Whenever speaking with someone with an affinity for romantic or antique home aesthetics, the word that often arises is character. They often point to original pre-war moldings and original fireplaces, walls that appear a little worn, and pieces of furniture that were made in the past century (or two). But, what if you could apply this look to any room of any age?
Fine & Dandy Co.’s new wallpaper collection Fantasticheria’s NYC-based artist Hazel Lee Santino allows for the chance to do so. The name of the collection means “to get lost in daydreams,” and is very telling of what one could expect upon viewing the collection. The assortment contains neoclassical motifs with decorative mythological elements of Ancient Rome.
“The structure, form, and balanced aesthetic that is synonymous with neoclassical design is the perfect contrast for the untamed, organic shapes we find in nature, especially when they are rendered by hand,” Shelley Weinreb, Co-Founder, and Chief Creative Officer tells T&C. “They are polar opposites yet complimentary, so they actually reinforce and accentuate each other beautifully.”
The “Grotto” wallpaper features the face of a woman, a nod to classic Roman marble statues, with insect wings on each side. In between are wheat-like gardenia, fish, and other insect depictions. The “Facade” wallpaper mimics the worn-down facades of classic Roman architecture buildings, adding a visual layer to where they are set. The borders, too, consist of similar effects.
Though the wallpaper takes from neoclassical styles, the wallpaper may easily styled and placed in contemporary settings.
“Infusing the formality and discipline of neoclassical design with some wilder and less traditional elements allowed the creation of a fantastical collection that feels both ancient and modern at the same time,” Carla Morano, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Fine & Dandy Co. tells T&C. ” This collection also provided the perfect opportunity to introduce our new plaster-type substrate, Fresco, which really amplifies the hand-painted design elements.”
Fancy a Rococo greenhouse indoors?
When it comes to wallpapers in this vein, the challenging part is creating a product that doesn’t look, well, fake. If a wallpaper looks too digitalized or is printed improperly or on low-quality material, there’s the risk of resulting in a low-quality, cheap-looking room. Such isn’t the case here. The brand’s use of texture-rich Fresco substrate simulates the look of plaster or stucco to further add an element of age-warn realism. Why not bring a piece of an Italian Villa home?
Facade Wallpaper
IL CONSERVATORIO – LICHEN
GROTTO – LARGE SCALE – CHANGELING
CARNEVALE – SMALL SCALE – UMBRIA
To shop or explore the collection, please visit fineanddandycompany.com.