How to Use our Metallic Wallpapers with Emma Sims-Hilditch

Photo credit: Harry Crowder

Having shared her Hamptons-inspired holiday home project with us earlier this year, Emma Sims-Hilditch returns to The Chromologist with three exquisite schemes using our new metallic wallpapers.

As the head of interior design firm Sims Hilditch, Emma’s signature twist on traditional English country style has graced family homes, hotels, restaurants, and even the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Now, we’re getting the designer’s top tips for bringing that same style to your own space – with a little help from shimmering shades of gold, silver, and copper.

Photo credit: Harry Crowder

Q: Hi Emma, welcome back to The Chromologist! As you’re fresh from creating some beautiful looks with our new metallic wallpapers, we’d love to get your thoughts on the collection. What were your first impressions? What were they like to work with?

The first thing that struck me about the collection was the range of colours and designs. The patterns are quirky yet muted, and I loved the mix of florals and geometrics catering to both contemporary and classic aesthetics. When it came down to creating a scheme, I found each paper eminently usable. The schemes seemed to come together naturally! We chose more muted patterns to suit the style of the house, but they still feel fun and timeless.

Q: You’ve used our metallics as a starting point for transforming a snug, child’s bedroom, and cloakroom – can you take us through each of the schemes you’ve put together?

Photo credit: Harry Crowder

Snug – Ringwold

A delicate, formal atmospheric wallpaper with a strong background, Ringwold is a lovely fit for an intimate space like the snug. The floral element suits our traditional English aesthetic, while the metallic print allows us to introduce a more contemporary feel to the scheme. This is how we like to design. We then added texture and warmth with the cosy sisal rug and the chandelier leaf sample. The neutral fabric represents the sofa, while the stripy armchair adds an element of pattern and fun without being overwhelming. The paints we have chosen are classic colours Pigeon and Stony Ground, which are real favourites of ours. Finally, the piping adds extra detail to the cushions, and the timber for the side tables introduces contrast.

Photo credit: Harry Crowder

Children’s Bedroom – Yukutori

This pattern is simple yet peaceful, which is lovely in a children’s bedroom. We chose a grey carpet both for practicality and the fact that it looks beautiful alongside the wallpaper. The paint colour is School House White, which we love using – it adds so much warmth. The pompom trim, along with the spotty cushion, adds a fun element, while the lavender brings a gentle hint of colour that’s easily interchangeable. The pale timber is for the side tables, to add dimension and texture.

Photo credit: Harry Crowder

Cloakroom – Tessella

I love the boldness of this wallpaper, especially in a small space such as a cloakroom. This room tends to be on the darker side, so we like using a dark wallpaper to embrace the feel of the room, rather than trying to fight it. We love that in a cloakroom you can have a bit more freedom to use vibrant colours and pattern, and that the wallpaper is stain-resistant and wipeable, which is so practical for our clients. The paint colours we have chosen are Slipper Satin and De Nimes, and we have added some wall lights for more variety of colour. The marble vanity top and nickel handles add texture and elegance to the space.

Q: Over the course of your career we’re sure you’ve picked up some brilliant tips for using wallpaper at home – would you share your favourites with us? 

Wallpaper can be on the expensive side, but if you’re on a budget, using it in the smaller rooms in your house can make such a statement. Adding wallpaper to the hallway works especially well. It’s usually a quiet area with no soft furnishings or furniture to demand attention, so a beautifully patterned wallpaper can take centre stage. We always use wallpaper when designing children’s bedrooms, too. They add so much fun and colour to the scheme, and you are able to really make the room theirs.

When choosing wallpaper, we always recommend getting a sample and hanging it up so that you can clearly see the pattern. You’ll soon be able to see if it’s too hectic or too muted for the aesthetic you’re going for. It also helps to see the wallpaper in different lights, as the colours can change so much depending on the different times of the day. We also gather inspiration by searching the wallpaper on Pinterest to see what kind of fabrics others have paired it with.

Finally, don’t forget to think about the ceiling, joinery, and any other woodwork in the room. For a clean and simple look, we chose All White for the ceilings, but these wallpapers can be beautifully paired with varying shades of colour.