Walls all too often get a bad rap. It’s a common saying… that the four walls are closing in.
The importance of tearing down walls in favor of building bridges has long been a political rhetorical standard.
And, of course, walls have for centuries been credited with “having ears.”
Well, taking the latter idiom into consideration, it might be wiser to listen to what the walls of your home are saying regarding the purpose of the rooms they define and the design that best exemplifies your style.
Wall treatment trends vary according to an individual’s or family’s wants and needs. Local experts weigh in on what clients are requesting now.
Twist on Tradition
Contrary to what many may believe, wallpaper remains a popular wall treatment. However, according to Jennifer Inners, owner of Wyomissing and West Reading-based Saylor House, it’s not your grandmother’s traditional style that’s in demand.
“We’ve been doing a lot of large, bold patterns, often geometric or floral designs,” she says.
Many of those wallpapers provide a statement punch on accent walls. Interestingly, the large-patterned papers are often used in powder rooms.
Inners sources most of her wallpapers from York Wallcoverings, a trusted regional supplier.
She also, particularly for the powder rooms, has ordered wallpaper directly from the United Kingdom.
“A lot of very traditional prints from English companies remain in demand,” she says.
Peel-and-stick versions of these styles can also make a renter feel his or her space is more personal. Inners reports that a colleague utilizes this type of wallpaper for her clients and has had good results so long as steam is not an issue in a room. Especially important is that the temporary paper does not damage walls when a renter changes things up.
One type of wallpaper that is making a full room comeback is grass cloth, says Inners.
Made of natural materials like its namesake grass and reeds, this is not an inexpensive choice as rolls vary in price from $100 to $1,000 each.
Grass cloth wallcoverings are best used in bedrooms and in dining rooms, in the latter to preferably be applied above a chair rail.
“It’s not advised for a kitchen or a bathroom or any room where dampness is a factor,” she says.
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Shaping up with Shiplap
One type of wall treatment has proved so popular, courtesy of an HGTV series featuring Texas-based home rehabbers Chip and Joanna Gaines, that the name has become a part of the American vernacular: shiplap.
Locally, Melinda O’Neill, president of Empire Home Center, Bern Township, shares the enthusiasm of the celebrity couple when it comes to the wall treatment they popularized.
“I am thrilled to talk about shiplap,” she says. O’Neill explains shiplap has long roots, tracing back to the 1800s. Its pre-HGTV popularity began rising in the 1990s for the beach influence it offered. That design influence continues.
“Now, even more when we are in our home, we want the peacefulness that the ocean brings,” she says. “Shiplap makes that connection. Whether it is in a bathroom, bar, kitchen island, living room or dining room, the list of places where shiplap can fit perfectly is long. Our clients enjoy the ability to add so much character in an inexpensive and simple way.”
O’Neill got her start in the building product industry in 2006 and began ordering shiplap from Wall Design, a company based outside Montreal, Canada. She notes that the firm manufactures shiplap in a variety of modern and contemporary designs.
“I know the difference shiplap makes because I see the excitement on every buyer’s face when they see shiplap in their homes,” she says. “Shiplap adds character to a home, which helps make everyone happy.”
The Hard Stuff
Tiles are also staples of wall design, says Katie Burkert of Malsnee Tile & Stone Inc. in Bern Township.
“Most of our ‘wall treatment’ customers would be looking to tile walls on a kitchen backsplash, or in a bathroom application, such as shower walls or tub surrounds,” she says. “Although subway tiles seem to be a consistent ‘go-to,’ I am actually seeing many people being drawn to unique shapes like elongated hexagons, pickets and arabesque tiles. They still give you a clean look, but incorporate a bit of interest with shapes.”
Larger tile-like applications continue to trend for different reasons, she says.
“Another approach to shower walls is using an oversized porcelain panel, which can come up to 6-feet by 10-feet in size,” Burkert says. “We have fabricated and installed these residentially for customers who are looking for a more full-slab, custom marble look. Some customers just don’t want to be bothered with maintaining grout lines; these larger format tiles provide a great alternative. In addition, a porcelain slab does not require any care or maintenance, where a true marble product does. These slabs tend to be more costly than a traditional porcelain tile, but they offer an extremely elevated look.”
While most consider tile to be used primarily in kitchens and bathrooms, there are other inspired ways to incorporate the material in a home, she says, including on accent walls.
“Some customers want to highlight a smaller accent wall, such as above a powder room vanity,” Burkert says. “Mosaics or decorative tiles are often used to create a stunning showpiece in these compact areas.”
Mosaic and decorative tiles are available in an assortment of styles, sizes, textures and materials, including glass, natural stone, glass and stone combinations, porcelain or ceramic.
A wall can also be enhanced by a fireplace surround, creating a focal point.
Stacked ledger stones are often used in these types of applications. However, for those striving for a simpler or more contemporary look, larger-sized porcelain tiles (2- by 4-foot sizes) can work well. Grout lines can either be highlighted with a contrasting color or blended seamlessly to realize the homeowner’s preferred style.
If you’re someone who’s not incorporating grass cloth or natural stone as a design element, there’s another way to introduce the feel of nature to your walls. A hand-painted design, even a full mural, personalizes walls in unique ways.
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Personal Painted Vibes
Bernadette Bresnahan, owner of Creative Spirit Painting, has made a specialty of hand-painted wall art.
Bresnahan, a graduate of Kutztown University, earned her degree in art education. But rather than going into the classroom full-time, she started her own business.
Her first job, a commercial one nearly 20 years ago, was painting a gym.
“I was so young and so excited, I said I would work a few hours for free,” she recalls. But her designs, which centered on the gym’s European take with an emphasis on Tuscany, were so impressive that her original murals graced much of the Hatfield Athletic Club. And, yes, she did get paid.
Some 13 years ago, she and her husband relocated to Wyomissing when he accepted a teaching position locally. As she raised her young children, she would occasionally take on a job, often smaller residential endeavors like murals for powder rooms and baths.
Among her favorite projects are creating wildflower designs for corners of a room and a peony-wreathed painting above a dining room chandelier.
“It’s about a 12- to 18-inch circumference above the chandelier, and it’s just something small and delicate that is whimsical in the light,” she says.
Among the more frequent designs she has done are angels and clouds, both on walls and ceilings.
Locally, one of her biggest residential jobs was painting the walls surrounding an indoor pool.
“It was quite a project,” says Bresnahan. “It took three full days to complete, a real difference from most jobs.”
Indeed, while residential is her concentration, she’s also been able to branch out into commercial work.
Word of mouth from her residential clients initially led to several jobs at salons her clients frequent.
While she has an attachment to many of her designs and murals, one has a special place in her heart and portfolio.
When she was approached by the owners of Fazio Auto Tags in Lansdale, Montgomery County, the original mural concept leaned toward a floral design. But Bresnahan, noting the family’s three affable boxers on site, believed a mural depicting them would make for a unique and sentimental statement. The mural, with its canine stars, has become a hit and a sort of trademark for the small family-owned business.
Bresnahan says, when she is commissioned for a wall design, she urges clients to consider depicting what is most personal for them such as a favorite vacation spot, flowers and pets. From photographs or simple discussion, she is able to develop a design. She advises wall-applied treatments for those knowing they will be living in a residence for years. For renters or those looking to move, she offers canvas versions.
She also notes that her wall designs are affordable.
“People don’t have to spend a fortune,” she says, noting a modest project cost of about $250. Her joy, she says, centers on her art. “That’s kind of how I roll. I love to paint.”
Bresnahan holds classes in her Creative Spirit Painting studio above Junk to Jazz along Lancaster Pike in Cumru Township. While COVID-19 restrictions initially closed her studio, she is back with socially distanced classes. The pandemic, she says, awakened folks’ interest in painting.
“The response has been unbelievable,” she says. “I just wept with joy that people shared my passion for art and wanted to share and learn. It was therapeutic for me and for them. Art is something you can do for yourself in a tough time.”
A Veteran Painter’s Perspective
The pandemic also brought a tide of repeat and new customers for Jim Schwank, owner of Schwank Painting and Paper Hanging, based in Ruscombmanor Township.
Schwank, who has practiced his craft for nearly 50 years, says he has been consistently busy since the COVID-19 restrictions on the painting business were lifted by Gov. Tom Wolf.
“After an eight-week shutdown, we were getting phone calls all the time,” he says. He attributes that to folks spending so much time at home and assessing their interior environment. His contracts range from painting rooms throughout a home to simple one-room makeovers.
Clients, he says, are leaning towards darker and bolder hues for their walls.
While the ubiquitous gray continues to be a standby, Schwank says mellow hues of brown, blue and gold are often requested.
Schwank works with local color consultant Marlo Nigrelli. Nigrelli, who has had long experience in the retail paint business, will meet with Schwank’s clients to get a feel for both the style preferred and the room’s purpose. After narrowing the field, she’ll return with 12-by-12-inch squares of the paint colors selected. Placing that size of the colors on the walls enables to the clients to make the best choice.
“Marlo’s method is so much better than the old use of paint chips,” Schwank says. Since their partnership started, he says, there’s been no need to repaint a room after the clients realize – or spouses disagree – on the color that’s been applied.
Schwank cautions DIYers to make sure they properly prepare a wall before painting. When wallpaper needs to be stripped, be ready for a time-consuming job which includes stripping, possibly sanding where stubborn paper remains, then thoroughly washing the wall and letting it dry before applying primer, if needed, and then the paint.
Schwank is one of those rare businessmen who have not needed to utilize traditional advertising. His circa-2005 Chevy work van adorned with his business name and phone number on the sides serves as a mobile billboard to complement the word-of-mouth referrals that keep his work schedule full.
“My van’s got 357,000 miles on it,” he laughs. “Neither of us is anywhere near retiring soon.” ν
Sources:
Creative Spirit Painting
Facebook @creativespiritpainting
Empire Home Center
Malsnee Tile & Stone, Inc.
Saylor House
Schwank Painting and Paper Hanging
610.944.9991
