Everything Old is New Again

Remember this David Netto room that many of us have blogged about? The beauty of it, at least to me, is that it's so unexpected. There's that very traditional scenic wallpaper in a bedroom no less, and yet any stuffiness is tempered by that sleek chrome bed and the room's rather spare color scheme (except for the pop of orange on the bed of course). This room came to mind when I was visiting Waterhouse Wallhangings website.

Of course their paper is traditional; that's because the prints are reproductions of 18th and 19th century wallpaper that was found in early American homes. The patterns themselves are really quite beautiful. But imagine using "Bargello" in a small room and hanging contemporary art on it or placing a slick black Parsons table against it. Or how about taking "Parkman House" and using it on the ceiling- that could be kind of sexy. (Something which I'm sure those Puritans did not have in mind!) In the words of Eric Clapton, "It's in the way that you use it."


Bargello


Parkman House


Devil Paper


Jolicoeur Star II


Isis


Celestial Swag


Dorothy Waterhouse, the namesake of the company, used to visit those wonderful old New England homes in search of document prints. Can you think of anything more fun and interesting than that? I can't. Am I alone?