Creativity Hits the Wall

 

As I was admiring Stephen Sills' latest home in Architectural Digest, I couldn't help but notice the walls in the library. A faded Ottoman pattern was executed on jute burlap and applied to the wall as one would apply wallpaper.

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Here is a closeup:

Nice! Great use of the pattern and color.

I researched further and found that the work is created by Particia Arnillas of CONTRaPOSTO, located in New York City. Patricia's background is in the fine arts and the fields of illustration and graphic design. Over the past fifteen years, she gradually moved into the the interior design field, specializing in murals, decorative textures and wall finishes. Her client list includes many renowned interior designers and architects.

I admire her use of patterns and texture. Creating them on burlap takes it one step further, allowing one to remove the finish at will and using it elsewhere down the road.

Here are some of her rooms:

glazed silver leaf

 floral pattern on burlap

damask texture on burlap with hardware

closeup of damask texture

embossed craqueleure on canvas

closeup of the craqueleure

faded Greek pattern on burlap

Patricia also does the more traditional finishes, such as woodgraining and creating various textures.

graystone

limestone

woodgraining

Visit Patricia's website; you'll be in for a real treat! 

 All photos not credited above are courtesy of CONTRaPOSTO.

What's in a screen?

It all began with an estate sale. I was in a lovely, older section of town, right on the Lake Erie shore, and was excited just to be in one of the gorgeous mansions. I continued to tour the house, ending up in the fourth floor attic, when I spotted these old panels. They were part of a school play set. The panels contained all of my favorite colors, I loved the scene and I knew I was sunk when I saw them! Needless to say, they have traveled with me for the past 20 years!

Here is the entire screen of three panels. They are made of felt and are very fragile. Somehow, they've made it through 3 children and four dogs!

I usually show it like this, as only 2 panels fit at once.

I have always loved screens, not only as room dividers, but as design elements. 
Here are screens, some antique and some new, that have been embellished with gilding. Either for the background or as part of the actual design, gold and silver leaf add their own special beauty.

Photo by Gordon Beall in Country French Decorating

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Photo by Gordon Beall in Traditional Home

These screens are created using wallpaper. I love this idea! Lisa, of Hamptontoes, are you listening? With your great wallpaper finds, they would be perfect!

Photo by Stephen Clement in Maisons de Campagne

Essentially French

 

Pierre Frey

I think that this "screen", which is actually etched pattern glass, is stunning. Of course, the whole photo is!

Merletto from Bendheim in the Robert A.M. Stern Collection

And if you are in a funky, Miami state of mind, here is a fun, contemporary screen:

 
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Get Rid of Wallpaper Once and For All!

Off with the wallpaper! Here's what Frank Faulkner did:

Frank Faulkner is a Top 50 New York Designer, according to NY Spaces Magazine. He not only is a fabulous designer, but he is also a very talented artist. One of Frank's recent homes is now featured in the March 2010 issue of NY Spaces Magazine. The circa 1870 home is in Hudson, NY. Having removed the old wallpaper, Frank decided to leave the living room walls "exactly as they were when we tore the wallpaper off, he says, cracked plaster, patination, and all."

I was recently at a client's home where the wallpaper had been stripped. Personally, I loved how the walls looked without anything further being done to them. It's a matter of taste... wallpaper be gone!

Here are a few shots:

"Au naturelle" walls close up

 

Walls left "natural" after wallpaper removal