Here's a special sneak preview of some of the patterns Flavor Paper will be releasing at this year's ICFF - I can't wait to see them in person. If I've counted correctly it looks like my friends at the Flavor Lab will be exhibiting ten new designs! (Thanks Jon.)
Looks like Concrete Blond has some new patterns available, which is a very, very good thing. Adding imagery to concrete walls or floors is a great idea, but the all those bespoke patterns were a little too much for me. (Photo via Core 77)
Great new vinyl wallcovering from Vescom. From a distance 'Monar' looks like a serene linear drawing, but upon closer inspection the pattern reveals a medley of imagery including robots, camels, cogs and ladies dancing. Available in 18 colors.
What ICFF coverage would be complete without a few party highlights? On Sunday I proudly made it to 5 events in the tight 6-9 time frame (impressive I know). My first stop was at the Flavor Paper reception at Michael Angelo's Wonderland Beauty Parlor. The place was packed with Flavor fans enjoying the company's new patterns, including their fun 'scratch and sniff' series.
'Chateau 66' from Nama Rococo. Limited edition of 180 sheets. This photo does not do the pattern justice...it's really hard to photograph hot pink and metallics!
Modular wool-felt wall panels from Anne Kyyro Quinn. Each square snaps onto a magnetic frame, allowing for endless combinations and designs.
New patterns from my buddies at Flavor Paper. The top one is real scratch and sniff paper! Below are 'City Park, Party Girl and Flower Pedal'.
A few years back while visiting Montreal, I came across a semi-demolished house in the middle of downtown. Layer upon layer of wallpaper was left exposed, creating a crazy mixture of patterns and offering a glimpse of the structure's past.
Fun new wallpaper from the Copenhagen team of GAMplusFRATESI (made up of Gam Stine and Enrico Fratesi). From a distance their 'Ant'ique' paper looks like a typical baroque pattern, however upon closer inspection you discover the motif is really made up of thousands of ants. I love it! The only thing that could enhance my love would be to see the pattern in a few different colorways - the overall gray tone makes it seem a little washed out. But then again, love is never perfect.
Here's a new take on wallcoverings from Iranian designer Setareh Arefi. Setareh uses off-cuts from recycled rugs, carpets and felt to create an interesting patchwork of tiles for the wall. She further manipulates each piece through processes such as heat-transfer printing, laser-cutting, etching and coloring with eco dyes to give these remnants a whole new life. I'm not sure this image does the idea justice - but her website is still under development, so hopefully there's more to come.
Since we're on a roll with wallcoverings, here is another designer who is too good to pass up. Chinese artist Tsang Kin-wah's meticulously rendered patterns are a wild combination of floral motifs and calligraphy. Take a closer look Tsang's designs and you will see that they are really composed of rivers of text. English words and phrases (sometimes not the most polite language) flow between beautifully drawn Chinese characters. The overall effect is dazzling, but it's the incredible detail that takes the cake. (Thanks to Paul for this one.)
As promised, here is a sneak peek of two of Flavor Paper's new designs, 'Noveau Riche and Laced'. Thanks to Jon for providing designklub readers with an exclusive inside look at these great new patterns before ICFF! They will debuting a few more patterns at the show - I can't wait to see what other tasty treats are revealed.
Flavor Paper is one of my all-time favorite wallcovering companies. In fact, it's one of my favorite design studios, period. (Now I may be a bit biased because I did work there, but who better to trust than a direct source?) Their patterns are creative, their colors are bold and above all, they are some of the nicest folks you'll meet. Almost all of their production is done in-house, meaning you get the ultimate in customization and quality with these handcrafted lines. Flavor Paper's wild ways have gained the attention and love of flavor aficionados such as rocker Lenny Kravitz, C.Ronson and Nike.dk: I’ve always found the Flavor Paper story to be quite inspiring. Could you share a little bit about how you got started in design?
JS: My parents’ living room in the early 70’s featured lots of velvety texture in a range of deep blues and turquoise shades. Sitting around that room and admiring the album cover art on their albums really started my aesthetics direction for life. Ever since then, I have been consumed with designing the environment around me. After receiving great compliments over the years I finally began to design interiors for others in 2001 and it has been snowballing since.
dk: Flavor Paper is handmade, which is so admirable in today’s design world. Why have you chosen to take on this part of the production process?
JS: Originally, that was our impetus as it was a production company that went out of business that led to the birth of Flavor Paper. But a desire to control the quality of our final product and have the ability to make changes in color and design relatively easily has kept us producing in-house. We also use a combination of interesting grounds and vibrant water based ink colors that are not used by virtually any other wallpaper company which gives us our unique impact.
dk:Your studio is based in the Bywater district of New Orleans. How did Hurricane Katrina affect Flavor Paper and how are things going now?
JS: We were obviously severely impacted mentally and emotionally, but physically we were very lucky. The Flavor Lab managed to dodge the bullet of the storm and two huge pecan trees just missed us when they fell, but they did knock out our power lines. We were without power for two months and then had to communicate via cell phone and cell internet for another two months. We just got our gas service back up and running a few months ago, just in time to avoid a second winter without hot water!
dk: Some of your patterns are available in silk. Can we expect to see Flavor Paper popping up in other products such as furniture or tableware?
JS: We are working on a number of home product concepts right now, so look for those in the near future. We currently also do custom fabric prints, although we did not print the silk. There are companies using Flavor Paper in lampshades and patterns in rugs, so there is a bit out there already.
dk: What is your favorite part of the design process?
JS: I really love it all. From initial concept all the way to seeing wallpaper up on someone’s wall, it is very rewarding. I think choosing colorways for new patterns is always a favorite as you can change the feel and impact of a design so much with color choices.
dk: What has been your greatest challenge?
JS: Staying in business!!!! We have endured a flood, a fire, a train wreck and a hurricane in the past three years, so just remaining a business has been a monumental struggle and test of determination.
dk: What has been your greatest accomplishment?
JS: Staying in business!!! That and having been lucky enough to have some of the best clients and magazines recognize our talent and support us. We topped our five year plan of non-financial accomplishments within our first year. I could have walked away happy after that, but why stop now?
dk: What’s next for Flavor Paper?
JS: We are working on developing some accessories and home furnishings that we feel are lacking in the marketplace currently and could use some Flavor to perk them up. Some are partnerships and others are exclusively in-house. We will also be starting an online sales presence through a website called rarechic.com where we will sell Flavor Paper at a discount as well as one of a kind prints, framed panels and other treats.
Production in the Flavor Lab 
Flavor Lab after the storm
Flavor Paper in rocker Lenny Kravitz's house
Thanks Jon and I'll see you at Jazz Fest! Don't forget to check back tomorrow for a sneak peek of two of Flavor Paper's new designs.
Just a quick note to say I am almost done with the interview I did with Flavor Paper founder, Jon Sherman. It will be posted in the next few days (I mean it this time). This is a shot of the Flavor Lab with Onda in Saltwater Taffy on the production table.
I'm not usually a fan of traditional floral patterns, but Anna Dove has taken the vintage look and given it an updated twist. Her collection of textiles and wallcoverings have a spooky quality that's really intriguing. Each pattern seems to have a story to tell. 'Rose Garden' offers a glimpse at the forgotten courtyard of an English manor. 'Night Light' is a shadowy scene which has the viewer wondering what is happening just beyond the light's glow. 
Maybe it's just because I used to work for a wallpaper company - but I am constantly amazed by the new innovations in the wallcoverings world. It seems like the market went from zero to 60 in a matter of years. Which actually doesn't sound very fast using that analogy, but its meant to be! One of the more creative entries into the scene is Concrete Blond. Their 'Walled Paper' transforms that boring slab of concrete into a subtle visual display of bespoke patterns. The panels come in a variety of colors, finishes and patterns and are available for both interior and exterior purposes.
As if you didn't have enough choice for your walls - here's a few more options from B+N. Their 'Iconic' wall panels are made from laminate formed over a carved wooden core. They have 11 different surface designs along with multiple colors and finishes. Because of the materials used, the panels can be cut, glued, nailed or drilled.
While Tracy Kendall's wall coverings are not new to the design scene, her innovative approach is certainly worth a mention. Tracy is a master of detail and many of her designs include hand-sewn additions such as buttons and sequins. Another line called "In the White Room," (above) uses individually cut and stitched pieces of paper to create a fluttering, 3-dimensional effect.
Taylor & Wood has created this great "Frames" wallpaper, which allows you to be your own designer- filling the empty frames with photos, paintings etc. While a lot of people have labeled this as wallpaper for kids, I think it's fun for adults too. I, for one, would like to have a wall of it in my house and have friends bring over their own artwork to display. Available through Graham & Brown.
It seems like everyone is a wallpaper designer these days. But why not when the results are like those of Corinne Ulmann and Isamu Kanda, both architecture students at Harvard and winners of Wolf-Gordon's recent design competition there. Their entry "Light" is subtle reminder that decorating a room can be just as much about delicate things like shadows and light as it can be about vivid color and bold graphihcs. (via Metropolis, Sept/06) (photo: James Shanks, NY Times)
