Grateful for Interns

In the spirit of giving thanks, I just wanted to say a bit about how grateful I am for the Cavern Interns.  I am so lucky to work with this talented, dedicated, creative group.  Seriously, I could not do this without them.  Thank you Marianna Bender, Nick Peters, Hayeon Jang, Karli Hendrickson, Karen Dana, Zach Hewitt and Katie Armstrong for your time and inspiration.  You guys are all truly outstanding, and I am so grateful for all your hard work.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Edward Gorey

Cavern intern Karli Hendrickson is back from her road trip- but still traveling!  She just went to Cape Cod, where she spent some time at the Edward Gorey House.

Karli writes:

“Edward Gorey was an illustrator famous for his breadth of work from children’s books, to the animated introduction of Mystery on Masterpiece Theater, to the set design for the Broadway play Edward Gorey’s Dracula. Hanging in the Edward Gorey House Museum in Yarmouth, Cape Cod is a sample of wall covering he created.

The wallpaper features the silhouette of a lady standing on the back of a bat over a silver metallic moiré background. A moiré pattern is formed when two grids are overlaid at an angle, which makes the appearance of rippling water.

There is an illusion in this paper, which makes it particularly captivating. Because the paper has a complex metallic base and matte ink print, it appears differently depending on the lighting and angle at which it is viewed. When the lights are out and you look straight on at the paper the bats come forward in the pattern and the white lady silhouettes almost disappear. When you flip the lights back on or walk to a 45-degree angle the ladies are visible once again. It is a dramatic illusion in a 3 foot sample of the pattern. I can only imagine the effect in an entire room.”

Thanks for the write-up Karli! And for these Gorey illustrations, which I love.

Wallpaper at the Madonna Inn

Have you ever daydreamed about throwing caution to the wind and re-designing your bedroom with a wildly exuberant, over the top color palate? Spend a night or two at the Madonna Inn and you might satisfy your urge without re-decorating your room (and possibly ruining your design reputation). Located in San Luis Obisbo, California, this legendary “resort style retreat” offers 110 boutique rooms, each decorated with a unique theme. With a kitsch factor that only Graceland could outshine, these rooms boast meticulous attention to design detail and an extreme visual stimulation that I have to admire. The resort includes a spa, steakhouse, cafe, and more. Cavern “Intern at Large” Karli Hendrickson went to the bakery on her road trip- thanks for bringing this place to my attention!

To see images of all the rooms and to learn more about the inn’s fascinating history, check out its website. This is a California institution that I definitely have to see in person some day. These rooms are like Wallpaper Heaven!

Patterns in the USA :: Final Leg of the Journey

Cavern “intern at large” Karli Hendrickson has completed the final leg of her epic road trip across the country and back again.  I have been keeping up with Karli along the way, and here we have the final images from her journey.

From Seattle…

Down the coast…

Into Joshua Tree…

And Arizona, stopping by the Heard Museum.

Thanks for taking us along with you Karli!  Can’t wait to see you in New York!

Patterns at the MET

Cavern’s terrific and talented intern Hayeon Jang spent a little time at the MET this weekend and sent me these inspiration photos from the French decorative arts wing.  Very nice…  Thanks Hayeon!

Patterns in the USA :: Part 3

It’s hard to keep up with Karli as she drives cross-country, but here is the latest installment of photos from her travels.

Below are pictures of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.  Constructed in the late 1800’s, the building is covered in murals made with different naturally colored corn cobs.  Karli tells me they call it “paint by corn” because the murals are done much like a “paint by numbers” activity: they murals are re-made every year.  Corn wall art. Crazy!

A rusty cowboy truck parked outside the Corn Palace. Awesome surface and color.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  Karli writes, “this area used to be an ancient shallow sea that build up layers of mud that are now eroding away by wind and rain creating these amazing barren plateau and castle shaped landscapes. It kind of looks like large sand castles everywhere.” A surface shaped by time itself. Amazing.

Two unusual building facades in Minneapolis:

And the coat room area of the Walker Museum.  Wallpaper by Murakami, who I love.

Thanks for all the updates Karli!  Can’t wait to see where the journey goes next.

Patterns in the USA (Part 2)

As intern Karli drives across the country and back again, she is sending pattern and wall inspiration my way.  From Ohio, we have a wall mural near the Ohio State Art Building and a bathroom from the Art Building painted pink and plastered with vintage Barbie advertisements. (Home-made wallpaper alternative!)  And from Detroit, two photos of abandoned buildings with interesting textures: the first a deserted train station, the second a crumbling old entrance to a Tuxedo shop.  Interesting stuff.  Thanks Karli!

Digital Printing

New Cavern intern Marianna and I visited Cavern’s digital printing facility today.  Yup, I said it: digital printing!  Until now, Cavern has focused exclusively on hand silk screened papers.  We will continue to silk screen all the patterns in our current library and many future patterns as well, but recent advances in digital printing make the process very attractive for wallpaper production.  From an artistic point of view, it allows much more freedom in terms of color, color gradient, texture, and shading.  And from an environmental point of view, it virtually eliminates waste, as we can print to order.  More details about the digital printing process soon!

Patterns in the USA

Meet the newest Cavern intern: the very talented Karli Hendrickson.  Karli and her friend Amelia just began a road trip that will take them across the country, from Connecticut to the Pacific, and back again.  She will be sending me pattern inspiration along the way.  To start, a pattern she saw in a thrift shop in Connecticut.

Best of luck to Karli and Amelia.  We all look forward to sharing your journey!

Wallpaper State

One of our fantastic new design interns — the incredibly talented Karen Dana — sent me this screen shot from Garden State.  I’m surprised I haven’t had a dream in which I become wallpaper; it seems bound to happen!