If wallpapers today are perhaps a bit too retro, with an aesthetic reminiscent of the 1970s, bare walls are finding a new identity through the use of lacquer. While in the past even the boldest lacquered pieces, from beds to tables to cabinets, were standalone elements, today the era of integrated, strictly lacquered furniture dominates. From the soft pink and petrol green paneling in the home of Broadway producer Jordan Roth, to an apartment of just 60 square meters in which kitchen cabinets in a bright glossy red contrast with striped Memphis-style tiles, lacquer is no longer just a decorative element, but helps define the very forms of the space.
Lacquer is valued for its intrinsic quality: it reflects light, creates depth and makes rooms more dramatic, in an ensemble that is almost cinematic, recalling the glamour of the Hollywood Regency style. When used carefully, lacquer can add brightness and character without the need for complex or overly invasive architectural interventions. Once used as an isolated decorative detail, it is now applied more extensively: on walls, ceilings, custom furniture and architectural details, helping to visually define and distinguish entire rooms.
In recent years, this material has also made a comeback thanks to design events and collections by major home decor brands. Indeed, major retailers have caught on to this trend early: West Elm, for example, has collaborated with Emma Chamberlain by offering lacquered surfaces for lamps and storage furniture. IKEA offers cabinets in green lacquer, while CB2 offers entire collections in white lacquer. Anthropologie also explores variations in teal and pink tones, and Crate & Barrel is preparing new collaborations centered on this material. Originating in Japan and associated with Art Deco, lacquer is now experiencing a new phase as an affordable solution for adding a sophisticated, glossy touch to the home. Testament to this are the examples of two highly successful contemporary designers with very different styles: professionals such as Athena Calderone and Mark Grattan are in fact using it in bold but highly contemporary ways. Calderone designed a kitchen with a glossy dark red island and reflective ceilings, making the most of the luminous quality of the paint. Grattan, on the other hand, favors bright colors such as bright green and piano black finishes, playing on the contrast between surfaces and textures.
Without necessarily having to resort to garish colors, the materiality of paint is a primary source of inspiration. In stark contrast to the dominance of matte in recent years, paint makes a comeback, reflecting not only light but also a new idea of space.
[đź“· Instagram: markgrattan]
