Make a style statement with eye-catching wallpaper

Photos Henrique Wilding | Production Marian van Wyk

Florence de Vries's love of motifs and bold colours is evident throughout her Bellville home. Her secret weapons? Paint and wallpaper.

WHO LIVES HERE? Florence de Vries, Rupert Koopman and their daughter Amelia (6)

WHERE Boston, Cape Town

DINING ROOM

Florence's husband Rupert is a botanist - they're both passionate about indigenous plants. But it was in 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal that she fell in love with tropical motifs.

"That country is tile heaven, with the most beautiful azulejos! But something about the wallpaper in a restaurant called Amelia, which happens to be my daughter's name, got my heart racing," says Florence.

"It had an abundance of leaves, monkeys and birds in the most beautiful green, navy-blue and mauve. The wallpaper was bold and dramatic and the entire space felt luxurious. I was obsessed.

"The wallpaper in her own dining room, however, was Rupert's choice. "I was after something a bit more restrained," says Florence, with a chuckle. "But he said that if we have to have wallpaper, could we please choose something striking! And that's how we decided on the Jungle Lemur design. The lemurs are so cute and I adore the pink hibiscus.

I'd always dreamt of transforming an everyday space like a dining room into something ‘d gag ', uninhibited yet elegant. Something light-hearted that shows how much we love laughing around this table. - Florence

As a little girl, Florence de Vries marvelled at the colourful wallpaper in her Ouma Joyce's house in Wellington. And what's more, it was replaced every year or two!

Florence and her family live in Boston in the northern suburbs of the Mother City. She grew up here and loves the architecture and finishes typical of homes in this area: the high ceilings, Oregon pine or parquet flooring and spacious rooms - with plenty of wall space to give her love of motifs and bright colours free rein."A friend walked in here one day and said she loved the whimsical feel I had created," says Florence.

"I looked up ‘whimsical d cor' and discovered that there was a style exactly like this. I love it. So I guess you could describe my aesthetic as ‘old-fashioned botanical whimsy'…"

ENTRANCE HALL

The couple thought long and hard about what colour to use in the entrance hall leading to the living room; now it reminds Florence of her late father, Wesley de Vries. He always lent a hand with their renovations and it was he who painted this wall before he died. "The colour brings me a sense of peace, something I long for almost every day," says Florence.

WALLPAPER TRENDS

Our homes have become our canvases and wallpaper a tool to express who we are and what we are about, says Cara Saven of Cara Saven Wall Design, winner of last year's Santam Women of the Future Awards in association with our sister publications, Fair Lady and True Love. She identifies the latest trends:

• Tropical d cor has been around for a while but continues to evolve. Not everyone can live the fantasy of waking up to endless blue skies and palm trees, so wallpaper that conjures up the exotic smell of coconuts and the hypnotic sound of waves lapping on the shore has become a popular choice.
• A sense of escapism has emerged as a response to many months spent in lockdown and this is reflected in more fantastical, out-of-the-ordinary wallpapers that feature vivid colours and surprising combinations.
• In contrast to the escapism theme is one of going back to basics with organic shades like beige, brown and off-white paired with simple lines and shapes reminiscent of nature.

STARTING POINT

Consider the mood you'd like to create in a room. Are you keen on a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere, or do you want something more vibrant and exciting? Once you've settled on the mood, decide on the look and feel you're going for - is it tropical, African-inspired or neutral? Thereafter, your choice of wallpaper will help inform your selection of other d cor items in the space, such as fabric and furniture.

CONTACT carasaven.com

BEST OF THE BLUES

Colour expert Lien Potgieter offers advice: Royal-blue is opulent and creates a sense of security and calm. Although blue is associated with serenity, this shade can still create a cheerful atmosphere and it has more ‘energy' than navy-blue. A combination of royal-blue, purple and gold increases this feeling of opulence threefold.

Navy-blue can be confused with black if it's a very dark shade with black undertones. Navy-blue creates an atmosphere of rest and contemplation, enhancing the desire to dream and meditate.

A pop of yellow is a surprise element that can boost your mood. Or maintain the tranquillity without compromising on energy by adding a touch of dark red.Light blues create a more fun, playful atmosphere. They are ideal for sociable spaces. They calm you down so you can express yourself in a peaceful, honest manner. Combine them with neutral shades for an atmosphere that is both welcoming and loving

CONTACTlienpotgieter.co.za

http://www.lienpotgieter.co.za

If you don't want your navy-blue focal wall to look black, choose one shade lighter than you initially intended. - Lien Potgieter

HOME OFFICE

"Navy-blue is my favourite colour and that's why I simply had to have a wall in my house in this specific shade," says Florence.

"I chose this colour because when I looked closely at my artworks, I realised that it would provide the best backdrop for what I wanted to hang on the wall.

"The artworks were either purchased during travels (the fans are from Ghana and the print of Klimt's The Kiss is from Italy) or painted by friends. The Queen Anne sofa reminds Florence of her Ouma Joyce.

"The wall colour is also soothing; it makes me feel like someone is giving me a gentle head massage when I look at it."

MAIN BEDROOM

The spotted wallpaper comes from an online kids' d cor store and was originally intended for Amelia's bedroom, but Florence loved it so much that she decided to use it in the main bedroom.

"Spots are fun and although they're probably more commonly used in a kid's space, I wanted to do something playful in my tranquil beige bedroom," she explains.

"It creates a light-hearted vibe that's still luxurious.

"Florence says all the elements in her bedroom were carefully selected, including a ball-and-claw dressing table, crane origami bedside lamps and a copper shoe rack. "The wallpaper brings it all together nicely."

Wallpaper from Ma Petite; cushions from Arabesque; flamingo vase from Baraka Gifts & D cor

TICKLED PINK

Coral is a soft, friendly hue. It's warm and inviting, the colour of one's inner child. It works well with cream or neutral shades and even a dark blue or a lovely olive-green or bottle-green. It opens the heart and awakens creativity.Dusty-pink Few colour combinations are as beautiful as olive-green or bottle-green with dusty-pink. It's a fun but stately colour that's soft yet strong. It is feminine and determined.

Bright pink. This shade says: here I am in all my glory! I'm a unique individual who isn't ashamed to live life to the fullest! Bright pink and dark blue used together say: I'm unique but I have my feet firmly planted on the ground.

GUEST BEDROOM

Florence wanted to do something whimsical in the guest bedroom, hence the broad painted strip with a wreath of bedding helichrysum (Helichrysum petiolare) above the bed. The Khoisan use this plant as a mattress filler, so it's perfectly suited to a bedroom, she explains. The iron-and-copper bed and turquoise dresser are both from Facebook Marketplace.