Add a touch of glamour to your home
The best-dressed walls are wearing gold, glitter and all things bling, Jason Short, of Absolute Interior Design, tells Suzi Cooper.
INTERIOR designer Jason Short is in the consultation room of his Newcastle city centre furniture showroom surrounded by what I unwisely refer to as ‘wallpaper books’.
“Wallpaper books? Oh no, this isn’t just wallpaper,” he retorts, as if I had just landed from the Moon. “No, these are wall finishes. There’s so much variety now, you can’t refer to all the effects that can be created as wallpaper.”
Right, that’s me told then. For while most of the wall, erm, coverings, in Jason’s showroom are made of paper, there are also leathers and faux suedes, the most amazing polished plaster from Italy, plus piles of sumptuous silks.
Metallic finishes, glass-encrusted patterns, hand block-printed designs and multiple colour ways compete for attention as we pull out more and more samples, from the very traditional to the uber-contemporary.
So, what are the best-dressed walls wearing? “There are no rules anymore,” says Jason. “Most of the houses I design are large, so I am able to make a real statement. Having said that, the most important thing is to design the walls alongside the furniture and everything else. Big, in-your-face wall finishes are great, but they must not be made to compete with artworks or furniture. Find your balance, and your walls will work well for you. Go over the top with everything in the room, and you’re heading for overkill.”
1. Rococo by Ulf Moritz
The ultimate in Bling for walls, this is glamorous, glitzy and very pretty. The traditional damask design is encrusted with glass beads which are beautiful to the touch and very, very effective. Ulf Moritz is the designer of the moment – and this is just one wall covering which gives you a good idea why.
£130 per roll
2. Hortus by Ulf Moritz
Creased papers have been about for a couple of years now, but this one goes one step further by highlighting those creases with a metallic effect. This design comes in shades of cream, brown, charcoal and red and is very popular at the moment, particularly for reception rooms.
£82 per roll
3. Glorio by Ulf Moritz
The stripes on this covering, which comes in different widths from very narrow to very thick, are made of bits of cork dyed in metallic shades and set on a pearlised background.; It is extremely tactile, very beautiful and can be hung with the stripes set either vertical or horizontal. Which is nice. Watch the kids though; the temptation to do a Baloo bear and scratch their backs on the cork bits could be too much to resist.
£122 per roll.
4. Zaria by Osborne & Little
Yes, it’s a flock paper – but isn’t it lovely? These Asian-influenced patterns come in dual colour ways in shades of precious metals and faux suede. It’s beautifully tactile, very warm to the touch and very effective. It’s also very good value.
£38 per roll.
5. Woods by Cole & Son
This is a perfect design for a feature wall rather than an entire room. Again, there are multiple colour choices, but we particularly love the tin-foil finish. Cole & Son have been going since the year dot of course, and have the Queen’s appointment. We like this one because it takes a traditional pattern and brings it bang up to date.
£38 per roll.
6. Reflections by Aura
This hand-finished paper is inspired by the mirrored embroidery of India. It has an iridescent pearlised effect, set with little mirrors every 27 square inches. Very pretty, very effective.
£122.50 per roll.
7. Couture by Tektura
This faux leather finish brings a warmth to any room and is also incredibly effective. In shades of red, through to coppers, browns and taupes, it feels beautiful to the touch and looks incredibly luxurious.
£35 per linear metre.
8. Chloe silk fabric by Wemyss
We’ve been covering walls in fabric for centuries, going back to the days when Shakespeare’s Hamlet hid behind an arras. The Victorians did it beautifully with silks and this technique is making a comeback. You can cover a wall with virtually any fabric simply by battening it out, padding it with wadding and interlining and stapling the fabric on, covering the staples with matching braid.
£25 per metre
9. Orchid by Cole & Son
This is a beautiful archive print which has been re-coloured for a modern audience - perfect for a feature wall.
£38 per roll.
10. Venetian polished plaster
This highly specialised wall finish technique involves polishing coloured plaster until it has the effect of glass. It is incredibly effective for bathrooms, kitchens and swimming pools.
£150 per square metre.
All wall papers, fabrics and finishes from Absolute Interiors, Barrack Road, Newcastle, tel 0191 261 9633, www.absoluteinteriors.com