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Satanic vintage wallpaper — from Inez Croom in 1973 deck house

pam kueber - Updated: May 7, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

devil wallpapermalm fireplace preway fireplaceYikes. Satanic 1970s wallpaper. This is among the strangest things I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure I could keep this in my house, it’s so creepy. But yay on reader Suzanne who will be keeping this … invaluable … original piece of her house. Also see her fab foyer and the school bus yellow vintage Malm Preway fireplace.

Update: This was subsequently identified at Inez Croom wallpaper. Inez Croom document designs are still in production today. Read this Fab follow-up story! 

Suzanne writes:

My husband & I bought a wonderful 1973 Deck House. Lots of 70’s goodness – spiral staircase, scroll iron railings, Malm fireplace… we love it. The entire house was originally painted kind of an adobe color except for the downstairs bathroom.

creepy satanic vintage wallpaper

We have the strangest wallpaper that I would love someone to shed some light on. It’s black silhouettes on a cream background & it’s kind of a toile/folk/asian/demonic combo. Beheading, devils, chicken men… Yikes! Creepy or not, when we redo the bathroom, I’m keeping it! 🙂

Thank you so much for taking a look at these. I would love to know if anyone has seen this before or knows the history.

malm fireplace preway fireplaceI also added some random shots of the interior of the house.

I’d love for you to look at it. Thank you & thank you for this website, I LOVE it!!!!!

Thank you, Suzanne.

Update: Reader Josh identified this wallpaper within one hour of posting, he said:

It’s ‘Devil Paper’ from Waterhouse Wallcoverings.

Seems like this is a reproduction of a very old design — pre-1890. I’ve emailed for more information, including price. Thank you, Josh, BIG GOLD STAR!

Thank YOU, Suzanne. Great house, lucky you.

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79 comments

Comments

  1. Kate H says

    How unusual! Awhile back, I found a similar theme at an arts-and-crafts wallpaper company. I always wondered where you would put demon wallpaper. Now I know: the bathroom. Of course. Although this company also has angels, so you could have a whole good-vs-evil theme going on … might be a lot to ask of a bathroom.

    http://trustworth.com/wallpaper.shtml

    • chris says

      Ooooooo! LOVE this stuff! It’s not the era of my house (mine is 1934) but it is so cool! If I had scads of money like Oprah or Martha Stewart, I think I’d have to have about 6 different houses from six different time periods — all decorated appropriately!

      • Kate H says

        Yeah, and I kinda like the bats. Although: they look like they are exposing themselves to the flowers, which is a little disturbing.

  2. chris says

    Can you imagine sitting on the toilet, staring at that? I think I’d eventually have to give all the figures names and leave a marker out for people to write bubble captions. Toilet Graffiti Project.

      • Suzanne says

        I may have to find some clear dry erase, that is such a good idea. Several of my friends have posted pictures of that wallpaper as their Facebook profile picture after parties. It’s kind of taken on a life of it’s own. Text bubbles are a great & very funny idea.

  3. Stephanie says

    Wow, I love the house, but the wallpaper would have to go. I like the black/white silhouette, but the theme is disturbing!

  8. Shelly in PHX says

    I. Am. Terrified! Actually, it reminds me of the trend of “subliminal” advertising in the ’70s where various scenes of sexual positions would be embedded in a wallpaper pattern (or ice cubes in a print ad for alcohol). Thought to make you linger/notice/buy more. My friend worked at a costume jewelry store “The Earport” in a local mall that used such a wallpaper.