Historic wallpaper from Bradbury & Bradbury
The wallpaper company, Bradbury & Bradbury, must be a set decorator’s dream come true. Their collection of wallpapers encompass more than a century of design styles, from Victorian to The Mod Generation of the 1970′s.
Their wallpapers are very well done and put together beautifully. And I like the way their site is organized. The Victorian aesthetic was so over the top that it’s difficult for to figure out how to put all that pattern together in a way that makes sense. So, Bradbury & Bradbury organized the Victorian era and its friend, the Arts & Crafts movement, into vignettes.
Yowza! That’s a lot of pattern. It looks good, though. Check out the decoration on the ceiling. Leave no surface untouched! This is Bradbury & Bradbury’s Dresser Collection. High ceilings help pull this look off.
I like the girlie-girl flounce in their Aesthetic Movement Collection. Is it too over-the-top? In the right room, it would work really well. The pattern takes the place of molding. It helps, however, that the existing molding is beefy.
Bradbury & Bradbury also has a nice selection of more modern patterns, which are not shown in vignettes. They run through four eras.
There are several Art Deco styles in different colorways. These are a couple I like best. True confession: I really don’t like Art Deco. I’m not sure why. It must be due to a bad experience in a previous life.
Ah yes, the 1950′s. Who says the middle of the last century was all modern? I picture this in a cute cottage kitchen with a fabric skirt under the sink. I love that look.
Next up, Sputnik and the Jet Set collection. The 1960′s was a strange leap into the modern age. I have a collection of cookbooks from this era. You would not believe what you can make with Jello and how popular prepared foods were.
Finally, the Mod-Era when girls wore go-go boots, mini skirts and had Marsha Brady hair. I like the pattern on the right best. This would look fantastic in a powder room. To make the most of this pattern, cover the walls and the ceiling. Matching fabric at the window will give you the biggest impact.
All wallpapers by Bradbury & Bradbury are handprinted. Prices start at around $50 per single roll. Be sure to check their sizes because they’re not standard. They seem to have a very good customer service department, too.
How to you feel about wallpapers v. faux finishes? Are ragged and stippled walls truly over for you?
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4 Responses to “Historic wallpaper from Bradbury & Bradbury”
Avatars are randomly assigned unless you get your own
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Posted by Joe Posch on June 8th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I have to say I have never been a fan of anything that begins with “faux.” Except for the faux pas.
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Posted by Jennifer on June 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Ever? I remember being impressed with faux marble on furniture. I think it looks better on furniture than walls.
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Posted by steve on June 8th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Thank you for the props Jennifer, we work hard to “get it right” and though faux finishes have their place, a well designed wallpaper does offer a lot in terms of pattern, scale, and the “identity” or cue a room needs sometimes when you don’t know what direction to take it…
I’m generally not a fan of wallpaper or faux finishes, but perhaps that’s due to the fact that I’ve had to peel/repair/paint over those messes from previous tenants so many times. Also, I would never know how to style pieces together with wallpaper.