Gold rush: Inkiostro Bianco

Gold has always had a compelling allure for people, and is the material most of us associate with the highest levels of luxury. The legend of a city made of gold inspired many European expeditions to Central and South America in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the precious metal was offered by the Aztecs as a present to rulers, priests or elite warriors. In the Greek myth, King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. It didn’t end well for him, but having the Midas touch is still associated with good fortune and wealth.

For centuries, gold’s value and appeal have remained consistently high, which explains why is it used to make money, jewellery, art and other symbols of wealth and status. In interior design, if applied appropriately, gold’s glittering metallic sheen can help to introduce an element of glamour to a space.

For its latest collection of luxury wallpapers, premium decor brand Inkiostro Bianco has made the most of gold’s unique aesthetic qualities to bring a sense of warmth and luxury to contemporary interiors. The Goldenwall collection comprises a range of stylish and sophisticated designs that are printed using special inks onto metal-effect base materials. The inks are carefully calibrated to ensure colours remain true to the original design when overlaid onto surfaces. The metal layer remains subtly visible within the pattern, giving these wallpapers a shimmering and precious aesthetic.

Goldenwall is a standout innovation from Inkiostro Bianco, which, since 2012, has been pioneering new directions for high-end wall treatments. The first Goldenwall collection was launched in 2018 and featured ten designs on gold-leaf paper. It enabled the Italian firm to reach new customers in the premium contract sector, as well as interior designers and architects working on high-end residential projects around the world. The initial range was supplemented in 2019 by ten further designs printed onto pink-gold foil. The latest collection offers enhanced versatility, as the 20 new designs can be specified with either of the metallic finishes to ensure they complement different interior schemes.

Eleven of the new wallpapers were developed in collaboration with leading design talents, while the other nine were designed by Inkiostro Bianco’s in-house creative team. This collaboration with external designers is central to the brand’s DNA. Alongside previous collaborators Studio Zero and Giorgia Ricci, Florentine architect Marco Pisati and Indian designer Michelle Poonawalla were invited to add their own distinctive contributions. The diverse designs reflect their creator’s individual style and personality, with references ranging from Art Deco and Art Nouveau, to woodcut, brocades, wax print and contemporary illustration.

'Cooperation with designers represents a cultural and creative enrichment,' explains Inkiostro Bianco creative director, Manuel Mollicone, who oversaw the collaborations with the different studios. 'The artistic decorations made by designers external to the company are the result of intense, four-handed work: a very delicate process that, at the same time, requires great respect for the styles and proposals developed and attention not to distort their artistic origins.'

The designs created for the Goldenwall 2020 collection include Marco Pisati’s Gioielli pattern, which features intricate imagery depicting jewellery and charms set against a classical background. Giorgia Ricci’s April wallpaper layers detailed floral imagery, while Michelle Poonawalla’s Flutter design overlays butterfly silhouettes to create a vibrant, abstract pattern.

Longtime collaborator, Studio Zero, has contributed a pattern called Oriente that is evocative of a Chinese landscape painting, as well as a bold, graphic design called Antilia featuring coloured blocks interspersed with marks that are accentuated by the gold finish. ‘We wanted to create artworks capable of enhancing this precious and luminous material,’ the studio explains, ‘in which the design did not cover the base but revealed it by dancing on the light and colours of gold, as in the tradition of 14th-century painting.’

The collaboration with these exciting designers has resulted in a varied and versatile collection that offers something for all tastes. From dreamlike imagery to bold, contemporary looks and sophisticated, regal patterns, the wallpapers tell different stories that are united by the presence of gold. This allows the company to provide wall coverings for clients working on projects ranging from residential or commercial spaces, to restaurants, shops and hotels. A jewel-like flash of gold can bring the Midas touch to any of these environments, elevating them to a level fit for the Greek King himself.

© Architonic