CasaSugar

Nice and New: Barbara Hulanicki Flock For Graham & Brown

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:00:54 -0700

Legendary fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki, who founded the iconic London boutique Biba in the '60s, is taking her signature art-nouveau style to the walls. She has created Graham & Brown's Flocked Collection, including five exclusive flocked wallpaper designs - Skulls, Ophelia, Shoes, Baroque, and Antoinette. Flocked wallpaper has a history over three centuries long. But like Hulanicki, it did have a heyday in the '60s and '70s, so it's a very fitting collection.

The papers go for $125 for a double roll, which is pretty reasonable for such luxurious material. Baroque, with a Victorian-inspired geometric pattern, and Ophelia, with a sophisticated floral pattern, are the most tame of the designs. Meanwhile, Skulls, Shoes, and Antoinette have more playful, eccentric imagery. Maybe it's just because Halloween is near, but I'm really drawn to Skulls. It has a mischevious quality that's almost shocking, because you don't recognize the pattern right away; I'd love to use it in a small dark corner of my home.

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Steal of the Day: Graham & Brown Frames Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:00:53 -0700

Say goodbye to your corkboard. Showcasing your mementos and photographs just got a whole lot easier. Now through Aug. 31, the Graham & Brown Frames Wallpaper ($40/double roll) can be yours for 20 percent off. Just enter the code SummerSale at checkout, and it'll be yours for only $32. I think an entire room wallpapered in this print might be a little overwhelming, but it would be great on one wall, perhaps behind a desk, or even in just a small area like a closet.

Nice and New: Graham and Brown's Essence Collection

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:30:00 -0700

I still love the Tempting Wallpaper by Linda Barker in my foyer, but were I in the market for a new design, I'd definitely consider Graham & Brown's new Essence collection. The new line's seven designs feature delicate, meandering botanicals, and bold, graphic stripes. The palettes are subtle but sharp, including crimsons, charcoals, duck eggs, and creams. And my favorite element: the wallpapers have faint metallic accents (just like my own wallpaper), which adds depth and looks beautiful in the sunlight. I love this Alium wallpaper with its long-stemmed florals and seeded flower heads. It's available in several colorways: damson and gold, duck egg, taupe and sand. The collection doesn't seem to be available online yet, so take a peek at the other papers below.

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Found It! Preston Lee's Bedroom Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:00:49 -0800

If you follow Top Design, I'm sure you have lots to say about the contestants' designs . . . and you might have even been inspired every now and then. In the finale, the "House Challenge," each room had its own appeal, but I couldn't help but love the wallpaper in Preston's polished, though slightly impersonal, bedroom. Personally, I love it!
Does it look familiar to you? If you follow Casa, it should. To find out where we've seen this wallpaper before, read more!

You've seen it . . . in my foyer! It's the Graham & Brown Paste the Wall wallpaper in Tempting Turquoise, which I reviewed for Casa Beta. It can be peeled off in full sheets when it's time to decorate, so it's quite the innovative product. But, I also just simply love the design, and I think Preston used it well in his space.Photo courtesy of Bravo TV

Casa Beta: Graham & Brown Paste the Wall Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:15:12 -0700

Even if you know how to hang wallpaper like a pro, it's still a bit of an intimidating task. And removing it — be it by the soak-and-scrape method or with a steamer — is always a big ole, time-intensive pain in the butt. Or, it was, until the Graham & Brown Paste the Wall wallpaper came around.I came across this novel wallpaper technology, which claimed to make "wallpapering simple, clean, and quick for even the novice decorator," because it peels off in full sheets, requiring no steaming or scraping, and because you paste the wall itself rather than the paper when hanging. Could this be love? I was a little skeptical, so I asked Graham & Brown to send me a roll, so I could try it out myself. To hear my analysis, read more.

Hanging. Like any wallpaper, you still need to do your measurements, and line up the patterns correctly. I was working with a small area that had a built-in niche, so it was a little hard to manage, but that simply came with the territory. Pasting the wall rather than the paper made the process a lot less messy and time-consuming. No paste all over my fingers, no wallpaper sticking to itself. No muss, no fuss. After mixing the paste, I globbed it onto the wall and then lined up the top of the roll. It stayed on the wall while I lined up the rest of the sheet, and I had a few minutes to get it into place and smooth out bubbles before it dried. When there were areas that needed a little touching up at the base, I was able to peel the sheet up, realign, and then apply some more paste. I'd say it was the least intimidating and streamlined wallpapering experience I've ever had — and I wouldn't call myself a pro.
Removing. I did actually want to keep my wallpaper in place, so I tested the removal process in another area of my home. Just as described, the wallpaper peeled off in full sheets. I found that removal worked best when I peeled slowly but steadily. But honestly, the directions were quite to the point: "To remove, lift a bottom corner and peel steadily up." Then, I washed off the wheat paste with a good sponge-down of soapy water. This facile removal process makes wallpapering a great option for renters, who up until now, wouldn't be able to get away with making that sort of semipermanent change to their homes.
Selection. I'm pretty darn impressed with the Paste the Wall selection. There are 195 wallpapers in a variety of beautiful patterns for both modern and traditional homes. Pattern isn't your thing? There are even grasscloths and frescos available in a handful of subdued tones. I chose the Tempting-Turquoise paper ($60/double roll) by Linda Barker. It has a large-scale chrysanthemum design with a feminine palette of soft, apple green, turquoise, and shimmery gold on a grayish-brown background; it goes perfectly with the green paint in the next room.
Price. At $60 a double roll, I think Graham & Brown offers a great price for a designer roll. To give you an idea, papers by Ferm Living, which do not even use this technology, go for around $94, and even Pottery Barn's only paper, which does pull off in full sheets, will cost you $84. Some of Graham & Brown's other wallpapers cost only $10 less.

I'm impressed on many levels with Paste the Wall, and would certainly consider (and actually am considering) using it again in my home. I highly recommend it. If you think wallpapering a whole room would be a little overwhelming, consider wallpapering a nook or the ceiling.

Nice and New: Graham & Brown Wallpaper at Target

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:30:41 -0700

Recently reading AT:SF, I was delighted to learn that Target carries Graham & Brown wallpaper. I've always been a big fan of the UK wallpaper retailer, and consistently applaud Target for bringing good design to a mass market, so it's nice to hear that they've made their foray into the world of hip wall coverings. Turns out Target has been carrying Graham & Brown for over a year now, so I guess I'm a bit behind the times. The rolls, available only online, are priced at $49.99 for an 11-yd. roll, and the selection is limited to under 20 designs. As AT:Chicago points out, it might be best to order directly from Graham & Brown where prices are equivalent, you can order samples and the selection is much larger. But, I'm happy to hear about the partnership nonetheless.

New and Noteworthy: Graham & Brown Eco-Chic Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:33:59 -0700

Graham & Brown, the 60-year-old company well-known for its magnificent wallpapers, has taken sustainability to the next level with their range of eco-chic wallpapers made using sustainable materials and production processes. They've asked 22 students from Central St. Martins University in London to submit design briefs for sustainable wallpapers, five of whom were chosen to have their designs produced and displayed at this year's 100% Design in London. The company stayed green by using materials from sustainable forests in Finland and omitting tape and plastic from packaging. They even recycle heat given off by furnaces, reduce drainage to prevent local flooding problems, and use vegetable oil within tractor hydraulics to keep forest floors clean.

via Inhabitat

Inspired: Spirals

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:00:58 -0700

The elegant curves of spiral shapes are seen throughout nature, from the nautilus shell to the gently unfurling flora in gardens and in forests. It's even seen in the giant cosmic swirl of distant galaxies! No wonder it's such inspiration for design finds, like this Graham and Brown Serenity Wallpaper ($60).

Interested in adding some spirals to your home? Then check out some of my favorite spiral finds below.

Source

Nice and New: Modern Mandala-Inspired Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:15:49 -0800

The Sanskrit word "mandala" loosely translates to mean "circle." The shape represents wholeness and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself. I love that this high-concept, organic pattern is being used in this very high design-minded wallpaper. The Graham and Brown wallpaper ($60/ for a double roll) is available in black/silver, black/white, and crimson. Whatever color you choose, this pattern would look stunning in a variety of home-design schemes. I'm especially loving the idea of placing open bookshelves in front of this wallpaper; the pattern would really pop wherever it peeked out.

Get the Look: Elizabeth Arden's "Pretty"

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:00:53 -0700

I've been coveting the look of the new print ads for Elizabeth Arden's new fragrance, Pretty. The vibrant flowering wallpaper in the background is over-the-top glam, as is the silk-upholstered loveseat. The print ad definitely borrows from Sofia Coppola's film, pushing a Marie Antoinette vibe.

To get the look, start with this Graham and Brown Traviata Wallpaper ($60 per double roll). I love its exaggerated, feminine blooms.

To find a loveseat similar to the one in the print ad, read more.

The look of the print ad relies heavily on the antique loveseat, so you'll want to find the perfect seating option. You can up the drama quotient and verisimilitude with this 18th-Century Gustavian Sofa ($10,950). Its bow carving and gorgeous wood detailing are simply stunning, and are a close match to the one in the print ad. For my suggestions for rounding out the look, check out the widget below.

The Little Dictionary Of Fashion: A Guide To Dress Sense For Every Woman - $19.95	Cire Trudon Marie-Antoinette - $85.00
Suzanne Vanity & Chair - $669.00	Domino: The Book Of Decorating - $32.00
"Naomi" Green Vase by Juliska - $48.00	Elizabeth Arden Pretty Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.3 oz. - $62.00

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Artemide Spiral Pendant Light - $137.00	Provence Garden Table - $168.00
Twisty Stool - $165.00	"Steps" - $89.00
Terzani Solune Double Spiral Wall Sconce - $611.00	Spirale Sheet Sets - $179.00
Spiral Wheel Accent Art - $69.99	Maya Platter - $22.95
Graham and Brown Linda Barker Wallpaper - Serenity pattern - $60.00	Spiral Mug Plate by Dansk - $26.95
Sevilla Rug - $39.00	Mikasa® Cheers Spiral Dinner Plate - $14.99