Smitten | Anna Wolfson Wallcoverings

The all natural burlap wallcoverings of Chicago-based artist Anna Wolfson have me smitten! Burlap often gets a bad rap but I really love it for the rustic yet somehow luxurious feeling it can bring to a space. When used on the walls the texture adds a subtle richness and interest to a room without the visual clutter that can result from an overload of patterns. The subtle fringe patterns that Anna creates are seriously sophisticated and are sure to stand the the test of time!

Guest Post | Things That Sparkle

Pictured above is just a little taste of what you'll see for my guest post over at Things That Sparkle today.  Inspired by the trompe l'oeil wallcoverings seen at the Chanel Haute Couture show and at the hotel La Maison Champs Elysees in Paris I created lovely little Parisian dining room. Go check it out and let me know what you think!

The Lotus

When Farrow & Ball came out with The Lotus print wallpaper, it was love at first sight. I'm helping my sister decorate her new condo and when I suggested this paper for her powder room she wasn't really feeling it, I think she called it 'old lady'.  Huh? I just don't get it, I'm absolutely smitten with the oversized floral print.  I'm hoping this post changes her mind!

Here it is, looking lovely, in Ryan Korban's masculine and moody Soho kitchen, a colorful den by Christina Murphy and a welcoming Rachel Halvorson-designed entry.  Great, right?  It's quite possibly my favorite wallpaper pattern of all time.  Bold statement, I know but I love it's versatility.  The dark colors are bold and graphic while the softer shades add a subtle depth to the walls. So, Lauren, are you convinced?

What's your favorite wallpaper?

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Hermes Wallpaper

I’ve been on the hunt for interesting wallpaper for my sister's bathroom and though these are surely out of her budget, I can’t help but admire Hermes’ gorgeous new wallpaper collection. Inspired by their iconic silk scarves, these would be perfect for a jewel box powder room or closet!

(images via Vogue)

Why Don't You...

... get the lacquered look to less by installing Phillip Jeffries' lacquered vinyl wallcovering.  The glossy, almost liquid-like sheen is supremely glamorous and is such a wonderful counterpoint to wood, fabric and other natural elements. I've long been a fan of lacquered furniture and accessories so why not take this love of lacquer one step further?  Lacquer the walls.  Sure, a true lacquer finish on your walls is labor-intensive and expensive but the look can be approximated with high gloss paint or better yet, with Phillip Jeffries' Lacquered wallcovering. Designer Robert Southern used the durable vinyl to create the illusion of a glazed wall finish in the show stopping entry pictured above. High gloss or lacquered walls are particularly appealing in darker, more intense colors, like this gorgeous Eyeliner black, which is striking against the white chairs.  The wall cover isn't just for walls, the Liquid Gold or Creme de Lustre would look great on a ceiling! 

(Image House Beautiful )

You Only Live Once

I usually try not to dive too deep into my personal life here on the blog but today is different. You see, my beloved grandmother, Maureen (posted about here) passed away this week and I'm having a hard time concentrating on anything but my family.  My posts have been and may continue to be a little sporadic over the next few days as I sort through my feelings and spend time with my loved ones so please bear with me...and remember, you only live once!

I doubt designer Emily Mughannam had a post like this in mind when she custom designed this neon light for the San Francisco Decorator's Showcase but as I reflect on my grandmother's life I honestly feel like this motto is shining in the back of my mind.  During my last visit to the hospital my grandmother introduced me to her nurse as her granddaughter the "designer"...in that moment I felt an extreme sense of pride -- it's a moment that I will always remember as try to live every day to the fullest and forge my career path and future.

You may be shocked to find out but Kerr is not my last name, it's my middle name and my grandmother's maiden name.  Growing up all I wanted was a "normal" middle name but over time I learned to love it. For blogging/business purposes, I've pretty much dropped my last name (Luber) all together so now, more than ever, I feel fortunate to have a part of Maureen with me every day.

(Images: Helynn Ospina for Emily Mughannam Design)

A Corky Bedroom

Finally, after years of dreaming about covering a wall in cork, I've found a client who is ready and willing! My client is moving into a duplex down and her son's bedroom is on the lower level.  The space doesn't get a lot of sunlight so we are going to paint the walls white then cover one wall with cork.  Covering just one wall will add a layer of architectural detail and prevent the space from feeling like a cocoon.  The decorative and functional cork wall will serve as the backdrop for a slim metal desk, vintage blue lamp and worn leather chair.  The carpet is staying so we're going to layer a striped rug on top then replace the hideous, white sconces with a pair of sleek, black lights. The icing on the cake?  High gloss black/blue doors!  It's a space that will grow well, actually, I kind of wish it was mine!

(Images 1-3: Miles Redd)

Smitten | Eskayel

What do you see? These watery prints by Brooklyn design studio Eskayel remind me of a Rorschach inkblot.  I ran upon this amazing company while obsessing over Moda Operandi’s Artistic Director Taylor Tomasi Hill’s Chelsea loft feature on Vogue.com.  Designer Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel digitally manipulates sections of her paintings to make wallpaper, fabrics, pillows, carpets and ceramics. While a roll of wallpaper will set you back about $500, the fabric and pillows pack the same punch for a fraction of the price. If I had my way, I'd upholster an antique gilt Louis XVI armchair in the graphic Madagascar fabric then top it with a solid cashmere throw and a textured pillow.  What would you do?

Smitten | Toile de Jouy

Isn't it funny how your taste changes through the years? Growing up I had a toile-covered bedroom so the second I went away to college I banned the pattern + word from my vocabulary. Fast forward eight years to last week when I finally got around to watching Midnight in Paris.  One of my favorite scenes from the movie took place on a toile-covered bed in Paris' Le Bristol hotel. Toile de Jouy is the hotel's signature pattern, with each room decorated in the traditional fabric +  beautiful 18th century-inspired furnishings. After watching the scene I was immediately (re)smitten so I opened up my computer + searched for other chic uses of this French fabric.

I honestly thought of toile as a dated pattern but I think these rooms prove otherwise. I'm actually completely blown away by the way that designers have made this historical 242 year-old pattern (read about the history on Design Sponge) feel completely fresh by pairing it with florals or by using it in an unexpected hue. My favorite room has to be the back + white toile-covered bathroom--you know I can't get enough of this simple scheme--but doesn't the bright cerulean blue headboard also feel so modern? These designs have definitely inspired me to look at the pattern in a new light!  

(Images 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8)

I'll Take it...

Um how amazing is this kitchen? I spotted it on Christine's always glamorous blog Bijou and Boheme and instantly added it to my dream home file. Quadrille's Bali Isle wallpaper is one of my favorites and I just love how designer Jill Unger paired it with Quadrille's Petite Zig Zag fabric, a Madeline Weinrib Mandala flatweave rug and Restoration Hardware's rustic Trestle Salvaged Wood Table.  Blue and white is a classic color combination but it feels so modern here with the different shades and patterns. 

My only question...who is Jill Unger? Because I don't know about you but I definitely want to see more of her work!

The Perfect Pantry

Yes, you read that right...this is a pantry, a pantry that is larger than my parent's kitchen and perfect because it's covered in a wonderful wallpaper designed by David Hicks for Clarence House called The Vase. I love this wallpaper in all of it's colorways but especially the yellow and white combination seen here. I'm using it in the guestroom/possible nursery of the house I'm designing in Maine. I mean really, who wouldn't love to wake up to this cheery paper every morning!?! 
The guest room "before" shots...I'll share the rest of the design soon!

(Image via At Home in Arkansas) 

Strange Love

This ostrich print by David Eggers is just peculiar enough to be quite interesting, don't you think?  It was strange love at first sight so I was bummed when it ended up in another member's cart during Katie Fine's One Kings Lane sale last night.  But as they say, everything happens for a reason.  I ended up googling the artist and found out that Mr. Eggers is the founder of the indie publishing house McSweeney AND that this print is just one of the 26 prints you'll receive if you buy his book/portfolio, "It Is Right to Draw Their Fur: Animal Renderings".  I purchased the portfolio for $20 on the McSweeney website and saved myself $180...after framing it will be more like $100, lucky me!  I'm hoping some of the other prints are as strange and wall-worthy as this one! And it wouldn't be a proper ostrich post without sharing Michelle Adam's living room. Cute and quirky.  You can purchase this amazing ostrich wallpaper at The Wallpaper Collective.

Seeing Spring

I love exploring photographers' websites for inspiration.  Today I stumbled upon the portfolio of Brooklyn based Brian Park.  Interiors, still life, travel, each is full of amazing photos. But it's his images of the Hamilton Design Associates' Hampton Showhouse master sitting room that really had me at hello. Wow! Talk about bold mix of color and pattern. It's edgy and fun and Brian captures it's modern take on traditional so well.  The beautiful natural light and interesting compositions in the photo above is just the pick me up I needed on this gloomy Chicago day. One of the most striking elements of the room is the The Doll photograph by Tina Barney - I love the large scale.

images via brian park