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Hot or Not? Two Different Wallpapers in One Room

2008-07-02-wpmain2.jpgWhat do you think of the trend we've been seeing of mixing two different patterns or colors of wallpaper in a single room? Jump below for voting, links and info:

 
 

Shown above:
Left: Pink Fleur and Black Gato by Dominic Crimson from the Wallpaper Collections.
Right: Suzanne in White and Black by Marcel Wanders for Graham & Brown, $75/double roll.

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Hot or Not?, wallpaper & graphics

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Comments (29)

apparently it made the model dizzy...giggle.

posted by I Love Upstate on July 2nd 2008 at 5:12am
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It can be hot (if you know how to match them) but most of the time it's not.

posted by M2JL on July 2nd 2008 at 5:18am
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I don't see why it *couldn't* work, but the combo above really doesn't.

posted by Codejill on July 2nd 2008 at 5:27am
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It's that combo that really makes me want to scream and that "lady" falling off the couch, is it from vertigo? OMG the power of poor taste.

posted by click212 on July 2nd 2008 at 5:29am
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I love it. Like anything really you've got to get it right, but if you can pull it off I think it looks fantastic.

posted by robroz on July 2nd 2008 at 5:30am
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I like it. I had 2 different wallpapers in my bedroom when I was a little girl. It could look messed up if you don't know how to play with it, but really pretty cool if you do.

posted by K T G on July 2nd 2008 at 5:32am
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it's like clothing or wrapping gifts, you can use 10 different patterns, as long as they all coordinate and one ends up being the dominant one and the others more subdued. Otherwise you'll end up with a headache and a sad room.

posted by Djluckyonline on July 2nd 2008 at 5:37am
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What is that cool organic-looking storage thingy on the far left of the picture? 8^)


Oh...and the idea is hot....but the above example is making me bleed from every orifice. 8^(

posted by btoddster on July 2nd 2008 at 5:56am
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The photography is absolutely ridiculous.

posted by gryt on July 2nd 2008 at 5:58am
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Those pictures dont do justice to the idea of 2 contrasting yet coordinating wallpapers! and the model in the black and white combination (better than pink and brown any day) looks as tipsy as that lamp!

posted by sarahjam on July 2nd 2008 at 6:07am
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The photo reminds me of some set in an Almodovar film or some god-awful 70's eastern block living room. Try living in a pattern heavy setting like that and you may go crazy!

posted by edgaroso on July 2nd 2008 at 6:14am
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The chances of making this work are about a hundred to one. Don't try this at home.

posted by magnaverde on July 2nd 2008 at 6:14am
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If you have a furniture or an element that links the disparate designs, why not. The element has to be bold enough to draw the eye away from the busy wallpaper, and complementary enough that the background doesn't clash with it. I think the picture on the left doesn't work because the door is pink on a dark-colored wall while the wallpaper on the adjacent wall is salmon. Not only are the two walls fighting with each other, the door is kind of jumping in as well, making the room look too busy and awkward. The picture on the right has a couch that is dwarfed by the big bold patterns. Adding to it a tilted lamp and the eyes is drawn away from the couch and into the very intersection where the contrast is most aparent.

posted by somedudeinvicenza on July 2nd 2008 at 6:19am
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I can't help but love it, but one of those damask patterns with a big striped pattern would be sooooooo cherry.

posted by lulala on July 2nd 2008 at 6:25am
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Can be hot but give you a headache!

Did that girl on picture fell off the sofa???

posted by cscamp20 on July 2nd 2008 at 6:43am
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ummm the model falling off the sofa totally distracted me from the point of this sofa. Reminds me of this artist who thows herself at people and has it photographed mid throw!

http://lillymcelroy.com/splash.html

posted by E.M.H on July 2nd 2008 at 6:48am
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This is one of those things that feels dated now and will seem like an even worse idea over time.

posted by DarrenB on July 2nd 2008 at 7:05am
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I feel like I just stepped out of A Clockwork Orange.

posted by MelissaLeigh on July 2nd 2008 at 7:36am
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I feel llike I should tie a ribbon around it and stick a big bow on it.

posted by etslee on July 2nd 2008 at 7:46am
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what is that lady doing?

posted by 212gretchen on July 2nd 2008 at 7:54am
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i guess the black/white one where the color is just reversed isn't so bad... but i don't like the other room. i think it would make me dizzy.

posted by eribear12 on July 2nd 2008 at 8:55am
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I voted NOT.
This example is just plain bad.
But then I despise wallpaper in general and wouldn't want even ONE wallpaper pattern on any of my walls.

posted by Daily Nuance on July 2nd 2008 at 10:37am
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I am really over this "more is more" trend. It seems every object is designed to be louder than the next. And now, apparently, even the walls can't agree.

Jumped the shark.

posted by RichardinLA on July 2nd 2008 at 2:01pm
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ugh

posted by Janella13 on July 2nd 2008 at 3:46pm
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The bedroom I grew up in had two different wall papers. But neither of them were as visually busy as the examples above. One paper was a small scale red and white check, mostly red. The other paper was a large scale print of strawberry plants. Only one wall was the more red paper, the rest of the room was the strawberry print. It worked really well. I think what happened was my mom had found the strawberry print in a clearance bin and didn't have enough for the whole room.

posted by RoseCampion on July 2nd 2008 at 4:18pm
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You have to see all the Marcel Wanders images to appreciate the effect.

http://www.grahambrown.com/us/store/viewCategory.do;?id=3104134

Take iron-legged dancers (probably from his girlfriend's dance troupe), dress them in 80's Robert Palmer All-Girl-Band attire (remember Addicted to Love?),(poor quality, extended version):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYqPy9KD72c

pose them like they came from the Lional Richie "Dancing on the Ceiling" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQDXs75Ulo

Which came from Fred Astaire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggDjnjrinkY

If you know your own style, you know that one wallpaper is often enough:
(boldly dramatic)
http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/walls/wallpapering/new-wallpaper-trends-damask/?page=2
(hollywood elegant) http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/walls/wallpapering/new-wallpaper-trends-damask/?page=4
(earth modern) http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/walls/wallpapering/new-wallpaper-trends-gray/?page=9

posted by TRUE BLUE on July 3rd 2008 at 12:27am
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Aaaaahhhhh!! My eyes, my eyes!!

posted by rockypondgirl on July 3rd 2008 at 4:54am
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i think it's really fabulous, especially for a club/restaurant enviroment.

posted by blkbrrry on July 3rd 2008 at 9:54am
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I think it does work and it doesn't have to be as bold and different - check out some of the other marcel designs at

http://www.grahambrown.com/store/viewCategory.do?id=1027069&page=2

where they mix the feature with a subtle stripe.

wallpaper rocks!

posted by AKA on July 22nd 2008 at 7:40am
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