I’ve been down and out for the last several days. A cold, cough and just general lack of interest in anything that represents life! I haven’t been sick in so many years I had forgotten. I didn’t feel terrible except I knew I was sick I couldn’t interest myself in anything except parking in my desk chair, watching tv and generally nodding of under my blankies! After a trip to the doctor on Thursday he told me I was on the mend and get out of here, you’ll live! Ok this is good.

So, I started this post a couple of weeks ago with great enthusiasm and didn’t get it finished. I have a dining room project with a client that I am excited about. More on that later but, this took me to my local designer showroom, Rafferty Design Resources to look for wallpaper. When I turned the corner on a rounder there was a collection of wallpaper books. Hmm, what’s this? Mary the owner informed me they were a new vendor and from Transylvania! Really? Not my first idea of a design Mecca. What’s the name of the company you may ask? Let’s enter the world of Mind the Gap.

Ok I will admit it, I am a sucker for folk art. Never a fan of hearts but I do love folk art. It has always spoken to me, so when I saw this wallpaper it took my breath away. This is just too much fun. The colors, the tulips and come on that fox. Gotta love the fox. It reminded me of my favorite wallpaper ever. It was a paper I had in my kitchen years ago. It too was folk art. I wish I had a good picture of it but I don’t. This got the wheels turning. Where could I possibly use this paper in my home?

Well, we shall see.

Deciding to take the time to go through all these books I had a blast. Their papers are so over the top and so much fun and some are just crazy. Like the one below

with it’s “day of the dead” theme, the scale is huge. I can imagine it frightening small children or causing the dog to bark for hours on end! But in a media room or game room on an accent wall with it’s crazy scull, and wild line drawings of radios and glasses I could see that it might appeal to some. No, I can’t see myself using this for a client.

Upon further inspection passing on the papers that included greek gods and goddesses in various shades of undress I kept going. Yes there are tamer more subtle papers to look at but it is those bold and over the top patterns with deeply saturated colors that were so appealing on a gloomy winter day. I loved the paper below. What a fun grounding paper to play pattern of off. I could see using this in a powder room or of course a tween girls bedroom. If you used it on every wall it would be like walking into an enchanted forest.

The collection encompasses several books and this was probably my favorite with its simple folk influence.

But I also discovered that they have a line of lovely linen and velvet upholstery fabric. Again highly saturated and large in scale.

But then I discovered so much more. But Wait There’s More!

I have been noticing the resurgence of interesting lampshades again. It is just so refreshing to see and such a great way to really customize a room. I want to recover a lampshade in my bedroom. I’m looking for just the right fabric and I have yet to find it. It’s in my head. When I do, you will be the first to know.

And of course if that’s not quite enough for you we have these options. Lovely framed prints to add to your wall decor arsenal.

So that ends the tour of Mind The Gap. Did I find paper for my dining room renovation why yes, yes I did. Not from this collection but I did find many possibilities. Now to just get myself caught up with my clients after being out of commission for two weeks. I’m going to be busy.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley