Let’s talk wallpaper, Gentle Readers, shall we?
When someone comes to our house, they usually say something complimentary about the wallpaper in our foyer.
It’s Nina Campbell’s Paradiso, and it’s pretty dramatic. *I* love it, and my family loves it.
But maybe I should say, “loveD.” Because while I still appreciate that the wallpaper is bright and cheerful and fun, I’m ready for a change. It’s been 9 years, after all.
My family is supportive but trepidatious. They’re ok with the idea of replacing the Paradiso, but they want to know with WHAT.
Fair enough, but there’s the rub, Gentle Readers! I DON’T KNOW.
I don’t mind telling you that I’m a bit stressed out about it. I feel enormous pressure to choose something edgy, yet livable; cheerful, yet sophisticated; different from the Paradiso, yet consistent with the Englishy-classic-but-updated-formal-but-informal vibe of our house.
And it has to make a statement. Of that I am certain.
Here are a few we’ve considered:
Cole & Son’s Versailles Grand was one of the first wallpapers I thought of, but I think I’m done with pink in the foyer. Lucky thing, because it turns out that this is some of the most expensive wallpaper I’ve ever seen! I mean, PRICEY!!
Timorous Beasties’ wallpaper and fabric is SO COOL, but it might just be too cool for me, you know?
At one point, I mused that maybe we should do a bold pattern without a lot of color. I LOVE Schumacher’s Pyne Hollyhock and just used the Tobacco colorway in a client’s powder room. I was thinking about the Charcoal colorway for us, which is a dramatic but classic floral in a lovely variety of warm neutrals.
But when I mentioned the neutrals idea to my daughter Ruthie, she looked at me in disbelief and said, “But…but then, who are we?”
Good point.
This one may still be in the running: Cole & Son’s Miami. (I seem to be very into Cole & Son these days.)
Maybe I’m drawn to it because I’m dying to install a black and white floor in our foyer? I don’t think that’s the only reason. And the space isn’t huge; it can handle a crazy pattern like Miami.
Luckily, there’s no time pressure, since we’re not expecting a big crowd for Thanksgiving or Christmas. (Look at me, finding the silver lining!) I’ll keep you posted.
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, and we travel for fun projects. Annie’s design work and insights have appeared in numerous local and national publications, including HGTV Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Washingtonian Magazine.
