A-List designer Kelly Behun shares the inspiration behind her beautifully patterned wallpaper collection with Calico.
What was the process like for this collection?
I was beyond excited to collaborate with Calico because we have worked together many times over the years. They have set a high bar for designing wallpaper that evokes a presence beyond materiality—like a grass cloth or silk that just adds texture. When bringing a pattern and story to a room, it’s hard to come up with a concept that feels like the right scale and won’t overpower the space. I didn’t realize how difficult it is to do that well, and I have a newfound respect for those who do.
The designs are largely inspired by light. Did a certain place or time inspire you?
I’m really drawn to shadows created in unexpected ways. With Bask, I had this idea of being outside in the sun and feeling the warmth suffusing you, like being under a pergola. It’s not a specific place as it is a vibe. Then with Sylvan, it was more specific to skiing over the years and loving the view of the landscape, and bare birch trees, from the chairlift. You have the most beautiful shadows playing on the snow’s surface that are so pure.
Where do you envision these wallcoverings being used?
I’m always looking for wallcoverings with color schemes, patterning and scale that can work in a myriad of spaces from a bedroom, even if it’s a feature wall, to a powder room where you might want something bolder, overscale and unexpected, to a kid’s room. I try to think of different contexts and settings for wallcoverings.