Fabric: Maija Louekari

It was love at first sight when I spotted this mod fabric in last November's Metropolitan Home. Instantly I envisioned many ways this fun print could brighten any space. An upholstered chair, table cloth, or even a wall hanging. Hand drawn by a young inspirational Finnish artist, Maija Louekari, this fabric is only one of many cool prints.

Louekari has a collection of cups, serving platters and plates that showcase her organic simple drawings. She has teamed up with marimekko to bring this collection to life.

Wall Paper: a second chance

Someone asked me the other day what I thought about wallpaper. My first reaction is.... I love it! For those of you going... HUH? This may be what you have in mind when you think of wall paper.

But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, wallpaper has come a long way in design, material and application. I really think wallpaper got it's bad name because it was not exactly easy to get off the wall, and a lot of wallpaper stuck around much longer than it should have. (That lovely ivy border around your mom's kitchen. yikes!) Remember wallpaper should be temporary. Wallpaper is meant to be a permanent fixture in your home, but rather a fun way to add life and visual interest to a room for a season. I believe that wallpaper manufactures are now producing higher quality paper which leads to a better application and an easier removal. Notice I said easiER, not easy. I am not making any promises here. (That's my disclaimer. haha.)

Anyway, I found a bunch of rooms that I thought really showcase wallpaper. Remember, when choosing a wallpaper keep quality in mind. It will make a difference in the end.

I especially like this one. It is so subtle and it  really brings a calming element to the room.

In this example take a look at the texture the paper adds to the room.

Wall Drawings

I thought this was a clever idea. Interactive wallpaper.

I don't know if encouraging your kids to color on the walls is a good idea, however I do think any opprotunity we can give kids the chance to use their creative juices, I am all for it.

Graham & Brown leads the way with their black and white frame patterned wallpaper. The applications for this stuff seems endless. Aything from a childs room to a new way to showcase family photos! I also think it could be a cool guest book. Maybe lend a wall to this paper in an entry way and let guest sign just before they leave.

5.5 Designs throws a twist in their version of interactive wallpaper. This style actually stimulates the mind. How about a wall of word search in the bathroom, or tic tac toe in the game room.

Jon Burgman also has a collection of wallpaper that is like a life size coloring book. The walls would be a constant change of scenery. It would be a great way to customize the wallpaper acording to the color palette in the room.