We had the pleasure of chatting with Vancouver’s hottest wallpaper designer, Markella Mildenberger. Markella of the Red Palette, a boutique Vancouver wallpaper and textile company has transformed a niche business into a sustainable one by turning her paintings into wallpaper masterpieces. Check out our Q&A below on what inspires her, and the top wallpaper and design trends in 2016.
How did you get into textile/wallpaper design?
I have always been creative, and would often spend hours refinishing surfaces, tabletops, walls, tiles, anything I could get my hands on. With a father who was a house painter and frequented household renovations, I was exposed to the world of wallpaper long before I created The Red Palette. I was able to cultivate my passion for art and design, my out of the box approach to design and colour and create a wonderful fusion with my work into The Red Palette.
What are your top tips for incorporating wallpaper into your home?
I recommend finding a handful of designs that you truly love and narrowing down your selection to the one you feel speaks to you. You need to consider your space and your personal habits. Ask yourself how often you redecorate, what you love about the wallpaper, what would need to change in the existing space to accommodate the paper, and lastly, where it will go.
Wallpaper has traditionally been difficult to apply and remove. Is this the case of the wallpaper of today?
Some traditional methods of installation are still widely practiced today by skilled installers, however with technological advancements in the wallpaper printing industry, it isn’t necessary to paste a wall the way we used to. There are several companies who carry pre-pasted water activated wallpapers, even repositionable wallpapers. Most pre-pasted wallpapers are fairly easy to remove as well, without taking your wall with them.
What Inspires your designs?
I see colour differently and use colour in ways that push that preverbal design envelope. Florals for me take on new life when I sketch them in charcoal and push in watercolours in vibrant juxtaposing palettes, and I love to use imagery that is far from typical into what looks to be traditional. Ultimately my imagination and curiosity feed off of one another and I let my hands do the talking.
What are the top wallpaper and pattern trends for 2016?
I’m finding more and more of my clients are asking to see the bold, vibrant or dramatic designs in my collections paired with their existing decor. More of that hand selected, one of a kind feel is what is trending – we’re getting away from looking at wallpaper as just a home decor add on, to selecting pieces that we love as an art piece.
What is your favourite wallpaper pattern from your line from Spring 2016?
Sometimes when I create a design, I immediately want to redecorate my space and incorporate it because I love it so much. For spring 2016 I think my loves right now are the tin ceiling tiles line- I designed these imagining tall ceilings, exposed brick and concrete textures. And my florals- because they have that boutique essence, really chic and totally out of the box (as usual).
Is the wallpaper trend here to stay?
Because technology has played such a large role in wallpapers, and designs are more varied and customizable than ever before, wallpaper will remain a go to medium. European countries have never lost the wallpaper ‘trend’ and it’s there that you can find some incredible old papers dating back to 18th century or older with that one of a kind artisanal feel that we are now resurrecting again today.
Who is your design mentor?
There are artists whose work I greatly admire from Frida Khalo, Salvador Dali, to street artist Banksy. I love to browse wallpaper designs but I try not frequent it because I like my work to keep its own authenticity and remain something I conjured up on my own.
How are you refreshing your space for Spring?
I’m constantly planning and until I find myself in a larger space, I’m designing smaller space storage and designing some furniture that can accommodate smaller living spaces. I’m planning on using metallics, like galvanized pipe, copper, and infusing some of my chic wallpaper for a juxtaposed feel.
We have to ask, how are you celebrating Valentine’s this year?
I try to use Valentine’s Day to catch up with friends, family or people I have lost touch with over the year. Instead of sending out the standard Christmas card, I like to send out a Valentine. This year, it’s catch up time with my two boys, the loves of my life. Maybe a date, dinner and they always get a potted plant. Boys need sweetness too.
We’re giving one lucky reader a free in home consultation and a free roll of Markella’s wallpaper, valued at an estimated $500. To enter, please provide your email address using the form below to become subscribed to our ‘Vancouver’ newsletter. For a bonus entry, share this post on Facebook and like our page. Vancouver residents only please. Contest ends on February 15th. Good luck!
Markella will be at the BC Home + Garden Show on February 18 and 19th presenting the topic Back and Better than Ever Before: Wallpaper.
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