When I moved into my cozy (read: small) Craftsman (read: dark) Brooklyn townhouse, I knew I was in love with the original details and prewar charm. (Who needs central air, anyway?) But I also knew that updating the decor while retaining the historical vibe could prove challenging, particularly as I looked for pieces that played nice with my heavy oak moldings.
The entryway and stairwell seemed particularly grim, and my husband and I decided early on that we wanted to wallpaper it. But after hours of trolling the internet, we couldn’t agree on a pattern. This one was too “old lady,” that one too trendy.
That’s when we turned to Jess Murphy, a surface pattern designer (who cut her teeth working for brands like Dwell Studio and Anthropologie) and founder of creative consulting studio The Lawns, for help designing a custom pattern. Here’s how it all went down.