The Return of the Wallpaper Border
A new era of borders is unveiled
A framing device, a decorative flourish, a defining edge: the wallpaper border has made a return within our homes. With The Unfinished Works series, we unveil three wallpaper borders from the Morris & Co. archives at The Huntington, brought to light for the first time.
Borders hold a special place in Morris & Co. history. In the Green Dining Room at the Victoria and Albert Museum, William Morris designed to frame the space with a frieze of golden hounds, hares, and oak trees, circling the ceiling with narrative detail.
Today, borders offer that subtle creative flourish. They can be used as accents at the top of a wall where wallpaper meets the ceiling, above a dado rail, or along the skirting. Whether tying together colours in a scheme or providing a vivid contrast, they bring that touch of nostalgia and experimentation to the edges of a room.
THE BORDERS OF THE UNFINISHED WORKS
Ornamental Frieze
The original artwork suggests it was originally designed for a carpet border. Stylised floral and leaf formations are edged by striped and decorative borders, top and bottom. Two contrasting colourways showcase the versatility and ornate structure of this beautiful frieze. Ornamental Frieze is referenced in the design of Pimlico Stripe in the Stripes book for The Unfinished Works series. Ornamental Frieze works effortlessly with blue paint hues, or choose a gentle neutral to highlight the border’s character.
St John’s Border
A formal pattern of intertwining grape vines which was initially conceived for a stained-glass window by Duncan Dearle (J. H. Dearle’s son). Designed for a Palmer’s Green window titled “Calling of St John” for St John the Evangelist, this recognisable motif creates an elegant border design. Styled in the image above alongside a muted green paint shade, the St John’s Border also pairs well with warm golden hues.
Bluebell & Peony Border
Celebrating the beauty of the original document, which had a typical Morris visual narrative, this horizontal border wallpaper of swirling acanthus leaves, peonies and bluebells brings a return of borders to the Morris & Co. portfolio. This design complements neutral walls beautifully, or you can draw out its serene blue tones for more drama. Discover Bluebell & Peony reimagined as an embroidered jacquard in the The Unfinished Works fabric collection.
