'W' for Wallpaper Parenting

Eleanor Tenenbaum

E was with me a few days ago at the Chicago Kate Spade store, where they have Scalamandré zebra wallpaper in the bathroom. She loved it, and said that we should have it in our new house, so I asked if I could take her picture in front of it.

EleanorTenenbaum

Nice pose, kid. Where have I seen… wait a minute.

Scalamandre Zebra Wallpaper in Royal Tenenbaums

Huh.

But she may be onto something. I mean, this is some seriously fantastic wallpaper, right? I put together a collection of my favorite bathrooms and powder rooms using the pattern (in red, and in other colorways too). Something to think about for the new house.

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  • A. @ Hello Door Seven
    June 20, 2013 at 4:48 am

    Oh wow! That’s a brave wallpaper! I am sure I would LOVE it in some public place, it looks so much fun, but I probably would hate it in my house. It’s has so strong pattern and colors!

    • Making it Lovely
      June 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      I think that’s why so many people use it in powder rooms. You can make a big impact, but you don’t spend much time in there.

  • maria anne
    June 20, 2013 at 7:01 am

    Paper Source has a very similar wrapping paper:
    http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Zebra-Wrapping-Paper/3650.040/472377.html

    also the new art grid calendar has a new zebra print!
    http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/2014-Paper-Source-Art-Grid-Calendar/3303_019/842612048519.html

    xoxo
    Maria Anne

  • Meghan
    June 20, 2013 at 7:38 am

    Oh my goodness… where did you find the Gwyneth version? That is Brilliant! Also… I love that wallpaper for real.

    • Making it Lovely
      June 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      That’s a still from The Royal Tenenbaums.

  • Laura
    June 20, 2013 at 8:54 am

    I think the green and yellow versions are my favorites. My toddler has a small playroom attached to her bedroom, and I could totally see this wallpaper in there (right now it’s got knotty pine paneling on the walls). So whimsical and fun for the imagination!

    • Making it Lovely
      June 20, 2013 at 12:20 pm

      I love it in green — I think that’s my favorite.

  • Petite Peltier
    June 20, 2013 at 10:18 am

    I went and saw all of the other photos you had with this wallpaper and everyone is amazing. This wallpaper has always been a favorite of mine, but for children’s rooms or nurseries. It’s sophisticated yet whimsical and playful. I love it too and your daughter has great taste:)

  • Tatyana
    June 20, 2013 at 10:55 am

    I have been attempting to convince my husband that we should use this wallpaper in our guest bathroom (our house does not have a half bath/powder room so the bathroom also functions as that).
    I love this bathroom (http://pinterest.com/pin/95560823314632396/) and was hoping to somewhat recreate the feel.
    He is not very thrilled about the idea of wallpaper (cost and ease of removal). But I though I could mimic the wallpaper using a stencil. I wouldn’t paint the arrows since they imply that the zebras are being hunted (and that’s a bit cruel in my opinion). :)
    http://pinterest.com/pin/95560823315029435/
    http://pinterest.com/pin/95560823315029453/

    • Making it Lovely
      June 20, 2013 at 12:24 pm

      The arrows are in there because the owner of Gino’s restaurant commissioned Scalamandré to design wallpaper with zebras, since he couldn’t afford a hunting/safari trip to Africa. So yes, the arrows are a hunting reference! I do like them as design elements though.

      You can get a similar vibe from the stencil though, I’m sure. And without any hunting imagery to boot. :)

      • Tatyana
        June 20, 2013 at 3:58 pm

        I love that you know the story behind the design. So cool! :)

  • lena
    June 20, 2013 at 11:10 am

    you win. coolest kid ever.

  • Chelsea C.
    June 20, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    Best ever.

  • Jenn
    June 20, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    I AM IN LOVE!!! Eleanor has excellent taste! I want this for my laundry room…only one prob- when I click on your link there’s no option to purchase?!?!? Unless you’re a designer?!?!?! SIGH

    • Making it Lovely
      June 20, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      You can buy it directly from Decorator’s Best! There was a link to the shop in my Babble post, too.

      • Jenn
        June 21, 2013 at 10:13 am

        And THAT!Right THERE is why you are one of my favorite bloggers, Nicole! Thanks so much! My honey is just gonna be thrilled that now he has to wallpaper the laundry room! You are awesome!

  • Rebecca
    June 20, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    For my Wes Anderson Party we had a huge poster of this made for my Royal Tenenbaum Room(Each room of the house was a different movie with themed drinks and food). It made a great photo backdrop and I loved it so much we framed it and kept it up.

  • Valerie
    June 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    Your girl is really funny :D That pic would be fab blowned up and framed. Not crazy about that wallpaper tho, but in a picture framed it’s super whimsy without being overwhelming.

  • Stacy
    June 20, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    Haha! Her expression is classic. Love it.

  • Catherine
    June 20, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    Such a fun post! I love how whimsical it is. Not sure if you watch “Mad Men,” but in the last episode, Sally visited a new boarding school overnight, and the girls’ room where she stayed had a pretty grey-floral wallpaper. I’ve been searching for it all week. :P

  • corrin
    June 20, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    There’s no other word for that photo besides amazing.

  • mary
    June 20, 2013 at 2:56 pm

    you and eleanor have made my day! now i need to figure out if my landlord would approve of a zebra bathroom (and tie a radio to my radiator…)

  • jbhat
    June 20, 2013 at 3:03 pm

    I’m picturing Eleanor’s cigarette just off camera. ; )

    jbhat

  • Jacqueline
    June 20, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    LOL! Love it! And love Eleanor’s attitude. hehe ;-)

  • Kathryn
    June 20, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    This is brilliant. On all levels.

  • Laura Beth @ Perched on a Whim
    June 21, 2013 at 10:28 am

    Just be sure to keep Eleanor away from any axes on the farm! Great finds. Makes me want to paint a zebra on a canvas.

  • Lauren Bradshaw
    June 21, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    I just found an amazing nursery with that wallpaper yesterday! The whole house was even inspired by The Royal Tennenbaums. (I don’t know if I’m late finding this home but I have been thinking about it nonstop since yesterday!)
    http://www.summerthorntondesign.com/gallery/?gID=1793&iNum=6 And, PS, Eleanor is so cute. We make a bear named Eleanor :)

  • Lindsay
    June 21, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    This is so amazing. Eleanor is the coolest.

  • Michelle
    June 21, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Go for it! I worked with a photographer for many years who used the yellow/gold version of this in the bathroom at her studio. It was my favorite room in the place! http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/923268/

  • Christina W.
    June 21, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    Oooo! I’ve had the bathrooms with the green and brown versions from your roundup pinned forever, but the black with gold zebras made my jaw drop. It’s my new favorite!

  • Bev
    June 25, 2013 at 10:02 am

    I laughed so hard at this post!!! The similarities are uncanny!!

  • Honor Roll | Making it Lovely
    August 9, 2013 at 7:58 am

    […] Scalamandré-esque zebra wrapping paper. (Think this will satiate my little Eleanor’s zebra wallpaper fixation?) […]