Wall Covering

Staff -- Interior Design, 5/31/2008 2:00:00 AM

Osborne & Little

Sleeping with the fishes takes on new meaning with Aquarium (especially if you put it in the bedroom). This 27-inch-wide and wipe-able wallpaper comes complete with its own endearing school of finned friends. Four colorways featuring multi-colored fish on a background of white, black, aqua, or cream are sure to make a vertical splash. 203-359-1500; osborneandlittle.com. circle 485

SoFar/SoNear

C'mon, show us some Skin. Following the fashion pack, these designs riff on reptiles—the skins, that is, of snakes and alligators. The hand-printed, non-woven wallpaper is 70 percent cellulose and measures 55 inches wide. Alligator comes in gray/green and ivory. Choose the snake you want in gray/fluo pink and ivory. Other colors are available on request. 39-340-543-5370; sofarsonear.com. circle 486

Gracie

Ah, the exotic Far East! This new 3314-B draws inspiration from the handcrafted chinoiserie papers that the manufacturer imported from the city now called Beijing. Some patterns originate from as long ago as the 1930s and '40s. Today the papers come in a modernized color palette, offering more tone-on-tone options, and newly refined backgrounds such as Tea Leaf. The panels measure 3 feet by 10 feet. 212-924-6816; graciestudio.com. circle 487

Alpha Workshops

This nonprofit studio has created wall coverings that actually create the illusion of texture on the wall. The secret: embracing the paper, not the pattern, to create the Texture Collection. The artisans manipulate the paper first, then they apply the paint. The 27-inch-wide papers are available in custom colors. 212-594-7320; alphaworkshops.org. circle 490

Innovations in Wallcoverings

Should Poseidon ever redo his boudoir, he might just bask in this bounty of the sea. Nautilus owes its organic look to ultra-thin layers of mica attached to cellulose backing that allows it to be used in corners and on curved surfaces. The 36-inch-wide goods come in six colorways: pearl, alabaster, agate, quartz, topaz, and silver. 800-227-8053; innovationsusa.com. circle 489

Omnova Solutions

Avant with Ecore is earth-friendly in more ways than just the manufacturing process. Sure, the wall coverings boast non-PVC backing, are printed with recyclable water-based inks, and have low VOC emissions. But, they also use lightweight nano-structures for strength, which means a reduced amount of the natural resources needed for shipping. 330-869-4200; omnova.com. circle 488

Bart Halpern

Experience the heady love of a 1930s tearjerker with none of the heartbreak. Romance Taffeta with a bamboo pleat is available in 18 other pleat options and 40 colors—including delicious lemon lime—that are a perfect fit for any boudoir. The 53-inch polyester is also flame-retardant. And that could prove to be an advantage, as your own romance heats up…. 212-414-2727; barthalpern.com. circle 491

Jane Churchill

Scribble catches the eye like a playful, dancing amoeba under your biology class microscope. This wallpaper measures 20½ inches and comes in six colors, including aqua and sand. This peppy little pattern is surface-printed onto a variety of matte, mica, or metallic grounds. Cowtan & Tout; 212-647-6900; cowtan.com. circle 495

Art & Soul by MJ Design

Designer Mary Jane Haugh's Hand-painted Wallpaper line takes its inspiration from the artist's bucolic surroundings near the shores of Lake Ontario. Haugh's custom designs riff on the colors, textures, and patterns of water, earth, and sky. They are executed in acrylic and pearl or metallic paints, or with ink on vellum, and are available in widths of 24, 30, and 36 inches. 315-521-1062; artandsoulbymj.com. circle 492

Wolf-Gordon

Take flight! Noli is designer Laurinda Spear's take on an aerial view of the urban landscape; and it makes a striking addition to the Geo Graphic collection of Type II vinyl wall coverings. The 52-inch-wide irregular pattern has a 52-inch repeat, so there is nothing to bore a flighty eye. It comes in 10 colors. 800-347-0550; wolf-gordon.com. circle 493

Maya Romanoff

Warm up to your inner Linus with David Rockwell's Blanket Silkscreened Stripe. Layers of luxurious wool felt are stitched with contrasting thread, creating free-form stripes. The 54-inch-wide rolls are offered in an array of soothing gray and brown heathers. 773-465-6909; mayaromanoff.com. circle 494

York Wallcoverings

The Leaf Vine Silhouette from the Opposites Attract collection strikes a graphic note, but the natural palette keeps the vibe laid-back. Four colorways are offered, ranging from cream-and-brown to gold-and-cherry. The design is executed in water-based ink on natural paper backing and measures 27 inches wide. 800-375-9675; yorkwall.com. circle 496

Luxe Surfaces

Zewei, a three-dimensional embossed wall covering, takes its cues from Louis Comfort Tiffany's iridescent stained glass. The zigs and zags seem to flutter courtesy of a special water-based diachronic ink. A blend of poly-cotton and Osnaburg, the 52- to 54-inch Type II vinyl wall covering is offered in burnished gloss, screen, blue ice, and sea mist. 501-748-1113; luxesurfaces.com. circle 500

Carolyn Ray

Get wall-to-wall music with In Moto Grazioso. This screen-printed 26-inch-wide wall covering depicts sheet music under an elegant patina. Each of the five harmonious colorways is named for a famous woman—either a composer or music teacher. Among the choices: "Leonarda," a 17th century Italian composer, and "A Certain Mrs. L," a contemporary pianist. 914-476-0619; carolynray.com. circle 497

Graham & Brown

What do you get when you mix the earthy beauty of natural wood grain with the grace of an old-fashioned floral? Bloomer is the answer. A proud part of

the Umbra collection, this whimsical blend of two classic styles measures 20½ inches wide, with a design repeat of 20¾ inches. It is offered in bitter chocolate. 800-554-0887; grahambrown.com. circle 499

Larsen

For a quick refresher course on just how alluring the illusion of depth can be, consider Espace. Silhouettes of large-scale vines overlap to create layers of botanical mystery. The pre-trimmed paper measures 20½ inches wide. Offered in chalk, platinum, white gold, Gesso, Tigereye, and scarlet. Cowtan & Tout, 212-647-6900; cowtan.com. circle 498

Yangki

Journey beneath the sea with hand-painted Neptune. Evocative of nautilus shells, with a mylar foil ground, this 30-inch-wide pattern comes in eight colorways: black ice, lilac, sable, stingray, copper, Gold Coast, Key Largo, and Pisces. 415-626-5009; yangki.com. circle 501

Studio Printworks

The large-scale geometric design Pipes, by Florida artist Given Campbell, is reminiscent of London in the 1960s. But it would be equally at home in today's living room. The ink-on-paper wall covering measures 27 inches wide. 212-633-6727; studioprintworks.com. circle 505

Weitzner Limited

Interlace, from the Masterworks line, blends intricately gilded backgrounds of ancient European frames with traditional hand-woven grass products. A paper that's made entirely of grass, it measures 36 inches wide and is available in five colorways: terra, saffron, lime, sage, and smoke. 212-414-1089; weitznerlimited.com. circle 502

Porter Teleo

Take a walk En Plein Air. Offered in three colors—rouge, rose, and gris—as well as custom choices, these Japanese rice papers measure 36 inches wide and have an ASTM class A fire rating. 816-786-7087; porterteleo.com. circle 503

Phillip Jeffries

The Metallic Paper Weaves collection melds hand-woven textures and metallic sparkle. These wall coverings, handcrafted in Japan, are colored before weaving to ensure tonal consistency. The material is then laminated onto gold and silver backing papers, so a delicious shimmer peeks through the weave. The collection is offered in four colors. 800-576-5455; phillipjeffries.com. circle 504