Modern metallic wallpapers from Graham & Brown

Above: Viva by Barbara Hulanicki

Like many, we’ve chosen to have plain painted walls here at home and introduced colour and pattern with furniture and accessories rather than go down the wallpaper route. Which means that I can safely enjoy poring over pictures of fabulous wallpapers, relaxed in the knowledge that I don’t have to choose a favourite out of the many, many amazing designs and colourways, and then also live with it happily for a serious amount of time. Which would be far too challenging for the interiors commitment-phobe that I am.

What I soon came to realise, though, after yet another cry of “Ooh, how gorgeous, just LOOK at that colour/pattern/etc …” was that, more often than not, the name that kept cropping up under these pictures was that of Graham & Brown, a Lancashire-based company that’s been making wallpaper since 1946.

Today’s theme, though, is modern metallic wallpapers. Since its emergence last year, the current interest in coloured metallics for all kinds of interiors products shows no sign of waning, with rose gold, bronze, and particularly copper being added to the traditional gold and silver.

Well, it turns out that Graham & Brown have long been acquainted with the popularity of metallics for home decor; the founders Harold Graham and Henry Brown started out just after the Second World War by procuring a large supply of surplus metallic paper, and the necessary equipment to turn it into extremely desirable wallpaper. As their website notes, “The public, desperate for things to help brighten up their homes following the hard years of war, snapped it up so fast Graham & Brown could barely meet demand”.

Obviously, back in 1946 it was a case of “needs must” rather than purely a design choice, as there was actually a severe shortage of all types of paper. These days, though, Graham & Brown’s combinations of pattern, colour and metallic highlights are rather more considered, and produce some of the most stunning contemporary designs available. Don’t just take my word for it – they’ve recently been awarded CoolBrands UK status for the third year in a row.

For the modern metallic look for walls think subtle sheen, rather than garish glitz, and see how these designs shimmer and glow with style, elegance and glamour. Hmmm, maybe my off-white emulsioned walls are looking a little bland after all …

Top of page and above: Viva by design legend Barbara Hulanicki, who founded the iconic Biba fashion store in 1964.

Above and below: Hula in Pale Green and Graphite, from the same range. These are quintessential Biba, contemporary reworkings of Art Deco motifs, reproduced as large-scale repeats for these wallpaper designs. Although very classic patterns, they’re incredibly versatile and, as illustrated here, can be paired with retro or contemporary furnishings to great effect.

The metallic effect is very subtle; the collection is printed on a clay-coat paper unique to Graham & Brown. This gives a wonderful, smooth matt finish to which gloss and metallic embellishments are added.

Above: The delicate, graphic and rather op-art Dixie

Below: Interlace. Light and dark shades and shapes reminiscent of 1930’s textile designs.

Left: Soprano. This striking design is my personal favourite, and I love how they’ve styled this shot. Graham & Brown say:

“The Soprano is a stunning geometric diamond design and a true modern classic. The shapes may hark back to the halcyon days of 1960s and 1970s design, but the crisp colours and sharp edges give this wallpaper a thoroughly modern feel. The striking colours are underpinned by a subtle metallic overprint”.

Above: Lucid. Soft fluid waves and linear metallic detailing.

Below: From one of their latest designer collections, Ling by Steven Leung, as seen in Elle Decoration February 2013. An award-winning and internationally-renowned interior designer and architect, Steve Leung fuses Asian cultural and artistic influences into striking contemporary designs. This eastern-inspired trellis has a clever 3-dimensional look due to the mixture of heights, textures and metallic highlights within the design.