Rejoice design lovers, as news and events abound this week in New Orleans. If you can’t find inspiration right now, here are a few things that will help get your creative juices flowing. Or at the very least, will uplift your spirit, which we can all use right now.

On July 13, Spruce announced it is now an official trade showroom (meaning laypersons must work through a designer to purchase it) for iconic wallpaper brand Scalamandré. Founded in New York in 1929 by Franco Scalamandré, who fled his home of Naples, Italy in 1923 to escape the Mussolini regime, this traditional, yet bold brand is coveted by designers and the design-obsessed. Fans of New Orleans artist Ashley Longshore might recognize the famed Scalamandré zebra print in the pop painter’s Lil’ Wayne piece, a favorite Instagram backdrop at the lounge at Jack Rose in The Ponchartrain Hotel. It is also featured in some of Longshore’s other pieces. Further, the zebra print is featured prominently in Wes Anderson’s 2001 film, “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and you may have spied it at All Relation Beer at 1401 Baronne St. (which is currently closed to taproom visitors, but offering curbside). Spruce owner and registered interior designer Nomita Joshi-Gupta served as consultant to the brewery for its design-forward wallpapers, which are a signature throughout the space, especially in the unisex bathrooms.

 

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BIG NEWS !!!!! Especially if you are an Architect/ Interior Designer or Decorator. Introducing SCALAMANDRÉ our showroom! We are officially going to be a TRADE showroom for this iconic brand. As a Trade customer you will now have WHOLESALE access to @Scalamandre and other lines we already carry at Spruce. Call us or email us to make a virtual appointment so that we can walk you through the process. We will officially open doors later this month but you can order starting right away! To introduce this incredible offering what is more fitting that the iconic Zebra! via @scalamandre : Originally designed in 1945 by Flora Scalamandré for the then newly opened Gino of Capri restaurant on the Upper East Side, Zebras features an animated sketch of two Zebras prancing around politely placed arrows on top of a lively red color wallpaper. The playful design was an instant hit and was immortalized in films such as “Mighty Aphrodite” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” It also made guest appearances across the country in Kate Spade and Barneys New York retail installations. Since then, the Zebras design has grown in color offering, and has expanded to fabric for both indoor and outdoor, as well as vinyl wallcovering. Zebras has proven to be an industry favorite and beyond as it remains highly used, and highly recognized across the world. . . . . . . #zebras #scalamandre #tradeshowroom #tothetrade #royaltenenbaums #wallpapering #wallpaperdecor #luxurywallpaper #wallcoverings #wallpaperinstallation #neworleansinteriordesign #interior123 #interiordesigninspiration #notyourgrandmaswallpaper #wallpaperisthenewblack #bhghome #wallpaperenvy #ihavethisthingwithwallpaper #designerwallpaper #wallpaperinspo #wallsthatwow #wallpapertheworld #powderroom #powderroomdesign

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Inaki AldayAIA New Orleans continues its Storytelling with Architects series. On July 24, Tulane University Dean and Richard Koch Chair in Architecture Iñaki Alday delivers the fifth talk in the series. Along with Margarita Jover, Alday founded aldayjover architecture and landscape which focuses on “innovations in the relations between cities and rivers.” According to the event writeup on the AIA website, “both in academic research and in practice, Alday is interested in how architecture can contribute to the inhabitation of the most challenged areas of the planet.” The webinar is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance. Click here for details and tickets. (Iñaki Alday photo courtesy Tulane University.)

Experiential pop-up JAMNOLA (which stands for Joy-Art-Music New Orleans) announced that it opens on Aug. 1. The 5,400-square-foot, permanent, interactive and made for Instagram pop-up will have rotating exhibits and currently features more than 20 New Orleans artists. Locals will love the giant crawfish and virtual costume closet. The project is a partnership between Jonny Liss and Chad Smith with Where Y’Art artist collective. Admission is $29 and a portion of JAMNOLA’s proceeds will go to Trombone Shorty Foundation and Feed the Second Line. JAMNOLA promises rigorous health and safety guidelines and currently admission is limited to semi-private and private tours.

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Jamnola Joy Of Crawfish 2 Photo Courtesy Of Jamnola

 

 

Send design industry news and event information to melanie@myneworleans.com for possible inclusion in Design Diary or in New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles magazine.