**It’s election day and I hope you all had the opportunity to vote. I’m sure many of us will be glued to political sites and the news, and when you are ready for a design distraction while we await the results, I’ve got one for you today. xx There are some rooms that I’m struggling with (the living room), but this little entry is so bright and contained that I feel like no matter what we do it’s going to be so cute. Obviously, it’s the first room that you walk into and see, so it has the opportunity to set the tone for the house. You can see it from the living room so it should correspond, but it has a clear delineation of space so it’s the perfect little room to wallpaper with a pattern that will catch your eye from the living room and give you (me) a little burst of happiness even when you aren’t in it.
The Entry Before
There she was before the project started – it was darker for sure (and fun fact–we salvaged one of those smaller windows in the entry and put in the new guest bath. It is inoperable but so cute).
You get a good idea of the bones from this shot. It’s a nice generous size–big enough for a bench or console, coat rack, a big piece of art, maybe some candle sconces, a rug, etc. This room feels so easy to me which I really really appreciate 🙂
That custom Sierra pacific white oak window made my entry dreams come true. It brought so much light into the space, with views of the ancient apple orchard. ARCIFORM (hi Stephyn) helped draw out the proportions of the window grid so that it married the two styles of the house–the upstairs diamond pattern with the simpler squared-off pattern of the new windows on the first floor (we did this special pattern in the entry and sunroom but it was very splurgy so we kept the rest of the windows a simple grid for budget reasons). Knowing that we have yet to paint the living room, I kinda want to dial that room in before we make a wallpaper decision in here. Remember that the living room is more our problem child so I need to give that baby the attention it deserves before helping the easy kid learn math. Or maybe I’ll just choose my favorite and keep building the rooms together. I’m having such issues focusing and making any decisions in the living room (I think have SAD, btw) but I NEED to keep moving so maybe I will just choose my favorite in here and hope/feel confident that we’ll make it work with whatever we choose in the living room.
The light fixture is a vintage milk glass disc from Rejuvenation’s vintage and antique section. We put it on an unlacquered metal rod and their experts used a 3-bulb vintage base – which looks so awesome. We love that it has a presence but doesn’t distract from the window and isn’t too busy.
I love that Rejuvenation bench in here, but it’s actually a metal outdoor bench and we need a longer piece in here anyway, but she is really good. I’ve ordered this one from Thos. Moser which I think is going to be stunning and we’ll put this metal bench out on the front or back porch.
The wallpapers are mostly from Scandinavian Wallpaper, Schumacher, and House of Hackney. After we shot this I also was reminded by a reader about Kelly Ventura‘s new line. I promptly ordered so many samples that I just received and they are SO GORGEOUS. While I love all of these for different reasons I think Brian and I both want something that is soft, not too bold, and while I can go far into the floral world we both want it to be less Eccentric English Granny and more Chic Scandinavian Farmer, because that’s a thing (??). I actually ordered the bolder patterns for the upstairs guest bath (the pink bath) but I figured looking at them here gives us more to compare to and might help us hone in on what we love more.
It’s hard to decide because some of my favorites up on that wall we’ve seen a million times and nothing should be wrong with that, but it’s making it harder to commit. While others might be less ‘classic’ or more contemporary. I can’t tell you how helpful it is to be able to stare at it in these photos – giving me some distance from it which offers a bit of clarity.
Unfortunately, there is no clear winner yet. Brian really likes the one that is blue watercolor leaves and the longer we sit with it the more I think he’s right – at first, I thought it might be a bit too mellow but it has such nice movement, with an organic pattern that has life but definitely not bold. But some of these Kelly Ventura floral patterns (not shown) are so beautiful and just excite me more. But I’ve also learned that not everything has to be exciting and with the window, rug, art, candle sconces that I’d like to add, coat stand (yet to buy), bench, and light fixture there are already a lot of beautiful things happening. Stay tuned 🙂
Resources:
Floors: Oregon White Oak by Zena Flooring
Door Color: Poinsettia by Sherwin-Williams
Wall Color: Extra White by Sherwin-Williams
Windows: White Oak Sierra Pacific Windows
Bench: Rejuvenation
Light: Rejuvenation
Rug: Vintage
Basket: The Citizenry
Photos by Kaitlin Green
Choosing wallpaper is sooo hard, and I should know, I am a designer for a wallpaper company and I could literally have everything I want on my walls and it’s so overwhelming I just can decide…!
Can you bring back this paper from 1730?? The block pattern and chains are amazing. https://www.historicnewengland.org/explore/collections-access/gusn/283887
Blockchain wallpaper–great for the crypto enthusiast 😉
Julia Sugarbaker, too funny (love your username and loved that show).
Yeap! I can do anything. We do lots of custom runs for clients who gave us their own images ( mostly for commercial space) or residential clients with a bigger thn average budget, Cusomization is not cheap. For an image like the one above, I will have to set the image up, so it repeats, then do some colour tests, match it to the pantone or dulux ref given by the client, and in matter of days they can have that on your walls!
Sam, so interesting. I don’t really NEED that wallpaper; I just love finding old things that still look amazing.
I would say: learn from the livingroom and don’t go for safe, go for beautiful and interesting! Don’t be afraid. That’s what caused the livingroom to not feel right.
Well, if you were my friend and of course you’re my friend because I’ve been reading your blog from afar, with a cuppa, for over a decade now, so we’re friends (it’s the cuppa that proves our faux-riendship 😆) I’d say – consider a daylight lamp to help with SAD and also, consider design fatigue. And y’know the way you always say that you choose your paint last – do that? Pick your wallpaper and then pull your living room paint colour from the wallpaper? For what it’s worth I love Brian’s choice, it’s soft and dusty, not too bright and has beautiful movement.
Seconded- 20 mins of a daylight lamp in the morning REALLY helps with SAD. Also aerobic exercise really helps me – 45 mins of running a day and I am a new person. Also wanted to give a shout out to my absolute favorite wallpaper line- MIND THE GAP. Their designs are next level. I like a soft green for entry wallpaper, it’ll contrast with the red door and as it pulls in the tones from green vegetation outside from the window it’ll look subtly edgy. I don’t 100% love the sample you have of the green trees, but something close to that. I personally feel that with the red door, blue is too much.
With the green paper I would switch the blue rug out too. I keep my vintage rugs indoors in the ‘shoes off’ zones and have fake vintage rug/ mats in shoe/ boot areas. Gives me so much peace of mind…
Upvoting this mainly because I WANT THAT RUG and hope you would sell it to me 😂
hahah. that rug will never leave my house. the colors are wonderful and its SO FORGIVING. @mouseface I also have to do aerobic workout (just in general) and it helps tremendously on the days that I feel blue. will get the daylight lamp, too!
A friend of mine got a daylight lamp and it changed her life!!!! Do it!👍
At least we get a week of sunshine this week! I’m so excited 😆
You always make good choices but I think the red front door needs to tie in to the entry and the living room. I don’t see you using red in either room.
I second the motion to choose a wallpaper that plays well with the lovely red door. One of your samples (from the photos) has a white background and an airy red print (floral? leaves?). I think this one would look great in the entry!
I agree w you Amy It’s the third picture descending. It’s light and fresh w a pop of red but not too busy
It doesn’t appear from the photos that the door is red on the inside, only the outside.
But the door opens inwards. So, the red will literally be in the room when people arrive.
I agree that it would be nice if it tied in with the front door. The floral sample on top with the gray background and red flowers would look nice–but it would really depend on how you want to decorate the living room since it all needs to tie together. I’m really looking forward to see what you finally land on!
To me, the blue watercolor reads as “uneccentric” English granny than many of the others–safe and somehow too formal. The one Emily’s holding with the little red flowers seems so much more her–both elegant and fun, even whimsical–and it would tie in so well with the door. My 2c!
Agree! Those little red flowers are perfect. It caught my eye immediately. 100% gets my vote.
Why all flowers or rather botanical? If tou really want a chuckle why not animals? Wouldn’t hubby prefer something more grafic? That being said they are all beautiful.
I have the blue water color leaves and LOVE IT!!! We live in a small, 2-story townhouse in Europe with a zig-zag staircase in the very center of the home. We used this wallpaper on the very tall but narrow wall that faces as you walk up the stairs. So, it catches your eye when you stand at the bottom of the stairs, and you get a lovely view of the whole wall while standing at the top of the staircase. But you even catch small glimpses from our navy-and-champagne kitchen and from the dining/living room. I love that it is floral (comforting) but fresh, not overly granny, has organic movement, and actually looks like it was handprinted on the wall. Lots of people don’t think it’s wallpaper when they first see it. I wanted a glimpse of pattern but also to feel like my walls could breathe and not suffocate me…this did the trick.
I meant “HANDPAINTED,” not “handprinted.” (I think spellcheck changed that because it just did it again.)
Emily, if you and Brian would like to see a photo please let me know — you have my email address in the comment form (I don’t use FB/messenger :)).
Well I for one would love to see a photo…if you see this it is possible to attach a photo to a comment (look at the bottom right of the free text box) if you’re comfortable sharing!
OOH i want to see a photo!!!!! its definitely where we are leaning now (but also still getting more samples). but thats a great endorsement.
Ok, tomorrow I can post a better/different angle, but super quick — here is an underwhelming, badly lit iPhone shot taken on a very cloudy day around this time last year. Emily, it may be valuable for you because it gives a sense of how the wallpaper functions when you walk by and catch a glimpse of it on a gray day. Your region is as cloudy in the fall/winter as mine is! I feel like the wallpaper brightens the mood of our house in all weather/seasons. I was not going for Scandinavian-farmer-chic, though — more for “comforting yet polished forest cottage” 😉 How silly are these nuanced narratives we tell ourselves?? Will be back with more tomorrow 🙂
Did it upload?? Don’t think so…
nope, don’t see a pic
Not sure why! I kept clicking “attach an image” and selecting a photo to upload, but nothing happened! Sorry, guys. Anything else I should try? Here at least are the links to photos that inspired me to choose this Sandberg wallpaper. There have been some comments about scale. In these photos you can see that the scale of some leaf-groupings is LARGER than the smallish leaves shown on Emily’s sample. This wallpaper our staircase wall well. https://tapetujemy.pl/pl/p/Sandberg-242-36-Familj-II-Belle-Ocean-Blue-tapeta-w-liscie/62792#galleryName=productGallery,imageNumber=2-copied https://tapetujemy.pl/pl/p/Sandberg-242-36-Familj-II-Belle-Ocean-Blue-tapeta-w-liscie/62792#galleryName=productGallery,imageNumber=3-copied https://www.demooistemuren.nl/en/sandberg-belle-ocean-blue-242-36.html Emily, I will tell you honestly, I chose this wallpaper after reaching a point of decision fatigue, and both my husband and our architect/designer worried it would feel “meh.” HOWEVER, we are happy with it! My theory is that the reasons why it spoke to me in my decision fatigue are EXACTLY the things I like about seeing it every day against the backdrop of my life — it is light, comforting, and non-demanding. My life is plenty demanding, so this is great! I knew I could decorate areas around this wallpaper however I wanted, it wouldn’t clash/compete with other design elements that mattered more to me, it would bring movement to a wall that didn’t want to be blank OR… Read more »
In 2nd paragraph meant to say “This wallpaper FILLS our staircase wall well.” 😉
The sample on the bottom left in blue with a red flower screams at me as being the best match with the red door and blue carpet – but it’s not exactly Chic Scandinavian Farmer and it will probably detract from the window.
The one with the watercolour style willow leaves reminds me a lot of the Morris and Co Willow Boughs wallpaper which is very Arts & Crafts (and in keeping with the feel of your farmhouse). So even though more subdued would set the mood when you walk through the front door.
I love it too! I love 3 of the botanicals in the bottom row. Amazing!
I suggested this wallpaper for the living room before and I’m guessing it’s too traditional but I still like it: https://morrisandco.sandersondesigngroup.com/product/wallpaper/morris-pure-wallpapers/pure-willow-boughs/dmpu216024/
Willow boughs was what popped into my mind right away and I’d prefer it over the leaf pattern above, especially in the more graphic color way Addie mentioned! It’s a very Scandinavian take on a perfect craftsman paper
Can’t wait to see this come together! Go with Kelly Ventura she can make her prints in a custom color way if you need like she did for Shavonda’s kitchen!
oh really? I didn’t know that!
Ooh I quite like Brian’s pick or the middle one on top with the tiny red flowers. The entryway is already so beautiful!
Brian’s choice is lovely but a little safe. Trust your instincts on this Emily and choose something that you love!
It also looks incredibly dated to me – like from the 90s and not in a good way.
I agree. It’s beautiful but boring. Bring back the weird!!!
I don’t like florals so naturally my eye immediately went to the one geometric pattern up there. Team Diamond.
Hugs on the (possible) SAD. I developed it when this SoCal girl moved to Massachusetts (what do you mean it starts getting dark at 3:30 in winter?). That being said, since you’ve talked about some weight gain that you were struggling with, I’d advised having your thyroid checked. What I thought was SAD was a combination of that and a wacky thyroid, and as soon as we started shifting my thyroid back to a normal range, my mood immediately changed!
Love Kelly Ventura’s Meadow! The linen background is lovely and light and the blue background – so moody!
I’m not sure which wallpaper you should choose. They’re all good. I just came to say that i LOVE how light and bright that entryway is now. The bigger window is just stunning. I like that bench that’s in there, but agree that a longer one would be better. i LOVE the Thos. Moser one you ordered! holy moly. That curved back! The Rejuvenation light is beautiful of course, milk glass for a light fixture is so good.
Kelly Ventura’s stuff is gorgeous! None are in the colors for my renovation, but thanks for the design porn.
In the spirit of voting today I want to share my opinion that none of these options is very exciting. You’ve had to make a billion decisions in the last few months I really don’t know how you continue to do it. But my gut check is that a mural would be amazing, maybe even a custom mural because this is such a moment for your house, the first impression, and it shouldn’t be something you just settle with.
All the florals are safe, musty or hard to judge because the swatch is so small you have no idea what’s happening. And there are a million options hanging there. Why not go with your heart and ruthlessly edit out the ones you’re not instantly drawn to? It’s overwhelming and so hard.
I have to think of Justina’s mountain jungalow house and how she leaned so far into color, pattern and warmth, and what seemed crazy separately melded into a brave, beautiful world singular to her. You need to get in touch with that Emily that is bold and singular and lean into her. Can’t wait to see what you choose!
I wholeheartedly agree with a mural. I think an artist could paint a lovely scene which would include an orchard with two children and their two dogs. Your family would never tire of that mural and it would make your farmhouse your “home” because of that personalized mural. I am sure your area has artists that would be happy to give you a bid and I dare say it would be less than wallpaper.
Oh yes!! Do this! Maybe in grisaille if you want to tone it down and make it more chic less country.
Since murals have been mentioned just have to mention a company I love and work with, Area Environments.
They work with select artists and license our work for custom wall coverings/murals. While I doubt my own current work with them would be right for your space (bummer!), they have some beautiful options.
It’s a small but mighty US company and treats their artists incredibly well.
One of Rachel Dein’s murals by AE would be stunning in your entry!
https://www.areaenvironments.com/
https://www.areaenvironments.com/racheldein
Her murals are amazing, and would look so good in Emily’s entry!
I’d like to echo some of the previous comments and say I feel like a lot of these really do not jive with the red door. That red is SO bold, and some of the botanicals are just so muted, that I feel like the contrast is so stark that it won’t create a nice flow into your home. I think you can do better than the blue watercolor leaves. There’s so much blue in the house that I think it would be great if you could incorporate some other colors into the entry.
That being said, I really like the “toile”-like prints and also the floral with a taupey background (I think it’s House of Hackney).
Agree with all this!
I’m also a fan of the toile like prints.
Agree so much blue, white and blond wood please add something different
For a scandi vibe that also suits calm/serene farmhouse, I’d suggest checking out https://www.missprint.co.uk/wallpaper/c/1
We used little trees in a reno 10 years ago and still love it as much today as the day it was installed
That website is fantastic — I like just about everything on their home page
From the get-go on this post, I just felt like a subtle wallpaper would enhance your already busy entryway. Then you posted this, and I totally agree.” But I’ve also learned that not everything has to be exciting and with the window, rug, art, candle sconces that I’d like to add, coat stand (yet to buy), bench, and light fixture there are already a lot of beautiful things happening. Stay tuned 🙂”
Agreed! Don’t pick something because it’s a “statement,” pick it because of the way it makes you feel—you’re the one who has to live there, not your followers. Busy wallpaper reads very maximalist and (to me) is the opposite of Scandi/grounding, and fwiw is not to everyone’s taste. I would choose the gray ticking stripe (my favorite, a classic) or a very simple pattern. But then again I’m a minimalist with all white walls and light wood/neutral everything (except art), so to each their own I suppose! That’s the fun of reading this blog and going on this journey with you 🙂
Yes. This is the heart of it. The bold florals and multi colors are inherently gorgeous and tempting but steal the moment from the incredibly special window. My vote is stripes – the desaturated blueish grey tones work well with bright red door that everyone in comments mentions, and also flexible enough to work into problem child LR. Even bolder stripes could work. This allows for playful bench cushion/pillows/quilt to signal warmth upon arrival. Of course fun textiles is not the same level of confidence and excitement as committing to bold wallpaper but I feel like big floral wallpaper is too…good? in a room that already has a gorgeous focal point in the window. Almost like, save it for a room that actually needs the help?? Idk! question just came to mind for me of whether a floral ish pattern ish quilt hanging behind bench would work just as well as wallpaper. I know… not the assignment to think of wall paper alternatives but I had to say it! ** All WP pics here include the black bench which makes it confusing to know what’s right ** on the blue leaves — I’d rather see basic basic basic (read: stripes… Read more »
I love the one on the top with the white background and little red flowers and then the one two over that is more mid toned and grey background. I think one of the issues you’ve been having is you want the design to be quiet and soft but because so much is new you lost a lot of the texture an older home has so quiet and soft is reading as white and flat. Don’t be afraid to add some contrast and color!
Rebecca Atwood also has a lot of beautiful designs that I think would look lovely here. Looking forward to seeing what you choose!
So, being one for a conceptual model, I’d map these. Dark-<> light background, figurative <-> abstract natural curves <-> geometric. I see you converging on a light background, makes sense given your location. I see you preferring natural curves, also makes sense given your location. It’s the abstract <-> figurative spectrum that I wish you would explore. A toile? representational. Brian’s favorite? Verging on abstract, due to lack of detail in the leaves. Why does this matter? How much do you want your entry to be a moment for thought? Representation makes us think. Abstract makes us feel, in our bodies, often.
Anyway, I like the one with the “urn” detail. More figurative, in other words;). We had wallpaper one year when I was a kid, and I will always remember poring over those hummingbirds in the dark as I fell asleep.
I loved seeking out hidden animals on our wallpaper growing up. I’m putting wallpaper in my kitchen nook when we remodel next year, and I’m looking at designs with trees, plants, and birds.
I think the grey blue of the leaves is a pretty sombre for someone who is already suffering from SAD. It’s a far cry from the sunny Californian blues of your previous house. Personally I like the bright and colourful House of Hackney papers to warm things up but still be fun in summer. But I love a floral!
Having said that, I like a check for the modern farmhouse vibe although again, would go a stronger colour rather than the pastel.
in my own house, I’ve gone These Walls Direction in Eucalypt to offset my own florals. Bear in mind I also live in a hot Mediterranean climate with a lot of sunshine.
https://www.thesewalls.com.au/wallpaper/p/pcnn8djsw6gwdg4-yl2w9-j2dwc-f5e8b-4xdk2-77b6j-964ck-tyded-yj4zp-s8nfa-pjkzn-6farz-ysd3p-llayy-hpwce-7hgs9-jtb3s-9ckae-sgewt-rft6y-8tspd-rdtlt-cp4n3-ask63-r5ag6-b8rhy
Just had to say, the one Brian likes reminds me of the wallpaper Charlotte used in her dining room redo on SATC (the series, not the movie). 🙂
Brian’s choice would have been mine too. If you really want to go all the way Scandinavian/Nordic Farmhouse, you could do a bench/daybed like these. They’re very narrow but useful. My family in Finland have them everywhere. Can even nap on them in a pinch.
https://www.chairish.com/product/4949919/antique-19th-century-gustavian-swedish-rustic-pine-trundle-daybed-bench-sofa
So agree! After having one, I find myself looking to put more all around the house. Especially in areas with windows and bright light. Resting or napping in sunbeams is so uplifting.
Agree that the red door really needs something that doesn’t clash. No matter the pattern or color, I think it’s important to create a sense of arrival and welcome at the entry. I’m sure whichever one you pick will be great. I prefer scandi but more traditional than modern.
Something I really like about Brian’s pick is that it would allow you to go really bold/ funky with a piece of art. It seems really versatile like it can read really simple and serene or be a backdrop for something more opinionated.
As an Oregonian I am definitely feeling the SAD. We should have clear skies for a little while so hopefully that will help. Now wallpaper is tough because there are so many great options. Many will look great but finding “the one” is tough. I like the one Brian picked but feel like it’s missing something. This one caught my eye after taking a quick glance: VINING WALLPAPER in SAND – Kelly Ventura Design
I’m always going to look to Josef Frank for something like this: cheerful and classic, and a small space like that can take a pattern.
If I had to narrow the choices down, I would start by putting similar papers together and removing the rest, such as “all tree/toile” styles, then choose your one favorite from that group and set the others aside. Now do it again with the large scale florals, only choosing one winner. Do again for the other similar types of wallpaper theme, until you have a total of 5-6 winning ones for a single representation from each group. Now, you and Brian can sit down and choose an overall winner from a much smaller, curated group of options. You can also use your #2 or #3 choices elsewhere in the house!
I love the ones that look like scattered wildflowers. They remind me of the pictures Cali (Studio Campo) took of clippings from your yard. The one on the top row with tiny red flowers and scattered leaves, etc. would be so lovely, would tie in the red door and is VERY Scandy farmer to me. I also like the one with more muted flower colors. Team wildflowers here. 🙂
I think the entry is going to be beautiful! It already looks serene and great, with the fab new window, light fixture (I’ve also always liked that rug) – and I love the new bench that you’ve ordered. Wallpaper-wise, many of these are lovely choices, including the watercolour leaves, but I’d maybe consider a wallpaper that’s another colour than blue? Perhaps something warmer? And thanks for flagging the Kelly Ventura papers, this made me take a look, and they’re great 🙂 Hmm, also two other lines you might want to consider are Eskayel (also watercolour, lean more modern, but could be interesting), and Timorous Beasties (crossing traditional with quirky). Oh, and maybe some of the Hamilton Weston prints. And sympathy on the SAD front! I agree with the folks who suggested light therapy in the morning, and cardio + lots of glowy lights and other cosy details from late afternoon on tend to be helpful too to offset the winter gloom. Hope you feel better! On light lamps: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-sad-lamps.html
The Eskayel Presidio design is so good, soft and stand out at the same time: https://eskayel.com/product/presidio-sol-grasscloth/
oh my god this is gorgeous
Brian’s choice was the one I immediately gravitated toward as well.
This one from Kelly Ventura is really good too; has a similar watercolor feel/texture but it’s little more graphic: https://www.kellyventura.com/collections/wallpaper/products/9njb6sn30eisxr8i8aa9oh42o16qzs-cskng-jhxah-z4ck5-lfyd8-23593-jdar7-369ad-f92br-am5xd-64mjx-rlh6c-s47yx-37fz2-eygkd-8z5ba-5ybng
Have you looked at Chasing Paper? I did a wall in my laundry/mudroom with one of their papers and it’s excellent. I used peel and stick and it’s held up beautifully. Perhaps that’s a consideration if you want a bit more flexibility to change it in time without damaging all that lovely new drywall. https://chasingpaper.com/products/dusk
LOL… at first glance, I thought you’d done a wallpaper collage (like Angel from Escape to the Chateau)!🤣
That would be so interesting and delightfully weird!
I dunno how on earth you’re going to choose!
I have heavily textured walls, so I’m really happy wallpaper-choosing isn’t a thjng I’ll be doing!😀
My eyeba3awaitthe entry reveal with much anticipation.
❤️ Angel from Escape! I love her whimsical style and commitment to doing what it uniquely “her”!
Time to hang the twinkle light curtains! You showed them here, I think. I tried it and, sure enough, it drives away the darkness.
I like the blue watercolor leaves one, too!
Oh man, those Kelly Ventura papers had me literally gasping at my computer screen. GORGEOUS, PLEASE BUY AND INSTALL SO I CAN LIVE THROUGH YOU BC I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD. I actually don’t like those watercolor leaves – seeing the installed pics on the product page make it look dated to me? Kind of 90s and boring maybe? Can’t wait to see what you do with this lovely little space and no I don’t think it needs to tie into the red door. The red door is only outside and it is its own little moment out there.
I completely agree. There is nothing wrong with the watercolor leaves but it looks so dated to me and not in a good way. I think you should look into a mural. It can can be soft.
Yes, completely agree about the watercolor leaves looking 90s and boring. Please, Emily, PLEASE don’t choose that one! This is your chance to make your entryway a WOW moment and make people excited to walk in your home. The watercolor leaves will just be so blah.
Brians decision wallpaper, personally I think proportion and scale is an issue that catches a lot of people. Have thought or shown him how it will look in big scale in that small room?
proportionally out of all the blue wallpapers the 5 around that print, that wimpy leaf is the only one that doesn’t look like it will be able to hold the space. I know it isn’t a feature, or even in the next few support pieces of that room, however it has to be more then what looks like a few mistake marks on a wall.
While the traditional florals and toile-ish designs are beautiful they don’t sing with your overall theme, there’s a little too much definition in the details, so I see why you’re looking for something more soft & organic. I’d be curious to see some more scattered wildflower designs and the ones below:
These Kelly Ventura ones stood out:
MEADOW IN LINEN ON PAPERWEAVE GRASSCLOTH:https://www.kellyventura.com/collections/wallpaper/products/meadow-in-linen-on-paperweave-grasscloth
A warmer option like MEADOW WALLPAPER IN SHELL: https://www.kellyventura.com/collections/wallpaper/products/9njb6sn30eisxr8i8aa9oh42o16qzs-cskng-jhxah-z4ck5-lfyd8-23593-jdar7-369ad-f92br-am5xd-64mjx-rlh6c-s47yx-37fz2-eygkd-8z5ba-5ybng-zgcs3-m7wpz-h5k5y-xfwas
It’d be good to see a larger scale design that’s more mural than wallpaper (and maybe you could customize the color?) https://www.kellyventura.com/collections/wallpaper/products/petale-wallpaper-in-indigo
I thought you were going to choose that bench, gorgeous! I’m excited about this room!
I’m a fan of the first Kelly Ventura option posted here. I think the first floor could use some warmth and the browns in this one would help warm up the entry. I also think the brown connects to the red door.
I like the Kelly Ventura Meadow wallpaper in Dew. I vote for any of the more atmospheric papers as I think they are lovely and interesting and I know I wouldn’t get tired of them easily.
You should definitely get one of those lamps that help combat SAD!
I agree that the main floor needs more warmth. I like this Kelly Ventura:
https://www.kellyventura.com/collections/wallpaper/products/cosmos-wallpaper-in-linen
I think that watercolor blue will look gorgeous against that red door when it is open. Light blue and pops of bright red are a beautiful combo that are hard to make work – and I think it works here very well.
I think I am in the minority here, but I would go for a stripe (I say as I plan to have stripes in every room of my own house). They can be classic, yet versatile. As much as I do like the botanical prints, I feel it is a little limiting on the rug/art you can put in the space with it without it clashing/competing; I think those would be best suited for something that isn’t so much of an entry/walkthrough space.
Oh, such pretty options! Can’t go wrong with any of them. I like the Kelly Ventura Vining wallpaper in Moss.
https://www.kellyventura.com/collections/wallpaper/products/vining-wallpaper-in-moss
I know whatever you decide will be lovely! Personally none of this is lifting me up but I would go for a bolder moment in here! Something that matches your instincts with the front door!
Not matching the red of the front door but matching the instincts you had to go for it!!
I’m a designer also and my 2 cents is the red door doesn’t have to have anything to do with the rest of the insides. It’s like black, a quick shot of it when it’s open is great. If you want to incorporate it fine, but it doesn’t have to rule the roost. Emily i. know you know that. remember when you brought red into the LA house.
As for the wallpaper, so many pretties , yet most seem really so quiet and a bit too soft, at least from how the computer reads them, leaning to actually a little too meh. Design fatigue is real for sure. Something different than blue here might be worth it, yellow? :)). I’ve been here daily too for so many years!
This is all very pretty.
also…
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY! DEMOCRACY IS COUNTING ON YOU!
Yawn. Get your little sticker and keep telling yourself people in positions of power always think of the ‘little people’.
Have you seen the Living Quarters botanical wall coverings? Some really special ones that might solve for everything you’re looking for in here: https://living-quarters.co/
The Sybella design is stunning but I have a feeling it’s too busy for Emily. I’d have it in my entryway for sure though!
It’s Sibylla, https://living-quarters.co/products/sibylla-1
Not counting the stripes and the plaids (a personal bugaboo of mine, so I’m not including them in this broad sweeping statement), I think you could choose blindfolded and be happy with whatever you chose from this selection (not the stripes and plaids). But, I know it’s all different when it’s YOUR wallpaper.
As an aside, I lived with my husband’s ex-wife’s wallpaper for TWENTY years before he would take it down. WHAT was I thinking? I should have made that a deal breaker years before! (It was nice wallpaper, just so not me).
That Thos Moser bench is *gorgeous* (although my 4yo would 100% be riding matchbox cars up the back and shooting them off the arms). My mom has a floral wallpaper in her entry (kind of the inverse of the green one right above the bench–pink with green leaves etc.) and it’s so beautiful. I can see how Brian’s option would work–kind of quiet and welcoming, and easy to coordinate with decor in the living rom.