A1DesignerFlooring

(ARA) - Trompe l'oeil, or "deceive the eye," is a time-honored decorative effect for adding architectural details, textures and even furnishings or whole scenes where they do not really exist. Today, thanks to sophisticated printing techniques, trompe l'oeil images once achieved only by master painters are available on wallpaper.

So realistic looking is the stone wallpaper in the First Class Male collection by S.A. Maxwell Co., that, without touching it, most people would never detect that it's actually a pattern printed on washable, durable, matte-finish wallpaper.

A great tool for creating or enhancing popular lodge and mountain cabin looks, this wallpaper can turn a simple fireplace into the focal point of a room. Install it on both sides of the fireplace or use it to create a faux stone chimney. Add a rustic wood beam mantel and hang your favorite catch above it. You can hang art or objects on this stone wall without a heavy-duty drill bit. And unlike the real thing, the stone on this fireplace can be wiped clean with just a damp cloth.

To add the drama of stone pillars to your mountain retreat, measure the width and height of the wall. Then determine a sequence of alternating stone pillars with open space between them. Cut around the edges of the stone shapes on strips of wallpaper the height of your ceiling and hang each strip vertically the full height of the wall, allowing equal space between each strip. For a different variation on the rustic theme, use the stone pattern along the lower portion of the wall to create a chair rail. Or add a touch of country to your kitchen with a stone soffit above the cabinets.

City or country, this faux stone wallpaper makes a great fortress in a child's room. Install it 36 inches up from the floor, trim the top edge to outline the stone shapes, and put cloud wallpaper above it.

An entirely different feel is achieved with the trompe l'oeil bookshelf in Maxwell's First Class Male collection. It brings warmth and tradition to any room and when used at the end of a hall or stair landing, actually seems to extend the space.

The same pattern can define different areas within a large room. On the far wall of a master bedroom it can signal a separation between the sleeping area and the entry to the master bath. Use it to warm up the living area of a great room in which the kitchen, dining and family room are all open to each other.

The ultimate English library can be achieved with the addition of faux bookshelves on either side of a fireplace or up to chair-rail height along the bottom of the walls. As a finishing touch, install a subtle textured or striped wallpaper above it. Set the right tone for your home office by installing a faux bookcase or two on the wall behind your desk. And in any room, disguise a door by turning it into a bookcase.

To locate a retailer that carries First Class Male and other wallpaper collections from S.A. Maxwell Co., call (847) 932-3700 or visit www.samaxwell.com.

About The Author

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jaima Brown is director of design for S.A. Maxwell Co., a leading producer of wallpaper, borders and coordinating fabric.