BURGES SNAIL WALLPAPER

Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene, on a wallpaper design inspired by the interior of a National Trust historic house

The philosophy

The beauty of wallpaper is that if you follow your heart, it can allow you to create a truly personal space. There are so many different colours, designs and styles available. Whether it’s a bold, bright, large-scale pattern that works as a design statement, or a smaller-scale pattern that can be used for all four walls, it is one of the quickest ways to create a dramatic and impactful design change. For example, narrow hallways with little natural light can be filled with colours that bring warmth and brightness, and patterns that draw the eye upwards, giving a feeling of space. Bathrooms can become decorative jewel boxes, with larger-scale patterns giving a true feel of escapism. Living rooms can be linked to the beauty of nature, with floral and foliage-inspired patterns.

If you love a particular wallpaper pattern, embrace it and build the room’s decorative scheme around it.

The inspiration

We have been working with the National Trust since January 2018. This past autumn saw the launch of our second instalment of wallpaper designs, National Trust Papers II. The concept was to create a collection that could be easily adapted for modern interiors, but with its origins in original patterns from the National Trust’s historic houses. Each design can be traced to a particular pattern or place. Burges Snail is based on a design found at Knighthayes Court in Devon, dating from around 1878. The property was designed by the Gothic Revivalist architect and interior designer William Burges. An eccentric and controversial character, he designed some of the most original and extravagant Victorian interiors. This quirky wallpaper adorns the walls of one of the bathrooms. Remaining faithful to Burges’s original choice of location, we also photographed it in a bathroom for our collection.

The design process

As part of the research, we visited many of the National Trust properties to see the designs in real life. We then selected several designs to carry forward to the design process, which involved working on their scale, pattern and colour. The first part of the challenge was deciding which designs to focus on – with such a wealth of options at our fingertips it was not easy to pick a shortlist. We wanted to make sure that the wallpapers could offer flexibility, with darker, more dramatic colours as well as fresh and vivid brighter shades; colours from nature as well as softer neutrals. Each design includes a nod to the original and a more traditional interpretation as well as more contemporary options.

The ecological principles

Little Greene has always been totally committed to protecting the environment. From big business decisions to the smallest everyday tasks, we act positively and responsibly to minimise our ecological impact. The papers we use come from sustainable forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), where for every tree used another four are planted. The FSC ensures the products we use come from responsibly managed forests and also cares for the people and wildlife who live there. The pigments that we use are completely non-toxic, and we also have a solvent-free adhesive paste for use with our papers.

The legacy

Choosing patterns and colours for your home involves very subjective judgements. I think interior design is about telling a story that reflects the personalities of the people who live within those walls. I love the fact that the Burges Snail design already has a story, and its inclusion in this collection can continue that story in a new home, giving pleasure to future generations.

LITTLE GREENE

3 New Cavendish Street, W1G 8UX littlegreene.com