The living room is the congregational heart of the home, and what better space to boast decorative flourishes that become a talking point. Lively wallpaper adds instant personality to a space, whether it’s a classic William Morris print, an abstract mural design or a traditional floral motif. These projects from the ELLE Decoration archive are proof that being fearless when it comes to choosing a patterned wallpaper pays design dividends.
The London living room William Morris wallpaper
From bold paint colours, to jaunty wallpaper and even a handpainted mural, the walls of this London home by Studio Duggan are true works of art. This cosy living area, complete with a sun-soaked window seat, features William Morris wallpaper paired with a deep blue on the panelled walls. From the vintage armchair (upholstered in ‘Slubby Linen’ from Warwick) to Alfred Newall’s ‘Bobbin’ bookshelf and a mid-century Sputnik chandelier, the homeowners’ favourite design styles sit in happy dialogue here.
The New York home with a continental soul
Despite being located in the heart of the Upper East Side, this home designed by Greg Natale exudes European luxury. Classic Parisian brasseries informed the style of the living room, with Greg installing mirrors and dramatic wall murals to inject the compact space with a clubby type of glamour. The scenic wallpaper mural by Papiers de Paris was created from Vassily Kandinsky’s painting ‘Deux points verts’ and it frames the ‘Sesann’ sofa with ottoman by Tacchini.
The Somerset home brimming with art and colour
Morris & Co’s ‘Blackthorn’ wallpaper provided the starting point for homeowners Ed and Alice Workman when designing their ‘soft and luxurious’ living room. The comfortable space is a showcase for the couple’s shared passion for contemporary art, with an embroidery by British artist Des Hughes above the fireplace which is decorated with Edmund de Waal ceramics. The velvet sofas are both from Sofa.com, as is the yellow accent chair, while the antique sideboard holds a pair of table lamps from Pooky.
Sheila Bridges brings the outdoors in
This Vermont newbuild is an unadulterated celebration of pattern. Interior decorator Sheila Bridges was inspired by Vermont’s famously leafy landscape – ‘When you think of the state, you think of the foliage, so it follows that this home is very rich and reflective of nature,’ she says. The open-plan living area which adjoins the kitchen features a verdant Morris & Co wallpaper, the rich jewel tones picked up in the furniture. A custom sofa by Holly Hunt is covered in a ruby red George Smith mohair while armchairs from Dmitriy & Co are covered in a Dedar fabric. The ottoman from Bunny Williams Home features Pierre Frey fabric.
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A toned-down maximalist home in London
The Victorian home of Laura Jackson is a testament to her passion for vintage furniture and homewares. In the living room, she kept the floral wallpaper from the home’s previous owner, complete with cigarette smoke stains, and filled the space with vintage gems. The armchairs were found on Ebay while the travertine coffee table is from Atelier 278 – a ‘Shura’ vase by De la Jardin from MAH Gallery sits on top. Palm Springs-style antique lights and a vintage rattan sideboard keep things fun.
A de Gournay masterpiece in a London living room
Every room in the London home of jeweller Solange Azagury-Partridge is an opportunity to showcase colour and pattern. The jewel box living room is cloaked in a majestic de Gournay wallpaper which came from Solange’s old Mayfair shop and was filled in by her friend Timna Woollard. The panelling and cornicing, painted in ‘Pale Wedgwood Blue’ by Papers and Paints, frame the spectacular wallcovering. A chair wrapped in pale-gold damask picks up the metallic glint of the de Gournay design while the decadent burgundy velvet sofa was also from one of her stores, this time on Westbourne Grove.
The small but mighty living room in London
Architect Coco Toepfer saw the compact size of the family TV room in her London home ‘as an opportunity to do something fun and unexpected.’ She cloaked the space in Christopher Farr’s ‘La Jungle’ pattern and kept the scheme tonal with a caramel sofa and burgundy cushions that pick up the tones of the playful wallcovering.
The Scottish home brimming great British patterns
This retreat on the shores of Loch Rannoch showcases the brilliance of classic British wallpapers to full effect. William Morris prints are a recurring feature of the home, while it was House of Hackney that homeowners Andrew Keith and his architect partner Roderick Murray turned to for the living room. Olive-green woodwork is offset by ‘Majorelle’ wallpaper, which has a members’-club atmosphere amplified by the mix of contemporary and vintage designs. The rug is an antique, while the two armchairs are Nic Graham’s ‘QT’ for Stellar Works.
