GOING GREEN
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day…responsibly going green is a beautiful thing. York wallpapers are sourced from managed forests and use nonpolluting inks.
Science now confirms that connecting with nature improves health and happiness. Contact us for ordering information.
EARTH DAY 2020
The color of harmony and health. Green is a generous, relaxing color that revitalizes our body and mind. It balances our emotions and leaves us feeling safe and secure. It also gives us hope, with promises of growth and prosperity, and it provides a little bit of luck to help us along the way.
Today of all days we're thinking green as we celebrate #EarthDay2020 with wallcovering selections from Thibaut.
Contact our office for samples, pricing, and orders.
SAINT GEORGE PARADE OF HOMES 2020
Each year teams of architects, builders, contractors, and designers gather to create the St. George Parade of Homes in southern Utah…a must see for anyone interested in new residential products and concepts.
Many of the homes are built to blend with the surrounding landscape creating a seamless integration between nature and man.
HANDCRAFTED NATURALS - WALLCOVERING COLLECTION
TREND FORECAST • JUNIPER
JUNIPER
The resilience of the juniper tree is one of Mother Nature’s greatest wins. Strong and long-lived- they defy the elements while adding beauty to their surroundings. This deep “just picked” fresh color has rich malachite undertones that pair perfectly with contemporary color combinations.
TREND FORECAST • CORAL
CORAL
A pinkish shade of orange, coral gives us a nature-inspired saturated color that begs to be played with. Paired with almost any color, it unarguably brings abundant life and energy to any space.
TREND FORECAST • SPARROW
SPARROW
York Wallcoverings 2019 Color of the Year inspired by the feathers of the sparrow, gray and brown translates to both modern and organic styles. Rich yet unobtrusive, this taupe’s changeling nature makes it a perfect touchstone in any color palette.
TREND FORECAST • NORTHWEST LODGE
The light and waters of the Northwest Pacific coasts are inspiration for a fresh approach to rustic retreats.
TREND FORECAST • SAGE
Elegant yet earthy, this tranquil shade of traditional green sets the mood in any space. Modernized by pairing sage’s silvery undertones with fresh, cooler palettes bring this otherwise vintage staple into today’s decor.
TREND FORECAST • DESTINATION DESERT
The desert has emerged as the style inspiration of a generation drawn by minimalism, spirituality and the eclecticism of unfettered personal choice. Check out these new York Wallcoverings to make your own desert oasis.
TREND FORECAST • MAKING EVERY DAY EARTH DAY
York Wallcoverings has been a leader in green initiatives since 1970.
2018 Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE
Internationally-recognized Kips Bay Decorator Show House, hosted by premier youth organization Kips Bay Boy & Girls Club, lands in the Upper East Side and claims 110 East 76thStreet as its 2018 location.
The town house, which is currently on the market for $51,000,000, is located on 76th Street is comprised of seven sprawling levels with a beautiful winding staircase connecting each level. At 15,000 square feet, the 36’ wide includes tall ceilings and an abundance of windows for a light and airy feel. The estate’s ideal location, in the heart of New York City’s Upper East Side, allows for easy access to Central Park and Museum Mile. This May, the sought-after residence will call upon 22 leading interior designers to transform individual rooms before opening to the public for viewing.
THE 45th ANNUAL KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE
Each year, celebrated interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art and technology. This all began in 1973 when several dedicated supporters of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club launched the Kips Bay Decorator Show House to raise critical funds for much needed after school and enrichment programs for New York City children. Over the course of four decades, this project has grown into a must-see event for thousands of design enthusiasts and is renowned for sparking interior design trends throughout the world.
125 EAST 65TH STREET – HISTORY OF THE HOUSE
The Upper East Side is known for its grandiose townhomes and stately buildings. Lenox Hill, the neighborhood that stretches from East 60th Street to 77th Street, is no exception to this rule and serves as a true testament to the stunning architecture of New York’s Upper East Side. Given the current scenery of the Upper East Side, however, one may find it difficult to believe that the neighborhood was not always home to the exquisite buildings that exist today.
Until the second half of the 19th century, the Upper East Side was owned by the City of New York and was entirely forest or farmland, essentially untouched due to the lack of streets above what is now midtown. Due to the expansion of streetcars and carriages, uptown became far more accessible and alluring. This combined with a real estate bubble that had land prices increasing as much as 200% allowed for a construction boom in the Upper East Side, with investors commissioning rows of townhouses to be occupied by businessmen and merchants. The popular style at the time was the brownstone, featuring three to four stories with a raised parlor and a tall front stoop, which still line the streets of the Upper East Side today.
During this period of growth in the latter half of the 19th century and stretching into the early 20th century, architect Charles A. Platt’s firm emerged at the forefront of the American architecture scene. His Georgian style mansions and country houses are widely regarded as the finest American examples of their genre. To this day, historians and architects alike consider Platt’s work to be some of the most influential of 20th century design. Prior to entering into the architecture sphere, Platt was a successful landscape designer. Using this experience, Platt heavily emphasized the amalgamation of interior and exterior spaces, which is highly evident in his projects. He is most recognized for designing the Freer Gallery in Washington, D.C., Maxwell Court in Rockville, Connecticut, the Park Avenue Armory in New York, and Villa Turicum in Lake Forest, Illinois. Throughout his career, Platt remained a fixture in popular design magazines, which often highlighted his unique aesthetic and keen ability to bring nature into urban settings.
Between 1930-1935, East 65th Street underwent complete redevelopment to become largely what it looks like today. In 1905, Platt was commissioned to build 125 East 65th Street, which, flash-forward over 110 years would become the site of the 2017 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Interestingly, the townhouse has housed only two occupants since it was built over 100 years ago.
The neo-Georgian townhouse was originally built for the American physiologist, Frederic S. Lee (1859-1939), who fulfilled his research career at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. It is most notably recognized, however, for being the headquarters of the China Institute, which moved into the space on December 1, 1944 as a result of magazine magnate Henry R. Luce’s substantial contribution. Henry R. Luce generously gifted “China House” in memory of his father, who had been a missionary and educator in China until his death in 1941. George Nelson, editor of Architectural Forum magazine, was charged with designing the floor plan, implementing a 424-square-foot art gallery in the ground-floor front room.
The China Institute remained headquartered at 125 East 65th Street until 2015, when it relocated. Up until 1966, the house hosted Chinese art exhibitions for special occasions. In 1966, the ‘China House Gallery,’ which would be renamed the ‘China Institute Gallery’ in 1994, came to exist due to a grant from investment banker and Chinese art collector, Myron S. Falk Jr., who acted as the first chairman of The China Institute. He, along with co-chairs Mrs. Edwin F. Stanton and Mrs.Edward M. Pfluenger, made the exhibitions a permanent feature, beginning with ‘Selections of Chinese Art: From Private Collections in the Metropolitan Area,’ which opened on November 15, 1966. It is they who made China House what it would come to be known as up until The China Institute’s relocation almost two years ago.
There are many remarkable features of the townhouse, perhaps that most extraordinary being its 35-foot width, making it 10 to 15 feet wider than the majority of townhouses. The ceilings are also exceptionally high, reaching 12 feet in the living room. These elements, combined with the double-width staircase, make the space truly unique and grandeur. The house still holds onto some of its past as ‘China House,’ with the outdoor courtyard still intact. 125 East 65th Street’s rich history truly shines and will give residents a chance to live in one of New York’s most prestigious neighborhoods in a home built by one of America’s most notable architects.
ART IMITATES LIFE...'THE HOLIDAY'
One of our favorite movies that showcase a variety of interiors is ‘The Holiday’ a story about two women swapping houses for a much needed vacation from their respective lives.
From England, Iris’s home is a charming country cottage in a small village. As it turns out, the cottage wasn’t real – its fake exterior was built in 2 weeks in the middle of a field. The crew created everything in the movie, including the landscaping and stone wall. As the film takes place around Christmas time, fake snow was added to the scene.
Iris swaps her house with Amanda in California – getting what seems like the better deal between the two! It’s an extraordinary contemporary home that, in this case, is real, and is located in Pasadena and built by architect Wallace Neff.
The interiors were actually very expensive sets built on a sound stage. When the film opened in 2006 it forecasted many trends that are still in vogue today – gray and taupe color scheme, natural rugs, crisp white upholstery, and oversized lantern styled light fixtures.
Finally, Amanda meets Iris’s brother, Graham and pays a visit to his home called Mill House, the most memorable room being his daughter’s charming bedroom.
ART IMITATES LIFE...'THE ADDAMS FAMILY'
The Addams Family mansion has had several incarnations over the years. It begins with the Charles Addams cartoon depicting it as a dilapidated mansion that had been condemned.
From 1964 to 1966 the original Addams Family series ran on ABC television. Known for their macabre style, both in their personal wardrobe and their home’s interior, it is surprising to learn the actual room setting was a colorful blend of bright tones of pink and mint green!!
In 1991 the first of two films were made, resurrecting the mansion’s original exterior from the Charles Addams cartoons. The interior contains somewhere between 25 and 30 rooms, including Uncle Fester’s lab, dungeons, a vault, and a conservatory.
Even though the films were shot in color, somber palettes and dim lighting still created the creepy atmosphere.
In 2009, the Addams Family became a Broadway musical, and the set design carries on the haunted interior theme.
GLOBAL DECOR - CUBA
Tourists enter this Caribbean paradise to marvel at the fun graphic art, colorful building facades of Spanish-Colonial architecture, mid-century classic automobiles, sugar white beaches, sparkling ocean, and swaying palm trees. Cuban décor is inspired by Afro-Latin influences, vintage details, saturated color, and a touch of Art Deco. Earth tones merge with bright pastel hues of Blue, Saffron, Pink and Green creating the essence of tropical living.
To recreate this style in your home, start by adding intense color on the walls and ceiling. The Cuban color palette showcases pure pigments and deep, saturated hues, liberally applied to large spaces. If you want to bring Cuba home, this is not the time to accessorize with color; this is the time to forget neutrals even exist.
Use terra cotta tiles or natural floors to add an earthy feeling. In Cuba, colorful patterned cement tiles take the place of expensive, precious marble or ceramic tiles. These eclectic tiles take the place of patterned rugs, making your space cleaner and easier to maintain. They’re also virtually indestructible and are great for floors, walls, showers, entries, and patios. These environmentally friendly tiles are made by creating a group of four at once. Individual tiles are then rotated by 90 degrees so they make one design unit. When laid side by side, the tiles make an interlocking pattern over large areas
Vintage furnishings from 1930-1950’s are essential for the retro feeling, with motifs of carved pineapples and tobacco leaves on wooden finishes. Add bamboo or other natural materials to infuse the native island scheme. Trade with Cuba stopped in 1960, which is why the streets of Havana are crowded with beautiful classic cars. Look for whimsical vintage 1950’s advertising posters, car photos, cigar boxes, and license plates to bring an authentic vibe.
With United States relations with Cuba easing for the first time in fifty years, soon Americans will be flying back and forth to this colorful island, bringing back inspiration of the strange, yet harmonious hybrid of mid-century tropical for years to come.
ART IMITATES LIFE....'BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S
The set and costume design for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, based on Truman Capote’s bestselling novel, offer some of the most iconic props in film…from the claw foot bathtub turned sofa, to the oversized cigarette holder, and stunning wardrobe by Givenchy for star Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, along with the coolest onscreen animal ever…Cat.
The claw-foot half bathtub sofa in Holly’s living room is cushioned with pops of colour in the otherwise neutral apartment and acts as a simplistic backdrop to the action and costumes. Stacked suitcases, a Zebra rug and several junk yard objects complete the eclectic interior.
In contrast, her upstairs neighbor, struggling writer Paul Varjak’s (George Peppard) apartment has been furnished by his interior designer and wealthy lover. The abundance of gold leafed furniture provides a perfect contrast to help set out the characters personalities.
Paul’s designer has a fabulous New York apartment, too.
Later in the film Holly redecorates her apartment to reflect her interest in her new Brazilian boyfriend.
When that ill-fated romance ends, Holly finds out what is really important to her…and that includes the ever faithful Cat.
SEASONS: WINTER DECOR
The weather outside may be frightening, but inside there is nothing better than snuggling by a cozy fire. What if you could live year round in a Winter Wonderland? Here are some frosty inspirations for creating wintry interiors.
ART IMITATES LIFE....'AUNTIE MAME'
Possibly one of the most inspiring cinematic interiors was #3 Beekman Place, the ever-changing apartment of Miss Mame Dennis. Beginning in 1928 when her nephew Patrick arrives to live with her following the untimely demise of his father, Mame reinvents her apartment regularly to suit her evolving lifestyle.
Patrick and his nanny, Nora are greeted upon their arrival by a hallway that Nora describes as looking like ‘the Ladies Room at the Oriental Theater’, which includes a sculpted dragon door that has smoke coming from its nostrils and eyes that move.
Patrick meets his eccentric aunt and some of her friends in the lavish apartment. The apartment is then transformed several times as the film progresses.
A modern design is incorporated to (successfully!) unsettle Patrick’s fiancé and her family.
Finally, a Far East style is used as Auntie Mame has discovered the charms of India, and hopes to teach Patrick’s son how to ‘Live, Live, Live!!’
