Shelterpop

Embellish Your Walls With Whitewall & Co.

Jeff Book — 2010-03-09T08:32:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends

A painted flourish--the Turkish Rose pattern. Photo: Whitewall & Co.

Traditional wall stencils get a fresh spin from Whitewall & Co.

"Whitewall" might seem like a funny name for a company that specializes in wall stencils meant to adorn walls with bold patterns, but as Whitewall & Co. says, "Every idea begins with a blank canvas, a white wall." With a little help from the elegant stencils of Whitewall & Co., we bet your walls won't stay white for long.

Whitewall & Co. draws on forgotten, historical patterns for it's design inspiration, and their stencils reflect Arts & Crafts, Neoclassical and other historical influences. Some stencils have the intricate allure of antique jewelry, while other pack the kind of graphic punch that has been used to glamorous effect by designers likeDavid Hicks and Kelly Wearstler.

Stencil patterns Mirium (left) and Morris Stevens (right). Photos: Whitewall & Co.

The company offers stencils sized for overall wall patterns, borders and wainscoting, with a total of 18 ready-made stencils available.

The stencils are easy to apply (see their online how-to) using a sponge or a foam or bristle brush. (They're also easy to paint over when you want a change.)

Unlike wallpapering, stenciling allows for almost limitless approaches. With painted patterns, you can give your home's wardrobe some colorwise panache. You can choose high-impact hues or subtle tone-on-tone colors. We love the look of a traditional design painted in an unconventional hue, like the tangerine-on-white design above.

Whitewall & Co.'s pre-made designs range from $40 to $50, and custom work is priced upon request.

Want to give stenciling a try? Check out graphic designer Ed Roth's expert advice for how to get the look in your own home.

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Donkey Kong Decal -- and Other Cool Wall Stickers From Blik

Jeff Book — 2010-02-03T11:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, DIY: Done in a Day, Everything Under $100, Fun Stuff, Crafts & Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends

Blik sells a line of vintage video game graphic decals. Photo: Blik

Regular Wallpaper is a Major Commitment, But Here's a Chance to Experiment With It

Blik's self-adhesive, easy-on, easy-off decals make it easy to flirt with any of their reasonably priced patterns -- including this Donkey Kong decal. The designs, most of which range from $30 to $60, stick well to almost any clean, smooth surface, from walls to furniture to windows, and those labeled as Re-Stik can be moved and re-applied repeatedly. For more on how to apply decals, see Blik's website and this ShelterPop tutorial.

Architect Scott Flora and food writer Jerinne Neils originally created the wall graphics for their home in Venice, California. Many of the colorful designs have a playful, cartoonish quality perfect for a child's bedroom. Think whimsical animals, storybook cityscapes, sci-fi robots and vintage video-game graphics.

But silhouettes of furniture, chandeliers and china, vibrant flora and fauna, virtual bookshelves and abstract motifs could crop up in any room in need of visual flair.

In the world of stick-on graphics, Blik stands out by supplementing in-house designs with outside ones from spirited artists and designers. They come in a choice of colors, including custom colors. It's not hard to imagine some of them on art-gallery walls or (literally, in their collaboration with Threadless) on T-shirts.

With their witty, spontaneous quality, Blik's wall art can make a too-serious room smile.

Here are a couple of our favorites.

The sinuous Chandelier ($30) comes in black, white, or red. Photo: Blik

Designer Blaine Fontana's Fernwood Mirror pattern comes in three sizes ($20-65) and can frame an optional plexiglass mirror or your own art. Photo: Blik

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What We Love Right Now: Wood Veneer Shades

Jeff Book — 2010-01-20T08:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Green Design, DIY: Done in a Day, Shopping, Your Home, Furniture

Primeval appeal: Wood shades, antler bases. Photo: Velocity Art and Design

Made from one of our favorite renewable resources, these shades are fabricated with paper-thin slices of trees, highlighting the beauty of both wood grain and green design.

With its sand-cast aluminum base and cherry or walnut shade, the alluring Roost Antler lamp from Velocity Art and Design has the poetic charge of a deer glimpsed in a forest clearing. Priced at $160 for the smaller base, $180 for the large, it's on sale at 15% off till the end of January. The same material adds natural warmth to dform's modern shades, creating a campfire glow with rhythmic patterns and sleek shapes.

Veneer from many species is available through Rockler and other sources that supply woodworkers -- and you don't need power tools to make your own eco-friendly shade, as detailed in this DesignSponge post. Whether the light's on or off, wood looks good.

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Spanish Revival Soars in Southern Hollywood

Jeff Book — 2010-01-04T08:01:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, Architecture, Cool Homes

Photo: Colleen Duffley

Vintage Mediterranean-style architecture always makes me think of California, where old Spanish missions inspired movie-star haciendas.

But handsome Spanish Revival houses were built all over the country -- including this 1927 example set in a neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, known (naturally) as Hollywood.

Owners John-Bryan Hopkins and Terry Finley loved its thick walls, tile roof and arched openings, but the interior was tired, with too many small rooms. So they decided to renovate. It took 24 months, and the result, published in B Metro magazine, preserves the best of the original design while updating it for contemporary living.

Working with ace architect Louis Nequette, they opened up the floor plan and added lots of natural light with new window walls.

"I wanted everything to be tactile and real," says John-Bryan, who applied his own years of experience as a designer (he now stirs the pots at his popular blog, Foodimentary).

Since so many people knocked on their door to get a peek at the striking house, John-Bryan decided to share it with the world, via another blog, 11 Bonita Drive.

A wide Moorish arch frames the angular living room fireplace (set off by new walnut paneling), creating a cozy seating nook. "I think a house comes alive when you have a wood fire in the fireplace and good seat to sit next to it," John-Bryan observes.

A view of the arch. Photo: Colleen Duffley

Another sitting area was enhanced with framed art and newly added walnut paneling. "It has a lot of Barbara Barry furniture that was acquired a few houses ago," John-Bryan notes. "The symmetrical placement of the seating group gives the space order, while accessories break up the formality."

Typical of the way "servant spaces" used to be treated, the original kitchen was isolated and remote. The new one, centrally placed and open to the dining area, is a foodie's dream.

It reflects the kitchen's role today as a prime gathering spot. Beneath a huge copper skylight, a long counter of reclaimed walnut allows guests to nibble, chat with the hosts and watch the bubbling action on the LaConche range.

Set beneath a brass-riveted metal surround that echoes the house's arches, the massive French range and its brass handles "add authenticity," John-Bryan says. "I love the way the range looks like it sits in an old fireplace."

Cool idea: the pass-through Traulsen refrigerator, which opens on the other side to the pantry. Walnut panels conceal other appliances.

A new addition, the "glass box" contains the master bedroom. The room features fabricated-on-site window walls (and matching pivoting doors), wood beams reclaimed from an old church, and flooring of limestone-like Peacock Pavers. Stucco walls make an alcove for the bed, which floats on a lush fur rug.

In the master bath, stained-plank walls embrace the striking Waterworks .25 tub (in ivory). " It's a thing of beauty, with strong, sculptural lines and a delicate 'eggshell' profile," says John-Bryan, adding that the tub provides a "womblike" bathing experience. Recessed shelves keep towels at the ready.

Photo: Colleen Duffley

Kitchen. Photo: Colleen Duffley

Window-backed shelves showcase dishes and crystal in the light-washed "china room." Photo: Colleen Duffley

A peek at the master bedroom. Photo: Colleen Duffley

The master bath. Photo: Colleen Duffley

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