Yesterday, we touched on two of our favorite character building details in homes — decorative plaster and beadboard. I'd like to add Anaglypta to that list! Its raised designs add subtle texture and detail not seen with typical wallpapers or wall treatments.
Anaglypta was invented in the 1880s as an alternative to Lincrusta, a washable but rigid wallcovering. Made of wood pulp and cotton, Anaglypta was of a lighter weight and much more flexible. It is prevalent in many old San Franciscan Victorians since it was invented around the time many were being built. While we don't see it as often today, it is still being produced by the Anaglypta company with imprinted designs to fit every architectural style.
It is a beautiful alternative to beadboard because it is thick enough that it is able to hide blemishes in walls and also readily takes paint. While there are now more modern designs, we tend to love the more traditional styles like the pattern shown above that graces the hallway of Emily and Meeko's apartment. Ginger's recent house tour also featured a great use of Anaglypta in her entryway.
Have you had any experience with this embossed, paintable wall covering?
Image credit: Jessica Watson
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Comments (14)
If the floors in the foreground look anything like those in the background, I'd go without rugs in that hallway. Her floors look like they are beautiful.
And again we have the big-ass T.V. as your eye looks up from the pretty walls and floors. I don't own a T.V. but there must be a solution to hide these suckers. Everybody seems to have one, and it's very jarring to see pleasant rooms and lovely interior "landscapes" and then rest your eye on these things.
I bought a house last fall and while 85% of the decor is being removed, this and the glass door on the entryway are two things are are definitely staying. It runs up my entryway, stairway, and around my upstairs hallway, and I love how it just adds a great detail.
How did I make it this far in life without learning about this stuff before!? It would totally fit in my old Victorian house, and I'm now brainstorming for someplace I can use it! Thanks!
I did mean to ask about it in Ginger's house tour, but forgot to... was surprised no one else seemed to be bringing it up!
Hiding a tv is as silly to me as hiding an oven or a refrigerator. I could see the hate for the old clunky tube tvs, but the news one are sleek and gorgeous and I'll be damned if I'm going to pretend to be ashamed of it or put it away.
Thank you for sharing this! We recently moved into a 1920 Craftsman that had embossed wallpaper on accent walls in two rooms that we then painted matte charcoal gray and red. Everyone notices the wallpaper immediately and heaps on the compliments. I'm glad I now know where I can get some more if needed. It's very similar to the Original Derby pattern.
The only downside is that it's really best for walls with picture rails. Putting nail or screw holes for artwork that may be moved later would ruin the whole wall!
Hmm... Could this be used to cover one of those horrible sprayed ceilings? It might look like a variant of a tin ceiling. Hmm....
I've got this pattern: http://www.wallpapers-uk.com/ProductDetail.asp?RD0655 in almost every room. Good to know where to replace it when we open up walls.
thanks!! I found three rolls of this in their Original Derby pattern at a thrift store awhile ago for about $7 and now I know where to get more if I ever need it. I haven't used it yet but I really want to now after seeing this.
Ugh, every wall in my house is covered with this from floor to ceiling, plus a coat or three of paint over the top. I can't scrape it off fast enough. A little goes a long way, use sparingly.
@Taureg - I like that idea! but you would have a problem getting it to adhere to such a bumpy surface.
We need to scrape off the kitty litter ceiling in our house, I just dread the amount of time it will take, especially since we have 12 foot high ceilings.
A few comments.
First, I keep thinking I'd like to track down an anaglypta art deco wallpaper, if such exists. I'm not sure where it would fit in my home, but something with crisp geometric details might work in, and I love the texture.
About the TV above. I try to make it a design rule in my abode to make the view framed by any doorway as appealing as possible, especially down long hallways. I'd try to relocate my TV (in that photo) so when you look down the hall what you see is maybe a lovely chair and a nice large plant or artwork. That said, if that's the best spot in the room for the TV, it's part of their life and their choice. Form **FOLLOWS** function.
Finally, scraping popcorn celings is easy if they haven't been repainted. Just spray with warm water, wait a little while, and scrape -- be sure you use tarps. If paint has been added, it's a whole different story, though, since that reinforces the surface.
@Taureg I just found this image of an Anaglypta-papered (tin ceiling-mimicking ceiling:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5098904_hang-anaglypta.html
Does anyone know if paint stripper can be used on anaglypta to remove old paint without damaging the anaglypta itself?