SCLgram -- Design Fact -- Painterly Panels

With the advancement of digital photography and printing, artists can now translate their work onto large scale, fine art wall coverings.  These photo-realistic images are cut into panels and can be used in almost any setting from traditional to modern.


These stunning images range from old world bucolic scenes, to richly detailed panoramic murals, to subtle painterly panels that create an ombre effect on the wall.

Incorporating these fabulous panels into your design plan will create a tromp l'oeil effect (to fool the eye) that will give the room a sense of wonder and delight to all who enter.


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SCLgram -- Design Fact -- Grass Cloth

Grass cloth has been around for hundreds of years and was very popular in the 1970's.  It fell out of favor for a while, but in the last few years grass cloth is celebrating a rejuvenation and has become "de rigueur" once again.

Grass cloth wall covering has a paper back with natural grass or fibers on the front side.  Grass cloth varies in color and natural texture.  It can be fabricated with finely textured or heavier coarse grass.

Many grass cloths also integrate a metallic sheen to the grass to create a slight shimmer.  I love to use a subtle metallic grass cloth in dining rooms.  It adds a richness to the space and gives the room a lovely glow in low lighting.

The beauty of grass cloth is its natural imperfections.  It added warmth and texture to any room.  Due to the texture of grass cloth, the seams for each panel will show. Again, this adds to the beauty, warmth and interest of the cloth.

All that wonderful texture helps absorb sound and can help hide small imperfections in the walls.




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SCLgram -- Design Fact -- Textured Vinyl Wall Covering

The words "vinyl wall covering" often conjure up images of the plastic looking, shiny wallpapers that you might find in an outdated doctor's office. Fortunately, once again due to the advancement of digital photography and printing, vinyl wall covering has a new life and it is not just for commercial spaces anymore. Residential interior designers are loving the look, feel and diversity that the new textured vinyl wall coverings offer.

Most of the new vinyl wall coverings are paper or fabric backed.  They are scrubbable, strippable, resist stains and moisture and are extremely durable.  Most importantly, depending on the pattern, they can be virtually seamless.

Some textured vinyl wall coverings mimic nature as wood, stone, sand or tree bark. They can be used to add an organic element to a room and do a terrific job of fooling the eye.  Most people have to touch the walls to believe it is covered with a wall covering!

Vinyl wall covering can also be printed to look exactly like fabric or grass cloth.  These fabric "look alikes" are perfect for high use areas of the home that could use a bit of warmth and texture.  Many furniture manufactures are now reaping the benefits of textured vinyl by using it to cover tables, chests and dressers.




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SCLgram -- Does Stone Stack Up?

There is nothing I like better than adding a little texture to a room and nothing stacks up to the task like stone.

For me, incorporating stone as an element instantly grounds a space and insures a firm foundation for the room.  Stone is solid, compact and sturdy.  It has "staying power" and for some reason, it make me feel safe.

Here are a few examples of the use of stone in our projects:

For this kitchen renovation, the masons "thin" cut the stone by hand and stacked it to create a fabulous arch and focal point for the room.  The cabinets look like they are holding up the arch, but it is an illusion.  The stone is light due to cutting it thin and was installed on a box built over the cabinets.

In this family room, we gave a 20-year-old brick fireplace a serious update by covering it with 6"x24" stone "tiles" to create a stacked ledgestone facade.  This treatment gave the room a sophisticated personality and modernized the whole space.

In this living room, we used stone to enhance a space that lacked architectural drama. The homeowners installed the wall themselves by using 6"x24" stone tiles to create a fantastic feature wall.  The lighting intensifies the beauty and texture of the stone.

This well-equipped wine room and "man cave" would be not complete without a gorgeous stone fireplace.  It plays well with the tile floor and reclaimed wood walls.



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