Wild for Wallpaper

When some people think about wallpaper it brings to mind a stuffy, outdated, floral print.  This isn't your grandmother's wallpaper anymore though.  Wallpaper has come back into fashion in a big way.  It is a great addition to any room that you want to make a statement in.

Wallpaper dates back to before the 1700s.  It was originally designed to mimic the large tapestries that the wealthy would hang on their walls for decoration and insulation.  Those with less money turned to hanging large sheets of paper that were painted with designs to brighten up their rooms.

Hand Painted Chinese Wallpaper c. 1780

Here is a recent project from Donna DuFresne Design.  This bathroom needed an update and wallpaper was a great option to add a bold new look.  You can see how simply adding wallpaper instead of repainting gave the space quite a dramatic change.

Before

After

Cole & Son - Summer Lily

Here are some examples of current wallpaper options that we love.

Phillip Jeffries Ltd.

Maya Romanoff

de Gournay

Have you used wallpaper recently in a project?  Please share your experience with us!

Tile as Artwork

There are so many options for gorgeous tile these days that it doesn't need to serve only a functional purpose.  Tile can be used as artwork in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.  Since most tile is fairly durable and moisture resilient it is a great option for spaces that get a lot of use.

Here, at Donna DuFresne Design, we recently completed a tile project for a client's master bathroom.  The wood in the bathroom was beautiful and she wanted to keep it while updating both the style and function of the room.  One of the main issues was that there was no shower; only a bath.

Before

Since there really wasn't room for a dedicated shower, making the space into a wet room was a clear choice.  The client loved the idea and several tile options were selected for the featured wall.

Artistic Tile - Foliage - Be Bop White Glass Mosaic

Pental - Satin - Grigio Wave

The client chose to go with the Grigio Wave tile and then Quarziti 2.0 Glacier from Oregon Tile & Marble was picked to compliment that.  A shower was installed along the back feature wall and towel hooks were added.  While the Foliage tile would have looked great, the Grigio Wave really brightens things up.  Here is the finished product!

After

If you are looking for some local places to get amazing tile here are a few of our favorites.

Ann Sacks

402 NW 9th Ave

Portland, OR 97209

Oregon Tile and Marble

1845 SE 3rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97214

Pratt & Larson

1201 SE 3rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97214

Check out any of these showrooms to find a new artistic tile for your home!