Citrine Communiqué No. 2 - "It's a Wrap" - A Tribute to Wallpaper and Set Design
There’s a certain decadence about wallpaper. Whether it’s a tiny powder room or a sumptuous drawing room, the appearance of wallpaper puts an immediate stake in the ground. A thoughtfully selected splash of wallpaper brings gravitas and glamour to a design concept that is as relevant today as it was in times past. After all it takes some degree of confidence to commit to wall coverings; they can be expensive and once installed, tricky to change. Wallpaper can be as elegant or sassy as the person who chose it - or conversely, an audacious wallpaper might be the antidote for the soul who secretly considers him/herself to be a bit dull!
From cheeky and eccentric English wallpapers like Cole & Sons to more opulent hand painted wallpapers like De Gournay, we feel that wallpaper in all its impudent glory and timelessness deserves a standing ovation. This is particularly palpable in the world of art production and set design in television and film. Certain directors go to great lengths to create a fully immersive experience with the set design such that the interiors have as much character and presence as the characters that inhabit them. Think of Wong Kar Wai’s sultry sets or the lurid pastiche of Pedro Almodovar’s mise-en-scène.
With just the right backdrop, irreverent directors create symbolic intrigue and psychological nuance which adds texture and amplifies the narrative. Wes Anderson, the king of enough-is-never-enough has used wallpaper to great effect in most of his films to the point that the walls almost become an extension of the characters in his narratives or maybe even a starring role! So wild about wallpapers was Wes, he developed his own line, Anderson Aesthetic collection by MuralsWallpaper. Similarly set designer Catherine Martin has a line of exotic wall coverings called Metropolis for Mokum, based on her collaborations with her husband Baz Luhrmann, the sultan of cinematic exuberance. So without further ado, here is a concise edit of some of our favorite wallpapers to have graced screens big and small. Enjoy and may you be emboldened in your own design choices!
Oversized floral wallpaper from Sex & the City “And Just Like That..” Production Design by Miguel López-Castillo and set decorator Carol Silverman
60’s florals as seen on the set of The Queen’s Gambit. Production designer- Uli Hanish
Clashing colors and pattern as a psychological backdrop in Pedro Almodovar’s “All About My Mother” - Production design by Antxón Gómez
Cole & Sons Palms wallpaper makes an appearance in the British TV comedy ‘Sex Education’
“If Beale Street Could Talk” a 2018 film by Barry Jenkins based on a James Balwin novel - Set design by Kris Moran
Wong Kar Wai’s “In the Mood for Love” - Art Direction & Set Designer: Beatrice Rossetti Studio
Scalamandre Zebra wallpaper plays a supporting role in “The Royal Tenenbaums” by Wes Anderson.
De Gourney wallpaper guest stars in HBO’s series Sharp Objects with Patricia Clarkson - production designer John Paino