grand dame in Cape Town

Wallpaper is back in the spotlight, with a wider variety than ever. Whether you want to create a focal wall or decorate an entire room, you’ll be spoiled for choice!

In the t ropic s

This tropical wallpaper (opposite) from Groen Bespoke Wallpaper immediately caught the attention of Carla van der Merwe of Boschenmeer Estate in Paarl when she was looking for something to freshen up her bedroom. “I love the outdoors, so I wanted something that creates a sense of being in nature,” she explains. “Although the design is quite dramatic, it isn’t ‘heavy’ and it brightens up the space. It creates a lovely tranquil atmosphere in the bedroom.”

[B O TA N I C A LS RE M A I N P O P U L A R]

“Botanical and floral designs are like the ‘little black dress’ of wallpaper,” says Alana Groenewald, the designer behind Groen Bespoke Wallpaper’s creations.

“They will always be relevant, even if the composition, colour and illustration medium (the manner in which it’s created) change from time to time.” Alana says these styles are currently in vogue: Tropical designs; not necessarily the highly colourful and exotic versions but rather the more colonial interpretations of tropical landscapes. Earthy inspiration is currently emerging strongly, with patterns in natural and woven materials such as rattan, basket weaves, grass, linen and cork. Geometric designs, Art Deco patterns and strong motifs are still on point. Historical inspiration from tapestries, chinoiserie and toile de Jouy is making a comeback. CONTACT groenjan.co.za

Timeless desig n

“My study is my sanctuary; this is where I spend most of my time. All my creativity happens here,” says Cillié van Rooyen of Johannesburg. “The wallpaper is, therefore, most appropriate as an ‘entry point’ – the pattern inspires me and the colour also stimulates creative thinking.”

The Orla Kiely wallpaper comes from a box of remnants that a former business partner discovered at CP Decor in Parkwood. Matching the different strips was like building a puzzle, recalls Cillié. “I first saw this specific design, in the original bold pattern, on a scarf around a woman’s neck as she drove past me. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, and never forgot it! I love the classic clean lines and simplicity of the design. I have an Orla Kiely teapot that flew home with me on my lap all the way from London!” >>

[P R I NT YO UR OW N D E S I G N]

Having bespoke wallpaper printed has never been easier, says Leanne Killian, head of décor printing at Orms.

“It can be as simple as giving us your wall measurements and a photo of the wall, if possible,” says Leanne. “Then we work closely with you to select an image or design for printing. The options are limitless! No wall is too big or too small. In each case, we follow the same process:” Select your design You can supply us with one of your own photos (we have specialised software that allows us to upscale the photos for printing to wallpaper size), or you can bring in one of your artworks and we will scan it in for you in high resolution. Alternatively, you can work with one of our in-house designers to custom create a completely personal design suited to your style. If you have a specific image in mind, we can assist you with image sourcing. Digital mock-up and printing We will then create a digital mock-up of the design on your photo of the wall. We scale and size the print to fit your wall and divide the panels equally across it. We then do a test print on the wallpaper of your choice; once you have approved it, we proceed with the final full wallpaper print. The printing process takes between three to five working days. Installation The final step is installing your wallpaper. We recommend that you use professional installation services, as they can do a pre-installation site inspection to double-check the size and condition of your wall. Walls should be completely smooth and flat for successful installation. If there are any imperfections in the wall, they will advise you on how best to fix them before installation. Cost Printing your own wallpaper starts at R395/m2 . CONTACT ormsprintroom.co.za

[A N E X P E RT ’ S T I P S]

“Bear in mind that custom-printed wallpaper takes roughly four to five days to dry completely,” says Adam Houghten of Inyanga Signage Specialists. If you are having your wallpaper custom printed, Adam suggests the following:

• Ask your service provider to print on a single roll of wallpaper in one session. The large printers used for printing wallpaper run on different temperatures and printing in the morning and afternoon on the same day can lead to slight variations in colour. • Custom-printed wallpaper that is printed in panels should have an overlap of roughly 100mm on each of the panels. • When you receive the wallpaper, lay the different sections out on the floor and check that everything matches before you start installation. CONTACT inyangasignage.co.za

Nat ural select ion

When Lizanne Viljoen of Durbanville wanted to brighten up her dining room, she enlisted the help of Jani Augustyn-Goussard of SophiaHelen Design Studio. “This wallpaper showcases the ‘From Mariana With Love’ design, which features wild olive branches, plumbagos and the small indigenous birds that inhabit them,” she says.

Jani, who is also trained as an international colour language expert, was able to precisely match the background of the wallpaper with the existing paint on the other walls in the room so that the design could seamlessly blend with them. The tablecloth and seat cushions were also custom made with SophiaHelen designs that complement the wallpaper.

Tip

If you’re not keen to cover an entire wall with wallpaper (or your budget doesn’t allow), you can also make a big impression with a single panel of wallpaper, says Jani. “Ready-to-glue strips are definitely a budget-friendly alternative. The 2.7 x 1.3m strips can be placed horizontally or vertically, and our designs give you the opportunity to customise each print in your choice of colours.” >> CONTACT sophiahelen.com

wallpaper

The back wall is also covered in wallpaper in a complementary dark green, which adds extra texture to the space.

Wallpaper from Home Fabrics; bed and built-in bedside cabinets made by Ryan Christie Furniture; bedside lamps from @home; scatters and round rugs from MRP Home

First impression The Nina Campbell Perroquet wallpaper, which was in the main bedroom when Morgane and Lionel bought the house, creates a

dreamy atmosphere. They had a four-poster bed custom made

When they moved into their new home in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, just like the one the previous owners had in this space.

Morgane and Lionel Andrews only changed a few things. “The guest loo’s walls were painted cream, but I wanted people to feel like they were stepping into another world once they closed [ WAL L PA P E R I N A NY SPAC E] the door behind them. Wallpaper was the way to go,” says Morgane. It is possible to use wallpaper in rooms with “Initially, I wanted a design with lemons, like the one I’d seen at high humidity, such as a bathroom or kitchen, my favourite restaurant. But then I thought: ‘This is a house; I can says Jan-Hendrik Groenewald of Groen be more creative’. Now the giant flowers add colour and flair to Bespoke Wallpaper. every loo visit.” “The installation is the same,” he explains. “As long as the surface doesn’t constantly get wet, such [ G L U E O R S E L F - A D H E S I V E ?] as inside a shower, it will work well. Good ventilation in the room is the only requirement.” • Modern printing methods and finishes means there is a much However, Jan-Hendrik says that it’s a good idea to cover wider choice of wallpapers available. The traditional method of wallpaper in the kitchen with a glass splashback to protect it applying wallpaper with a special glue mixture remains popular from grease splashes. “But most wallpaper available today for all the different textures of paper – from suede and linen to can be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge and a little bit of more breathable woven paper. soapy water. • Self-adhesive wallpaper allows you to install your own “If you want to install shelves or brackets on top of new wallpaper relatively easily. This type usually comes in panels wallpaper, you must wait for at least 48 hours before drilling and the latest technology makes it easy to reposition them holes in the wall. In Cape winters, give it up to 72 hours.” >> during installation. CONTACT groenjan.co.za

wallpaper

Flora l paradise

The house in which Arnold and Katrien Botha previously lived was relatively modern. “We tried a minimalist style with neutral colours, but it actually drove us both crazy,” says Katrien. After the birth of their second daughter last year, they moved to this historic home in Strand and decided to incorporate their passion for flowers and gardening into their décor. “We want to live surrounded by colour!” This botanical design from Groen Bespoke Wallpaper was the perfect option for the entrance hall. The Bothas decided to apply the wallpaper just up to the picture rail to accentuate the high ceilings in the house.

Tip

Don’t be afraid to be bold with your wallpaper, says Alana Groenewald of Groen Bespoke Wallpaper. “An accent wall can completely change any space and make it look new again. Choose a design that resonates with your style and personality.”

In three-year-old Klara’s bedroom, another Groen design provides a timeless aesthetic. Here, the Bothas also pasted the wallpaper to just below the picture rail and painted the strip above it in a complementary dusty-pink.

CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS @home 0860 834 834, home.co.za Art de Olivia 076 607 7315, artdeolivia.com Bofred 082 563 5640, bofred.co.za Cara Saven Wall Design 082 953 6246, carasaven.com CP Decor 083 602 0367, cpdecor.co.za Design Store 082 940 9200, designstore.co.za Groen Bespoke Wallpaper 082 749 6393, groenjan.co.za Hinterveld hinterveld.com Home Fabrics 021 425 8287, homefabrics.co.za IPrint 082 480 5616 Lei Lester 083 567 8554, leilester.co.za Makietie 084 206 9898, makietie-linne.shopstar.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Red Cat Design 082 862 5510, redcatdesign.co.za Ryan Christie Furniture 078 457 2524, ryanchristiefurniture.co.za SophiaHelen Design Studio 021 976 0114, sophiahelen.com St Leger & Viney 011 444 6722, stleger.co.za Timeless Timbers 021 882 9240, timelesstimbers.co.za