WallpaperNews

Often, the devil is in the details. A dusting of sand, glass beads and velvety flock is a detail first introduced in the residential wallcoverings market, yet York Wallcoverings, Contract Division, now offers these specialty techniques on Type II vinyl in its new Design Works Collection, called Plaza.
“Because our R&D and manufacturing capabilities are here in the U.S., we can continually push the limits of design until we get it just right,” says Tammy Gordon, stylist at York Wallcoverings.

As the first American manufacturer to infuse its residential wallcoverings with sand and glass, York is now the first to introduce these effects on commercial-grade vinyl. The palette is neutral yet the patterns can be custom-colored, and in fact translate well into vibrant colors. York also offers custom designs in flock, sand and glass beads.

“We have essentially invented a new kind of embossing with these specialty techniques on vinyl,” says Gordon. “The tactile textures add dimensionality that envelops any space, and takes sophistication to a whole new level.”

As America’s oldest and largest wallcoverings manufacturer, York continues to design, print and distribute its five contract brands from headquarters founded in 1895 in York, Pennsylvania. Proactively committed to reducing its environmental footprint, York is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Follow this link to Contract Magazine:  You’ve Got That Look, and article on modern metallic and graphic wallcoverings.

The annual NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair, June 15-17, 2009 at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, provides show attendees a full calendar of special events for networking and unwinding after navigating the largest contract furnishings show in the United States. Trade professionals interested in attending this year’s NeoCon must register is advance at www.neocon.com/registration or by calling (800) 677-6278 (MART). Outside of the United States call (312) 527-7600.
Following is a summary of scheduled special events and attractions throughout the three-day trade show:

2009 DIFFA/Chicago Gala - Saturday, June 13
The 21st Annual DIFFA/Chicago Gala is the official kick-off to NeoCon. This year’s theme-Believe-rallies supporters to believe in a world without AIDS. DIFFA/Chicago will deliver an evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing and the anticipated live auction to raise funds for its annual Excellence in Care grant awards.

COOL 2009 - 7:30-11:30 p.m., Sunday, June 14 - Westin Chicago River North, Grand Ballroom [Read more →]

Fired Earth, the prestigious ceramics company from the UK, recently joined forces with Graham & Brown, the international innovator and wallcovering manufacturer, to design a series of wallpapers that reflect the artisan philosophies of the Fired Earth brand. Fired Earth, is well recognized in ceramics, paint and furniture, and has taken is artisan principles and applied them to wallpaper. Each design has been hand-painted and refined to produce an elegant, delectable capsule collection. The two stunning floral designs offered in the collection, Emily and Annabelle, will create a refined and elegant look in any room of the house.

Visit this link to see the collection directly.

As America’s oldest and largest wallpaper manufacturer, York Wallcoverings runs modern print presses alongside Surface presses dating to 1895, the year of York’s founding. The oldest form of machine printing, Surface designs “print wet and dry slowly, giving graphic patterns like Espalier (above) such softness and life,” says Ronald Redding, Design VP at York Wallcoverings.
[Click on either image for a link to the full story & additional images.]

As the only U.S. wallpaper company to still own and operate Surface presses, York has saved Surface printing from obsolescence. The company’s five presses are tended with great care, and replacement parts are found through a single source in England, the birthplace of Surface printing.

Beating a path to York’s door in historic York, PA is a new generation of designers that has discovered Surface prints’ painterly allure, and in turn established the company as a best-kept secret to leading home furnishings firms worldwide.

A true labor of love, Surface printing requires the expertise of craftsmen who hone their skills the old-fashioned way: Through on-the-job apprenticeships. A craftsman’s eye for color becomes so keen he can precisely match a 12-color wallpaper to its original artwork in a single try; then mix each pigment by hand, unaided by a computer.

Luke Mathison, a craftsman printer who has for three decades coaxed York’s century-old Surface print machines to run innovative new papers and inks, says “I’m learning new things every day.” That wisdom manifests in uncommonly beautiful wallpapers - some even in black and white.

The new trio of grasscloth wallcoverings by LenTex beautifully complement each other with an aesthetic that is both timeless and contemporary. Inspired by an actual grasscloth discovered in Asia, the Lennon Grass pattern was skillfully crafted to capture the intricate details of the natural fibers. A pearlescent undertone has been added to simulate the subtle sheen of a real grasscloth. The palette features 12 natural-toned colorways and 5 contemporary accent colors.

Lennon Grass Linsey [shown left] features a graceful pattern of arched swaying branches overprinted on the Lennon Grass, a look reminiscent of a bamboo forest. Lennon Grass Lattice is distinguished by a striped effect created by an Asian-influenced trellis design. Overprint colors on both were carefully chosen to complement the palette of 13 earthy hues, providing a beautiful statement of nature.

OMNOVA Solutions announces High Plains, High Plains Texture and Square Peg, the first BOLTA® commercial wallcovering designs to feature RECORE^TM Recycled Wall Technology.

RECORE wallcoverings contain 30% recycled content, including a minimum of 20% post-consumer waste. They perform like other Type II BOLTA wallcoverings, exceeding Class A wallcovering requirements. They are stain resistant, washable, scrubbable, and also recyclable through OMNOVA’s Wallcovering Reclamation Program.

Shown Left, High Plains uses a popular design motif of clean lines, natural elements and cultural flair. A background shading consisting of multiple crossing lines enhances the natural elements of occasional buttes and other rocky outcrops found in this design.

All three patterns are 20 oz., Type II vinyl wallcoverings which are GREENGUARD INDOOR AIR QUALITY CERTIFIED® for their low VOC emissions.  For more information regarding the OMNOVA reclamation program, go to: http://www.omnova.com/products/wallcovering/reclamation.aspx

Farrow & Ball has launched a new wallpaper collection of 52 papers which amalgamates two enduringly popular traditional striped designs, in fresh new colour combinations inspired by the Farrow & Ball colour palette.

‘Block Print Stripe and Closet Stripe‘ consists of 30 traditionally block-printed and 22 dragged stripes hand crafted using traditional techniques and only the finest environmentally-friendly Farrow & Ball paints, which give great depth of colour and extraordinary texture.

Patterns from Thibaut and Anna French fabric & wallcoverings have recently been featured in a number of national-distribution magazines. At left is the November 2008 issue of Veranda featuring a lush jacquard from Anna French’s “Wild Flora” collection. Visit Thibaut’s In the Media page for more features, and to download PDF copies of the placements.

NeoCon^® World’s Trade Fair will be held June 15-17, 2009, at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago. Returning for its 41^st year, NeoCon is the country’s largest conference and exhibition of contract furnishings for the design and management of the built environment. New to this year’s NeoCon is the Light! pavilion and conference, introducing leading edge lighting products specifically developed for the hospitality, commercial and health care industries. Light! is owned and produced by Nielsen Business Media and presented by sister publication, Contract magazine. It will feature lighting exhibitors, 14 LEU/CEU-accredited educational sessions in the new lighting track and a lighting keynote speaker.

Each year, NeoCon showcases thousands of new products from hundreds of the world’s top manufacturers in commercial, residential, health care, hospitality, institutional and government design products. Many of the product offerings will be unveiled for the first time at NeoCon and will span a wide range of categories, including: architectural products, artwork and accessories, building products and services, fabric, floor coverings, furnishings, kitchen and bath, lighting, outdoor furniture, stone and tile, sustainable design products, technology, textiles and wall coverings.

NeoCon offers the most comprehensive conference schedule in the industry, with more than 150 CEU-accredited seminars and industry association forums, giving architects, designers and facility managers the opportunity to discover the newest trends and techniques from some of the top-names in the industry. [Read more →]