When your dad owns a wallpaper business it’s perhaps not surprising that your new ‘big girl bedroom’ is going to feature not one but two designs! But even though it’s removable, Grafico boss Damian Corney still designed it with longevity in mind.
Designing this sweet bedroom really helped three-year-old Sienna settle into the family’s new home recently. And Damian got the inspiration for it from the Gucci Kids store. “Whilst I don’t shop there (spending thousands on an outfit for a child that’s going to ruin it first wear isn’t my jam) I couldn’t help but notice they’d mixed both gingham check and stripes together, and whilst the scale and colour palette was different to what I wanted to use in Sienna’s room, I was really surprised that they worked well together.
“Initially on paper it shouldn’t work and would clash, but once I played around on my design programs, I was convinced that it would work and be an interesting way to add some fun to her room using these two iconic classic patterns which are nonetheless both on trend.”
Sienna’s brief was “anything pink and ballerinas” so Dad knew so long as he covered these two things off, the client would be happy.
“I wanted a classic room with a real feminine palette that could stay with her for years to come. I think we’ve achieved that using these classic patterns. Having said that, I’ve used removable wallpaper, so we can always peel it off should trends change! I’ve been in love with the classic patterns for a few years now so I think we’re on a safe bet that the room is relatively timeless.”
Sienna is thrilled with the end result, can’t stop showing every visitor her new room, and no longer talks about missing their old house. “Previously it was a white uninspiring ‘box’ and she wasn’t really embracing the new house despite having more space.”
Big sister Alessia, eight, was initially sceptical of the stripe and gingham combo but after seeing Sienna’s room, she signed off on it for herself, but with a lilac stripe instead of pink.
“Now the sisters are even and have their own spaces they are proud to call their own, and designer Dad (and of course Mum too) is over the moon that both rooms match and work together with the style and architecture of the home. Win-win!”
Damian says there aren’t many products which give more bang for your buck in kid’s rooms than wallpaper. “It creates such a visual impact, especially when the entire room is ‘wrapped’ like this. Having said that, even a feature wall of wallpaper can be a fantastic way to add some interest in to a kid’s bedroom.”
He was originally thinking of using wainscoting on the bottom half of the wall with wallpaper above, but once he factored in the cost of installation and products, wallpaper alone was so much easier, quicker and cheaper. “It was done in a few hours and absolutely transformed the space instantly.”
He adds: “Longevity was key as no one wants to continually disrupt their children’s rooms and re-paint, re-wallpaper etc, even if their Dad owns a wallpaper company! I put a lot of effort into designing the detail of each room as we do for any client, so I want to get it right the first time and not have to worry about it in months or years to come. Whilst it’s great to take a measured approach and not rush things, I still like to make decisions quickly, be confident in my design decisions and just go for it!”
Follow Damian’s journey decorating the rest of his new home on his YouTube channel (above).
