De Gournay and Aquazzura Collaboration

Aquazzura's new spring loafer in Amazonia design from de Gournay

Legendary British heritage wallpaper brand de Gournay is everywhere these days — and not just on the walls of the world’s most fashionable manors and manses. The masterfully hand-painted Chinoiserie wallpaper designs are now gracing charming Italian footwear. Edgardo Osorio, co-founder and designer of the footwear label Aquazzura, collaborated with de Gournay last year on a collection of embroidered flats, slides, pumps, mules, and loafers. Now, just out for spring 2018, Osorio and de Gournay have introduced a new blue color way along with a smart tennis shoe and adorable mini-shoes for children (see below!) The Italian shoe designer was inspired to create the custom tropical Chinoiserie collection, Amazonia, after de Gournay installed wallpaper in his Florence apartment, he says.  

De Gournay's Amazonia Wallpaper Panels

The Amazonia motif, a hand-painted depiction of a rainforest within the heart of the city, was influenced by 19th-century botanical illustrations and the florid work of artist Juan Gatti. Set against a pink background, toucans, parrots, lovebirds, and macaws alight on palm trees, surrounded by flowers, butterflies, monkeys, and serpents. The shoes, sold through Aquazzura and other stores, start at $550. The stunning Amazonia designs for de Gournay are also available as panels, starting at $1,936 through Culp Associates. (Osorio loved them so much, he installed the panels in the Florentine palazzo, which serves as his offices.) 

Aquazzura's new embroidered tennis shoe in Amazonia by de Gournay

Osorio isn’t the only fashion guru captivated by de Gournay. When luxury online retailer Moda Operandi, which opened its first by appointment showroom in New York earlier this year, decorated its new space with de Gournay’s Earlham and Plum Blossom panels, it decided to make something wearable to match: Silk dressing gowns in those same de Gournay motifs. First intended to be worn by Moda’s elite clientele between changes while trying on clothing at the showroom, the robes are now for sale in a limited edition of custom colors for $1,995, through Moda Operandi’s New York and London showrooms, and online at modaoperandi.com.

De Gournay artisan at work on an Amazonia panel

De Gournay Love Tassel Flat $735

De Gournay Amazonia Wallpaper

De Gournay Amazonia Wall Panels

De Gournay's new Salon Vert Wall Paper is based on Pauline de Rothschild's antique papers

Despite all the new, nothing speaks to de Gournay’s iconic look more than the antique-green Chinoiserie wallpaper found in Baroness Pauline de Rothschild’s Paris apartment, as photographed in 1969 by Horst P. Horst for Vogue. De Rothschild died in 1988 and the original panels have been lost since 1990, when they were last seen for sale at an antiques store in Paris. As part of de Gournay’s extensive research into its historic wallpaper installations, those rare-air panels have been recreated. Enter: The newest addition to the de Gournay library, Salon Vert, which references the dreamy, faded gardens depicted on the 18th-century wallpaper panels found in de Rothschild’s grand, private abode on Rue Méchain. Pheasants, sparrows, parakeets, magpies, and butterflies flutter amid foliage and flowers, set against a muted-green background. It’s Eden in the grandest sense.

De Gournay Ballet Baby $275

Glamorous de Gournay!

Whistler Peacocks, starting at $495 per panel,
from de Gournay at Culp Associates

Gilded Age . . . wallpaper used to be considered granny and dated, but I love how the most classic and traditional of wallpaper companies are now doing some of the freshest looks anywhere. Case in point: London-based de Gournay, whose newest wallpapers were inspired by some of their previous designs, including the amazing Whislter Peacocks, shown above. Once rendered in metallic paint, Whistler Peacocks is now hand-gilded, and what a difference the real thing makes! 

Claud Gurney—a former banker who left the world of finance to found de Gournay in 1986—has brought his daughters Hannah and Rachel into the business, and they're injecting the family business with new energy, and designing papers with bolder patterns and colors that fit right in with modern interiors. One design you'll be seeing more of from the house of de Gournay is the Striee pattern from their Plains collection, a brand new look they've never done before.

In Texas, Kelly Hardage of Culp Associates has brought de Gournay into his Dallas and Houston showrooms, showcasing many of the papers on large panels for the first time; in the past, many of the papers were only viewable in sample books. (Full disclosure: Culp Associates is a sponsor of this blog.) The Plum Blossom design, below, is probably my favorite, since it feels at once historic and modern when depicted large scale, and used as an accent on a wall. 

One thing to keep in mind as you look through these photos, all the amazing furniture and accessories are also from de Gournay. You can get more details on their website, here.

In our upcoming issue of Modern Luxury Interiors Texas, we're exploring new wallpapers by de Gournay and another venerable house, Gracie. It'll be up this week, so flip through the digital Summer Issue and see what's new!

Plum Blossom, lavender on tarnished silver gilded paper; Photo by Marie-Caroline Lucat

Plum Blossom on Edo ice blue, hand-painted silk.

Wisteria design on Lead Grey dyed silk

Willow design on Sterling silver gilded paper.
This room is in the Giorgetti Penthouse at the Plaza Hotel, NYC

Custom design in Crystal Grey on scenic paper

Aruba design, with outsized palm leaves is an updated version of an older pattern

Chelsea design on Pea Green dyed silk

Glamorous New Rooms by Top Dallas Designers

Room by Michelle Nussbaumer of

Ceylon et Cie, inside Thrift Studio

All Photos by Lance Selgo of Unique Exposure Photography

Thrift Studio Preview! The doors will fling open on Saturday April 12 at 10 am to the glam shopping pop-up benefitting Dwell with Dignity. But before they do, you'll have a chance to buy ahead of time at a preview party Thursday April 12 from 6:30 - 9:00 pm, and again on Friday from 6-9. Go here to buy your tickets, in support of the local charity that has the whole design world talking.

Some of the top designers and showrooms in Dallas have donated furniture for the cause, including Emily Summers, Jan Showers, Laura Lee Clark, Antiques Moderne, David Sutherland Showroom, ID Collection, and Culp Associates. Thrift Studio, a bi-annual 30-day pop-up, sells the overstock of donated, gently used furniture, housewares, accessories, upholstery fabrics by the bolt, and high-end designer finds to the public.

See gorgeous room vignettes created by TLC Contract Group, The Container Store, Horchow, Michelle Nussbaumer, David Cadwallader Design, Melissa Woody, Peacock Alley, and Wisteria. Everything you see will be for sale, at a fraction of retail price.

The address is 1250 Slocum, suite 550, inside the Dallas Design District, next door to Culp Associates.

Here's a sneak peek inside some of the rooms:

MICHELLE NUSSBAUMER

HORCHOW

THE CONTAINER STORE

WISTERIA

TLC CONTRACT GROUP

MELISSA WOODY