William Morris Wallpapers

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Stanmore Hall. One of Morris’ more extravagant interiors, featuring his distinctive swirls of naturalistic leaves and flowers on the wall. Morris & Co. also provided several tapestries for this house.

St. James’s Palace, London

Another Morris design that was used at Stanmore Hall was St. James’s Damask, a silk weave, which had also been used at St. James’ Palace in London.

St. James’s Damask was a silk wallcovering used at St. James’s Palace. Charles Rupert Designs, a Canadian firm which closed in October of 2016 after thirty years when its owners retired, made the design into a wallpaper in the original silk colouring (above) as well as two other paler colourways.

St. James’s Damask was a silk wallcovering used at St. James’s Palace. It has now been made into a wallpaper in the original silk colouring (above) as well as two other paler colourways.

Morris’ working drawing for Vine wallpaper 1874

Vine wallpaper in an 1897 colourway. One of three colourways produced by Charles Rupert Designs from 2004 to 2016

Vine Wallpaper.  One of three colourways formerly made by Charles Rupert Designs

The interiors that were designed by Morris’ firm were simpler than most interiors of the period. Where most Victorian houses were full of swagged fabrics, and gilt and ruffles, Morris’s interiors were simpler. The curtains were plainly sewn, although the fabrics were patterned with Morris’ distinctive designs. In fact, if you stand in one of Morris’ interiors, you can often count as many as seven different Morris wallpaper and fabric designs in one room. Yet, there is a similarity of style that binds them all together, and unifies the design of the room. The result is a restful, cozy room, that still looks fresh to today’s eyes.