Plus: Wallpaper murals spotted in 10 time capsule houses
Trisha writes:
Do you remember the ranches with the dining rooms what had the ‘scenes’ of either deer, lapping water from a pond, or Conquistador ships docked at a harbor, or a hand painted scene of a plantation home, etc…? I know this was wallpaper, but I don’t know what the correct term for it is, so I can do a search. Any advice you can share about what to call this as well as whether they make reproduction versions of this scenic mural wallpaper would be appreciated!
Tricia, you’ve written to the right place. As we all know, Pam is a vintage wallpaper fanatic, and she knew exactly what to advise. Pam replied:
Hi Tina, It’s great to hear from you — congrats on the house. I am a wallpaper mural lover, too, and have done several stories. Use the Search box to call the stories up. We have numerous shown in time capsule houses, some from ebay, and Thibault still makes four cool-onial designs that have been in production for decades. (Two of the Thibault patterns still available are shown above.)
Meanwhile, New Old Stock vintage photo murals that were popular beginning in the 1970s (?) seem pretty abundant. To find them, search “Environmental Graphics wallpaper murals” on ebay
(*affiliate link). You can also search etsy, and keep your eagle eyes open and you might find one in the basement of an estate sale.
Good luck, send pics!
10 vintage wallpaper murals spotted in time capsule houses
Every once in a wee while, NOS cool-onial print designs also show up on ebay and etsy. Following is a sampling of designs that were made in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s (we estimate) and which we have spotted in their natural habitats and captured in our archives.
1. Above: This huge maritime wall mural was spotted in a 1960 time capsule house for sale in Laramie, Wyoming.
3. Above: An Asian inspired wallpaper mural in this 1956 split level house filled with chinoiserie decor.
7. Above: A modern version of a wallpaper mural — a photo mural of a tropical hideaway — hangs in reader David’s Austrialian bungalow, which he filled with 18 different patterns of wallpaper. This one is likely and Environmental Graphics design.
9 & 10. Above: And while we’re at it, let’s take a look at two more photo murals spotted in time capsule homes sent to us by out realtor friend Jeffrey Hogue — mega thanks Jeffrey!
So there you have it Tricia, one source for new wallpaper murals, ideas for how to find vintage murals and a whole lotta eye candy. Good luck in your search and may the Retro Decorating Gods be with you.
I’ve seen several mural wallpapers scenes when estate saleing here in SW Mich. While I cannot put one in my dining room (just wouldn’t go)…I’d love to have one in my knotty pine rec room. Heck, I can just hear is now ….From the Land of Sky Blue Waters, Hamms! It go great with my beer signs 🙂
In the very early 80’s I bought one of those photographic forest scene murals for our break room at the world of Darkness at the Bronx Zoo. It was a building with absolutely no windows or skylights and needed “something.” I’d like to find a cherry blossom mural like the one over Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s beds some day.
I always loved the mural on the dining room wall in Bewitched (along with her Frigidaire Flair).
Anthropologie.com has some beautiful wallpaper murals as well. If my walls weren’t textured I would have loved to use the forest one they have. 🙂
I have a NOS version of Memory Lane that I’ll be putting up in my living room. It’s setting the tone for all the decor in the apartment.
Aw, this is late..but, I just stumbled on this amazing house (already sold) with murals: (If this link works)
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16707-Knollwood-Dr-Granada-Hills-CA-91344/2113466146_zpid/
Always loved the French street scene murals (something like the graphics in the movie, “American in Paris”) like in this bedrm so I was surprised to find this by accident. Dang, this house looks so great.
Hi, a customers just walked into my shop (Harrogate, UK) with an unused mural from 1964!
4 panels of vintage dock and a large clear sky blue roll for the rest of the wall. Remarkable
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Space-Vintage-Retro/200349886671596
Super cool!
We recently removed the top layer of wallpaper in our dining room to find a vintage mural. I’m not really sure what to do with it – would perhaps like to restore it, and would love to know more about the wallpaper itself. Any ideas?
http://avirtuouswoman.org/2014/03/09/sundays-home-restore-vintage-wallpaper/
Thanks!
Want to send Pam photos of Wallpaper.
Lee
I am looking for a wallpaper mural of a Southern Plantation that was in my mother’s dining room in the 70’s. It was sold by Dwoskin Wallpaper and was standard in Richard Feldman and Sunrise Building Corporation. I’ll try to attach the photo. Do you have suggestions – other than contacting Dwoskin, which I have – on how to find it? Thanks – Judy
Judy, I don’t know. Try this resource, I don’t know what stock is left – https://retrorenovation.com/2014/08/08/11-vintage-style-wallpaper-murals-designs/
Other than that — no suggestions but to search
Do people buy the wallpaper murals if they are in good shape after taking them down? I have a house built in the 40’s, but I don’t know how old the mural is. I purchased the home in 1998. My wife hates it, I like the nostalgia of it. I would love for someone else to get so they can enjoy it .
yes, there might be a market depending on the design — I’d recommend ebay as a place to sell it. Good luck getting it down intact, though!
My parents house has two murals, both country nature scenes from this same collection. One in basement and one on wall where front door opens to a bi-level. They are wanting to replace the main mural with one in better condition. Some scruff marks on the bottom. Is there any where to still buy these?
Not any more that I know of. However: Watch ebay and etsy — NOS may come up.