Dear Jean & Richard: Do you think wallpaper enhances a house or is it considered passé? ~ Ruth, New York

Jean: Hi Ruth. That’s an open ended question! Wallpaper is certainly not passé, but there are certain things you need to consider before an installation. For example, if the wallpaper is for a foyer, it should have a color scheme that ties it to the neighboring rooms. If the pattern is pronounced, make sure the design is timeless and you really love it, because you don’t want such a significant investment to grow tired or go out of date.

Richard: Some people think they can cut corners when choosing wallpaper, but to do it beautifully, it’s a sizeable expense. Good wallpaper ranges from $60-$150 per single roll. At those prices, it’s smart to hire a professional paper hanger, and when you do, insist on seeing references and checking them. But the investment can be well worth it, because a good paper can set the tone of the room or house. At about $30-40 a roll, we have often wanted to hang the installer.

Jean: Of course, you may save money in other ways. We just finished a client’s 1950s-era Florida house that had pink tile in the bath. Rather than replace the tile, we chose bold, coral-colored floral wallpaper that had subtle pink accents. The result was beautiful, and the savings on potential tile work was substantial.

Richard: I recently wallpapered a couple of rooms in my house. Don’t gasp. The entry hallway is a silver cork, the den is a dark grasscloth, and the master bedroom is a brown paper tree silhouette. No florals, just lots of texture and interest. And no art or furnishings can give the same effect.

Jean: You can also get a textured effect using some of the new metallic or flocked finishes. They’re much improved over those used in the ’70s, and many simulate old textiles or faux painting. These days, the papers are also more stable for use in bathrooms, but it’s still a good idea to vent some of the steam.

Richard: I’d like to let off some steam on the subject of borders.

Jean: Well said. Some people think borders are an inexpensive way to get some pattern or color into a room. Ugh! My pet peeve (well, one of them) is wallpaper either above or below a chair rail. Either paper the wall or don’t! Breaking the paper even visually cuts the height of the wall. Don’t make it look like you ran out of money or were afraid of the paper. And even consider removing the chair rail. There’s nothing sacred about it. If you paper a bedroom, paper the walk-in closets too. And don’t forget the ceiling, with either the same paper or a complimentary one in a different scale. Remember, wallpaper can make any room more colorful and more fabulous.

Richard: ! Anyway, most rooms in homes these days are unattractive 8 feet tall boxes and have no architectural interest. The dramatic and subtle effect a textured wallcovering can have is tremendous. Check out the faux leather walls we did in Carmel’s Restaurant downtown Asheville, several years ago.