Every room in the home holds a different purpose, and features different furniture, accessories and lighting. But they have one thing in common: They all have walls. The walls deserve just as much thought as the rest of a space’s attributes, which is why for this #TipTuesday, two West Coast design duos talk all things walls—paint versus wallpaper, which space always calls for wallcoverings, and more.
Julie Massucco Kleiner & Melissa Warner
Profession: Co-founders, Massucco Warner Miller, Los Angeles & Seattle
What is your rule of thumb when it comes to deciding between using a wallcovering or paint in a space? Oftentimes, the layout of a room dictates if a wallcovering would make sense or not. Sometimes, if there’s a large number of doors or windows in a room, or many large pieces of art that take up a lot of visual wall space, there’s just not enough wall space left for wallpaper to have the right impact. For the wallpaper to be successful, it’s best if the room allows at least some uninterrupted wall space for the paper to really shine.
When you’re designing a space, at what point does selecting a wallcovering come into play? At the very start! We like to select wallcoverings at the same time that the other fabrics and materials are selected. We find this has the most cohesive result, and it’s harder to find the perfect wallcovering after everything is in place—so why be limited?!
What is the biggest challenge when it comes to selecting the right wallcovering? Finding a beautiful paper is the fun part, but what can get a bit challenging is making sure that the one you fall in love with is the right material to suit the space you’re working on.
Are there any rooms where you never use wallcoverings? If the right paper is selected, wallcoverings can be successful in any room! Kitchens are the trickiest for using wallcoverings, though, as you need to make sure the paper can react well to the heat and moisture that’s inherent in this kind of space. It can definitely be done, but it just has to be the right wallcovering in the right places to make sure it is durable enough to handle being in a kitchen.
Are there any rooms where you always use wallcoverings? The room that typically always asks for wallcoverings is a powder room. In a powder room, there’s not much opportunity for color or pattern, so wallpaper goes such a long way. And they’re usually more petite than other rooms in the house, so it’s a place that, for some clients, feels safer to go bolder and do something that’s a real showstopper.
Shannon Wollack & Brittany Zwickl
Profession: Principal designers, Studio LIFE.STYLE, Los Angeles
What is your rule of thumb when it comes to deciding between using a wallcovering or paint in a space? We love to use paint in common spaces. As for wallpaper, we feel it fits best in small or intimate spaces. We also love it in the bedroom, as it adds a bit of warmth.
When you’re designing a space, at what point does selecting a wallcovering come into play? Initially! It’s part of the original color story and plays a big part of the design. If it is a bold pattern or design, it can dictate the entire room.
What is the biggest challenge when it comes to selecting the right wallcovering? The biggest challenge is that there are so many great options! If it’s a print, you need to be mindful of the scale and how it will work in a small or large space.
Are there any rooms where you never use wallcoverings? Kitchens; wallpaper is too delicate for kitchens!
Are there any rooms where you always use wallcoverings? We love to use wallpaper in powder rooms. They are not as serious and are smaller, so we always have fun with wallcoverings in these spaces. They can completely transform an ordinary bathroom into a wow factor. No rules on color or pattern in a powder room!
