Timeless Grasscloth Wallpaper: Why It Never Goes Out of Style

There’s a reason designers have been reaching for grasscloth for decades. For me, the love started early — with the pale blue-green grasscloth in my parents’ dining room in San Bernardino. It’s probably why I became a decorator.

I’ve been specifying grasscloth in coastal interiors ever since, and it has never once felt dated. Like this 11 year old post with blurry photos still looks current.

When my cousin Wilfrid Lemann asked me to help rethink the interiors at his firm — Fullerton, Lemann, Schaefer & Dominick, LLP (FLSD) — grasscloth was never far from my mind.

And for my Sunday Faves with Annie and Cindy, I also want to tell you about a television series that I blew through and other things I’m enjoying.

What Makes Grasscloth Different

Grasscloth is woven from natural fibers — seagrass, jute, sisal, or hemp — and laminated to a paper backing. What sets it apart from printed or vinyl wallcovering is its texture. Every roll has slight variations in color and weave. It absorbs light differently at different times of day. It feels handmade.

That organic quality is why it reads as expensive and collected. In a room full of hard surfaces…metal fixtures, glass — grasscloth makes the walls feel luxe.

Three Cohesive Wallpapers

For the FLSD project, we worked with three different wallpapers that coordinate well.

The hallways got the Phillip Jeffries grasscloth in a deep, moody green. This is a chunky-textured, horizontal-weave grasscloth in a color that shifts depending on the light.

We paired the wood LVP flooring with beautiful hand-tied vintage red Persian runners from our daughter-in-law’s family business.

You may also like: Living Room Makeover Inspired By A Vintage Persian Rug.

The break room area was treated to a McGee & Co. William Morris historical print. The pattern provides the focal point and the grasscloth provides the grounding. Neither competes because they’re in the same family of color.

Unfortunate placement of the thermostat but everyone loves this paper in the common area.

The Blue Office: A Study Color Washing

The principal’s private office was wrapped in a deep navy grasscloth. The heavy walnut partner’s desk, the framed antique map and prints, the warm light against deep indigo walls invites productive conversation.

What to Know Before You Buy

Grasscloth shows seams. This is not a defect — it’s a characteristic. Because the material is natural and woven, seams are visible. Embrace this as part of the texture story, or choose a pattern that minimizes them.

It’s not wipeable. Grasscloth is not the right choice for high-traffic walls that need to be scrubbed. Hallways are fine; behind a kitchen sink, no.

Professional installation is recommended.

Sources Worth Knowing

• Phillip Jeffries (through your designer): the standard for luxury grasscloth; extraordinary texture and color ways
• Schumacher (also through a designer): broad range from classic to graphic;
• Serena & Lily: accessible price point, good quality for residential use

Serena & Lily has 30 different colors of grasscloth and they offer three free samples.

A Word About FLSD

If you’re in Southern California and need legal counsel, I recommend Fullerton, Lemann, Schaefer & Dominick with offices in San Bernardino, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Palm Desert. They handle everything from business formation and real estate transactions to estate planning and litigation.

They’ve been doing it long enough that multiple generations of families consider them their firm. We are one of them. Tell them Mary Ann sent you.

Have grasscloth at home or in an office? I’d love to see it — drop a comment below or tag me on Instagram.

Shop Wallpapers And Bar Table

Also Loving…

• Ever drop your AirPods and have them scatter? These sturdy little cases prevent that with the easy latch (white larger case for AirPods Pro 3, blue smaller case for AirPods 4th Generation). A great luxury for $14. And they can charge through the case on that handy stand.
• I held off buying these cute Chief glasses as they have to be hand washed. But I caved and I’m glad I did (yes, I still miss that little guy). Also, if you have a Nespresso machine, you have to try the Ginseng flavor for iced coffee. Delicious.

Pinecones And Acorns Weekend Meanderings

If you have a leisurely morning, check out Elizabeth’s blog where she delivers all these great YouTube videos that you can get totally lost in…especially Ellen Frost’s Secret To Making Luxurious Flower Arrangements.

The Forsytes on PBS

This would not be Howard’s “cup of tea” but I drank up the costumes, interiors and romance.

“The Forsytes follows a wealthy late-Victorian London family of stockbrokers whose intergenerational saga is marked by clashes between tradition, ambition, and personal desire. Adapted from John Galsworthy’s Nobel Prize–winning novels.”

A second season has been filmed and is supposed to come out next year.

If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.

Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:

Cindy Hattersley Design

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