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If you are looking to create a room of layered pattern and visual complexity, nothing jump-starts the process like wallpaper. Imagery has the power to cozy up or expand a space, within the context of any design environment. Depending on the scale and color of the pattern used, a paper can provide subtle textural background, or be the pivotal visual in any room. This is why we offer all of our 200+ prints in wall covering options.
DIFFERENT ROOMS REQUIRE WALLPAPER WITH DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES: Get it wet, sponge it down, bang it up – or not; the wallpaper that works for your space depends on your specific needs. Price points are all over the map. At Philomela we offer multiple grounds and finishes for a variety of budgets for residential or commercial project requirements.
ADVANTAGES, beyond aesthetics - and by all means do lead with aesthetics:
1. LONGER LASTING AND MORE ECONOMICAL THAN PAINT. General consensus holds that wallpaper typically lasts well over 15 years (3-5 times longer than paint) making it cost-effective in the long run. So, enjoy the benefit of a gorgeous surrounding, AND save roughly 30% savings in the long term.
2. Often wallpaper can be sponged off and is EASIER TO CLEAN than paint, perfect for those “lived in” households that accommodate messy living and both two and four legged household habitants.
Although we ARE crazy about wallpaper, one does need to follow BASIC DO’S AND DON’T’S:
1. Do have a PROFESSIONAL WALLPAPER HANGER measure to avoid end of the job surprises . Ceiling height, architectural detail, moldings, etc. etc. all influence proper calculations. Don’t guess, and don’t assume the provider will fill in the blanks.
2. For those do-it-your-selfers (and g-d bless) do utilize our standard wallpaper that includes INSTRUCTIONS.
3. BUY A BIT OF EXTRA. Nothing is worse than running out of paper, and patching with rolls from a separate run. Our wallpaper guru, and veteran of forty plus years of fine wall covering installations, Jane Head of English Hang-ups, suggests ordering 20% more than the measured square footage.
Wishing you well on all wallpapering ventures. HAPPY HANGING!!! And, PS if you really mess it up, it makes great gift wrap!!
Philomela IN THE WORLD
Bonnie Saland
Founder and creative director of Philomela, and a practicing artist and psychoanalyst based in Pasadena and The Sea Ranch, California.
Central to the Philomela philosophy is an investment in facilitating the creative voice. Nowhere is this more important, then with our children … and especially in those communities of children where “snowflakes” are still descriptive of winter storms. Urban public schools struggle with adequate funding, but in cities, there is always a YMCA, or public library, or program of one sort of another that exposes kids to art. Not so in rural areas, where parents are often working multiple jobs to survive and no public transportation is available.
The magnificent Sonoma Coast, and particularly The Sea Ranch community where our Northern California art studio is based, is surrounded by populations that are organized around survival, not architectural pedigree. For the last five years, we have been honored to lead an art docent program for the 2nd-3rd graders at the local Horicon Elementary School , where children are fortunate to receive a decent meal at lunch, but where there is no budget for art.
Monthly, we head in with an art project and supplies gifting each involved child with their own art kit which they take home at year’s end. Local individuals and the North Coast Artist's Guild have supported us with time, resources and plenty of opportunities
to show at the local art center. For the last three years, under the editorship of Connie King, the students have written and illustrated a book presented locally, this year’s being "The Kindness Book". 100% of the proceeds support the kids and the art program at Horicon Elementary School.
We know our children are our future. Let us all help where we can, so they can enjoy their own creative spirits. For more information on the program or to donate directly please contact us at contact@philomelasweb.com.
Philomela, in all ways, is committed to a feminine voice. Our founding principles, name (the myth of Philomela), celebration of home, collaborative operations system, and involvement in community non-profit projects all reflect this basic value system, a philosophy rooted in creative individual growth, respect and care for each other, and the environment. Nowhere is a shift in priorities more urgent, then with the challenges we face with global warming, and the need to better tend to Mother Earth.
Textile waste product is second only to big oil detritus. As digital printers who print to order, we avoid stocking inventory and discarding unused product. We are now also releasing a card deck of our patterns (over 300 currently in circulation) and base cloth ring, urging our clients to switch from the industry standard of physical samples unless absolutely necessary. Inspired by young activists who are so passionately expressing concerns about future inheritance, we look forward to embracing positive change and doing our small part, Philomela style.
Digital printing in home décor is quickly emerging as a world-wide market, with major growth potential. Here at Philomela, we are thrilled to be at the forefront of this industry trend. Offering a well curated, extensive collection of mix and match patterns in a variety of substrates - our product line is suitable for a wide mix of aesthetic styles and periods, and applicable to both residential and commercial use. We know that many are bumping up against similar questions and concerns about this relatively new printing option, therefore we decided to share why we LOVE digital printing.
Architects and designers are always looking for new product providing visual innovation and application novelty. Here are the reasons why digital printing is the wave of the future in the interior design industry:
1. UNSURPASSED COLOR VARIETY AND QUALITY
Philomela is all about color, THE quickest way to celebrate any space. So, when we searched for printing method, digital printing was a natural choice. It provides amazing color nuance within a pattern structure, a superlative richness of photorealistic image quality in an endless range of vibrant hue. We start with a fine art piece, almost always using a palette of mixed color, and digital printing allows us to provide prints that are BOTH highly colorful and high quality with color variation that neither woven or screen printed method could provide.
2. AN ARTISINAL HAND AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
We know that designers are keen on the unusual, authentic and painterly. A touch of the unpredictable is a surefire way to add life to any room. But, not all folks are on unlimited budgets, and/or necessarily locking into ONE living room for the rest of their lives. SO … for all those clients looking to see the artist's hand, without the cost of a hand-printed case goods, this is your middle path!
3. IT’S GREEN (ER) THAN OTHER PRINTING METHODS
The textile industry is second only to big oil as THE world class polluter. At Philomela, we do believe in science, and know that there is NO environment more important than Mother Earth. Digital printing saves 30% on electricity and uses 95% less water than traditional printing method. WE PRINT TO ORDER, eliminating the need for warehousing textile stock. Our printers have (only) 3 yard minimums allowing for production and custom orders in BOTH small and large quantities.
4. CUSTOMIZATION IN A SHORT TURNAROUND TIME
For the designer who wants to get creative and tweak our offerings (and often we find ourselves thinking “now why didn’t we think of that?"), digital printing offers an opportunity to customize in just weeks of turnaround time. Or, we can collaborate offering “special label” product, custom substrates, special scale, color etc. Anything’s possible. Again, there is tremendous room for CREATIVE SPIRITS, who ALSO need to ADHERE TO STRICT DEADLINES!
In summary, we are huge fans of digital print method. But this is not Kansas anymore, and there are major differences with digital printing. So… if a client wants to play (and who doesn’t) and customize a print, we do urge them to print a strike-off with the substrate change. We spend months calibrating color before we release a print, and color saturation will read differently on different base fabrics.
Now, in the spirit of ethical hedonism, Enjoy! We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you.