For Dallas artist Debra Ferrari, working with top interior designers is second nature. For more than 20 years, her contemporary artwork has been a favorite with the trade. Turns out, the admiration is mutual.
“I love working with designers,” she says. “For one thing, it’s so much fun. I love the whole creative process — the design part as well as the artistic side of it.”
So, it wasn’t a stretch when her friend, interior designer Lisa Hendrickson, suggested she do a line of wallpapers.
“This goes back pre-COVID,” says Debra. “We were at the Kips Bay Show House. I give Lisa full credit for planting the seed.”
From there, she went to work, using her nature-inspired paintings as inspiration. Two years in the making, the result is a swoon-worthy assortment that serves as both art and décor.
Abstracts work especially well. For some of the papers, she chooses an interesting section of the painting and creates a repeat pattern. Others feature the complete work of art.
Several of Debra’s trademarks — landscapes, lightning, and storms — are evident throughout the collection.
“I have lots of favorites,” she says, flipping through the sample ring. “Verde is great. Green is such a hot color right now. But I also love this bold black-and-white and the serenity of ocean blue.”
The takeaway: There’s something for every taste and room style.
Debra hosted a lunch-and-look for designers last month at her Dragon Street gallery to launch the collection. (She and husband James — a sculptor — opened the Ferrari Gallery after relocating to Dallas five years ago. )
“It’s exciting. People can actually come in and view the paper samples,” she says.
Every wallcovering is custom printed on a linen substrate with poly-cotton woven backing. Papers retail for $21/square foot. An added plus: Lead time is just two to three weeks upon approval.
Along with the wallpapers, Debra also introduced a trio of hand-knotted rugs in collaboration with interior designer Samantha Gallacher of Art + Loom.
“Samantha can look at a painting and go, OK, this is going to make a really great rug,” says Debra.
Each statement-making design can easily become the focal point of the room.
All of the rugs are made to order using carefully selected wools and silks. Custom sizes and shapes are available. “We started with three and will see where it goes from here,” says Debra.
For information, visit the website or contact Trade Director Natalie Crosby.
