 Deck the Walls
Custom and unique wall designs can bring sparkle and pizazz to your home
By Rebecca Larsen
You name what you want and design companies can put it on your wall: leather, linen, beads, stone, marble, mosaic, gold leaf, mother-of-pearl, even murals replicating a famous oil painting. Here is a sample of some of the vibrant new ideas:
An Old World look with a contemporary feel
New from Walker Zanger of Sylmar, Calif., is the Contessa collection of terra cotta tiles using themes from Spain, Italy and Morocco that have been streamlined for a modern setting, says public relations representative Zsavonne Heathcock. The hand-painted tiles can line walls in any room of the house. Also new is the Tesoro collection in two styles: a silver-leaf etched pattern on dark gray limestone or gleaming white marble circles on a gold-leaf background (shown at left). Tesoro tiles are hand finished by Italian craftsmen and feature a mixed-media technique that has become a popular trend. Tesoro tiles are often used in a group, rather than to cover an entire wall, in part because of their cost: $874 for four tiles in the gold-leaf style, for example. Available from Facings of America in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Photos courtesy of Walker Zanger.
www.walkerzanger.com
Hand painted, eco-friendly wall coverings
Among new designs from Avignon Wallcoverings of Phoenix is its Ogura Elite collection, handcrafted from 100 percent kozo fiber from the bark of Thailand’s native mulberry tree. Avignon artisans paint layers of color on a base to create elegant patterns and textures. Ogura Elite wall coverings come in 25-inch by 36-inch untrimmed panels. Panels can be removed in one complete, clean piece, which make them ideal for repair or redecorating. They’re plush panels with minimal seams. They’re also more elegant and sophisticated than faux painting and provide more depth and texture, says Caryn Outwater, co-owner of the Ahwatukee firm. All Avignon wall coverings are perfect for accent walls or for entire rooms. Available from interior designers. Photos courtesy of Avignon Wallcoverings.
www.avignonwallcoverings.com
Fabric or leather on walls
Sound Resolution Specialist (SRS) of Phoenix, designer of home theaters, also creates elegant padded fabric and leather walls for other rooms of the house using acoustical technology developed by Whisper Walls of Aurora, Colo. SRS owner Todd Siekierski says padded leather or synthetic suede walls make great choices for a study, a gentlemen’s den, game rooms and bedrooms. The leather comes in dozens of colors and types, and prices vary depending on choices. Siekierski has done mohair ceilings and red padded leather walls in a billiard room. Padded or upholstered panels can be curved to fit walls with unusual shapes. They provide rich textures and absorb sound. Photo courtesy of JAG Photography, Cyber Sound & Security, and Sound Resolution Specialist.
www.soundrs.com
www.whisperwalls.com
Mother of pearl patterns
New from Maya Romanoff of Skokie, Ill., are wall tiles that feature shells handworked in a chevron pattern and available in four colors. Crafted from capiz shells, the tiles are ideal for powder room walls, but also as accents in the master bath, master bedroom or living room, says Tathiana Rosado, public relations representative for the company. Another new release is Beadazzled Leaf, a variation on the company’s Beadazzled collection. The Leaf group, an elegant possibility for bath or bedroom, is made by adding metallic leaf brush strokes on a field of glass beads. Some 10 colors are available and Beadazzled Leaf is sold in 3-yard rolls. Available from John Brooks in Phoenix. Photos courtesy of Maya Romanoff.
www.mayaromanoff.com
Lush colors on stone tile create stunning murals 
StoneImpressions of San Diego produces murals and accent pieces on natural stone. Not a decal or a heat transfer, the company’s process produces an image with greater depth than hand painting can. In the past, the images had colors that were somewhat muted, says Ernie Slone of StoneImpressions, but improvements have made colors very vibrant. You can reproduce paintings of Old Masters or create a custom design using a photograph, or a fabric or wallpaper design in a mural. Designers can search through a library of thousands of images to find what they want. Cost varies depending on size and image. Available from Bellagio Tile in Scottsdale, Innovative Wine Cellars in Scottsdale and Tucson and Tile World and Fractured Earth in Tucson. Photos courtesy of StoneImpressions.
www.stoneimpressions.com
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