Powder rooms are the “Test Kitchen” for those of us wanting to experiment with wallpaper. Want to try a new style, a departure from the familiar, something wild? Try it in the powder room. Here are six wallpapers I have installed in the past six months that you and your clients will love in your powder rooms.
Serena & Lilly “Feather”
This ultra popular pattern gives light and a sense of movement but also doesn’t overwhelm. I’ve installed it quite a few times in the last 4 years.
Schumacher’s “Queen of Spain”
Abstract and dichromatic, Queen of Spain was first printed in 1963. The ever so stylish messy brush strokes practically burst off the wall with energy. I’ve done several installs with this paper and have always been impressed.
Schumacher “Haruki Sisal Jet”
Not all striking powder rooms are light and airy. A lot of fantastic new rooms have sophisticated dark and brooding character. Nothing achieves that like the color and texture of a Jet grass cloth.
Scalamandre “Zebras”
Probably Scalamandre’s most recognizable design, Zebras is a personal favorite. I’m a sucker for whimsical animals on my papers and so is Wes Anderson. He featured this paper as a set piece in his classic, “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
Gucci “Heron”
Most people don’t know that one of Gucci’s finest luxury products is wallpaper and one of their finest wallpapers is “Heron.” Described by the Wall Street Journal as, “Unapologetically Feminine.” I unapologetically love it.
Graham & Brown “Rene Nightfall”
Bring a splash of Art Deco in your life with Graham & Brown’s “Rene Nightfall. The gold highlights shimmer in the evening and the pattern makes even the smallest powder room feel as big as the night sky. Can’t recommend this paper enough.
Serena & Lily is hot now in residential wallpaper. You can find me hanging one of their papers several times a month. In my opinion, their Artichoke wallpaper is their best.
I’ll always tell you to install “Chinoiserie.” Schumacher’s “Chinois Palais” gives a nod to the fine Chinese wallpapers of French neoclassicism. At the same time it’s a modern take that won’t overpower your room or make you feel like your living in a museum. The paper makes the room bigger and breaths life into dull spaces. I hang a lot of wallpaper and this is one of the materials that always turns out the best.
A super fun paper for a powder room or accent wall. Cole and Son’s “Acquario” always brings a smile to people’s faces with its whimsical fish motif. Originally designed by Fornasetti, this Italian pattern conjures up images of the Mediterranean and is prefect if you want to add a little sunshine to your place. Available in a range of colors.
Sometimes simpler is better. Nothing says summer like a classic stripe. Available in just about any color that strikes your fancy. I recommend this paper in a Navy or Coral. To me the paper conjures up a long weekend in Nantucket. I’ve even had installed it horizontally in a nursery in warm yellow.
It was striking to see how much the AMC show Mad Men changed interior design. Grass cloth which was originally a commercial material in offices, suddenly went from old-fashion and out-of-style to hot and in demand. But Mad Men was 15 years ago, it’s time for a new texture on our walls.
Candice Olson’s Cork wallpaper is exactly that. A combination of natural cork and metallic foil, this material combines the earthy texture of a tree bark with the glittering brilliance of foil. Of all the papers I’ve installed, cork is the most seamless. Personal recommendation — the two colors that I’ve found work the best are the Teal and Warm Silver.
Gifting during the holiday season — many of us are challenged to find unique and memorial gifts to give family and friends. The image above is the Winnie the Pooh mural my dad, Patrick Shields, hand painted (pre-digital printed murals) in my room when I was a kid. I still have fond memories of this mural.
Today there is a plethora of fabulous (and affordable) digitally printed murals and wallpaper to make a very special gift for an Accent wall, powder room or office. Boldly gift where no gift has gone before – wallpaper and murals!
If you don’t know where to start looking for great wallpapers or murals, here’s a list of manufacturers whose papers I frequently install:
