New wallpaper collection – Wallpaper Stories

The competition’s renowned jury has handpicked five exciting designs which jointly make up the Wallpaper Stories collection and the designs are unified by its desire to tell a story.

The collection contains five designs created by the illustrators Anna-Maria Ivstedt, Maria Wahlström, Gustaf Öhrnell, Henrik Franklin, and Eva Lindgren, and they are available as made-to-measure wall murals costing 41 EUR per square metre.

Read more about the illustrators and the motifs stories below.

Anna-Maria Ivstedt - Squares

Jury’s statement:
"In this elegant yet playful wall mural, hard geometry is combined with soft brushstrokes. The pattern is both classic and contemporary, like a modern update of Viola Gråsten’s classic patterns from the 1950s."

Anna-Maria Ivstedt studied at the London College of Communication, Chelsea College of Art and Design and has received the Borås Cultural Award 2013 for Innovation in Textiles & Art area.

Anna-Marias story about her motif :
"My pattern  Squares is inspired by 'Pojagi', a Korean patchwork technique that was developed in the 1300s. Pojagi textiles were used for all sorts of things in the house and was a smart way for women to re-use fabrics. Craft traditions like these are extremely important and interesting, really worth paying attention to. My patterns in subdued gray tones with black lines provide a powerful and modern feel at the same time as the woven textile detail adds a beautiful softness."

Maria Wahlström - Notepad

Jury’s statement:
"Drawing on the wall is now allowed. This wall mural with patterns from different kinds of notepad is based on a strong conceptual idea that also works visually and inspires creativity. Works equally well in a workspace or playroom."

Maria Wahlström is a trained textile designer at the Industrial Art School in Gothenburg and has designed products for IKEA and worked as a lecturer at the University of Borås.

Marias story about her motif:
"When our son Carl-Axel was a teenager, I put some markers in the bathroom and said we were free to draw and write on the tiles. Everyone, especially Carl-Axel's friends' liked the idea and formed both serious and humorous thoughts. My pattern Notepad has its own graphic expression, at the same time as they can inspire others to do more personal walls."

Gustaf Öhrnell - Merry Maritime Map

Jury’s statement:
" The map images, typography and illustrations in this wall mural inspire journeys into a world of fantasy. The execution is exquisite, from the retro feel in the dove-blue colour to the handwritten font. The dreamy atmosphere lead one’s thoughts."

Gustaf Öhrnell is a freelance illustrator with a degree from Konstfack in Stockholm, Graphic Design and Illustration.

Gustafs story about his motif:
"When I was a kid I loved the hand drawn maps that were found in Tolkien and CS Lewis books. I used to draw my own, various geographically and impossible fantasy worlds - and in these creations i saw myself living in these foreign countries. I wanted to revive my old interest, and create a different wallpaper motif. One that calls for exploration like the ones I did as a child."

Henrik Franklin - Big spaces in small places

Jury’s statement:
"Thanks to the wealth of detail and highly driven craftsmanship in this surreal black and white wall mural, there is always something new to find. At the same time, there is a meditative calm in the flow of images, which is rich with associations. An extremely creative wall mural somewhat reminiscent of Öyvind Fahlström or Hieronymus Bosch."

Henrik Franklin studied at Konstfack in Stockholm as well as HDK  in Gothenburg and he works with illustrations and animations.

Henrik's story about his motif: 
"A pattern created from a joyful drawing. Without a mandate, a ultimate goal or conceptual ambitions. The image was built piece by piece, until it had become something of itself."

Eva Lindgren - Cone

Jury’s statement:
"A classic repeat pattern with a modern touch and a three-dimensional feeling of depth. Art Deco for the digital age."

Eva Lindgren studied at art school in Örebro and works with painting, graphics and sculpture.

Evas story about her motif: 
"I saw a picture of a boy with a collar and a skirt made of lotus flowers which inspired me to start drawing sheets in stock. Since I love William Morris’ patterns and I have seen how powerful and characteristically a room can become with a patterned wallpaper, I wanted to create something that still feels more modern and brighter than his little meandering dark patterns. A detailed decorative surface that stays in place on the wall surface by its color, graphic density and repetition. Leaves on leaves that stay inside a cone or in a leaf hut."

The illustrators behind the collection Wallpaper Stories