It’s not often that I’m lost for words when it comes to wallpaper, but I’ll hold my hands up and say that the new Poodle & Blonde collection caught me completely off guard when it launched last week. I’ve long been a fan of the luxury interiors brand run by the fabulous Whinnie Williams and Kierra Campbell (and do have one of their older styles hanging proudly in my dining room) but this new retro-inspired collection really is top dog.
Inspired by the Italian designers of the late 70s and early 80s, the ‘Almost Italian’ collection is an ode to the iconic objects that arose from that era. Think milky Murano glass, zig zag textures, dramatic floristry and an ice cream colour palette that looks good enough to eat. ‘I want to see it’, I hear you cry. Go on, grab a Negroni Sbagliato and let’s get to it.
Bellisima
First up is my favourite design from the new collection – Bellisima – featuring wavy lines in four colour-ways of cream, pink, mint and brown tones. Whinnie drew inspiration for the design from Murano’s milky glass Mushroom Lamp, but I also liken this print to the Ultrafragola Mirror by Ettore Sottsass. Yes, it’s my dream mirror in wallpaper version.
Whinnie reimagined the curves and shadows of Murano’s lamp by bringing them to a repeat pattern. The pearlised paper has a slight sheen to it, adding a luxury vibe, depth and texture. The word ‘Bellisima’ is also incorporated into the print, handwritten by Whinnie’s dad, Stu.
1970
No word of a lie, I have a pair of vintage Missoni trousers that this wallpaper instantly reminded me of, and I’m not mad about it. The vintage marble design was reimagined by Poodle and Blonde in new colourways with a tantalising zig-zagged repeat. Zig-zag magnifique, tres chic.
The marbling technique used for this design is called uneven nonpareil, which in marbling terms, means a comb was drawn in a straight line from top to bottom, but in an irregular pattern. The effect has created imperfect scalloped rows reminiscent of 70s hippie culture, but ultra sophisticated and sleek.
Mazzo
Love florals? You’ll love Mazzo. Whinnie hand-painted extravagant exotic flowers arranged in delicate shells for this print, with the drawings taking around a month to complete.
The dramatic design is inspired by 80s floral patterns. Think dramatic clusters of flamingo-pink anthuriums with palm fronds and pampas. Never one to leave out a reference to her much-loved Margate, each arrangement sits inside a shell. Available in a milky colour palette of creams, browns and blues but with pops of pinks, green and burgundy throughout, this is one for the maximalists.
Shop the collection.
Like what you see? It’s not all about the wallpaper and fabrics! Shop some of my favourite pieces from the Poodle and Blonde ‘Almost Italian’ collection below.
1 // Mazzo Velvet Cushion – Nero | £115
2 // Bellisima Rectangle Velvet Cushion – Crema | £105
3 // Bellisima Art Print – Oceano | £45
4 // 1970 Linen Cushion – Rosa | £120
5 // Bellisima in Crema – Wallpaper | £115 per 10m
6 // Drum Lampshade -1970 | £102
7 // 1970 in Rosa – Wallpaper | £115 per 10m
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