I personally lived the wallpaper revolution a few years ago, where my opinion of wallpaper went from dusty, ugly and old to fresh, vibrant and young.

I’m now a huge wallpaper fan and a firm believer that if you’re lucky enough to have a relatively stable home (meaning you’re not moving every 6 months like I’ve done for most of my young adult life) you need wallpaper in at least one room.

If you’re wallpaper shy, start by a smaller area: a closet, a bathroom, your entrance hall… Make sure it’s a pattern or color you’ll truly love because wallpaper is very durable and, contrary to paint, it can last much longer. I once heard: “you get bored of white much quicker than you do with bold colours and prints”. So don’t be afraid to go bold. Just like quality leather, it only gets better with time.

Here are a few wallpaper options that makes my heart flutter… I purposely avoided grasscloth because I think we can all agree that I talk about it a little too much around here but yes, it’s definitely a fabulous option!

1. Rivets: First spotted in Tilton Fenwick‘s room in the Hampton Designer Showhouse last year, I love how it adds a dash of glam to a room. I actually cheated… this is a grasscloth. A Manila Hemp by Phillip Jeffries to be precise.

2. Oversized Paisleys and Paisley Lookalikes: Though this is technically not a paisley, this Katie Ridder wallpaper gives the same effect in a more modern way.  Designer Alessandra Branca also used beautiful paisleys in her designs.

3. Chinoiserie: Some may consider it a bit old-fashioned, but used in fresh new ways chinoiserie can be truly stunning. This bedroom by Nick Olsen recently featured in Veranda magazine is an excellent example.

4. Lacquer: I only recently discovered this: a time and cost friendly alternative to spraying 12 coats of lacquer on your walls (that usually need to be gyprocked first unless they’re unusually perfect) is wallpapering your room in a wallpapered vinyl. Michael S. Smith did this in Ali Wentworth’s house and the result is really stunning.

5. Leafy: Nothing is fresher than bold leafy wallpaper. This bathroom covered in Peter Dunham fiddle leaf wallpaper is one of my favorites of all time. This is especially great for bathrooms that have no window as it’s another way to bring the outside in!

What type of wallpaper would you use in your home?

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

Sources: 1. Thibaut Wallpaper 2. Jeffrey Alan Marks 3. Cathy Kincaid Interiors 4. Peter Frank 5. Tilton Fenwick 6. Betsy Burnham 7. Nick Olsen 8. Michael S. Smith 9. Peter Dunham

“But, if
You’re thinkin’ about my baby
It don’t matter if you’re
Black or white ” – Michael Jackson Black or White

In this case… I’ll take both, black & white! I mean how lively and lovely is this kitchen? I love the “no fuss” approach of ultra modern kitchen, but I often regret the monochrome and lack of pattern of their renditions.

I also love the herringbone floor which is more often than not seen in 18th century Parisian flats rather than über-modern homes. It gives the room a sense of history and adds great texture to the scheme.

A clever way to have your cake and eat it too! A glass backsplash protects the kitchen's wallpaper.

Typical of country kitchens where the large refectory table sits in the heart of the action, here too the set up works beautifully. The rustic two-toned table is both homey and glamour. Two pairs of chairs complete the look.

The Orla Kiely Linear Stems storage jar is stylish and, mark my words, will become a collectible item one day!

source: Micasa

There is something to be said about classic shapes. Whether one calls them statement or iconic pieces, decor staples or must haves, these pieces of furniture are what make a home a home.

I am not a purist, by any measure, and I am not one to tell you that genres and eras are mutual exclusive from one another. I just happen to like a good looking old piece of furniture. I often come across vintage finds that are weathered and a little beaten and when I look at them closer, I notice that they were actual replicas of even older pieces. At the end of the day, it’s all the same to me… note here that collectors are excluded from this category and form their own inner sanctum of vintage aficionados.

I came across these images of a Swedish home (is good design sense in their DNA you think?) and immediately fell in love with the textures and patterns layered, flawlessly and in a careless manner, over a white backdrop. I mean, really… wouldn’t you move in here too (with a few baskets full of toys and shoes but hey)? I recently got a GREAT Kilim rug at the Christie’s Antique Fair  and I think the way to layer it in my home will be exactly like that… amongst other rugs of similar colours and size. The Kilim on top of course!

I also love the Magnolia wallpaper in the small den/home office. On just one wall, with the white petal tips calling on the walls colour, it gives it a fresh and crisp look that is very well suited for this time of year (and that will be just as fresh when winter rolls in I have to say).

A great decor often starts with just one piece of furniture or a single fabric pattern and organically comes to life from there.

Finally, and after much much fun looking at ALL the contest’s entries, I am very please to announce the winner... Drum roll please!! Using the website random.org a name was drawn amongst all who sent in, or posted, their photos The winner of the 2500$ Home Depot gift card for the kitchen makeover is: MathieuD (That’s all the name I got on the entry). Mathieu, someone from Home Depot will contact you later on today to make all the necessary arrangements. Thank you everyone for your participation!! v.

source: http://www.alvhemmakleri.se/

In Bella Goldman‘s Swedish apartment everything is white… from the walls, built in lacquered furniture, decorative items and even the parquet flooring. And yet, despite this snow white canvas, the home exudes warmth and displays the owner’s great sense of personal style and adventure. It is all about taking chances right?

White decors sometimes appear to be very austere in a luminous kind of way. This apartment is everything but. Take the living room for example: The playful throw pillows as well as the pink blossom suspension give the room a youthful air, while the mismatched artwork gallery and the worn rug lend it a weathered feel.

Same comfortable scenario in the bedroom, where the monochromatic palette feels enveloping rather than cold and impersonal.

En apparté, let me just stop the press for a moment and delightfully drool on the chandelier hanging in the dining room. Plum & mustard crystals hanging in a loose form make this piece the showstopper of the room and the object of my lust and desire. Wasn’t it Bill & Ted that said: “It will be mine oh yes it will be mine”?

source: Myrica Bergqvist Stylist