Libby Langdon's Weekend Wallpaper Wonders
June 15, 2012 | At Home
The start of summer is the perfect time to deck the walls in your Hamptons home with pretty wallpaper. Here, design expert Libby Langdon shares five tips and pictures from houses she’s decorated. Try yourself, or use as inspiration and hand over to an expert.
Toile Room with Beams:
This was an especially fun room in an old Sagaponack house that was once a barn. The homeowner fell so in love with the fanciful toile pattern that we covered the ceiling, too! Toile is a classic Hamptons look and this Manuel Canovas' Bengale pattern for Cowtan & Tout is a fresh and fun take in navy and tan. Solid bedding keeps it from being overwhelming.
Black-and-White Wallpaper in Foyer:
Wallpapering just one wall spices up a small space without taking over, as shown with this bold black-and-white graphic. I also mounted sconces and a mirror on the wall to break up the pattern a bit without losing its great energy. Purchase this pretty print at stevesblindsandwallpaper.com.
Gray-and-White Wallpaper in Dining Room:
Wallpaper is perfect over a chair rail or wainscoting because of the balance between the two. In this dining room, I used a large gray-and-white graphic that works well because it's just above the solid bright, white paneling. Also, dont be afraid to hang artwork on top of a patterned paper. People mistakenly think it will look too busy, but it actually helps to dissipate the pattern. Here I hung elegant, sparse prints matted in museum white that were just the right size and scale for the walls!
Seagrass Wallpaper:
If you arent into patterns, seagrass is always a wonderful wallpaper choice—it adds subtle texture and dimension without ever being overbearing. In this sunroom, I used a natural fiber to create a calming feeling. If you want more drama, there are also gorgeous dark seagrasses in chocolate browns and rich grays; the options are endless!
Stenciled Patterns:
If you’re apprehensive about wallpaper or want something more temporary, this is a cool way to get patterns without committing to the paste of paper! I designed this fern motif and stenciled it right onto my client's seagrass wallpaper to add a little more detail and design pizzazz. It's easy to do—you can just use regular latex paint right on painted walls instead of wallpaper. If you're not up to creating your own stencil, there are lots of wonderful online resources, like cuttingedgestencils.com.
—LIBBY LANGDON
Acclaimed for her easy, elegant, everyday style, interior designer Libby Langdon has earned praise from national and international clientele on both residential and commercial projects since founding her New York City-based design firm—Libby Interiors, Inc.—in 2003. As a makeover television personality, Libby’s distinctive creativity, flair for entertaining and upbeat energy have captured countless fans as Rachel Ray's interior designer "buddy" on the Rachel Ray Show and on other hit shows including HGTV's Small Space, Big Style, BetterTV, NBC's Open House, and The View.
Her first book, Libby Langdon's Small Space Solutions, offers innovative and inexpensive design ideas to help small space dwellers live large. In addition, Libby’s design and entertaining ideas are featured in newspapers and magazines across the nation. Libby has reflected the invaluable insight and input of her clients and how they really live and what they really want in designing her collection of upholstered furniture, which is available at retailers nationwide. For a Retailer Locator and more information on Libby, please visit libbylangdon.com.
