Stunning West University House Redo Shows Off the Power of Wallpaper and a Young Houston Couple’s Daring — Jewelry For the Home

It’s seldom that a young homeowner today approaches an interior designer with a request for a redo that spotlights wallpaper. So when New York based designer Jennifer Hunter was approached by a Houston couple to do just that, she was delighted. The West University Place house — with an abundance of contemporary components such as limestone flooring, iron doors and windows, beams, and dark wood floors — had something of an industrial bent. The new owners wanted a warmer esthetic.

In their quest for a comfortable yet sophisticated home that would grow gracefully with their two young sons, the clients requested that wallpaper be incorporated in almost every room.

“Anytime a client is interested in wallpaper it’s music to my ears,” Hunter tells PaperCity. “My design esthetic is very much traditional with a modern twist. Therefore, I lean heavily into incorporating wallpaper into my clients’ homes.

“Wallpaper gives you endless opportunities to play with different textures and patterns that can create a wow factor in a space in a unique and elevated way. Wallpaper adds such a fun element and new dimension to any space.

“We like to think of it as jewelry for the wall.”

Of course, anyone who follows Schumacher or Sandberg on Instagram is familiar with the glamorous, inventive world of wallpaper, or as these firms refer to it “wall coverings.” Hunter employed Schumacher and Lee Jofa fabrics in various upholstered pieces in the house.

In addition to creative wall treatments (Lee Jofa, Sandberg), Hunter softened the dwelling’s ambience through the use of carefully curated furnishings, fabrics and art. Hunter commissioned artist Caleb Mahoney to create an oversized abstract painting to be placed at the bottom of the staircase. The painting compliments the stairwell wallpaper — Sameera in Sapphire/Gold by Lee Jofa.

“We really draw inspiration from our clients and their lifestyle,” Hunter says. “We want our interiors to be tailored to each client. Therefore, no projects are ever the same. This keeps our work interesting and versatile.”