One of the most wonderful aspects of the upcoming BlogTour event I will be attending in London is its collaborative nature. Between all the design events at the London Design Festival, the sponsors, the media partners and the group of attendees that Modenus has organized for BlogTour, there are many opportunities for symbiotic endeavors. In particular, I began thinking how several of the sponsors could indeed complement each other.
I was so excited to learn about Wallunica. This innovative German company is out to make wallpaper the new paint! Here you can create your own bespoke wall covering from any of hundreds of free digital images on their site or you can upload your own photo or art for a truly individualized design. Just imagine the possibilities!! Their site contains everything from traditional patterned designs (just love this colorway).
to art
to a wide variety of photography
You could spend hours down the rabbit hole here (ahem, guilty already). They even show some cool applications of their amazing technology. The Hard Rock Café in Hamburg
The foyer design of the MET Studio in Stafford, England by Oliver Shenton, K.O. Creative.
The Fox Hotel in Copenhagen where artists from around the world created different designs for each room.
or a meeting room at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany
But of course you can invent your own art as well.
Then on Sunday a new sponsor for the trip – Spirit of Sports – was announced. A brand new business, Spirit of Sports is a brilliant concept. This internet retail venture is another company with wide ranging possibilities. 
Specializing in distinctive sports-related fine art, they carry everything from paintings, sculpture and photography to luxury gifts. Don’t expect to find logos or collectibles – this site is a high end source for those looking to make a visual connection with a sport they love – to support their memories, accomplishments or just appreciation. And I doubt it’s a coincidence that their logo makes a slight reference to the Olympics. The connection between art and sports is a historic one – art competitions were even a part of the early modern Olympics games.
“11th hole …” by Linda Hartough
“Horse Race, Ants View” by Doug Lew
Then I had a lightbulb moment. I thought – what a great pair. Imagine using Wallunica to set the stage so to speak for the artwork. For example, imagine having this fabulous photo by Gerhardt Launer from the Wallunica gallery blown up on one wall of a family room or study
paired with “Flying Home” by John Mecray from Spirit of Sports on another.
Or Spirit of Sports artist Steve Kuzma’s “Cyclists” below
with a Wallunica mural made from a photograph of the Tour de France – something like Jasper Juinen’s fabulous shot here from Getty Images
Spirit of Sports is so new that their full website won’t launch until later this year (you can see a sneak peek selection on Modenus) but I would guess they will be carrying a wide variey of high end art and accessories of all sorts. I couldn’t help taking it a step further.
So how about that same Gerhardt Launer sailing image above paired with, for example, a vintage sailboat model in a glass or lucite case – I would imagine such a unique item might be part of the Spirit of Sports future inventory.
Or imagine the graphic impact of a huge panoramic landscape of the Alps like this
across from perhaps a very collectible original vintage ski poster – the kind of item I’d love to see at Spirit of Sports!
Or lastly, I can easily picture a fantastic mural from Wallunica of a vintage baseball photo like this one of the iconic 1927 Yankees team
Paired with a number of baseball paintings and accessories from Spirit of Sports (these two already up on Modenus). I’m betting they will have a rather deep baseball category with a wide spectrum of art and special finds!!
“Remnants of Power” by Bill Williams
“Road Trip” by Terrence Fogarty
I’m sure you readers are already putting together your own mental combinations – and for designers, it opens up an entirely new venue of ideas – for both residential and commercial applications. I even heard mention of something exciting brewing between Spirit of Sports and the design mentors on Lisa Ferguson’s excellent Decormentor site. Collaboration is contagious. And I’m happy to have the bug!!
This is brilliant! What an amazing business. Looking forward to learning much more about your great tour. Enjoy!
Wow, the possibilities are endless and you hit on so many great ideas! I am literally dripping with envy about your trip to London – really looking forward to hearing all about it!
Very fun to think about all the different possibilities here, Q! As always, you bring us the newest and the best…
What an interesting and inspiring post! The connection between art and sports, a beautiful concept.
Ada
What a great idea! Yes, I’ve already thought of two sepia prints I would blow up for rooms, just one wall would be perfect!
A media room, maybe! Or a wine cellar – I never like feeling so underground – wallpaper of favorite vineyard! It does get your imagination going!
I love the idea of the vintage baseball image the most, used to decorate a real baseball aficianado’s study – it would be great! A friend of mine was the first one to license high art on wallpaper, it’s such an interesting concept. Hope you and your family are doing okay now in the aftermath of Irene!
xo Mary Jo
Both of these companies are fascinating and inspiring!
I will definitely be checking out their websites.
Gorgeous.
I lOve all the creative possibilities with walls! I saw a bunny Williams designed home with beautiful photographs on rhe wallpaper and would love to recreate that!
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
I’m so curious about these wallpapers. I’m checking that link for sure!
Thank you for always bringing something interesting to us, Q!
Lots of love to you!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
SO fun, love the idea of photography and art as wallpaper!
I see so many possibilities – such wonderful pairings is right! Thank you for laying it out so beautifully.
Love love love!! The collaborations. Cannot wait to hear more!
So many options to choose…
yummy
sad to miss Brimfield but with just getting back this hour from a long and happy summer, I’ve come upon your beautiful post on a few of the sponsors for our adventure to London in a few short weeks. Thanks for the insight Stacey and I’m getting excited for this experience….can’t wait to hear more about these fabulous companies, their art, wallpaper and more. xo tamara Enjoy the antiquing…
In my first job as a design assistant way back in the 80’s, my boss used photomurals for a grocery store project we did in Dallas. They were huge black and white photos of fruit, vegetables, deli meats, seafood, flowers, etc. all papered on giant soffits around the perimeter of the store. An artist hand colored an occasional piece of fruit, lobster, flower, etc. It was so effective and unique at the time! We had those photos taken by a photographer which we staged, developed, enlarged and sized for the walls, then applied and colored. What a job and process it all was and now we could just order the wallpaper! How simple! You brought back a great memory and stimulated some creativity. Thanks!
Can’t wait to see more, q! I love the images here.
Thank your for sharing, and have a great day!
Teresa
xoxo
Oh my word..this has my mind racing with all the possibilities! What a wonderful company…..so many great looking choices. This trip sounds like its going to be incredibly exciting and full of discovery..cannot wait to hear more!
These design companies are so interesting, so many possibilities. Can’t wait to hear about all that you discover on your trip to London. It sounds like it will be a fascinating trip, filled with lots of inspiration and exciting ideas.
Wallunica gave me chills & butterflies…what a great concept! The Sprit of Sprots was amazing as well…it makes me wish I was sporty.
xo J~
(Thank you for the very sweet comment about Miss. Ginger…we both thank you very much!) ♥
If these wall murals are done right, they are so fantastic. I just installed one in a hotel in the Catskills that was a photo of the hotel itself from 1850! Looks fab!
am excited about some of these innovative designs in wallpaper..
it’s such a great idea as wallpaper is relatively inexpensive yet
has a huge impact in decorating…gorgeous images..
best,
maureen
Great sources! I can’t wait to check them all out – especially Wallunica. I’ve been searching for the perfect wallpaper for a bathroom. You know I love a great new source! xx Kelly
These look fabulous! I can’t wait to try the sites out.
And I wish I was going to the conference in London too.
Lynn