Jan. 22--Some people have an unfavorable opinion of floral prints, where "floral" connotes a certain froufrou-ery, cloying sweetness and/or Grandma's dated decorating. (Maybe not your grandma per se, but definitely Thelma Harper from "Mama's Family.") But, of course, florals are so much more than that, and the variety of flowery patterns with which to decorate your home or office in 2016 goes well beyond Liberty of London and Laura Ashley.
For something more dark, moody and dramatic, check out the larger-than-life floral prints of Ellie Cashman. The U.S.-born, Netherlands-based designer creates breathtaking wallpaper inspired by still-life paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. Cashman launched her business in 2013 after her "Dark Floral" pattern went viral on Pinterest. Suddenly, purchase inquiries were flooding her inbox.
Now there are several signature wallpaper designs to choose from, including "Summer Squall," "Twisting Tulips" and "Rose Decay." But Dark Floral remains a favorite. Featuring enormous, light-hued flowers in peak bloom set against a shadowy backdrop, the painterly print is mysterious and arresting in a way that most wallpapers aren't. See the Oxford Dictionary definition of "ethereal": "extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world."
Cashman achieves her museum-quality patterns via a combination of sketching, drawing, cutting, pasting, painting, and finessing the final product in Adobe Photoshop. Predictably, the too-perfect-for-this-world wallpapers aren't cheap. On the designer's website, you can calculate how much of it you'd need for a specific space. For example, a medium-size powder room with dimensions 5 by 5 by 9 feet would require 240 euros -- that is, approximately $260 -- worth of wallpaper. As a cost-saving alternative, you might incorporate Dark Floral as an accent wall. And if nothing else, there are always decorative Dark Floral cushions for a bit of drama.
See www.elliecashmandesign.com to order.
Laura Pearson is a freelance writer.
