4 Interesting Ways To Decorate Your Walls
Michael Sinclair
FABRIC WALLS
Jo leGleud from Maddux Creative says…
“As well as bringing a cosy feel to a room, fabric walls offer several other benefits, including enhanced soundproofing and insulation. Fabric walls can also be more durable than traditional wallpaper or paint. Silk, by comparison, has a lustrous sheen which creates a rich and elegant look. Plus, the natural fibres create a subtle texture which adds depth and this works in a variety of settings, from traditional to contemporary. Depending how and where you install it, you can create a variety of effects, be it a dramatic focal point or a subtle, understated backdrop. I love the versality of working with silk and, in particular, working with Fromental, which uses traditional techniques, including hand painting and hand embroidery. To support artisans this way is hugely rewarding.
“This blue bedroom image from our project in Marylebone is a paper weave from Altfield. We tend to use paper weave because it’s an easy way to give colour depth and movement. We like it when the background colour is different to the weave on top as the two materials take the dyes in different ways.”
Olivia Emery says…
“This silk-effect vinyl wallpaper makes your walls look like they are swathed in silk. Using fabric or fabric-effect wallpaper creates a cocoon-like feeling – especially calming in a bedroom or even something like a movie room. Silk, velvet and wool all work well, and when you use real fabric it also has an amazing acoustic effect. This vinyl silk is from Colefax & Fowler. I also like the vinyl and real grass cloths from Christopher Farr, and if you want real silk, James Hare paper back their silks. With young children, it can often be safer to use the vinyl options as they’re washable.”
Tiffany Duggan from Studio Duggan says…
“Fabric-backed paper creates a feeling of warmth and luxury, and really pulls a large room together. A fabric-clad wall offers a very cosseting, comfortable and homely vibe. They can be tricky to read in photos, but fabric walls have real impact when you’re in the space. I love silk, velvet and linen – plain or patterned, it very much depends on the space and the client. Fromental is great for paper-backed silk which is really easy to apply, but you can also choose any fabric and get it paper backed by Walltex UK. If you’re after a more intimate feeling or need some help with acoustics, fabric walls are a great (albeit more expensive) option. Try The Textile Wall Company. If you want a natural paper-backed fabric, you might get a ‘panelled effect’ where there is natural variation between the panels. There is nothing wrong with this, but it isn’t for everybody, so do check you like it. Also, make sure you order enough the first time around as variation between batches can be an issue.”
Alexander James; Boz Gagovski
PAINT EFFECTS
Scott Maddux from Maddux Creative says…
“Paint effects include faux finishes, textured finishes, metallic finishes and colour washing. The type of paint effect you choose will determine the look you can create. Faux finishes can create the appearance of other materials, while textured finishes can add depth and interest to a wall. Metallic finishes can create a shimmery, reflective surface, and colour washing gives you that soft, mottled effect. When you use paint in unexpected ways – for example, we once painted the ceiling in a dining room – it becomes a real talking point.
“In the dining room of our Marylebone project, we used a muted grid-like pattern using neutral paint colours. We used a colour-block paint effect on the walls to add a contemporary twist to the original period features, proving that historic details can still be treated in contemporary ways. The French master craftsmen of Del Boca created the parchment-like walls. You don’t always need to be formal though; for example, in a recent bathroom the walls are decorated with a playful sketch-like mural which echoes the panelling elsewhere in the home. The lines are childlike, contrasting with the more formal materials of the countertop and basin.”
RICARDO LABOUGLE
Bronwyn Riedel, co-founder of Bauwerk, says…
“For something more organic and natural, our Bauwerk limewash gives a soft, textured look. The natural pigments and materials reflect light in a beautiful way that can’t be replicated with conventional paints. Limewash is suitable for all style of homes; we see it being used all over the world from hotels to cottages, and it is very well suited to modern, natural living. If you’re trying it for the first time, it’s great in bedrooms. Creating the look of limewash is very easy – the materials do all the work for you. The look of our limewash reflects the way the natural materials in the paint play on the wall; it’s the balance of the white of the limestone and pigments once applied with a brush that leaves behind this soft texture.”
SCULPTURAL/RELIEF
Jo leGleud says…
“We created an artistic plaster bas-relief mural to the library in our Holland Park project to create interest and intersections. We wanted to give subtle three-dimensional texture to an otherwise flat surface and seeing as we used one colour throughout, adding dimension in this way ensured the rooms flowed without losing their distinct functions. We treated the wall like a canvas – it’s ultimately a piece of art. Derived from a wooden sculptural wall in Dries van Noten in Paris, we abstracted and distilled the sculpture into four shapes which were layered on top of each other and repeated.”
Juliette Byrne says…
“This feature was incorporated into the scheme of a very contemporary house with large windows looking out onto the garden – we wanted to enhance the space by adding depth and texture to the wall and used a specialist company called Armourcoat to make the panels. The wall is levelled and measured up, then the panels are brought on site and assembled. There are many different finishes and designs available. The panel has a ripple effect, and in the evening it’s illuminated from below and reflects in the large glass sliding doors. These panels can also be used internally in many areas of a home. We have used them on a wall going down into the basement of a project and in a long corridor, as well as on ceilings, and inset into niches and alcoves to give character and depth.”
Ricardo Labougle
LACQUERED
Nicole Salvesen, co-founder of Salvesen Graham says...
We love using a high gloss or lacquer finish in a dining room, which creates the most amazing atmosphere at night with lots of candlelight. A bit of gloss or lacquer paintwork also provides some light relief if you have brown furniture or antiques. In this room, with its lacquered walls, detailed flooring and ironmongery, the dining room is like a jewellery box. If possible, we use it on the ceiling, as well as the walls, for maximum effect.
SIMON BROWN
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