Though beautiful, wallcoverings often run the risk of appearing one-note. Walls covered in whimsical florals or strait-laced stripes might offer plenty of visual intrigue, but they often lack the dimension and curiosity of limewash paint, meticulous millwork or even a carefully curated gallery wall. But bringing some necessary dimension to your walls — turning a flat surface into a rich, dynamic tapestry — is Arte’s Spring 2024 collection, which celebrates the myriad of ways to creatively incorporate texture.
For Bill Calhoun, president of Arte USA, texture is not a fleeting fad. Rather, it’s been a key pillar of the wallcovering brand since its founding in 1981. “Arte’s design studio is one of the most innovative, forward-thinking design teams in the world,” he says. “Since texture is such an important part of Arte’s design DNA, the studio considers that element as important as visual elements when creating a design.”
Innovation might be at the forefront of Arte’s offerings, constantly pushing wallcoverings beyond what’s expected to create works of art that appeal to the touch as much as to the eye, but the brand still finds ways to honor its 43-year heritage. The spring offerings — which include five collections as well as a total of 24 patterns and 183 colorways — use a mix of traditional and hi-tech processes. While the Le Couturier collection is hand-embroidered using classic dressmaking techniques, the Kanso line gets its dimensional look from Arte’s thermoform technology.
“These seem very different from one another, but the common thread is that each motif can be expressed with incredibly textured surfaces,” he shares. “The design influences dictated the patterns, and from there Arte’s design studio innovated and refined each design to create a whole mood, not simply a wallcovering.”
Read on for a more intimate look at Arte’s beautiful, tactile Spring 2024 collection.
Le Couturier
Arte brings a fashionable savoir-faire to its lineup with the Le Couturier collection. “Fashion and interior design have always strongly influenced each other,” Calhoun shares. “This collection looks to the world of haute couture for inspiration – a world committed to craftsmanship, where each garment attests to the couturier’s exceptional artisanship.” Not only does this line of wallcoverings use techniques seen in haute couture fashion, such as hand-sewing and embroidery, but it also features materials from mills that have worked with premier fashion houses such as Valentino.
Boutique
As an international brand, Arte looks to all corners of the world for inspiration. For its Boutique collection, Arte looked to the glamour of midcentury Japan following World War II. “This collection is a little more diverse than the others,” Calhoun explains. “The common theme throughout is an innovative, fresh take on 20th-century surface design.” From the radiant striations in Sunburst (pictured left) to the whimsical, woven jacquard tapestry in Riverbank (pictured right), the collection caters to minimalists and maximalists alike.
Kanso
While Boutique showcases a range of Japanese design, Kanso takes a pared-back approach. Inspired by Japanese simplicity, the collection brings together sleek and seemingly simple geometric patterns using monochromatic palettes, minimalist three-dimensional patterns, and Arte’s thermoform technology, which helps soften surrounding sounds. “The pronounced texture of the wallcoverings adds a tactile dimension to the room,” Calhoun notes. “Meanwhile, the plush velvet surface fabric adds a soft hand.”
Wild Silk
As the name might suggest, Arte’s Wild Silk collection is made entirely of silk; however, its varied expressions capture just how versatile one material can be. “Each silk in this collection has its own story to tell,” Calhoun explains. “The natural look and feel of this unique, organic fabric adds a timeless charm to your interiors.” For example, Katia Silk combines silk and cotton into a textile with subtle sheen, while the hand-crafted nature of Pure Silk is robust and refined in equal measure. For something more delicate, Ghicha Silk is created mainly from the silk of wild Indian silkworms.
Lanai
Named after the Hawaiian word for “veranda,” Lanai deftly brings a hint of wanderlust to Arte’s assortment of textured wallcoverings. “The studio worked with materials often associated with the islands, such as raffia and palm leaves,” Calhoun shares. “Artists created designs by hand with these materials, then rendered them in vinyl—making sure to include those variations in textures and surfaces that occur with natural materials.” From the use of woven materials to the palm motifs seen throughout, this collection brings a tropical getaway closer to home.
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