21st August 2020
If you are into dark decor with a witchy, slightly gothic edge Hex and Henbane’s new collection may just be for you. I had a great time hanging a few lengths of the wallpaper for this review. All papers are paste the wall and incredibly easy to hang and cut. Pattern matching was a sinch too and depth of colour was 10/10. So all round a great easy paper suitable for a beginner and no need for a decorator in my opinion.
A word from the designer Lucy:
“I’m currently based in Derbyshire, and started Hex & Henbane in 2019 as a final year student studying Decorative Arts at Notts Trent Uni – I thought the degree show and New Designers would be the perfect platform from which to launch my first products, and the opportunities for students and recent graduates were too good to miss! I received a lot of support and funding from the Nottingham Art Society, and a local small business incubator called The Hive, which allowed Hex & Henbane to be possible! I wanted to offer something a little different to ‘normal’ floral wallpaper designs, so I work with historical themes and concepts so my prints all tell a story. All of my products are digitally printed here in the U.K. as locally as possible. I find that this method allows for smaller print runs and makes printing to order possible, helping to reduce waste. “
At the time of receiving the paper the business was relatively new, and there are only three designs, one of which is still in production due to manufacturer closures during the pandemic. It will be great to see where this goes – there aren’t many dark wallpaper manufacturers out there with most favouring large scale pinks and whites and bright greens so nice to see a new kid on the Gothic block.
Lending inspiration from the arsenic dyes historically used in such, ‘Witch Fever’ embodies traditional Arts and Crafts style prints with a dark, magical twist.
Lucy says ” My designs celebrate traditional British design with a curious twist, aiming to embody the spirit of leading figures of the Arts and Crafts movement such as John Ruskin and William Morris. When I envisage my designs in a ‘dream interior’ setting I always imagine something along the lines of 221b Baker Street in the BBC Sherlock series meets The Witchery hotel – that combination of eccentricity and decadence!”
My favourite paper from the collection is the leafy Henbane. The flies on the paper, which I loved, would it make it a little tricky to place in my house. For me kitchen and dining room are out when it comes to flies, too Masque of the red death, but if you live in a house with a library then styled above with a black leather armchair is going to have some decadent impact. Other option would be a cavernous hallway. This sort of style is always going to lend itself to large Victorian houses as opposed to modern flats but I think that niche is large enough for this new brand to really take off.
Get the look for Less
It was tricky to find a paper this edgy in terms of pattern but in terms of colour this Christian LaCroix paper available from wallpaper direct is priced at £79/roll.
All Hex and Henbane wallpapers are priced at £190 per 10m roll and products are available through – www.hexandhenbane.com.
Wallpapers are currently only shipped within the U.K., however Lucy is working on international shipping and enquiries around international orders are welcome.
Insta @hexandhenbane