Wallpaper of the Week - Lacarno by Harlequin

An example this week of what a bit of marketing photography and room styling can do to influence your decision on selecting a wallpaper.

I recently had a meeting with my Harlequin rep and was flicking through the very lovely, very Harlequinny Folia Collection, when I came across the sheet showing the above wallpaper 'Uh, I'm not sure on that' was my initial response. I then turned the page and saw this image of it 'in real life' and my opinion was very quickly changed.

I think the way that the white background in the paper lightens the room, which could have felt quite dark with the stone flooring is fantastic. The liberal use of white paint obviously helps this matter, but if the paint had been slapped on everywhere then this lovely character and feel wouldn't come across.

The clever blend of colours within the wallpaper still gives scope for numerous complementary colours and doesn't limit you - something to be avoided in a busy area such as a hallway as there are always items left there that aren't part of the 'plan'.

If anyone would like a sample then please feel free to get in touch

Wallpaper of the Week - Persephone by Clarissa Hulse for Harlequin

Another week and another wallpaper... from the same Kallianthi Collection as last week but a gorgeous duck egg and silver paper called Persephone. The subtle but effective vertical stripes in the background colour are enhanced by a two tone silvery overlay of leaf patterns combining to give a stunning overall impact.

Its available in six different colour ways ranging from a quite heavy dark grey with mustardy lime leaves through a striking sage with shocking pink leaves to a gentle beige with silver and matt white. The extent of the variations adapt the paper from an 'in-your-face-wallpaper-wall' to a beautifully calm scene as the image shows above.

Wallpaper of the Week - Nettles by Clarissa Hulse for Harlequin

UPDATE - My new Harlequin Disk has arrived (thank you) new image but in different colour-way)

Happy New Year !! ...yeah I know its February already and another year is flying by, so I thought it was about time that I pulled my finger out and shared with you some of my current favourites and you can ponder along with me as to where I can squeeze in this gorgeous paper ??

Now the image isn't showing it off to its best - I have applied to Harlequin for the room shot as believe me it really is stunning. The background has a subtle glimmer to it with a delicate matt texture added in the coloured print.....I *need* it !!

That said the whole collection is bloomin' gorgeous ! Its called Kallianthi and there are wallpapers and co-ordinating fabrics ranging from printed cottons to silks. The colours are so striking its just what you need to cheer everyone up on a freezing February day. I'll try and remember to add a few more over the next few weeks.

In the meantime if anyone would like a sample to see it for themselves please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Wallpaper of the Week - Bella by Tektura

Its been a while I know (and sincere apologies to the M-i-L who is apparently bored of the previous post !!) but I have been in the very privileged position of being run off my feet with design work (yaay !).

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I had my first meeting with my lovely sales lady from Tektura. Now I haven't used commercial papers in the past but I had had conversations with Tektura at a Dulux conference and been really impressed and pleasantly surprised by their designs and finishes. The depth and detail that they are able to show in their patterns is amazing - and there it was, my wallpaper mojo had returned !

So this is my first offering, can you believe it, nearly in April and its the first Wallpaper of the Week of 2011 !! Bella by Tektura shown above in Turquoise but also available in a soft gold, silver and cream with co-ordinating plain papers too ! Now here's the science bit, the papers are non-woven fibres ie made of polyester and cellulose and the pattern is added in natural sand ! Yep, like you get on the beach (well its probably not taken out of an actual sandcastle but you get my drift)

I love the pattern, its not too damasky, not too florally, not to trailing but gives a great balance of pattern to background paper. The turquoise is obviously going to add a feature colour to a room but the alternative colours will work well as a neutral setting for any coordinating scheme.

If anyone is interested in using this or any of the other Tektura papers (www.tektura.com) then please give me a call and I would be delighted to help...

Image featured thanks to Tektura Wallcoverings

Wallpaper of the Week - Mimi by Harlequin

http://www.harlequin.uk.com/collection.aspx?ID=69&P=7&C=

Hmm how lush is this ? The delicate white flowers against the soft grey background, just so pretty yet classic all the same.

Its another one from the Boutique collection by Harlequin, yes I'm still loving it ! The imagery here with the white sofa and silver and glass accessories works so well, I'm desperate to give it a try in real life !

The subtle pattern makes this design easy to use in any situation, it would be ideal in a reception room or a bedroom.

One thing to consider is that in some positions it could make the room appear to be a little cold. I would suggest that it would work best along with natural daylight that is coming from a South or Westerly direction (with naturally red or orangey light).

Image courtesy of Harlequin Harris 2010

Wallpaper of the Week - Gardenia by Harlequin

http://www.harlequin.uk.com/collection.aspx?ID=67&P=1&C=

I have to admit that the reduced number of Wallpaper of the Week posts hasn't been purely down to the fact that the work load is going off the Richter Scale (yaay !) but down to the fact that I was getting a little low on ideas of wallpapers to share....then there was Focus and Decorex ....

Oh how things can change in the course of a week.

For those of you who don't know last week was officially London Trade Fair week when even us Northerners are allowed to taste the Chelsea air and view all of the new launches ready for 2011. I've got so many new got-to-have papers I didn't really know where to start ...

This gorgeous delicate wallpaper is from one of Harlequin's new collections entitled Juniper. The paper shown is Gardenia, depicting soft lilac and pale green alliums. The lilac and green was a popular colour combination seen around the shows. The Juniper Collection includes some gorgeous co-ordinating fabrics some of which can be seen on the bed cushions in the image.

I am going to be suggesting the wallpaper to clients for both bedroom schemes and living room schemes. The muted colours allow it to blend easily into existing schemes adding a freshness, brightening up a room against this dull wet weather !

Wallpaper of the Week - Wow ! This years best selling wallpaper *

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/products/brewers/wow-from-albany/73710

What would you think would be Britain's most popular wallpaper design ? I would have said something subtle, something classic and something quite neutral in colour....How wrong was I ?? The bold, vivid, geometric design above is the best selling wallpaper for Wallpaper Direct in 2010. What a courageous old bunch we are !!

The paper is from the Albany WOW ! range and reasonably priced at £19.99 / roll. A perfect statement pattern, I would expect more often than not is being used on a feature wall rather than an entire room. I would add a light, silvery dove grey to the other walls to add a neutral base and really set off the wallpaper.

Geometric designs are great for using in any reception room or hall-way. The bright vibrant colours will add a lovely warm feel to any surroundings (although I'd keep away from bedrooms and go for a calmer colourway).

Thanks Aaron at Wallpaper Direct for his help - follow them on twitter at @lovedecorating

* Source : Wallpaper Direct 2010 YTD

Wallpaper of the Week - Songbird by Anna French

http://www.annafrench.co.uk/collections/wild-flora/songbirds/index.shtml

As part of 'Big Plan' (more details to follow) I have been researching a few new trade accounts to set up. To my delight I stumbled across a beautiful range of wallpapers that has such amazing finishes from flocked to a tarnished foil that actually gives a mirrored look !! (Wallpaper does have an odd effect on me, its quite bizarre, when I discover a new range I'm like a kid in a toy shop - I found them on Tuesday morning and have been trying to grab a second ever since to look into them further !)

The range is from Anna French (a division of Thibaut) and is called 'Wild Flora'. If you're not a floral fan don't be put off by the name - its not all flowers ! Anyway, I'm going to stretch this one out and stick to delivering what the title states - 'A' Wallpaper of the Week.

The first one that I have chosen (that's a lie Small1 chose it as I was torn between two) is called Songbirds. I have to admit that it was the finish rather than the design that initially caught my eye. The image above shows it in 'Gold on Tarnished Foil' however, there are seven versions available ranging from 'Grey Pencil on White' to 'Gold on Purple'. Just flicking through the different colours shows how a completely different effect can be achieved by changing the base colours and textures, if you didn't know that they had the same pattern, you probably wouldn't link them together.

This range of finishes also has a range of price tags - ranging from around £60 up to £80 a roll - its not cheap but its very beautiful and doesn't deserve to be hidden away - if you are going to spend on what could be a considered a work of art it needs to be hung where it can be admired. I'd love to see it in an entrance hall sitting behind a classic console table.

Be warned, this range has really got to me, and its so diverse due to the range of patterns and effects that you're going to be seeing a lot more of it over coming weeks !

Wallpaper of the Week - Scribble by Flame Interiors

Isn't this fab ? You've seen it somewhere before haven't you ? You just can't quite put your finger on where it was right ?... Wrong !

This is a very special one off design created by Fiona Flame of Flame Interiors to meet the brief of a client who knew exactly what he was after.

Fiona met with her client, a jeweller, who was looking for assistance with the interior design of his new store. The brief was for "a feature wall with a scribble on it, just like when someone is doodling". After various findings didn't quite meet with her expectations, Fiona decided it was time to jump to the other side of the fence and exchange the "Interior Designer Hat" for the "Wallpaper Designer Hat" et voila...Scribble by Fiona Flame.

In real life the paper has a shiny silver background and the feature wall is going to be 2.8 metres high by 1.8metres tall ! Imagine this supported by a colour scheme of dark blue, white and platinum in silk wall coverings and light catching wallpapers - lush. I can't wait to see the final results !

I suppose the moral of this mornings rambling is that communication is key. If you have a clear idea in mind and can communicate that idea then it 'can' be achieved, I'm not saying its going to be cheap, but there are ways of making things happen.

With thanks to Flame Interiors (www.flame-interiors.com)

Wallpaper of the Week - Mood by Camengo

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/new-collections.php?page=2

A lovely delicate yet distinct wallpaper for this week. The collection by Camengo is called Mood and this paper features pretty cherry blossoms giving a non-flowery-floral pattern if there could be such a contradiction ! I have chosen it as its light and airy despite its deeper background taupe colour. There are various colour-ways available, I think my personal favourite has a duck egg flower head.

Rather than a standard flat image, this design has great depth due to the shadowing effects and variations of the colours used.

The collection also has a range of plain coloured wallpapers, however, I would recommend that you consider a paint mix to complement the rest of your scheme. From a practical point of view this allows you to touch up and marks and makes your feature wall all the more special.

Wallpaper of the Week - Bindi by Eijffinger

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/products/eijffinger/bindi/76490

A nice bright start to the week. The football may well be over for another four years (Guilty pleasure : the sneaky shots of David on the bench - enough said) but its still summer and believe it or not the sun is 'still' shining ! So this lovely cheery paper is hopefully a good match for your mood.

Eijffinger (please don't ask me to pronounce it - Dutch is not a strength of mine) have lots of lovely bold floral collections, but their Bindi Collection is inspired by traditional Indian designs, luxurious and rich in both in colour and texture. The striking patterns range from trailing florals to large bold paisley. With colourways as diverse as turquoise, lime, purple and silver enhanced by metallic finishes it is certainly a head turner.

Its not cheap, starting at £52 per roll and rising up to £75 for the metallic finishes, but boy is it going to look amazing ! Don't be scared of this range, it is bold but its beautiful and will enhance any room - simply add lots of neutrals and I would advise not accessorising just let the paper do the talking.

Wallpaper of the Week - Marimekko Bo Boo aka Lots of Lovely Bright Cars

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/products/brewers/bo-boo/74629

I have the builders back in on Tuesday (again) the last room to receive its first coat of Barnes' paint ! Its small1's bedroom that he's had to make-do with being decorated with a bit of bunting until now. He wants blue - he always wants blue...remember the disappointment when the 'white' bath turned up for the blue bathroom ? He's already asked whether the original Edwardian green glass panels in his windows are going to be changed to blue - I'm trying to manage his expectations !!

So... I'm on the hunt for a wallpaper, when I came across this fab primary coloured cars, vans, lorry, buses wallpaper. Its from Marimekko and I fell for it instantly - its everything that I love in a paper - clean, crisp, bold but doesn't take over (bit like the wine I'm drinking while I write !)

But here's the dilemma...he's 4 years old, if I show him this paper he'll love it (anything with wheels). Two years ago and I wouldn't have thought twice, (well I probably would have cringed at the price £54.95 a roll for a child's bedroom) but at 4 and starting school in September I can practically guarantee that by this time next year he'll think of it as 'babyish' - the realisation hit - I've missed the boat...I no longer have a toddler to appreciate it !

So, I'm off to carry on my hunt, but if you have a toddler please take a look at it - I'm sure that someone out there can give it a loving home !

Wallpaper of the Week - Calm, relaxed and a little bit of prettiness

http://www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/Home+Decorating/Wallpapers/SubCategory.aspx

Its very delicate so I have had to temporarily change the background to the blog to ensure that you can see this week's paper.

I was flicking through one of the multitude of interiors magazines that appear on every surface of our house (usually accompanied by a Cbeebies version) and I came across a lovely pretty 'Rosa' wallpaper from John Lewis. I knew that they had increased their range of wallpapers but wasn't aware that they were also now selling their own range.

I've had a quick look and I am really impressed. Its subtle in design and the range of colourways are gentle and although there are some stronger colours the majority is light and fresh rather than strong and heavy.

The design above is Butterfly Blossom, £20 a roll and one of their more expensive patterns. I would recommend taking a look at the range if you are after a modern take on a traditional idea, something that is unobtrusive, light and pretty.

Wallpaper of the Week - Love a bit of Disney (with taste)

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/collections/kids-home/disney-kids-home/573

It could be said (as we pack our bags to set sail (volcanic ash permitting) on Disney Magic around the Med) that the Barnes' are a bit partial to Disney. I was a sceptic but they just know how to 'do things' and they generally tend to do things with bells on. I came across the new launch of wallpapers and my initial thought was 'Urghh how cheesey is this going to be', followed by 'I must remember not to let Small1 see this or he'll be desperate for it'. I was very pleasantly surprised.

Yes, they have character and colour overload, but alongside the bright imagery above (most of which are one off stickers rather than very busy pattern repeats) they have a great range of co-ordinating paints and more interestingly wallpapers. I have been searching for a blue based stripe for weeks and faster than you can type Miska Mouska Mickey Mouse ...there is it - with no indication what so ever that its linked to the Mouse Man himself. Alongside the traditional character wallpaper each 'brand' has its own plain, stripe, maxi sticker and then a variation on the original wallpaper that is a bit more subtle and stylised. Yes, its aimed at the children but there has been some consideration for the parents that also have to live with it.

My advice would be don't be put off by the fact that its Disney, give it a chance and it may be that there is something that would fit every one's plans. (Just for the record, I wouldn't recommend it for the living room)

Wallpaper of the Week - Black and White

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/collections/brewers/black-white-vol-ii/589

A whole range this week, from Brewers its their Black and White Vol II range. They have their usual marketing blurb to describe the mix of patterns and styles that have been put together, I personally think its a bit of a random mix of black and white papers, but I like it all the same.

The official line is "Oscar Wilde quotes in flock finish, cityscapes, bold florals and stylised contemporary road maps. A little different, very special" Its quirky and unfortunately the detail can't be seen from a tiny internet image. Things like the road map is actually printed on high gloss black paper with the matt grey blocks layered on top, finished with pale grey road names ...yet again I need to invent a touchy feely blog page to get across why they are rightly using the word special to describe them - its in the finish daarrrhling !

Due to the complete cross section of designs that they have selected there is pretty much something for everyone from a masculine tartan (which I actually think is my favourite because of all of the silvery bits) to the girly spotty print.

Unfortunately the paper also has a 'special' price to match with prices ranging from £41.50 a roll up to ...wait for it ....£117.50 !...ouch

Wallpaper of the Week - Diva by Barbara Hulanicki

http://www.grahambrown.com/uk/product/18103/Diva/15?show=

We've got a day with sunshine ! A first for 2010, so I set about trying to find you a nice light spring wallpaper. This cream and silver (vague I know, remember to follow the rules and ALWAYS get a sample and a big one at that - you need to see at least one pattern repeat..I digress..) geometric paper is from Barbara Hulanicki, founder of Biba the fashion retailer back in the 60's and 70's. She's designed a couple of ranges now for Graham and Brown and I think this one has to be my favourite.

The colour was the first thing to catch my attention, so fresh and light just what is needed to finally drag us out of what has seemed to have been the winter that went on forever ! Then the pattern, on reflection I would say its actually quite complex but you only really discover that given time and a bit of daydreaming in its general direction. First impact, for me anyway, was that its clean and got enough going on but doesn't take over everything. I think you could happily put another patterned item alongside it without it dominating.

Another 'safe' wallpaper that would be suitable for using in pretty much any room and a £30 a roll its not too pricey for a designer paper.

....As a slight aside this week if anyone has a particular room that they would like me to try and help out with a wallpaper for please just get in touch and any comments are always gratefully received ....

Wallpaper of the Week - MetalXGlass by Brian Yates

http://www.brian-yates.co.uk/wallcoverings.shtml?pageNo=15

Isn't this lush ? I made the fatal mistake of taking a trip down to the Chelsea Design Centre last week. I did actually have some 'proper' work to be doing there sourcing fabrics and wallpapers but I just get so distracted by all of the beautiful things I really am a kid in a toy shop. Among some of my favourite finds were these wallpapers by Brian Yates.

They have such an amazing texturised finish, with parts appearing to be 3D and parts actually being 3D where they have been embellished with amazing glitters, velvets and in some cases glass beads. The problem is that you really do just want to reach out and touch them - not ideal in real life as even my 4 year old has been heard telling the 1 year old "no hands on Mummy's wallpaper" and the glass beads did take me back to the 1980s and the temptation to pick the woodchips out of the wallpaper at the side of my bed - oops ! Beautiful though ! (The glass beads not the woodchips)

The wallpaper that I have shown above also answers another interior design problem that I frequently come across. Which metallic finish to have in a room and how to get away with combining a few different finishes - I'm talking brass this, chrome that etc etc... By using a pewter base with a metallic finish you can never really be 100% sure what colour it is. Nature will take over and dependent on the direction of the natural light source, which angle you view the paper from and at what time of day you will get a variation on the colour that you are looking at allowing you a little bit more flexibility.

But let this be a lesson, if you are wanting to co-ordinate ...get a really good size sample piece, hang it exactly where its going to go and live with it - I'm not talking hang it up long enough to get your other half to say 'yeah like it' I'm talking a week, look at it before you leave the house, when you get in, when you are around at the weekend - its not cheap, its not one that you want to be taking down and doing again !

Where would I use this ? Master bedroom or a dining room - it seems a shame to hide such a beautiful thing away but an element of practicality needs to step in - its not one for a family room ! One of my favourite finds to date, you'll definitely be seeing more of this range to come...

Wallpaper of the Week - This isn't just wallpaper, this is Marks and Spencers wallpaper !

As you would probably expect, I have my favourite haunts that I return to in search of that next wallpaper design. Some places are like the Topshop of the wallpaper world, no matter what it is that you go in looking for you will come out with something. Some days its exactly what you went in for, other days its the complete opposite. But this morning, I thought I'd open my eyes a bit wider in search of the wallpaper of the week.

I thought I'd do the most basic of googles and see who pays the most for their advertising slot - there were two sponsored links, Laura Ashley - lovely, not very user friendly to hang, so I'm reliably informed, but lots of great choices in a massive number of colourways. The second one threw me a bit - Marks and Spencers. Now I'm in there pretty much every other day and I had been completely unaware of this range - OK so they are probably not going to stock it in their petrol station branches but I think you could say they haven't been telling the world about it.

Its quite a good little range actually. There are 9 designs with a few colour options on some of the styles. Pricing is from £15 to £20 per roll so where you would expect really. Their target, as you can see from the images above is clearly to have a go at Laura Ashley. The traditional damasks and neon colours, alongside a bold stripe and more traditional floral trailing designs and the high street pricing strikes of "well lets guess what their best sellers are, dip our toes in and see how it goes".

Good luck to them, I'm all for making beautiful wallpaper accessible to all and although I would expect it to be a niche sales area for them (are they going to do pastes etc ?) I would think if anyone could give it a go then it would be M&S. Can't wait for the TV ad...Take That doing a bit of decorating perhaps ?

Wallpaper of the Week - Clean and Crisp Romo

http://www.romo.com/collections/wall-coverings/kenzan-wallpapers/simonii-wallpaper.html

You will no doubt have seen this wallpaper around over the past few years, however, its one of my personal favourites that I thought would be worth a mention. Its fresh and crisp and I would probably describe as a non fussy, non feminine floral.

From Romo, its become a bit mass market with the fabric being used for ready made cushions that are available on the high street. However, there are 12 colourways available so using one of the not-so-mass-market options alongside the complementing fabrics from the same collection (as shown above) will enable you to create your own individual scheme.

The image shown above is the linen/charcoal option that I came across when short-listing designs for a dining room scheme. The room is to retain its existing traditional dark oak furniture, with the chairs upholstered in a dark red leather. I believe that the use of this linen paper will keep the room quite formal but will make the room appear more modern in styling and more welcoming.

Its a very versatile design and yet again is one that I would recommend in one of the paler colours as a great paper to choose if its your first attempt at feature wall wallpaper. Its not going to take over a room and yet will add character and personal style. The other room that I would suggest this paper is ideal for is the bedroom, highlighting the wall behind the headboard.

Wallpaper of the Week - Playtime Collection

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/collections/casadeco/playtime/558

I find children's wallpaper can be quite tricky to select. There are lots of cars and fairies around but this new range from Casadeco caught my attention initially because of the little Japanese Harajuku lady (she reminds me of the lovely Momji collection). On looking into it further, I found that not only did they have 'tasteful' papers and boarders for girls but also for boys.

The range has 5 options in total Deers, Huts, Hills, Hearts and Japanese (as shown above) with supporting papers to complement such as a delicate all over floral design and a simple stripe. All equally desirable that I have failed to choose one as a wallpaper of the week and instead gone for Wallpaper Range of the Week. Its the attention to detail that makes it for the me, the bird sat on the Deer's antlers and the little ducks swimming in the pond on the hill.

It goes without saying that I would suggest using them in a children's bedroom or playroom and don't really think they would work any further afield. Pricing wise they are £20 per boarder and £21 per roll for wallpaper, not the cheapest but would probably have a longer life than a more specific character wallpaper that may get grown out of sooner.