Colourful kitchen wallpaper from KitchenWalls

I have a couple of friends who are renovating their kitchens at the moment, so I’m *helping* them by indulging in some fantasy kitchen shopping on the pretext of assisting with research.  On my travels through the interiors magazines, I came across this genius idea. It’s a specialist kitchen wallpaper that’s water and heat resistant, so it’s completely suitable for using as a splashback behind your sink or hob – even gas hobs, apparently.

KitchenWalls, a Dutch company, uses eco UV-resistant inks and a heavy-duty  pvc wallpaper to produce their vibrant and quirky contemporary designs. All of which means that the wallpaper can be cleaned very easily with warm water and a soft cloth and, according to the makers, “Even the most terrible stains like grease or tomato sauce will disappear without effort”.

More good news – they add that the wallpaper is simple to apply using the special glue that’s supplied, and can also be very easily removed from your walls (and even re-used).  Which makes it perfect for when you don’t want the hassle or expense of doing traditional tiling, or where you can’t fix anything permanent to the walls – in a rental home for example.

Or, thinking about it, for interiors commitment-phobes like myself who have trouble choosing a favourite design – especially when I know it’s going to be long-term. It’s one thing to change pictures or cushion covers every few years, but tiled walls are something you’re going to living with for a while.

There’s a great range of designs, from industrial concrete and reclaimed wood to modern reworkings of traditional tile patterns, through contemporary geometrics and trompe-oeil effects.  This very contemporary kitchen wallpaper collection includes a designer range too, including the UK’s very own Kirath Ghundoo. Here are some of my favourites – see what you think:

Of course, this wallpaper’s not just confined to the kitchen.  The bathroom is an obvious choice, as above, but it can be used anywhere at all that you fancy. Here are some great ideas:

I’m particularly taken with the fake glass bricks and trompe-oeil shelving above. Probably best not to use that last one in the kitchen though – folk will be trying to put glasses and crockery on non-existent shelving … could get messy.

Images: www.kitchen-walls.com