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Piet Boon's 'Concrete Wallpaper' Collection

Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood WPiet Boon ‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #3

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Throughout the history of the decorative arts, the technique of creating faux finishes has always held a level of popularity and preference.  In fact, regardless of the cost of the real material, the painterly approach to depicting boissiere, stone blocks or applied textural building materials has been just as popular as the actual bulky or laborious methods.  It has simply been considered highly decorative and more sophisticated in certain circles over the years.

The technique of faux painting to depict marbles, wood, and trompe l’oeil murals was considered highly fashionable as far back as classical Greek and Roman times.  An artist was required to apprentice for a minimum of 10 years before being able to accept commissions.  Great appreciation was bestowed upon those artists who would masterfully create the illusion of authenticity.

1view1Frescoes and plaster decoration Villa Barbaro, Maser, circa 1560

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With the advent of decorative wallpapers, the battle between the painterly and the printed versions challenged the scores of decorators to make the choice as to which was more appropriate.  During the major revival periods in decorative arts, faux finishing has always taken the lead, yet from time to time papers were created to emulate the hand and allow for a more efficient solution to attending to the treatment of blank walls or ceilings.   At times, the economics won out and paper would prevail over the hand painted depiction.  Yet, there are those who see the benefits of the investment in a true faux finish due to the fact that you can simply paint over it to create a new treatment instead of having to bear the costs of wallpaper removal and retreating the wall surfaces to restore the substrate.

2873015666_0abcaf2fd8Faux bois wallpaper

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In my opinion, this is an endless debate which will never see a definitive conclusion.  As arbitrary as trends or styles may be viewed over the years, so is the ultimate dogma about which finish is more suitable to the designer’s aesthetic or the specific environment.  For every style arbiter, there are that many possibilities for an answer.  My feeling is that if you ask two people the same question,  you will get at least three answers.  This is exactly what I love about design.  Everything is subject to interpretation.  Let no one corner you by saying that something that you are suggesting is “never” done.  I live by several important doctrines as an interior designer; know your references, understand about order, then go forth and break all the rules.  That is when exhilarating design is born.

However, I digress from my intention for this article today.  I, personally am not a big fan of faux finishes, though I have incorporated them in my work over the years when I have ascertained that they were the appropriate solution.  But every once in a while, I am greeted in my travels by a new product which excites me.  Last week, with my Editor in Chief, CJ Dellatore, I paid a visit to a longtime friend and design purveyor, Dominic LePere.  Dominic was excited to show us a new product line that he is now representing.  it is a provocative line of wall coverings, which realistically depicts several concrete textures by Dutch designer Piet Boon and his wife Karin Meyn.  The Studio of Piet Boon is a comprehensive, international atelier, which produces exhilarating and serene architecture and interiors for their clientele.  Along with their distinctive commissions, they also produce and license numerous product lines; one of which is this bold yet subdued line of papers which beckons the viewer to get up close and touch it to comprehend its appeal.  Piet Boon has successfully interpreted his vision of one of his preferred materials in this new line titled ‘Concrete Wallpaper’ which is already being acclaimed as a new classic.

The success of the collection lies in its design concept – that both interior and exterior are in harmony.  The possibilities of echoing exterior textures of bold concrete panels in interiors spawns my creativity.   Concrete for me is one of the most dynamic and organic of materials.  It mimics its framing which holds the viscous ooze as it hardens and cures.  Once removed, all of the texture and characteristics remain as if fossilized.  There is no better visual stimulus in my estimation than unadorned concrete.  I admire and respect its bold exuberance.  Now designers can bring that raw sophistication to the forefront in a revolutionary way into their interiors.

There are 7 patterns in the collection by Piet Boon, simply numbered 1 through 7.  Each one is a heavy-duty wallpaper with a paper top layer and a non-woven backing.  All are colorfast and washable.

The line is available through LEPERE.  I anxiously await the opportunity to use one of these wallpapers myself.  I will also be scouring the shelter magazines looking for installations of these sublime papers.  I ask the question, how would you use one of these wallpapers?

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #1

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #2

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #3

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #4

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #5

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #6

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Piet Hein Eek, Piet Boon, Merci, Rick Vintage, NLXL, Scrapwood W‘Concrete Wallpaper’ #7

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