist. Textures are created from such things as wood, capiz shell, silk, linen and industrial materials. Patterns are everything under the sun and have moved more toward the look of paintings or graphic designs. It is hard not to be impressed by them and the beauty or energy they bring.
Constance Vinson... Classic toile has grown in popularity recently. Patterns from the 70s and 80s are being updated for the new millennium and the use of metallic accents is being seen, although not quite as shiny as we saw in the 70s and 80s, and wallpaper murals are quite popular as well.
What might Oscar Wilde say now about wallpaper?
Using wallpaper can be a creative option for adding flare to a home’s overall decor. Consistently choosing not to use wallpaper can lead to an unimaginative environment.
“Consistency is the hallmark of the unimaginative.”- Oscar Wilde
Thank you Julie and Constance for your advice and please visit both their areas (dining room and half bath) at this year’s Decorators’ Show House and Gardens, April 29th-May 14th, located at 4401 N. Illinois. Wallpaper will not be an issue with these room!!!!!
Julie O’Brien Design Group (317) 706-0772 julie@julieobriendesign.com
