Dec. 13
DECK THE WALLS: Cole & Son’s Birch Wallpaper
By Lynn Byrne. A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was time and place where wallpaper was not cool, and the only place to shop for it was your local hardware store.
I still had it in my house. (Somewhat embarrassing early marriage photos to close this post.)
Yes, I have always loved wallpaper. I write about it often here at Decor Arts Now. From now on, however, I plan to signal a post on wallpaper with the phrase, “Deck the Walls.” I have a Pinterest board with the same name.
It won’t be a regularly scheduled column. Loyal readers know I don’t stick to a “posting” schedule, preferring to write on topics as the spirit moves me. But since I so love wallpaper, you can guarantee there will be future posts on the topic. And now you will be able to find them. Just search the phrase, “Deck the Walls.” My Pinterest board will help with that too.
First up is an all time favorite: Cole & Son’s Birch wallpaper, officially known as Contemporary II.
Examples are not hard to find, but that only serves to make my heart grow fonder.
Here it is in a clothing store, Black Squirrel Outfitters, in my home town of Pelham. The cardboard buffalo and deer heads are awfully cool too. 
I spotted it yesterday on the Material Girls’ blog, 
That led to my friend Sue from the Zhush sharing a snap of the paper in her ski house (lucky gal). 
Sue says she was inspired by this photo of a room by Healing Barsanti from House Beautiful (I found this picture via the Zhush). 
I love how designer Philip Gorrivan used the paper in this entry way.
Photo from Canadian House & Home. 
It looks fantastic in this nursery.
Photo from At Home In Arkansas via Pinterest. 
The faux bois mirror in this bathroom really sets it off.
Photo via Bromeliad
And I just adore it in this living room.
Photo via Renotalk.com
Larry and my boys threaten a hunting/ski cabin now and again. If that ever comes to fruition, they are going to have a hard time keeping the birch wallpaper out of there.
Here are some links to just a handful of my other wallpaper posts that you might have missed:
- Tennis Anyone? (this paper would be so cute in a summer house)
- Botanical Beauties (wallpaper becomes fashion)
- Gussy up the Kitchen with Wallpaper (I love wallpaper in the kitchen since FOR-EV-UH, as you will see below)
- Modern Nature Wallpaper from Schumacher (each one is fantastic)
- The Nest Wallpapers from Schumacher (made from REAL FEATHERS folks)
- William Morris, Still Fresh After All These Years (can’t leave him out)
- Cole & Son’s Lily Wallpaper (another obsession)
- C.F.A. Voysey Hits Primetime (if you like William Morris, don’t miss this)
And those early marriage shots? Ok, I will cough them up.
That is my college freshman in this next Christmas photo decorating the tree. Take note of the yellow stripe wallpaper in the background. I hung that paper 18 years ago, and I haven’t lived in that house for 10 years. The paper is still installed. 
Can’t say the same about my kitchen papers (there were 3). And I know I wouldn’t choose them again. But hey, I had to clean up an aging kitchen with a zero budget. Cheap and cheerful, as they said back in the day. And I am sure you believe me now, when I tell you that I really did buy all of the papers at the hardware store. This shot is from the twins’ second birthday. They are now 16. The boys are with their Pop. 
Yep, still love wallpaper.
