I’m always on the hunt for creative and unexpected applications of wallpaper; I love seeing traditional patterns in modern spaces, modern papers in historic environments, and the use of wallpaper in places other than the walls! Personally, I would not have thought to use House of Hackney’s MeyMeh- a pattern that evokes a Moroccan souk- on a farmhouse door inside a modern Boulder home, but that’s exactly what Stephanie Waddell of Istoria Interiors did. And it looks amazing!
A friend of mine had put me onto Stephanie’s previous venture, Agnes & Hoss, a textile design brand which produced handbags, pillows, scarves, lighting, and a full gift collection. The company manufactured goods both domestically and internationally, which were sold through hundreds of stores nationwide, including Anthropologie and ABC Home.
In 2010, Stephanie, who was driven by a desire to live closer to nature, left Chicago and moved with her husband and son to Boulder, Colorado. She says, “it was at this point that I decided to transition into interior design. I became increasingly passionate about how we live and navigate space, and I was consumed with the belief that people should love the spaces where they live, work, and socialize. These interiors should be filled with meaning, emotion, and humanity.” Stephanie is currently earning her MFA in Interior Architecture and Design, and simultaneously creating fully conceptualized spaces through her firm, Istoria Interior Design.
The firm’s name comes from an Italian Renaissance term which refers to the complex narrative that can be found in a painting. This dovetails perfectly with Stephanie’s belief that every interior should have a story and a philosophy behind it. She believes, “the only way to fill a space with soul is to fill it with narrative. It’s not enough to make interiors functional and beautiful; a good space should spark emotion, invite dialogue, and make people curious to learn more.” Stephanie takes risk with colors and patterns, and encourages her clients to do the same by taking a chance on the unexpected. That’s a design philosophy we can get behind, 100%.
Photos courtesy of Stephanie Waddell, used with permission. For more on Stephanie’s work please go here:
Hackney Empire, used in one of Stephanie’s most recent projects. Paper sourced by WallTawk. PC: Jodi S.
Classic! We love this paper so much, great pick Stephanie. PC: Jodi S.