Classical Wall Aesthetics
This month’s curation focuses on the classical design and origins of wall panel mouldings and wainscoted walls, in appreciation of the elegance that they bring into a space. Typically known as Parisian style, and in the world of interior design, Haussmannian interiors, the aesthetic is rooted in the mid 19th century when Napolean III appointed Baron Haussmann to renovate Paris from medieval, narrow, and winding streets to wide boulevards with standardised building façades for uniformed aesthetics.
Haussmannian architecture was a synthesis of Neoclassical aesthetics and bourgeois social values, evolved into a regulated urban form that combined classical symmetry, middle-class functionality, and modern city planning to reshape the identity of 19th-century Paris. Bourgeois social values come from the term bourgeoisie, meaning the urban middle and upper-middle class (not traditional aristocracy), who were the primary residents these buildings were designed for.
When you step into a Haussmannian apartment, you’ll immediately be greeted by tall ceilings, large windows, and rooms flooded with natural light. The palette is typically soft and neutral, being wall panel mouldings on white or cream walls as one of the style’s most defining features. These subtle, symmetrical frames add structure, texture, and a sense of refinement to otherwise plain walls, creating an atmosphere of understated luxury. In french, these wall panel mouldings are called boiserie, whereas in Middle English times, they were known as wainscoting. The key difference is that wainscoting typically decorates the lower part of the walls for a grounding effect, while wall panel mouldings (boiseries) often cover larger sections or the entire wall surface. Paried with ornate crown moulding, they draw the eye upward, enhancing the room’s subtle grandeur.
Wall panel mouldings have been woven into our design DNA as Haussmannian interiors remind us of the enduring power of well crafted details and timeless proportions. In an age of fast trends and fleeting aesthetics, we believe that this style doesn’t need to demand for attention, but with effortless elegance, commands it.
