Step into the world of Gracie, where decoration meets artistry, and tradition continues to inspire luxury living.
BY DAVID MASELLO
In the world of interior design, adorning a wall with art is one thing, but transforming the wall itself into an artwork is quite another. When it comes to hand-painted wallpapers, especially those that depict intricate cityscapes, pastoral landscapes, or elegant motifs of flora and fauna, the wall becomes a centerpiece of aesthetic admiration. This is where Gracie, an esteemed brand since 1896, truly excels. Though they didn’t begin crafting hand-painted wallpapers until the 1920s, the legacy of Gracie’s bespoke designs now graces some of the world’s most exquisite interiors. Their new book, The Art of Gracie: Hand-painted Wallpapers, Timeless Rooms (Rizzoli, $60), not only tells the story of the family behind this artistic dynasty but also offers a visual journey through some of the most iconic spaces ever adorned with their creations. It’s akin to wandering through the permanent collection of a fine art museum.
This publication transcends the typical coffee table book. It serves not only as a chronicle of the Gracie family’s six generations but as a decorative bible for design aficionados, offering insights into the timeless allure of hand-painted wallpapers. Their designs remain among the most coveted elements in luxury decor, and the book doubles as an engaging guide to mastering the art of interior decoration.
The Gracie family, still at the helm of the brand today, contributes their personal reflections to the book. Jenn Grace, now leading the company alongside her brother, Mike, and her son, Zach, candidly remarks, “My father would often remind me, ‘We don’t make anything anybody needs’.” She follows up this bold admission with the recognition that, “This is why we must create the most exquisite designs, ensure the highest quality, and offer a delightful experience when visiting Gracie.” The flagship store, located in New York’s prestigious D&D Building, serves as a sanctuary for design lovers seeking the pinnacle of decorative sophistication.
For those fortunate enough to possess Gracie wallpapers in their homes, the panels are more than just decoration-they are treasured works of art. Each hand-painted panel is often custom-designed, making the wallpaper as valuable as it is beautiful. One spread in the book reveals a Manhattan bedroom where the walls are enveloped in a verdant tropical scene, with birds and butterflies elegantly nestled in flowering branches. The homeowner was so enamored with the design that they replicated it in their Palm Beach residence. In another Palm Beach project, a winding vine pattern flows from floor to ceiling, seamlessly blurring the lines between indoors and the garden beyond. As the book notes, “Scenic papers often live above a chair rail, but when the design extends below, the eye appreciates the continuity.”
The fantastical scenes Gracie creates – from rolling waves and boaters on Chinese rivers to vintage maps of Paris and swaying palm trees – are so lifelike that one might feel transported to the landscapes they depict. Zach Gracie, the youngest in the working family lineage, expresses his passion for the craft, saying, “Even though I cannot draw, it means so much to me to be part of the creative process, helping to bring a client’s dream into a fully realized scene. There’s nothing quite like watching someone step into a room adorned with Gracie wallpaper for the first time.” Given the passions involved, it is comforting to know that the brand will endure. As Brian Gracie, the patriarch of the family, writes of his work in the family firm, “It continues to be a great adventure.”
