Wallpaper Lust

What does it mean when you start having fantasies about wallpaper? Someone please diagnose me because I cannot get this birdcage wallpaper by Graham & Brown out of my head. A quiet evening flipping through TV channels and stopping at teen drama Make It or Break It turned into a wallpaper obsession. The birdcage wallpaper on set instantly caught my eye. It's adorable and fun and I want everything I own covered in it. Ok, maybe too extreme...but it's cute right?

Link - Graham & Brown

Nature

After the Rock and Shop Vintage Market on Saturday I strolled into the nearby LabourLove Gallery. I was immediately impressed by the lovely work and Nature series created by Kelly Dew. Her large and pattern filled illustrations are playful and instantly brighten the space. I look forward to a future gallery visit and following the evolution of each artist.

Alma Larroca

Color, pattern and retro pieces make up the wonderful graphics and assemblages by Alma Larroca. I love the shapes and objects that come together to create each unique work. Don't you feel the need to collage now?

{found via Moloko+Magazine}

Adorable Suitcases

These adorable suitcases, available at Elias & Grace, are meant for kids, but we all know the big kid in us would display them, use them and show them to all our big kid friends.

Aren't they sweet?! Check out these and more little/big kid items here!

Wallpaper Lust

I love the romantic and organic feel of the wallpapers, fabrics and designs by Louise Body. Like the bird wallpapers, which would be a lovely addition in a bedroom or bathroom. And how about the charcoal lace pattern - wouldn't that look amazing in a large closet/dressing room? Louise Body's fabrics also offer a soft, natural look as well as her plant life panels perfect for a dark room in need of a little green.

What's in a Pattern?

Are patterns a lovely decoration or do they add distinction and definition to one's character?

Julie Chang addresses these questions within her work by intertwining traditional Chinese textile design, European wallpaper patterns, and contemporary graphic design to juxtapose elements of identity with visual icons from her experience of growing up in Orange County. She says, "I find myself sensitized to the ways in which patterns serve as powerful and ubiquitous markers of class - as symbols of arriving and belonging."

Obviously Chang's work is beautiful - the colors, the patterns, and those amazing plexiglass chandeliers. But, her work also takes a deeper look into the meaning of patterns. Textile patterns originated to represent an aspect of one's life like wearing a distinct pattern to inform others of your status or community. Today they are mainly used for decoration - so is there a way to go back to creating beautiful patterns with meaning?

What are your patterns saying about you?

Wallpaper gets a Makeover

Dan Funderburgh takes wallpaper to a whole new level with witty and engaging designs. His wallpaper designs mix traditional and floral elements with obscure objects like bikes, fire hydrants, light bulbs and even skull camo. Funderburgh also designs for Flavor Paper, a company that creates unique handscreened wallcoverings. They can even create custom wallpaper with your personal design and colors...how neat is that?!

Would you be daring enough for these?

Laura Williams

Freelance designer Laura Williams creates amazing illustrations and textural patterns. Laura is "a painter at heart and collagist by nature" and "she uses Photoshop to create images which curtsy to the past and spar with the future." After discovering her site through Illustration Mundo I also found out that she is a fellow North Carolina designer. Isn't it wonderful how the web leads you to talented people, both local and worldwide?!

Laura is inspiring and talented, plus she is a helpful connection. She even sent me some must-see links. For the design junkie - design:related and for the material lover - transmaterial. Check out Laura's site for more lovely work, and how about that rooster? There is something about it that draws me in!

Artist Paula Castro

Black and white, edgy, fantasy, and humor. All words to describe the work by artist Paula Castro. I love the use of illustration, mixed with unexpected results. I'm always amused by work that surprises me...and this tops the list. Above is Paula Castro's commissioned work for Evgenia Ostrovskaya.

Work featured in Truehateart Gallery in La Rochelle, France.

Beautiful line work for Gas Summer 2008 textile prints and invitations.

Titled Ink over Wallpaper. I'm assuming the cutesy wallpaper was defaced with black ink - love it - so clever!

Paula Castro even makes toilets look good. Pattern called People and Toilets for Aldo Cibic's studio. Yep, those are toilets and people on toilets...crazy genius!

Bantie Pattern Love

Soak up your pattern love with these goodies from Bantie, a young textile company based in Stockholm and founded by Ulrika Gyllstad and Wilhelmina Wiese. The two designers were tired of impersonal mass produced fabrics and took their desire to design fun and stylish fabrics. I love the colors and wonderful patterns!

See more Bantie here.

Osborne & Little

Currently inspired by the Osborne & Little roomsets and inspiration. Osborne & Little are leading fabric and wallpaper designers, and I love their fun, colorful, and funky style!