Wallpaper: The Ultimate Cover Up

By Cindi Cook

There are many ways to spruce up one's home. Investing in new furniture when that from your single days has run its course can add a breath of fresh air. A staid living room can come alive with the right paintings above the fireplace or snazzy lamps perched on end tables. And who doesn't want a dramatic king-sized bed to feel like the king of one's castle?

But nothing catches the eye quite like wallpaper - it transforms a room quickly and dramatically. The right choice can add to - or detract from - a cozy space or a dramatic dining room.

Covering the walls with paper surely had a utilitarian purpose at one time. In the Age of the Renaissance, wallpaper replaced tapestries as the primary wallcovering (although putting rugs over castle stone sure would make up for lack of indoor heating). Egyptian papyrus is the oldest-known wallpaper, debuting around 4,000 BC, with historical accounts moving up to 200 BC, uncovering the fact that the Chinese glued rice paper to their walls. From there, the decorative element spread to the Middle East where, by the 12th century, papermaking hit the European continent.

Although painted wallpaper existed in 15th century France, it wasn't until the printing press came to be that textiles like these were mass produced. Engraver Jean-Michel Papillon created the first patterns for walls as we know them in the year 1675. In 1785, Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, another Frenchman, invented the first machine for printing wallpaper. During the 18th and 19th centuries, wallpaper continued its popularity. When the Victorian era struck, that popularity skyrocketed. The ornate design of the day spoke to its use - the more flourishes adorning any room in the home, the better - even Louis Comfort Tiffany printed wallpaper at the time.

Although one room doesn't rule over another, a wallpaper probably works best in those where one spends a good deal of time - bedrooms, dining rooms, and-you guessed it - bathrooms With patterns that are too numerous to mention, how can one possibly choose?. Damask has made a big comeback. The reversible fabric of linen, silk, cotton, or wool, is woven with the patterns in it. This lovely affect makes for a formal yet comfortable look in a room

Like many design trends, wallpaper can be in one year and out the next, reflecting not only the economic tempo of the day but those of wavering tastes, from formal to casual. Not that all wallpaper is frou frou and full of itself. Current trends connote an air of whimsy and more free-wheeling styles. Bruce Delew, a paperhanger at Ricci and Sons, located in Bohemia, learned his trade 25 years ago. He's seen patterns come and go, with some having more everlasting appeal than others. Grasscloth is one look that's been in vogue for some time now, its slightly embossed (meaning slightly raised) pattern is good for families and the more relaxed rooms of today.

But wallpaper can be made of foil, burlap, and fabric. As far as the Hamptons are concerned, Delew tells that much of the paper hung in high-end housing 15 years ago has come back into vogue, with retro still being all the rage. Has he been asked to hang anything odd or outrageous over the years? "I've hung gold leaf paper on the ceiling," he said.

The interplay of texture in a wallcovering should be taken into consideration in seeing how it interacts with all other elements in a room. If hanging family photos is your thing but having holes in the wall isn't, Swedish designer Lisa Bengtsson created wallpaper with different-sized frames so family photos may be inserted where desired, sans lasting damage. Thom Filicia, whose firm is located in New York, believes in muted, classic tones; The Korea-based Mass Studies has invented wallpaper that actually allows you to grow grass or plants right on the wall.

Papers with borders can add interest where there really isn't any, even acting as a bit of "trompe l'oeil." And there are those made to look like wood, fabric, animal prints, or marble. Stripes - especially those that are more mellow - are very popular, said Delew, and have been for the past couple of years. Customers are even getting bold with three-to-four-inch stripes.

Choosing the right color obviously is key to setting the tone of any room. One wouldn't want black in a dark room, and hues of yellow and green in a room that's exposed to sun all day might be a bit of overkill. In spaces that are darker, the reflection of light is key; funny enough, smooth surfaces reflect light best, as well as those with iridescent or metallic tones. Delew said the most favored colors today are dark colors - reds, browns, and even golds.

A rich interplay seems to rule the day, with homeowners unafraid to take chances. Perhaps it's the design shows, perhaps the rise of the interior-designer-cum-celebrity, or just a return to basics in living that has made us more likely to slap a paisley print up on our wall and be proud of it.

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