This week, my search for people and places that redefine our concept of Modern Living, delves into new ways of decorating walls beyond paint and paper.
While many wonderful British brands like Farrow & Ball, Cole & Son and Osborne & Little (to name a few) do wild and wonderful wall coverings, I’m interested in new ways of adding texture and colour and change the way we think of surfaces.
First up, this delicious beach pad by the British seaside, Loma House takes a rough luxe approach to decorating by covering walls and floors in hardwearing Artek – a kind of builders’ plaster that can be easily applied for a chalky texture and look. It’s the perfect backdrop for warmer textures like wood (in both its raw and furniture form), rugs and even more industrial finishes such as exposed wires and copper fixtures.
This robust finish has been paired with hard-wearing ply wood, adding warmth, visual interest and sectioning different parts of the house.
Next up, a swoon worthy flat in east London by Bentley Hagen Hall takes another raw approach to their walls, by working with builder’s plaster in a plain matt painter’s finish. While the look sounds basic, the simplicity of the end result is anything short of beautiful. The pale rose tint of the plaster gives the walls a subtle warmth that is as original as the finish itself.
As you can see by the photography, the ‘unfinished’ finish is the perfect tone to help colour, accessories and styling pop.
The third idea looks to nature for inspiration. Cork, as seen in H&M’s latest catalogue is set to be this year’s texture.
While its lovely natural finish presents the perfect back ground for lush greens and blacks in the home, it’s also an ingenious way to resurface office spaces. 
After looking at all these original coverings, I thought it would be interesting to expose how ‘naked’ surfaces can make beautiful statements too. Dilapidated walls and flaky paint might not sound like a beauty formula, but I believe, when paired with the right accessories, can look just as stylish as statement wallpaper or dark, moody paint.
And there you have it. Some thought starters and inspirational spaces to help you rethink the way our homes look and feel; how choosing to experiment with different materials or stripping away layers to reveal what lies beneath the surface, can give the places we inhabit a sense of originality.
I’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas on new ways of decorating, that change can the way we live and feel!
Odot studio 