Walnut Wallpaper Curates Classic and Indie Styles We’d Love to Slap Up

By Marni Elyse Katz
November 22, 2011

Walnut Wallpaper When Norinne DeGal opened her L.A. shop, Walnut Wallpaper, in 2005 the idea of wallpaper was still mired in the 1970s—all foil and mylar and oversized prints. But with her reporter instincts (she has a degree in journalism and had been writing at a newspaper), DeGal was fairly certain a trend for a whole new world of wallpaper was emerging. So when she decided to leave media to pursue a career in design, wallpaper it was.

left: Walnut Wallpaper storefront in Los Angeles

Of course, she was right. Wallpaper has exploded onto the design scene. A slew of independent artisans, like Flavor Paper, Elli Popp, Mod Green Pod and Nama Rococo, have redefined the craft, making it undeniably hip. Suddenly, designers were using wallpaper in powder rooms, on the backs of bookcases, and on accent walls in geometric prints, abstract designs, and naturalistic motifs, from retro-inspired patterns to modern interpretations. Wallpaper is seeing a renaissance.

Walnut Wallpaper

Walnut Wallpaper store interior

We had a chance to peer into DeGal’s wallpaper state of mind.

The Inside Source: Why wallpaper?

Norinne DeGal: Part of being a reporter is spotting trends, so I got pretty good at it. For several years before I opened Walnut I felt like there was a trend in modern, cool wallpaper. I was looking for stuff like Flavor Paper and I couldn’t find it in Los Angeles. But I kept seeing a lot of cool lines, especially out of London. I was working at a fabric shop at the time, but I just had this gut feeling about these wallpapers and thought: why not make wallpaper cool again and curate all of these lines from around the world? Kind of like a hipster wallpaper store.

left: Norinne DeGal

The Inside Source: Which design eras produced wallpapers that you love?

Norinne DeGal: I kind of love them all when they are done right. I could just as easily go for a beautiful hand-done scenic paper by Zuber as I could a David Hicks mid-century. I have some lines out of Europe that are made exactly the way they were 150 years ago, but look like they came out today. Right now, I’m loving Eskayel out of Brooklyn. It’s sort of like if Miuccia Prada or Thakoon did wallpaper.

Walnut Wallpaper

pink, orange, blue, green and red wallpaper samples

The Inside Source: What kind of wallpaper did you grow up with in your parent’s house?

Norinne DeGal: Typical 1970s paper, and some of it is still there. My parents were very big on wallpaper. There was a metallic green medallion paper in the entryway and then the exact same paper in the dining room, but the color was Dutch blue. My mom also had a lot of accent walls, which is kind of funny because people are really into that now. In my parent’s bedroom, there was a blue oversized windowpane check paper behind their bed. My room had an accent wall, which changed so many times over the years that I can’t remember exactly what was there.

The Inside Source: What wallpaper do you have hanging in your house?

Norinne DeGal: My living room and bedroom are done in grass cloth. My five-year-old’s room has Palace Paper ‘Fossil Fuel’ in ‘Green Calcite,’ which is a giant dinosaur skeleton paper. I had a gold Florence Broadhurst paper in my powder room, but recently had to take it down due to a leak. I’m probably going to replace it with an Eskayel paper.

Walnut Wallpaper

Wallpapers available at Walnut: Galaxia Tres Tintas, Time for Tea DuPenny

Walnut Wallpaper

Flavor Paper Onda, SUM FemmeFatale

The Inside Source: Is there a room you wouldn't wallpaper?

Norinne DeGal: No!

The Inside Source: If you could re-decorate any space (with wallpaper, or course) what would it be?

Norinne DeGal: I’ve always been a fan of 1940s Tiki, so I would love to take any room and turn it into a Tiki haven. I think Paper Mills “Little Havana” mixed with some of my heavy grass cloth and some vintage Tiki finds would make a great room.

The Inside Source: Is there a pattern you are currently obsessed with?

Norinne DeGal: I’ve sort of fallen back in love with Louise Body’s lace pattern, ‘Marney’s Lace’. Lace is really in right now as far as fashion, and I feel like this pattern is so modern and cool. We also have it in fabric; I’d love to see it on a chair. I love Makelike ‘Succulent’ and ‘Zig Zag’ patterns too.

Walnut Wallpaper

Woods Cole & Son

Walnut Wallpaper

Flora Jocelyn Warner

The Inside Source: Any plans to put out a line of Walnut branded wall coverings?

Norinne DeGal: I have thought about it, but actually having the time to execute it is another thing. I would have the added problems associated with production, so I’m not sure that I want to move in that direction.

The Inside Source: Who are your favorite designers?

Norinne DeGal: I’ve always loved Vivienne Westwood; I’ve collected her clothes over the years. For furniture, I love Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues. Some of my wallpaper designers are doing rugs now, like Timorous Beasties and Florence Broadhurst, so I am really partial to those. And recently I have been collecting pieces from a jewelry designer named Vaubel.

Walnut Wallpaper

Squiggles Vivienne Westwood, Japanese Floral Florence Broadhurst

Walnut Wallpaper

Dead Trees Geoff Mcfetridge Pottok Prints, Estella Madison & Grow

The Inside Source: Favorite places to shop?

Norinne DeGal: Barneys New York is probably my favorite. I also love the interior of Paul Smith on Melrose. I also try and shop in the neighborhood where Walnut is located to help support the local shops on my street. I get jewelry from Ige, and gifts from Rolling Greens and Jonathan Wright.

The Inside Source: What do you splurge on?

Norinne DeGal: Clothes. I love craftsmanship in clothing, handbags and shoes. I also splurged on a Paul Smith rug.

The Inside Source: Where do you scrimp?

Norinne DeGal: My husband says that I buy cheap toilet paper. It just doesn’t matter to me and the fluffy stuff runs out too quick.

The Inside Source: What have you hunted for or purchased on eBay?

Norinne DeGal: I have a black vintage rotary desk phone from eBay. I also had a mid-century Danish hanging lamp that I got from eBay. Recently, I’ve been looking the perfect Hudson Bay coat. When I was 17 I had a Hudson Bay blanket coat that I lost, so I’m obsessed with getting that coat back. And of course, Hudson Bay blanket coats have made a comeback. so I’ve been scouring eBay.

Norinne DeGal sources vintage wallpaper on eBay:

Vintage Wallpaper Botanical Print and Animals

“This one looks just like a William Morris wallpaper — very Arts & Crafts.”
1940's Scenic Vintage Wallpaper

(buy it now price, $64.99)

“The oversize scale is great and there has been a little resurgence in architectural-themed papers.”
Foil Celtic Vintage Wallpaper

(Buy it now price, $49.99)

“This is very retro 1970s with the foil. I have some new papers that look just like this.”
"Waterhouse Damask" by Waterhouse Wallhangings

“A beautiful Kelly green damask.”
Vintage French Toile Wallpaper

“I love this toile. It looks like society people ‘at play.’”
3 Packages Vintage Borders

(starting bid, $9.99)

“A great fashion illustration paper.”