abodes
← ON THE REBOUND Wallpaper is making a comeback on the strength of fresh colors, patterns, textures and styles that range from traditional to contemporary.
INTERIORS
THE RETURN OF WALLPAPER Contemporary styles achieve effects that paints cannot
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any “new” design ideas are really inspired by the past. One such trend — and a polarizing one, at that — is wallpaper. As simple as it might seem to decide for or against it, there are lots of factors to consider, especially in light of advances that have been made in wallpaper over the years. Gone are the days of rooms completely covered in paper that ages and falls out of favor quickly, only to defy anyone trying to remove it. These days, the designs are not only plentiful but extremely attractive and often even customizable. “I recently read that wallpaper has been used since the 16th century,” said designer Lacy Phillips, who began her career in Dallas working under renowned residential
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designer Shannon Bowers, before moving back to her hometown of Pensacola to found Lacy Phillips Designs. “When I began my career over 10 years ago, wallpaper was slowly coming back in fashion after a period of being out of style,” Phillips said. “Now, it’s definitely back and available in fresh colors, patterns, textures including metallics, cork and other natural fibers and styles that can range from traditional to contemporary. Another bonus is the availability of performance wallpapers in materials such as vinyl that still look fabulous and can easily be wiped clean.” “People were so against wallpaper after it had a run in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s,” added Paige Schnell of Tracery Interiors,
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whose design studio and two retail stores in Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach attract clientele from all over the United States. “It’s wonderful that it’s become popular again, because wallpaper can add so much to a space. A favorite room for wallpaper is the powder room, but it can add so much to so many rooms.” The trick, of course, is knowing where to use it and how. “I believe that good design is achieved in layers, and wallpaper is a layer of its own,” Phillips said. “It can provide a texture that envelops a room and makes it cozier, or it may display a colorful, wild pattern that elevates people’s moods when they enter. It may also introduce a pattern that sets the tone and color scheme for one’s entire home.”
PHOTO BY KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
by LIESEL SCHMIDT
