Fabrics & Papers

Little Greene Paint Company Wallpaper and Paint

Articles

According to early records The Little Greene Paint Company dates back to 1773, where it was based on the outskirts of Manchester. The Dye works where it was founded is one of England’s most ancient industrial sites for the making of paints and dyes.

Situated at the confluence of the rivers Irk and Irwell, the site’s popularity over the centuries stemmed from the ready source of fast flowing clean water from the Pennines. This natural resource was used for both motive force to power the paint grinding stones and as a valuable clean ingredient incorporated into products.

Little Greene wallpapers are a beautiful complement to the company’s paint palette. Each highly individual collection employs specialist printing methods on the finest grade papers, which gives the wallpapers their sophisticated textures, elegant appearance, durability and longevity.

New Wallpaper collection.

The Little Greene Paint Company has released its new collection entitled, 50s Line Papers, which is part of its ongoing revival programme of wallpaper designs of the past.

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For this latest range Little Greene has collaborated with The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, which houses one of the largest wallpaper archives in the UK. The collection focuses designs and trends from the 1950s.

The collection is named in tribute to the celebrated wallpaper manufacturer, John Line & Sons, a company which commissioned artists to create innovative and adventurous wallpapers since the turn of the 20th century.

The eight eclectic designs represent a variety of styles from the 1950s, some of which were manufactured by John Line & Sons.

The papers are careful interpretations of the original archive documents, respectfully adapted in scale and detail to honour the spirit of the period. In keeping with its previous heritage collections, Little Greene has embellished some patterns, refined others, while continually applying its colour expertise.

Below is a brief description of each pattern within the new collection.

Bouquet: A striking floral trail on a subtly spotted background, Bouquet depicts loosely-drawn spring flowers such as tulips, lily of the valley and Solomon’s seal.

Cones: A linear motif showing tightly-drawn, linear pinecones in two different shades on a contrasting ground.

Florette: Six very stylised flowers, each of which features a dainty main bloom, two tiny buds and two veiny leaves, symmetrically arranged over two rows.

Hampstead: Line drawings of smart Georgian and Regency town houses, complete with trees, gardens and railings; very 1950s style, but also very now!

Heath Stripe: An abstract linear stripe motif in two colours on a neutral background.

Herbes: Charming outlines of herbs such as lavender, rosemary, oregano, basil and angelica, accented against a rectangle of solid colours.

Norcombe: A dense design featuring clusters of wildflowers, leaves and ferns.

Quilt: A double line diamond trellis in two complementary shades, accented by a spot in the middle: the overall effect is of a quilted fabric.

As with previous collections, Little Greene has judiciously selected paint shades from its Colours of England and Colour Scales collections to co-ordinate with and complement the wallpapers.