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Marcia Norris ASID – Perspectives – REAL Design

The Paper Trail – Wallpaper and Your Interior Design

By Marcia Norris

It’s the luxury home you’ve been waiting for and a clean slate to apply the style that best suits you. Should you hire a professional interior designer to avoid making costly mistakes with the wrong materials and finishes? If you want to stylize, personalize and customize your home, the answer is yes.

But more importantly, I’ve found that no matter which style you want to work with, it’s the quality of the materials that count. We all love luxury, and we notice it in a cut crystal chandelier, a worn leather chair, a beautifully carved wood mantel, or a sumptuous silk drapery. All these elements are a testament to the endurance of style and beauty. If you are looking for lasting quality in terms of materials and finishes, an experienced designer can help you achieve that goal.

Among all the design components, wallpaper is one that can entirely transform the mood and feel of a room. It can be bold and dramatic, or simply a soft backdrop to the furnishings, art and accessories. The popularity of wallpaper has waxed and waned over the years, but in recent times has made a comeback. But don’t think it has to look like your grandmother’s living room. Technology has positively influenced wallpaper manufacturing techniques. Before we talk about that, let’s take a look back in time.

Some of the earliest examples of wallpaper were found in China around 200 B.C. The Chinese favored motifs found in nature, such as flowers and birds. Soon the designs were fashioned into brocades and tapestries that were hung on the walls of drafty castles. By the seventeenth century, patterns began to be carved on wood blocks. The blocks were covered with pigment and then stamped onto paper, allowing complex colors and images to be formed.

Scenic papers began to emerge and reflected historic elements of the French Revolution or Roman landscapes. These papers were produced by skilled artisans, which made them labor-intensive and expensive. One of the earliest manufacturers of wood blocks was the French company Zuber et Cie, which is still in existence today. First Lady Jackie Kennedy chose one of their panoramic papers for the White House.

Screen printing – originally produced by forcing ink through a screen, but with the use of today’s technology – is produced by digital printing. Newer wallpaper stocks demonstrate the look and feel of textures, such as metallic or faux stone motifs.

Wallpaper must be chosen carefully. It is the foundation of the room and, therefore, must provide interest. It must also be correct in scale, color and pattern, so that it will achieve the harmonious aesthetic within its surroundings.

Whether you prefer to select a paper style that is traditional or contemporary, you want to be sure it’s produced with a level of quality that will stand the test of time. If you are interested in wallpaper, we recommend scheduling a complimentary consultation with an MKID design professional to see if it’s right for your home.

MKID Interior Design Marcia Norris [1]Marcia Norris, ASID – Founder & Principal, MKID Interior Design. An accomplished residential interior designer trained at the Ringling College of Art and Design, Marcia Norris established MKID Interior Design in 1997 after working for national builders, national architectural firms, and Sarasota’s leading interior designers and architects. Before entering the field of interior design and founding her own firm, Marcia Norris pursued a career as a department store buyer and merchandiser.  She later gained experience in corporate upper management for a national producer and distributor of fine candies. (941) 952-9198 www.mkidinteriordesign.com [2]

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