The things in our homes speak volumes. A Jeff Koons pooch portrays whimsy. A black-and-white Clyde Butcher print boasts regional pride. A Noguchi table proves design sense. But what about the home’s bones—without the furniture and decor, what do our walls say?
Self-expression on walls dates back to Paleolithic cave dwellings. For centuries, humans have plastered, painted and covered their walls for necessity (massive tapestries insulated medieval rooms) and vanity (Victorian-era floral wallpaper was a real vibe at tea time, with every pattern steeped in symbolism). Trends from stucco to shiplap have come and gone—and come back again. The early 2020s wallpaper resurgence—a product of pandemic-induced cabin fever, Bridgerton-inspired nostalgia and the rise of modern maximalism—saw designers and DIYers turning feature walls into fully papered rooms.
Designer Audrey Healey of EBL Interiors views innovative tiles and panels—such as Miami-based Alex Turco’s dreamy handmade coverings combining photography and digital art and Italian maker Cotto d’Este’s ultra-thin porcelain tiles in the Wonderwall collection—as the next big thing in wall decor. “There’s more opportunity for creativity because of their durability,” Healey says. “You can put coordinating panels on your doors or closets to make them sort of disappear in an artistic way.” Wonderwall tiles are less than 1 centimeter thick (backed with fiberglass to keep the stone from cracking during shipping and installation) and come in more than 20 designs. Santa Monica-based purveyor M|R Walls by Mario Romano takes a synthetic approach for similarly sleek wallcoverings, using Corian—a mix of acrylic polymer, petroleum and natural materials—which can be heated, bent and intricately carved to make sculptural panels for interior and exterior walls.
In May, Polish tile purveyor Tomasz Salamon launched the LuxArt Decor showroom in Fort Myers, where they stock tiles made with naturally sourced raw materials, eco-friendly dyes and sustainably sourced clay found around the Tubądzin tile factory in Salamon’s home country. We’re obsessed with their Wall Art Tiles, which go above and beyond the standard mosaic design to bring full-scale murals printed on glossy tiles across an entire wall. (Check out the Heron collection for a perfectly Southwest Florida bird print.)
Hudson Park Interior Design’s principal, L.A. DeRiggi, offers an architectural designer’s perspective: “My approach is to create details and applications that become a part of the home, so even when you walk into an empty, unfurnished home, it’s still just as beautiful, just as breathtaking.” Think crystal-crusted wallpapers reflecting the sea in an ocean-fronting family room. Constantly seeking new textures and designs, DeRiggi looks to companies such as Italian leathermaker Studioart for supple yet sculptural coverings or London-based MeyStyle for wallpapers incorporating tiny lights and crystals for a luminous texture.
Beyond aesthetics, DeRiggi seeks innovative approaches to practical applications, like sound-absorbing felt walls, which can also function as cork boards in live-work spaces. Brands such as Knoll’s FilzFelt bring crafty felt into the design world with carved 3D arches, geometric cutouts and custom designs. A bonus: The wool felt panels are 100% biodegradable and compostable.
For an even greener effect, the team at Miami-based BEMOSS, a go-to for stunning moss wall designs, works with sustainably sourced cork (the material is made from branches, meaning no trees are felled in the process) for maximum durability and insulation while maintaining a contemporary look. The team installed a 3D divider wall in a Miami residence with cork carved into undulating peaks and valleys. Others kick it up a notch, weaving in moss, ferns and tropical greenery for a wild look.
You can keep the vibe organic but still sleek with materials like leather and metal, which lend contemporary energy without sacrificing warmth. To break the mold, Healey looks for curving, mirrored metal surfaces and intricate metal screens. Our top choice for Southwest Florida homes? Luxe Surface Design Studio. The husband-wife duo, Mariusz and Justyna Dejcz, prove metal doesn’t need to look smooth and shiny. Mariusz sculpts liquid metal into wispy, textured designs, turning clients’ walls into original artworks. Justyna posits, “This is for sure a new era of design.”
