By: Melinda Dzinic, CR, CKBR, UDCP, Euro Design Build owner
Is wallpaper back and the faux finish out? This seems to be the favorite question these days by consumers who are looking for a smart way to invest their dollars as they embark on a home improvement journey of a single room or an entire home remodeling project….
The answer is simple. They are both here to stay, however each in a very different way. Each industry has forced the other to become better at what they do in order to compete for their fair market share, and that’s a good thing for consumers.
But to better understand the shift in this market and why the move happened from one to the other, we would need a better understanding of what really happened to faux finishing. A decade ago, during the faux finishing boom, our market became saturated with lots of self-proclaimed “faux finishers” who had a very negative impact on the market. There were a plethora of finishers but few who possessed the skill to create a true form of art. The real art of faux finish walls and cabinets lies in the appropriate training, the right chemistry and the appropriate knowledge for using that chemistry in order to create that one of a kind piece of art in our homes that transitions well through time.
In the meantime, the wallpaper manufacturers realized that faux finish is the “in” finish, and they wanted their fair share of the market. At this time the wallpaper industry decided to take back the market by manufacturing high quality wallpaper that imitated the art of faux finishes. Armed with the ability to create much better and more “authentic” looking faux finishes has given a new place to the wallpaper industry. We are indeed using more wallpaper that looks more like a high quality faux finish…
The only faux finishing that is still being done is the “true art” of faux finishing that is designed to transition gracefully with time. The emphasis here must be made on the quality of both wallpaper and faux finishes.
And finally, if neither one of these looks are what you are looking for, the amazing world of a new line of water based paints have many more selections of color, hue and value than ever before….
I would highly recommend that you consult with a Designer or NARI certified professional before making the final decision for your wall finishes.
