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. We have numerous shown in time capsule houses, some from ebay.
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 retro 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.
2. Above: An Asian inspired wallpaper mural in this 1956 split level house filled with chinoiserie decor.
3. Above: A monotone green nature-inspired wallpaper mural in a 1960s “Storybook Ranch” time capsule.
6. 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.
8,9, and 10. Above: And while we’re at it, let’s take a look at three 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.
Melissa @ A Virtuous Woman says
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!
steve elvidge says
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
pam kueber says
Super cool!
tammyCA says
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.
Ben says
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.
Nico says
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. 🙂
sherree says
I always loved the mural on the dining room wall in Bewitched (along with her Frigidaire Flair).
BungalowBILL says
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.
Nina462 says
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 🙂
Larry Johnson says
I recently remodeled a basement for a client who was completely into the mid-century modern style. The final touch for their renovated basement? A mural of a Hawaiian beach, which was originally featured in a travel magazine from 1953.
Roundhouse Sarah says
In my childhood neighborhood, our neighbors across the street had the plantation mural in their dining room. When they passed away a young African American couple moved in…. Trust me, it was the first thing to go!