Wild About Wallpaper

An interview with Sharon Lee, founder of Krane Home

Wallpaper has a history of casually being dismissed by many. However, as is the case with most types of fashion, this form of decor is once again hot.

Sharon Lee, the founder of Dallas-based Krane Home, was ahead of the curve on this trend, having originally founded her business on artistic wallpaper ten years ago. She discusses the paper’s practicality and impact.

What does wallpaper add to a home that paint cannot?

Well-designed wallpapers will add a level of depth and visual texture that you can’t get from painting a wall. Wallpaper can make existing furniture pieces in the room appear totally fresh once installed, making it less necessary to buy all-new items. It is an immediate signifier of luxury, class, and sophistication.

You offer wallpaper designs specifically for nurseries. What does wallpaper bring to such a space?

Every nursery should have fun wallpaper! Babies love to look at it. My babies would stare and grab at the paper during changing-table moments. One Krane mom put one of our Birds patterns on the ceiling and says her son was so entranced by it, he wouldn’t cry when he woke up—it kind of acted like a giant mobile!

You use your wallpaper designs in other products, such as fabric and pillows. What does this add to an overall aesthetic?

Anytime you’re designing a cohesive space, it truly helps to cycle a pattern and/or color throughout the space or adjoining spaces. It looks finished and thoughtful. I love traditional decor where the wallpaper, curtains, and upholstery all have the same pattern. It gives such a grand, impressive look.

A recent trend is peel-and-stick wallpaper. What are your thoughts about it?

Sorry, not sorry. I must take a stance on this—avoid! It may seem like a good idea; however, in practice, it’s harder to install than regular wallpaper and can peel the paint off your wall when removed. Traditional wallpaper is more forgiving, which is important because no wall is perfectly straight and flat. All our wallpapers have been tested to ensure they can be removed with very minimal damage to the walls.

What are the top three misconceptions about wallpaper, and how do you address them?

1. It’s difficult to remove.

As I touched on, traditional wallpaper is now very easy to remove because of the updated adhesives that installers use. I made an IGTV video with my removal expert in LA to show how easy it is and that the wall underneath wasn’t damaged at all. We didn’t even have to repaint.

2. It’s bad for resale.

These days, even spec homes and builder homes going straight to market must include wallpaper in a few rooms to communicate that they’re custom, high-end homes. All luxury homes have bold wallpaper in at least two rooms. Our home in Santa Monica was covered in wallpaper,
and the selling price set a record for the area. Wallpaper compels the right buyer to fall in love with a home and make an emotional purchase.

3. Large rooms call for neutral wallpaper.

Bright, bold wallpaper looks spectacular in a large room. I chose Birds in Azure for our family room, which is the largest room in our house. It makes such a statement when you walk through it. There are so many elements in a room that break up the wallpaper—a fireplace, built-ins, a TV, artwork—which makes it so fun to see the bold wallpaper peeking through.

How has wallpaper changed during the ten years Krane Home has been in existence?

A friend recently revealed that when I first told her I was going to design and manufacture wallpaper, she thought I had gone completely nuts. It wasn’t really in style yet when I started. Since then, wallpaper has come back full force and I’m loving it.

For more info, visit kranehome.com.

Interview with: Sharon Lee. Written by: Matthew Brady