Walls that Glitter
by Sam Moser

   Whether you choose to hang paper or hire artists to create masterpieces, there is no shortage of wall coverings available to transform even the most ho-hum surface into a sophisticated backdrop.
   Not too very long ago, designers steered homeowners away from wallpaper. Many of the papers were repetitious and “cutesy,” and didn’t hold up well in a humid environment. Nobody missed paper because faux was, and is, fabulous.
   The interior design world has always known where to find beautiful papers, but the product lost its allure for a time. Instead, artists descending on upscale residences for months on end to painstakingly create room after room of unique faux surfaces captured our attention.
   Gradually, wallpaper is re-establishing its strong hold. Because many of the newer papered surfaces emulate faux finishes and age-old painted surfaces, its reappearance on the scene has been somewhat subtle. But there is no mistaking the trend: Manufacturers that cater to the interior design trade are coming up with gorgeous papers featuring fabrics, beads, glass and an endless parade of organic materials glued to paper. Artists are making custom papers.
   “When we find a new and pretty paper, we’re dying to use it,” says Gwen Meadows, interior designer with Holland Salley Interiors. Meadows loves wallpaper. Her interiors are often transitional, an eclectic blend of modern and traditional, and she finds inspiration from the continually changing array of papers on the market. “I’d use it everywhere if I could,” she exclaims. “Many of the environmentally friendly papers now have a little bit of sparkle to them, an iridescent look, and they shine. There’s a beautiful world out there.”
   Grass cloth, a wallpaper that’s been around for eons, remembered primarily as a staple in doctors offices, accounting firms and restaurants, features a fresh face. No longer flat against the wall, grasses and reeds are available in a textural medley of patterns.
   “This is not your grandmother’s grass cloth,” Meadows jokes. “I love the new island weaves in rattan and raffia: They create a great tropical look for Florida.”
   Two manufacturers at the forefront of the push for stylish paper are Maya Romanoff Corporation and Innovations, a company that’s known for environmentally friendly paper. “Wallpaper, for the most part, is always going to be easier to apply than fabric,” Meadows explains. “As far as I’m concerned, Maya Romanoff is on the leading edge of fabulous papers.”
   One of the reasons that wallpaper received bad press in Southwest Florida was that it had a tendency to peel, bubble and foster a healthy environment for mold. Today’s preparation and adhesive materials are stronger and many are marketed as being less punishing to those with allergies than products of yesteryear.
   “These papers are incredible,” says Linda Burke, interior designer with Holland Salley. “As designers, we’re always out there looking for new products.” In design, Burke’s own tastes run toward contemporary. “I try to interpret a client’s style and elevate that to another level to create an excitement they’ll enjoy everyday,” she explains. “Walls are a big background, and what you do to them is important.”
   To create everyday excitement, Burke uses wall coverings. A refined latticework adds texture and elaborate detail. Peek-a-boo designs of crisscrossing lines can be bold and comforting. Without structural purpose, patterns of intersecting lines have inspired artisans and decorators for centuries. These patterns of wooden grillwork can be made locally by carpenters but more often are purchased from manufacturers that offer complete lines.
   “We’re able to break up a flat wall with simple, rectangular wood shapes, sometimes with wallpapers, fabrics, or bold color inside of those shapes,” she comments. “A wooden design can break up a large, two-story wall and at the same time maintain a contemporary feel.”
   Paint is the preferred wall covering, so much so that a builder’s standard operating procedure is to texture most walls in a home for painting unless told otherwise. Many, opting for a minimalist approach, prefer a painted surface.
   Leslie Christian, a Holland Salley interior designer who works strictly in the realm of contemporary, loves the painted wall and usually uses a flat paint for interior walls for ease of touch up.
   “With colors, I do like drama: I don’t usually like the bright or bold colors,” she comments. “I don’t want the walls to vibrate with intensity when I walk into a room, and so I am drawn to strong earth tones like dark taupes, greys and rusts. I believe in bringing nature into the home and wall color is one way to do that.”
   Around the world, faux finishes and specialized treatments have enlivened the walls of fine estates for centuries. In this country, the techniques of the ages have been extremely popular for over a decade. House painters and homeowners alike have taken up brushes and sponges.
   “Many designers steer clear of faux because you’re not dealing with the personalities of other artists, you’re not exposed to chemicals and smells, and, let’s face it, the unpredictability of the process can drive even a sane person over the edge,” says Debra Mamula, design director for Vanderbilts Fine Interiors. “I like the control of things being created here and now. If I want the corners of a wall to be a bit aged, or if I’d like a special movement in a pattern, I can work with the artist to make that happen. If I can’t get an artist to see what I see, I will climb up on that scaffold and do it myself.”
   Venetian plaster and other decorative wall treatments are no strangers to Mamula’s repertoire. “Venetian plaster is expensive because it is labor intensive, but building a surface up, adding dimension and color can create the most exquisite setting,” she says.
   Upholstered walls are another technique that Mamula likes. She recently upholstered the walls of a home office in a Pelican Bay residence with a silk Scalamandre fabric. In the room, an Asian-influenced chinoiserie pattern, taupe with an ivory background, was applied to a three-quarter-inch foam backing for a formal effect.
   “Upholstering is my absolute favorite wall covering,” Mamula says. “You often see it in bedrooms, most often as a headboard behind the bed, but also along entire walls. It can serve to make any room a sanctuary by adding soundproofing and soft curves.This is a luxurious touch, and getting it right takes talent.”
   Organic is a buzzword lately, as there’s no mistaking a desire for the real thing. For those with children and pets, however, an easy-clean surface is divine. Stark and Donghia are two manufacturers with copycat wallpaper, which gives homeowners the same look and feel as the real thing but at a more reasonable cost. Maya Romanoff features wallpaper that emulates crinkled silk. Artes Venice Fabrics, an Italian manufacturer, has a line of papers that looks like fabric and is easy to clean.
   “Artes wallpaper is made from a variety of chemicals to create what looks like a beautiful silk but is scrubbable,” says Kathryn Guyitt, proprietor of Design Tech of Southwest Florida. “It’s an interesting product that would be great in kitchens, bathrooms and dining rooms.”
   Guyitt, an interior designer who is also certified as a residential contractor, searches for the unusual. Her latest find, manufactured by Phillip Jeffries Ltd., is made from real bamboo slats in four-by-eight-foot sheets.
   “This is a wall covering that will knock your socks off,” she says. “You do need a circular saw, so a carpenter has to install it. But what could be better in this market where natural materials and tropical style fit in so well?”