These Walls Can Talk
06/20/2024 07:00AM ● By Sophie Dingle
From Steamboat Magazine Home Edition 2024.
Steamboat Springs, CO - Jennifer Lynn Knutson knows a good wall when she sees one – that’s why she launched Custom Walls of Colorado last June. With formal training in both fine art and sustainable interior design, Jennifer transforms spaces across Colorado with customized design elements. The Steamboat Springs resident shares five wall trends she’s noticing this year.
EYE-CATCHING DESIGNS
If you’re a second homeowner who wants to rent out the space, you want a design that catches the eye when you’re putting it on VRBO, Jennifer points out. Enter wallpaper in eye-catching patterns: bold florals, splashy abstracts and dominant colors like turquoise are all popular choices. These patterns work well in smaller spaces – as an accent wall, for example, or in a downstairs powder room. “In Steamboat, we see a lot of ski vibes on wallpaper now,” Jennifer says.
SUSTAINABILITY
Jennifer describes sustainability as “the huge rabbit hole that infiltrates everything. If I’m picking out wallpaper, I’m going to look at design first but then research sustainable materials and practices,” she says. That includes how the wallpaper is manufactured, where the materials come from, how it’s installed and longevity. Almost every company offers multiple sustainable options now, Jennifer notes.
BOLD FEATURES
Eye-catching shelves, large-scale artwork and living walls are all having a moment. “People want a personal backdrop,” Jennifer says. “Stunning shelves that are also functional; greening up a space without making it look cluttered; personal artwork that the homeowner loves.” To begin with, Jennifer recommends defining the space by asking questions: Is the room for entertaining? Will it be filled with children’s toys? Are you looking for storage? Then, think colors. Are you rejuvenating the whole space? Can you work with existing features? The scope of the project will determine the wall space.
CUSTOM MURALS
“You can print just about anything on wallpaper now,” Jennifer says. “A mural on a wall can technically be wallpaper. It can repeat and it’s still considered a mural.” Painted murals, Jennifer notes, have evolved from basic designs (think: a child’s name on the wall accompanied by a whimsical scene) to focus more on shape. “It’s not necessarily a literal picture, but it’s color or it’s decorative; it’s one of a kind,” she says. “People are trying to establish their individuality in their home and a mural lends itself to that – it really says something about the homeowner and the room.”
NATURAL FIBERS
Grasscloth wall coverings are making a comeback. “You see it a lot in primary bedrooms,” Jennifer explains. “On the walls or on a headboard. It’s soothing to have more natural materials around us.” Generally, Jennifer notes, people are getting back to their raw senses. “Natural fiber is not intrusive but it adds a great textural element.” Another plus: it lasts for a long time, providing more longevity and helping with the sustainability factor.
Steamboat Springs, CO - Jennifer Lynn Knutson knows a good wall when she sees one – that’s why she launched Custom Walls of Colorado last June. With formal training in both fine art and sustainable interior design, Jennifer transforms spaces across Colorado with customized design elements. The Steamboat Springs resident shares five wall trends she’s noticing this year.
EYE-CATCHING DESIGNS
If you’re a second homeowner who wants to rent out the space, you want a design that catches the eye when you’re putting it on VRBO, Jennifer points out. Enter wallpaper in eye-catching patterns: bold florals, splashy abstracts and dominant colors like turquoise are all popular choices. These patterns work well in smaller spaces – as an accent wall, for example, or in a downstairs powder room. “In Steamboat, we see a lot of ski vibes on wallpaper now,” Jennifer says.
SUSTAINABILITY
Jennifer describes sustainability as “the huge rabbit hole that infiltrates everything. If I’m picking out wallpaper, I’m going to look at design first but then research sustainable materials and practices,” she says. That includes how the wallpaper is manufactured, where the materials come from, how it’s installed and longevity. Almost every company offers multiple sustainable options now, Jennifer notes.
BOLD FEATURES
Eye-catching shelves, large-scale artwork and living walls are all having a moment. “People want a personal backdrop,” Jennifer says. “Stunning shelves that are also functional; greening up a space without making it look cluttered; personal artwork that the homeowner loves.” To begin with, Jennifer recommends defining the space by asking questions: Is the room for entertaining? Will it be filled with children’s toys? Are you looking for storage? Then, think colors. Are you rejuvenating the whole space? Can you work with existing features? The scope of the project will determine the wall space.
CUSTOM MURALS
“You can print just about anything on wallpaper now,” Jennifer says. “A mural on a wall can technically be wallpaper. It can repeat and it’s still considered a mural.” Painted murals, Jennifer notes, have evolved from basic designs (think: a child’s name on the wall accompanied by a whimsical scene) to focus more on shape. “It’s not necessarily a literal picture, but it’s color or it’s decorative; it’s one of a kind,” she says. “People are trying to establish their individuality in their home and a mural lends itself to that – it really says something about the homeowner and the room.”
NATURAL FIBERS
Grasscloth wall coverings are making a comeback. “You see it a lot in primary bedrooms,” Jennifer explains. “On the walls or on a headboard. It’s soothing to have more natural materials around us.” Generally, Jennifer notes, people are getting back to their raw senses. “Natural fiber is not intrusive but it adds a great textural element.” Another plus: it lasts for a long time, providing more longevity and helping with the sustainability factor.