See What Happens When 1 House Takes On 8 Wallpapers
A designer dives into unfamiliar territory for a color- and pattern-loving Chicago homeowner
Brenna Malmberg
January 18, 2017
When this client said she loved wallpaper, color and pattern, she wasn’t kidding. The final result fills a 1920s Colonial-style home in Chicago with handpicked wall coverings to match each person, room and mood. This pattern-happy, bold style isn’t Amy Kartheiser’s typical assignment, but she didn’t let that stop her. She brainstormed, scoured and presented ideas until everyone in the family of five loved their home’s new look.
The client led the charge on wanting to cover the walls with different papers, says Kartheiser, principal of Amy Kartheiser Design. “She made it known to me from the get-go that she had a love of wallpaper and color,” she says. “And the colors and the papers really represent who the family is and how they love to live.”
Each selection came about in its own way. Read on to see the process and the picks that won over Kartheiser and the family.
The client led the charge on wanting to cover the walls with different papers, says Kartheiser, principal of Amy Kartheiser Design. “She made it known to me from the get-go that she had a love of wallpaper and color,” she says. “And the colors and the papers really represent who the family is and how they love to live.”
Each selection came about in its own way. Read on to see the process and the picks that won over Kartheiser and the family.
1. A Big Wow in the Entryway
The client wanted the home’s entry to make her say, “Wow!” After lots of searching, they landed on a grasscloth wall covering with giant blooms.
Kartheiser completed the space with furniture and accessories that play off the curves in the wall covering.
Wall covering: Feather Bloom in Dove, Schumacher; ottoman: Bunny Williams Home; mirror: Oomph
The client wanted the home’s entry to make her say, “Wow!” After lots of searching, they landed on a grasscloth wall covering with giant blooms.
Kartheiser completed the space with furniture and accessories that play off the curves in the wall covering.
Wall covering: Feather Bloom in Dove, Schumacher; ottoman: Bunny Williams Home; mirror: Oomph
Next, they chose carpet for the stairs. These two picks together made the client a little nervous, but Kartheiser convinced her to let the patterns live together in the space.
“I really learned that the big risks are what turn the design into something special,” she says.
Carpet: Stark
“I really learned that the big risks are what turn the design into something special,” she says.
Carpet: Stark
2. Color That Flits Along the Dining Room Wall
Dining room chairs in black and white inspired this nature pick. “We went through a lot of options to get here, but it’s the right pick,” Kartheiser says.
She then chose to paint the trim and molding a glossy black to make the colors jump off the wall.
Wall covering: Birds & Butterflies, Schumacher; lamp: Jonathan Adler
Dining room chairs in black and white inspired this nature pick. “We went through a lot of options to get here, but it’s the right pick,” Kartheiser says.
She then chose to paint the trim and molding a glossy black to make the colors jump off the wall.
Wall covering: Birds & Butterflies, Schumacher; lamp: Jonathan Adler
3 and 4. Dual-Papered Pantry With Paint to Match
The kitchen and pantry area have two bold wall coverings: one solid-colored grasscloth and one pretty pattern.
The walls around and underneath the built-in cabinetry are covered in a turquoise grasscloth. Then, Kartheiser had the cabinets covered in a custom paint color, pulling hues from the surrounding paper.
Wall covering: Manila Hemp in turquoise, Phillip Jeffries
The kitchen and pantry area have two bold wall coverings: one solid-colored grasscloth and one pretty pattern.
The walls around and underneath the built-in cabinetry are covered in a turquoise grasscloth. Then, Kartheiser had the cabinets covered in a custom paint color, pulling hues from the surrounding paper.
Wall covering: Manila Hemp in turquoise, Phillip Jeffries
A playful paper covers the wall behind the client’s dishes. “This was the easiest decision we made,” she says.
Wall covering: Peacock, Lindsay Cowles
Wall covering: Peacock, Lindsay Cowles
5. Serene From Carpet to Ceiling in the Master Suite
The carpet grounded the color for the parents’ cozy getaway. “They are a touchy-feely family,” Kartheiser says. The clients wanted to get not only the color of the carpet right, but also the right feel beneath their feet. Kartheiser would lay out the samples for them to touch and walk on, which helped them feel good with this subdued, soft carpet.
With the carpet finalized, they carried the color up the walls with a grasscloth wall covering. The grasscloth also blended well with the couple’s headboard from Bali and the woven bedding.
Wall covering: Manila Hemp in Bliss, Phillip Jeffries; nightstand: Worlds Away
The carpet grounded the color for the parents’ cozy getaway. “They are a touchy-feely family,” Kartheiser says. The clients wanted to get not only the color of the carpet right, but also the right feel beneath their feet. Kartheiser would lay out the samples for them to touch and walk on, which helped them feel good with this subdued, soft carpet.
With the carpet finalized, they carried the color up the walls with a grasscloth wall covering. The grasscloth also blended well with the couple’s headboard from Bali and the woven bedding.
Wall covering: Manila Hemp in Bliss, Phillip Jeffries; nightstand: Worlds Away
6. Inspiration Realized in a Powder Room
Kartheiser and the client found wall coverings in many ways. The paper in this powder room came from an image the client found online and adored, she says. They painted the door and trim in the small room with a high-gloss paint to set off the waterfalls of color.
If you want to use wallpaper but are afraid, Kartheiser recommends starting in a small space like a powder room. It’s a fun place to add a print and is the best in terms of cost, she says.
Wall covering: Crescent Paper in Lake/Cream, Kelly Wearstler via Lee Jofa
Kartheiser and the client found wall coverings in many ways. The paper in this powder room came from an image the client found online and adored, she says. They painted the door and trim in the small room with a high-gloss paint to set off the waterfalls of color.
If you want to use wallpaper but are afraid, Kartheiser recommends starting in a small space like a powder room. It’s a fun place to add a print and is the best in terms of cost, she says.
Wall covering: Crescent Paper in Lake/Cream, Kelly Wearstler via Lee Jofa
7. Shopping Around for the Right Bedroom Paper
The client showed Kartheiser a shopping bag from her daughter’s favorite store as inspiration. She then found a paper that resembled the shopping bag, and the mom and daughter were sold. This black-and-white paper offered the daughter, 9, a fun space that would carry through the years, she says.
Wall covering: Otto, Harlequin
The client showed Kartheiser a shopping bag from her daughter’s favorite store as inspiration. She then found a paper that resembled the shopping bag, and the mom and daughter were sold. This black-and-white paper offered the daughter, 9, a fun space that would carry through the years, she says.
Wall covering: Otto, Harlequin
8. Favorite Colors for the Youngest’s Bedroom
The client told Kartheiser that the youngest daughter loved blue and pink. In addition, the mom wanted the space to have a sweet and innocent feel. This paper quickly got the OK from everyone.
Wall covering: San Marco in dark turquoise on off-white, Quadrille
The client told Kartheiser that the youngest daughter loved blue and pink. In addition, the mom wanted the space to have a sweet and innocent feel. This paper quickly got the OK from everyone.
Wall covering: San Marco in dark turquoise on off-white, Quadrille
Kartheiser finished off the space with drapes in matching fabric and window seats topped with a burst of fuchsia.
Drapes and cushion covers: Baird’s Drapery Services
How It All Happened
Kartheiser knows the value of hiring a professional wallpaper hanger, and she turned to Pam’s Perfect Papering, a Chicago-area company that is no longer in business. This company made the most sense because of how large the wallpapering job was and how important it was to the whole project, she says.
What the Designer Learned
This project pushed Kartheiser outside her box. “My client was a more-is-more-is-more person,” she says. “I appreciated her trusting me to take on her project. I am not afraid of wallpaper or color; however, I generally used it sparingly and in calculated spaces.”
Kartheiser says she spent nights going though books and catalogs, looking for just the right color and pattern. “I did a lot of scouring,” she says. Then, everything would start falling together, which gave her the confidence to keep pushing forward on the job.
After this job, she says, “I am much more comfortable taking risks and have found how satisfying it becomes.”
More
Great Home Project: How to Wallpaper a Room
13 Creative Ways With Patterned Wallpaper
19 Bathrooms That Aren’t Afraid of Color
Drapes and cushion covers: Baird’s Drapery Services
How It All Happened
Kartheiser knows the value of hiring a professional wallpaper hanger, and she turned to Pam’s Perfect Papering, a Chicago-area company that is no longer in business. This company made the most sense because of how large the wallpapering job was and how important it was to the whole project, she says.
What the Designer Learned
This project pushed Kartheiser outside her box. “My client was a more-is-more-is-more person,” she says. “I appreciated her trusting me to take on her project. I am not afraid of wallpaper or color; however, I generally used it sparingly and in calculated spaces.”
Kartheiser says she spent nights going though books and catalogs, looking for just the right color and pattern. “I did a lot of scouring,” she says. Then, everything would start falling together, which gave her the confidence to keep pushing forward on the job.
After this job, she says, “I am much more comfortable taking risks and have found how satisfying it becomes.”
More
Great Home Project: How to Wallpaper a Room
13 Creative Ways With Patterned Wallpaper
19 Bathrooms That Aren’t Afraid of Color
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Last night on HGTV, on Bryan Inc. Sarah was using very expensive, hand painted wall paper, which she loves to use and it did not match on the second strip! Had a pro installing, very frustrating for all. Happens to all of us!
Wow! The blue cabinets look a lot like Dura Supreme Cabinetry in Kendall Panel inset door and Mullion Pattern #1 in a "Personal Paint Match" to Sherwin-Williams Capri. It's stunning! Mandi @ Dura