Papering Over The Cracks

Wallpapers- Past and Present- part 1

I love colour and pattern and I am thrilled to see the revival of wallpaper to replace the various shades of white which seemed to be in every chic home and interior magazine. 

 I think that a statement wall can give so much warmth and character to a room. There are some beautiful bespoke wallpapers produced by companies like Clare Coles, Fromental and Cole and Son, whom despite trading since 1875, still produce contemporary designs working with top designers like the queen of fashion- Vivienne Westwood.  

I have been looking at designers past and present and the father of contemporary wallpaper in my opinion is William Morris, an artist and textile designer but also a writer and libertarian socialist (A busy man indeed). Unbelievably, his wallpaper and fabric designs have never been out of production since he produced his first wallpaper in 1864.

William Morris was unable to find the textiles and furniture he wanted to decorate his own home, so decided to design them himself .(As you do). Together with the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood including Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti they formed a small firm in 1861 to sell the products they designed, which was to become Morris and Company

William Morris Wallpaper

Between 1873 and 1890, at least 93 wallpaper designs and over 143 repeating fabric designs were produced by his design studio. He was also a major contributor to reviving traditional textiles, arts, crafts and the concept of the craftsman as we know it. 

Based on naturalistic forms and patterns taken from drawings of plants and flowers found in his own gardens, his wallpaper designs are timeless appealing to a wide range of people and suitable for many different types of homes .The simplicity of his work is still influencing modern day design.  This is some achievement, I am  a huge fan myself..  

Today Morris & Co. guarantees authentic versions of those designs alongside new interpretations, using innovations in printing and weaving technology to create up-to-date fabric and wallpaper designs with timeless appeal. In 2011 a stunning collection was produced to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Morris & Co. During his own time because of the techniques used his designs were too expensive for ordinary people.  I am sure he would be very pleased to see his designs today are now attainable to all and still as popular.  www.william-morris.co.uk

I will leave the last few words to Mr Morris

“All rooms ought to look as if they were lived in, and to say a friendly welcome ready for the incomer. If I were asked to say what is at once the most important production of art and the thing most longed for, I should answer a beautiful house...”

Sara x