HOW FRENCH: ANTOINETTE POISSON WALLPAPERS

Photos courtesy of Antionette Poisson

Antionette Poisson, a French wallpaper company started by Julie Stordiau, Farelly Vincent and Jean Baptiste Martin is a true find.  As one of those rare and wonderful companies that comes along every once in awhile, Antionette Poisson mines the past, more specifically the 18th Century, for design inspiration. This group of artisans and antique collectors began by restoring old papers and had an interest in historically derived patterns, and what they create has utter charm. There are  15 historically-derived hand block-printed paper patterns to choose from in their Dominotes collection, made in the same way they were back then. Printed on small square paper sheets using handmade rag paper similar to the original 18th Century technique, their designs have a freshness to them that feels au courant.  Mixed with clean-lined even modern furniture, this wallpaper will really sing. You can find their papers stateside at John Derian in New York City's East Village and at Michael S. Smith's Jasper Showroom in LA.

The artists in their Parisian workshop in the endlessly inspiring Bastille neighborhood

A stylized floral set against a pin dot called Indian is a favorite pattern of mine and comes in five colorways

An undulating blue and white acorn and flourish stripe, Acorns, comes in three colorways

Printed linen fabrics debuted at Maison Objet this past year. The prints are made with the same engraved plates as the papers.