logo
These bespoke, hand-crafted wall coverings keep traditional skills alive

These bespoke, hand-crafted wall coverings keep traditional skills alive

The
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris took two centuries to build; 15 hours to be almost lost to fire; and five years to reconstruct after that devastating 2019 inferno. But what does all this have to do with high-end wallpaper?
Advertisement
If not for traditional skills passed down through the ages, says couture-wallpaper doyenne
Laura Cheung Wolf , one of architecture's greatest medieval achievements might never have been rebuilt.
It's why the
founder of home decor and lifestyle brand Lala Curio feels it is imperative to keep training new generations of artisans, like those who hand-paint and embroider her dreamy Chinoiserie wallpaper using a centuries-old gongbi (meticulous detail) technique.
Lala Curio founder Laura Cheung Wolf debuted a Feuillage ('foliage') collection of wall coverings at Paris Déco Off in January. Photo: Rodrigo Rize
'That 800-year-old crafts can be revived in a five-year time frame is thanks in part to modern innovation, but also because these crafts – ancient woodworking techniques, hand-painted murals and restoration of stained-glass windows – have been passed down through generations,' she says, returning to her
Notre-Dame reference. 'Europe has put so much energy in fostering these old crafts that when the skill is needed, it's right there.'
The act of harnessing ancient knowledge for contemporary design and architecture is gaining traction as consumers seek connection to heritage and craftsmanship. Hand-painted
Chinoiserie wall coverings inspired by traditional Chinese art and culture grace grand homes, royal palaces and luxury hotels across the Western world, extending to contemporary spin-offs. The secret sauce of these and other unique wall products, Cheung says, is their authenticity.
Splitting her time between homes in Hong Kong and Washington, in the United States, Cheung was back in town ahead of the May 1 opening of the Lala Curio flagship showroom at
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Advertisement
This year marks 11 years since the debut of her first Lala Curio in Wan Chai's Star Street Precinct, but it's been three years since her brand has had a physical shopfront here. (Not that Cheung hasn't been busy, rolling out Lala Curio globally with distributors in Britain, the Middle East, Thailand and the US.)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Zheng ousted by Sabalenka in French Open
Zheng ousted by Sabalenka in French Open

RTHK

time6 days ago

  • RTHK

Zheng ousted by Sabalenka in French Open

Zheng ousted by Sabalenka in French Open Zheng Qinwen of China falls in straight sets against Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open quarterfinals. Photo: Reuters World number one Aryna Sabalenka ended Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen's winning streak on the Paris clay with a straight-sets victory on Tuesday to seal herself a spot in the French Open semifinals. Sabalenka next faces three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland who posted a straight-sets victory over 13th seed Elina Svitolina. The top seed from Belarus won through 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 against the Chinese eighth seed in just under two hours on Court Philippe Chatrier. The 27-year-old fought back after struggling in the first set against Zheng, who had beaten her in the last eight on clay in Rome last month, extending her record against the Chinese player to 7-1. "The last tournament I was pretty exhausted," said Sabalenka. "Today I was more fresh I was ready to battle, to fight and give everything. "Honestly, I was actually glad that I lost that match because I needed a little break before Roland Garros." Zheng broke and led 4-2 in the first set. But numerous unforced errors – 31 in total – allowed the Belarusian to come back. The second set was also tight before Sabalenka broke back to lead 4-3, taking advantage of her opponent's errors. Sabalenka converted her first match point on a poorly-controlled drop-shot from Zheng to reach her seventh semifinal of the season. In another quarterfinal, Swiatek bested the former world number three Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1, 7-5 in just over 90 minutes to continue her bid to equal a 102-year record by winning four successive French Open titles. (AFP)

HK Post puts happy stamp on five themed sets
HK Post puts happy stamp on five themed sets

RTHK

time6 days ago

  • RTHK

HK Post puts happy stamp on five themed sets

HK Post puts happy stamp on five themed sets One of the five sets features the panda cub twins. Photo courtesy of Hongkong Post Hongkong Post has unveiled five themed sets of stamps for release between July and December, with each featuring elements of the city's unique cultural identity from cute pandas and its unique skyline to the storied aviation industry. At the top of the shopping list for many is "Giant Panda Twin Cubs", which features Hong Kong's very own Jia Jia and De De. Also popular will be "Hong Kong Hiking Trails Series No 3: Wilson Trail", which offers 10 scenic views of one of the most distinct and challenging hikes, coming in at 78 kilometres from Stanley to Nam Chung. "Aviation Development in Hong Kong" is a set of four stamps showcasing the airport over the decades, from its relocation from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok to its runway development. The "24 Solar Terms – Autumn" series features designs based on the Chinese calendar and marks the "change of seasons and meteorological patterns," particularly the six solar terms of transition into the cooler months. "Christmas Stamps V" uses the iconic Victoria Harbour silhouette to embrace Hong Kong's multicultural identity, with night views serving as the background and Christmas elements adorning the skyline. These stamps are available for orders at More details can be found on the Hong Kong Stamps FaceBook page at or at its website.

Hong Kong illustrator's art fair stall closes after police inspect drawings
Hong Kong illustrator's art fair stall closes after police inspect drawings

HKFP

time6 days ago

  • HKFP

Hong Kong illustrator's art fair stall closes after police inspect drawings

A Hong Kong artist's stall at an illustration art fair has closed after police officers reportedly received complaints, photographed the displayed drawings, and passed them to national security police. The illustrator, known by the artist name Ah Keung, said in a now-deleted Instagram post that police officers took photos of their booth at the Hong Kong Illustration and Creative Show, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, on Saturday. 'The police dutifully took photos of all the artworks at the stall and passed them to the national security department for record,' the illustrator said. According to Ah Keung's post, the police arrived at the stall at around 5pm on Saturday, saying they had received a report from an 'enthusiastic citizen.' The police also told local media that they received a report that day and sent officers to the scene to investigate. They added that they would conduct follow-up investigations based on the evidence, actual circumstances, and details of the case, in accordance with the law. HKFP has reached out to the organiser and the police for comment. 'I still like Hong Kong' Ah Keung also said on Instagram that Saturday's incident was 'unrelated to the organiser' and apologised for the trouble faced by the organiser and the exhibitors in neighbouring stalls. 'Finally, thank you to everyone who likes my drawings. I still like Hong Kong, but I hope this place will allow me to keep drawing,' the artist said. The Instagram post shared a black-and-white photo of an empty booth marked with the stall number D25 and the exhibitor's name in Chinese, 'Keung Kee.' A search for the exhibitor's name and the stall number yields no results on the fair's exhibitor list. In recent years, Ah Keung has produced 'The Hong Kong Times,' hand-drawn, handwritten 'newspaper pages' covering local news, including jailed barrister-activist Chow Hang-tung's legal challenge against female inmates' trousers-only rules in April. The illustrations are available for sale on AsOne, a store owned by ex-district councillor Derek Chu. Independent media outlet HK Feature's online shop also has a description of The Hong Kong Times on its website but does not list the products for sale. 'Anyone who has seen [my] newspaper would know that I just copy news from the major news outlets without any personal interpretation, and share local films and funny anecdotes, with no secessionist or seditious intention,' Ah Keung said. 'I'm just a person who likes history and drawing,' the artist added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store