Wonder Walls

The last decade has witnessed a rapid increase in the popularity of wallpapers and eclectic wallcoverings in both residential and commercial environments. The demand for inventive new products has wallcovering manufacturers introducing materials with exciting features and benefits to keep abreast the market. Gone are the days of less is more, vast expanses of white and cold clinical living spaces. The wallcovering resurgence embraces bold patterns and colours, natural materials and has opened our eyes to digital and mechanical possibilities. The beauty of this resurgence lies in limitless creative potential, allowing us to achieve striking statements unique to each venue or individual.

Specification for fabrics and wallcoverings is no simple task. Designers have a number of factors to consider such as suitability, durability, stain resistance, hygiene, and life expectancy, as well as stringent red tape issues to overcome.

Wallpaper
Wallpaper is no longer the style faux pas that makes you shudder as images of the pallid floral repeats that covered your Nan’s house flash before your eyes. Having spent thirty or more years in the design wilderness, wallpaper has on a roll again. It started popping up in swanky restaurants, hotels and nightclubs in the early part of the decade in the form of subtle, geometric motifs and touch-me textures, some taking their cues from haute couture.

The designs on the market today range from subtle, sophisticated silks to bold, monochromatic abstracts to rhinestone-studded luxuries – far from the ‘70s-style atrocities that are peeling off the walls of your rental house.

“Paint is boring”, Jarek Jasinski said. “It’s soulless, idealess”. Okay, so as the owner of Eurowalls, Australia’s leading importer and retailer of European wall coverings, Jarek is not exactly an impartial judge, but he has a point. Paint a wall and you can shrug and think, ‘okay’. But with wallpaper, you really get the ‘wow factor’. And the options that wallpaper offers – texture, pattern, colour – are endless.

With the advent of digital printing, the design possibilities for wallpaper are endless too. Wallpaper is a hardwearing alternative to paint and can be utilized in many different situations to create unique ambiance, bring interest to an otherwise dull interior or highlight an existing design. The trend in wallpapers was abolished throughout the late 1900’s, but reworked processes and new mediums saw its triumphant return in early 2000.

Its popularity is showing little sign of slowing, but instead designers continue to keep the product in vogue with exciting patterns, elaborate finishes and innovative materials. Glass beads, crystals, grass weaves, velvety flocked florals and glittering metallics are just some of the available finishes. Brands like Eijffinger, Osborne and Little and Alta Gamma have a well established foothold in the market, and are a good reference point for those just starting out with regards to fashions and availability.

Decorative Panels
Another avenue along modern wallcovering lines are 3D decorative panels. Companies such as Quantum Innovations and Modular Arts generate prefabricated panels with varied undulating scenes, engraved designs and acoustic properties. Ideal for feature walls, bar fronts and lobby’s, the aesthetic created by these panels is achieved by offering scores of colours and thermolaminate finishes. In addition, resin panels can create many different looks as wall panelling or room dividers. These art panels can be tailored to most specifications and vary from clear to ornate, colourful scenes with real materials like grass, flowers, metals and bubbles pressed within the panel. Accessible through Veritas or BAF, the only limit here is your imagination.

Tiles
For a sophisticated, durable finish many designers prefer tiles. The decorative potential of tiling has moved from the floor to the walls. Carrying on a tile from the floor up the wall is a striking design technique which can be enhanced by varying the finish of the tile from honed to polished to matt in a pattern or random sequence. Varying the size of the tile exhibits attention to detail and can make a plain wall a feature. Tiles aesthetics have greatly progressed and now beautiful patterned, 3d, metallic, fabric look, wooden, animal print and even leather finishes are available to everyone.

Furthermore, feature walls of glass mosaic tiles have always been a favourite, done correctly and by a skilled installer, mosaics can still be a modern ornate wallcovering. Many fresh colours and finishes have flooded the market. Companies such as Bisazza who have held the elite mosaic market are being challenged by companies such as Sicis, who offer stylish alternatives to the Bisazza range.

Stone slabs
However, while tiles may be varied and versatile, not much can beat the effect of an entire slab of marble, granite or basalt to finish off a distinguished room. One of the more expensive methods of wall covering, stone slabs are an attention demanding visual, not suited to all designs but certainly designs portraying opulence and grandeur. Suppliers such as SNB Stone and WK Marble & Granite hold warehouses housing diverse numbers of stone slabs for perusal.

Methods of wall covering are diverse and only limited to ones imagination. Unusual materials and combinations will continue to be put to new use through our drive to create a statement with our designs.

Thanks to Brand + Slater and Eurowalls for assisting with this article.