October 28, 2005

Go Wall Nuts

Walnut Wallpaper

Timing has never been your friend.

Ten seconds after it struck you that a paper square with a sticky back would be a hit with the office, you saw Post-Its in the supply catalog. And what about the time you realized what TV needed was a show about you, your friends, and your buddy’s pet monkey?

Lucky for Norinne De Gal, the owner of Walnut Wallpaper and Trim, eureka came at the perfect time. The design buff was working at Diamond Foam when she realized wall covering stores were either tacky depots selling bland vinyl or suppliers who were focused on keeping up the Kountry Kitchen look. There wasn’t a place where nontrade aesthetes could go to get their hands on the cool modern stuff. So she opened her store and stocked it with all the biggest names in contemporary design — from Allegra Hicks to Flavor Paper to Twenty2 — along with some rare vintage finds and brands that aren’t in the PDC.

The result is a boutique for designers and design lovers alike, at a time when wallpaper couldn’t be more chic.

Talk about living in the moment.

Walnut Wallpaper and Trim, 7220 Beverly Boulevard, suite 201, between Alta Vista Boulevard and Formosa Avenue, Hollywood (323-932-9166).