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The Little Things - Climbing Up Roses Wallpaper

By Janet Ramin on May 03, 2010

Climbing Up Roses — Wallpaper

A refreshing way to introduce spring into your rooms is to give a facelift to your walls. When you want to add that special flair to a room — sometimes mere paint is not dramatic enough a design statement. That's when you turn to an often over looked little thing called wallpaper.

Wallpaper was the fashionable choice in the nineteenth century for any well-decorated home. But with the advent of modernism and the "less is more" concept, wallpaper fell out of favor by the late twentieth century. But after several decades of minimal decorating, many people again hunger for a more decorative approach.

Roses were a popular theme in the nineteenth century and it's still true for today's designs. Romo introduced their Kenzan line with a contemporary rose pattern. Another floral pattern is their flocked wallpaper line, Lazari, with raised designs of large bulbous roses.

Romo Kenzan
Romo Lazari

A contemporary floral pattern that has its roots in the Arts and Crafts era of the nineteenth century is the wallpaper Alice by Dutch industrial designer, Marcel Wanders. Created in the colorway of gold and purple, another 2010 color trend, Alice is a wonderland of vibrantly growing vines and peonies. Another large floral pattern is this aqua Chrysanthemum line from Graham Brown. The Chrysanthemum design was inspired by Japanese textiles.

Marcel Wanders Alice pattern
Chrysanthemum from Graham Brown

If you desire a more subtle floral pattern, the Vitality line from Graham Brown, is designed using a cherry blossom motif. The delicate pink blossoms and branches provide an elegant backdrop for any sophisticated home. One of the trendy colors for 2010 is a warm yellow, a perfect color for spring. The Ophelia line also from Graham Brown shows off a sunny floral pattern in a monochromatic color scheme.

Graham Brown Vitality
Ophelia from Graham Brown

Besides floral patterns, you can also choose from abstract designs. An Art Deco style pattern, Hula, from Graham Brown, comes in a soft sage colorway, another great color for spring. Hula is designed by British fashion designer, Barbara Hulanicki, and complements any contemporary home beautifully. Another abstract pattern, reminiscent of Indian screens and latticework, is the Mystique line. Designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Mystique comes in a bright yellow-green colorway.

Graham Brown Hula pattern
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Mystique

Just like paint, wallpaper can revitalize a room and give it a completely new look. But unlike paint, wallpaper can give more depth and texture and that extra sophistication you may be looking for. Patterns can range from very large graphics to the more subtle monochromatic design but there is always something for everyone's taste.

Learn more and earn your interior design certification at NYIAD!