apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Design Dare: Metallic Wallpaper?

wallpaper092109.jpgOur inlaws had a condo on the beach in Florida for years - as a vacation-only home, it was decorated with bits and pieces from over the decades, some fifties Heywood Wakefield in the bedroom, a sixties Danish Modern dining set and some very seventies metallic wallpaper in the entryway (which we always loved)...

 
 

The metallic finish bounced just enough light around to make the narrow, somewhat dark entryway feel brighter and just a bit "glam". We're looking at wallpaper for our living room now and the idea of something with a bit of a metallic finish is not totally out of the question...where do you weigh in on this design dare?

MORE DESIGN DARES:

  • Modern Wood Panelled Wall?
  • Painting Architectural Details Black?
  • Floor to Ceiling Drapes in a Bright Color?


    Image: via Wallpaper in Small Spaces - Linda Barker wallpaper from Design Public

  • Tags

    Surveys, Design Dares

    Related Links

    Share

    Comments (16)

    I think the metallic wallpaper might look good in small doses..I would be willing to try it maybe in a small guest bathroom or powder room. I think it would be too much for a larger space.

    Totally off -topic, I dont understand the phrase "our inlaws"...whose inlaws? Could it be the maybe you and a someone else married siblings hence the phrase "our inlaws"? I hope I don't sound completely ridiculous or perhaps I'm just tired but the "our inlaws" phrase just kinda threw me....

    posted by missbynski on September 21st 2009 at 9:24pm
    view missbynski's profile

    Sorry, I meant to type... could it be that maybe you and someone else married siblings hence the phrase "our inlaws"?

    posted by missbynski on September 21st 2009 at 9:33pm
    view missbynski's profile

    We had a beige wallpaper with silver starbursts all over it in the bathroom of the house that my grandparents owned, and that my family moved into when my grandfather couldn't take care of it all. It was always appealingly retro to me, and my mom would tell the story of when my Oma put it up, painstakingly lining up all the starbursts. For being all silverly and metallic, it was surprisingly subtle, and you wouldn't notice it unless the light hit it the right way.

    posted by PreludeInZ on September 21st 2009 at 9:58pm
    view PreludeInZ's profile

    This is something that I really like right now, but am pretty sure that in 5 years it would just scream " dated".

    posted by Aster on September 21st 2009 at 10:06pm
    view Aster's profile

    I'm afraid of such things. *running under sofa------>*

    posted by Laughing Tiger on September 21st 2009 at 10:40pm
    view Laughing Tiger's profile

    I have it in my dorm room and love it!

    posted by nick0326 on September 21st 2009 at 11:28pm
    view nick0326's profile

    The store I worked at a few years ago had metallic wallpapers - they were always a BIG hit with customers!

    posted by ryttu3k on September 22nd 2009 at 1:20am
    view ryttu3k's profile

    I have to agree with missybynski -- this would probably look bad in a larger room like a living room, but probably would be excellent in an entryway, powder room, or maybe maybe a tiny office closet.

    posted by ChrisGal on September 22nd 2009 at 7:59am
    view ChrisGal's profile

    have it, love it and it really lightened up an otherwise dark and poorly lit space (wierd walls, small windows etc.). if you want something low-key go for a tone on tone so it's not that noticeable until the light hits it. also IMO the ratio of shiny to matte is what dates it, the shinier it is the more dated I think it looks.

    posted by larchgirl on September 22nd 2009 at 8:41am
    view larchgirl's profile

    I have the wallpaper from the photo in this post in my dining area in the chocolate brown color and it looks amazing! our place is very sunny so when the light shines on it, it looks really cool.

    posted by ckharv on September 22nd 2009 at 9:37am
    view ckharv's profile

    anyone have some good online sources for metallic wallpapers? ones that ordinary individuals in the US can order from?

    posted by erinalter on September 22nd 2009 at 10:29am
    view erinalter's profile

    There is definitely a right and a wrong way to do it. I've seen a couple of wallpapers with metallic that I would consider using.

    posted by HeyNowTex on September 22nd 2009 at 1:30pm
    view HeyNowTex's profile

    Sources?

    posted by quiltmaster on September 22nd 2009 at 3:26pm
    view quiltmaster's profile

    quiltmaster - the source for the wallpaper shown above is listed/linked at the end of the post

    posted by janel on September 22nd 2009 at 5:27pm
    view janel's profile

    Hi there !
    I would love to find this one in France ! What's the source ?
    I've used wallpaper as art in my bedroom, by just stapling pieces on canvas : http://nocesdecoton.canalblog.com/archives/2009/09/17/15103854.html. It gives a dramatic yet super easy decor to the bed area ...

    posted by Marianne from France on September 23rd 2009 at 8:57am
    view Marianne from France's profile

    HI, I love the wallpaper in the picture...could someone please post some info about where I can buy it...looking for something similar in the same color or blue/brown

    thanks

    posted by msivala on November 23rd 2009 at 4:57pm
    view msivala's profile