The Wallpaper Book

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A wealth of design inspiration for any home: wallpaper styles to suite every taste, from nostalgic floral prints to playful retro revivals.

While it has long been an essential element of interior decor, wallpaper is currently experiencing a creative boom. This everyday material has always reflected social shifts as well as changing fashions, and now designers everywhere are rediscovering its versatility, using it to achieve a variety of imaginative effects. It can add texture, warmth, wit, or personality to any space, becoming a tranquil backdrop or a striking conversation piece. A room may be papered with a profusion of patterns, or a wallpaper mural can make a bold statement, even blurring the boundaries between design and art installation.

This book explores the art of wallpaper from its historical beginnings to the present day. Beginning with the handcrafted papiers peints of the eighteenth century through the Arts and Crafts movement, modernism, and Pop art, it traces the influences behind today's popular motifs and showcases a dazzling selection of the very best in contemporary wallpaper. Some designers are reviving and reinventing traditional craft techniques while others embrace the latest in digital printing technology, even incorporating glow-in-the-dark effects or LED lights.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Wallpaper is experiencing a resurgence, and French journalist Brunet's book shows why. She begins with wallpaper's history from ancient China to about 1980, when wallpaper fell out of fashion in Europe and the United States. Brief sections follow on wallpaper panoramas and murals, the influence of art and fashion on wallpaper design, wallpaper designed by artists, wallpaper color and pattern, wallpaper design in global culture, the New Wave of wallpaper design, and wall treatments that blur the boundaries among wallpaper, art, and sculpture. More than 230 color illustrations present hundreds of wallpaper designs in detail. Many of the papers are shown in interior settings, adding value for interior designers and DIYers. The book concludes with several lists (e.g., wallpaper collections worldwide, sources for wallpaper, further reading) and an index. Other books about wallpaper include Lesley Hoskins's 2005 The Papered Wall: The History, Patterns and Techniques of Wallpaper and Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz's 2009 Wallpaper: A History of Style and Trends. VERDICT For art and design enthusiasts, as well as for anyone who enjoys cutting-edge interior design.-Martha Smith, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

In this beautifully produced, lushly illustrated, and energetically composed visual cultural history, French journalist Brunet explores the rich artistic, design, and social value of wallpaper. The book's first section traces the fascinating history of wallpaper's "industry and artistry," from the first appearance of decorative printed paper in the 15th century to the late 18th century, when wallpaper became popularized among the European bourgeoisie, its full "democratization" in the 1960s and 1970s, and its recent resurgence. The following chapters explore the evolution of panoramic paper from the 19th century to the present; the links between the fine arts and wallpaper's craft and design, describing how Matisse, Warhol, and others integrated wallpaper into their art and in some cases also designed it; an overview of contemporary European and North American wallpaper designs; and how 21st-century designers are innovatively transforming the craft and artistry. This splendid collection concludes with visually provocative wall art by contemporary artists and interior designers that convincingly illustrates Brunet's argument that wallpaper is "an extraordinarily creative medium." The book, which includes a useful appendix of wallpaper collections, designers, and further reading, will be of great interest to designers, artists, and cultural historians. Color illus. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

CHOICE Review

The Wallpaper Book is both a sumptuous visual resource and a fascinating cultural history. French journalist Brunet explores the art, design, and social context of wallpaper from its first appearance in the 15th century to the present day. Besides providing a colorful history, the author explores how wallpaper's aesthetic has been interwoven with historical events and social changes. Brunet looks at various styles, e.g., Victorian, arts and crafts, modern, and contemporary, and wallpaper types such as painted, printed, and flocked. Many famous artists and designers (e.g., Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Andy Warhol) have considered wallpaper a legitimate artistic medium, and created their own designs. The popularity of modern wallpaper in interior design has surged recently, and this book examines influences on current wallpaper designers worldwide and their reinterpretations of many traditional motifs with their own twists. More than just an attractive coffee-table book, this volume is a rich source of inspiration. It is filled with more than 200 color illustrations and peppered throughout with interesting quotations and anecdotes, making it a useful reference for students, researchers, and designers. Included is a list of wallpaper collections, designers, and stores worldwide. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. Y. Cortes Skidmore College