After installation and artwork
This Boston home’s beloved Zuber Isola Bella scenic had graced its walls for generations, but time had taken its toll. Working closely with the homeowners, Scenic Wallpaper helped to reimagine the panoramic scene with a new installation across the first floor entryway and up the central staircase, stepping up and in-painting each panel to create a seamless, flowing ascent. The result preserves the romance of the original while bringing renewed life and harmony to the architecture.
A Boston Home’s Beloved Scenic, Beautifully Reimagined
The original Isola Bella wallpaper, though cherished, had aged beyond restoration. Years of wear and fading had diminished its once-vivid imagery. Rather than attempt to conserve it, the homeowners decided to celebrate its legacy through a complete re-installation of a newly hand-blocked Isola Bella, using the original wood blocks, maintaining the emotional connection while renewing the artwork for decades to come.
Previous Installation, before removal
Previous Installation, before removal
Previous Installation, before removal
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
Previous Installation
New Installation
A Layout That Fits the Architecture Perfectly
The revised layout of Isola Bella was carefully tailored to this home’s proportions and sight-lines. Where the previous installation felt confined, the new arrangement opens each view, expanding the panorama at the landings and harmonizing the scenery with the staircase and architectural details. Each panel was thoughtfully positioned with purpose to move fluidly from floor to floor.
Planning new installation
Planning new installation
Stepping Up the Scenic: From Ground Floor to Staircase
During installation
During installation
The new Isola Bella extends gracefully around the home’s entryway and continues up the staircase to the second floor, where the panorama is stepped up gradually to follow the architectural rise.
Every panel was carefully placed, intentionally mismatched to step up incrementally, and in-painted to ensure an uninterrupted visual journey. This also meant that the dégradé in the sky was mismatched, which we corrected by creating a custom scaffold and airbrushing the staircase sky to blend the colors of the blue and the horizon. As visitors ascend, the tranquil mountain vistas and flora unfold with natural rhythm, transforming the staircase into a vertical gallery of color and storytelling.
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There were several doorways on on the first floor, most of which were quite wide, so we installed plain blue sky above the doorways and airbrushed the sky here as well, adding missing artwork as needed and extending some palm trees onto a sloped ceiling. This allowed us to cut and continue the pattern on each side of each door, rather than losing any of the original artwork where the doors were located.
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About Zuber’s Isola Bella
Created by Zuber & Cie in the early 19th century, Isola Bella is one of the manufactory’s most admired panoramas. Inspired by the Italian island on Lake Maggiore, the design depicts cascading gardens, serene waters, and classical architecture framed by lush foliage. Each panel is hand blocked using hand-carved woodblocks, some dating back over two centuries, using a meticulous, multi-layered printing process.
Finished Installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Finished installation
Renowned for its tranquil beauty and remarkable sense of perspective, Isola Bella embodies the timeless elegance that has made Zuber wallpapers treasured by collectors, designers, and historic homes around the world.