Pattern Sandwiching: The Maximalist Interior Trend Designers Love

The design world is embracing 'pattern sandwiching,' a technique that layers bold wallpaper between painted surfaces to create dynamic, lived-in spaces. This approach, highlighted in a recent Vogue feature, offers a middle ground between neutral minimalism and full color-drenching, allowing for personal expression without overwhelming the eye. Designers Heather French of French & French Interiors in Santa Fe and Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors in Berkeley champion the method, noting its ability to add rhythm and warmth to a room. French emphasizes the importance of considering the room's 'emotional direction' and using restraint to achieve sophistication, while Jung recommends starting with small spaces like powder rooms for immediate impact. Both suggest pulling paint colors from the wallpaper's background to create cohesion, with Jung favoring color-forward papers from brands like House of Hackney, and French looking to Pierre Frey, Sister Parish, and Soane Britain. Chloe Redmond Warner of Redmond Aldrich Design in Berkeley advises using paint 'matched to ground' to make patterns feel organic. The trend is seen as timeless, with Jung noting that the instinct to repeat color for cohesion is enduring. The article also references Vogue's guide to wallpaper brands and emphasizes the importance of scale and proportion when selecting patterns.