Babeta Ondrová: I Put Walls Into Clothes

(jiří macek) The selection of wallpaper designed by Babeta Ondrová for the Czech company of Vavex 1990 discovers new worlds full of abstract textures and dreamy seashell romances. “Design = Decoration,” says Babeta. The look of her wallpapers makes us forget the 1970s, when little roses dominated our kitchens.

The portfolio of graphic designer Babeta Ondrová and the Lavmi studio includes such exclusive clients as Baťa, Nike, Central Park Praha, the Czech Basketball Federation, and the Office of the Government. However, the wallpaper she created for the Vavex 1990 company is a different story - the story of pure desire.

“I have wanted to design wallpaper for a long time,” explains Ondrová, “When you look for wallpaper in the Czech Republic, you usually find imitations of wood, bricks, and smudges. When you finally come across a wallpaper you like, you have to wait three weeks for its delivery. And if you decide to change your interior design while waiting, it is very difficult to wait – at least for me. That is why we decided to contact Mr. Veláta, a wallpaper manufacturer. Now we have a joint project with Vavex.”

Vavex 1990 is the only wallpaper manufacturer in the Czech Republic. The company continued manufacturing wallpaper in the printing office in Teplice in 1990 where wallpapers have been made since the mid-1970s. Its catalogue contains three collections designed by Babeta Ondrová: Modern, Extravagant, and New Romantic.

“The Extravagant collection is something I would really like to have on my walls,” says Ondrová, who chose the dark-beige pattern for her apartment. “It is a pity we don’t have a bar at home because I really love the golden Soleil pattern.”

The Extravagant is the most exquisite collection. Therefore, its distribution should correspond with this fact. The Modern collection, containing abstracted digital patterns and color textures, and the New Romantic collection, which is very romantic and full of flowers in bloom, should be distributed within a wider channel.

And why does Ondrová like wallpaper?

“I like fashion and wallpaper patterns. Patterns are a trendy issue like design; they change and must be new all the time. They have the incredible power to change a space completely, its atmosphere and feeling. One can change his/her apartment as he/she wishes without having to buy new furniture. One simply makes the same interior warmer, colder, rounder, cozier, elegant, etc. I enjoy changes in general. I put walls into clothes,” she states.

The three collections designed by Ondrová were presented in Frankfurt am Mein last week at Heimtextil 09 – the biggest European fair of interior textiles and wallpaper. It looks as if her wallpaper should start its tour of the world soon. Vavex exports its products to all European countries, as well as China and Bahrein, and engages in custom-made production for clients from all over the world. The company has its own network of retail stores in the Czech Republic and supplies its products to Hornbach, Baumax, and Globus chain stores. However, customers will find the Extravagant collection in designer boutiques and internet stores from March, sold from CZK 2,200 per roll. The Modern and New Romantic collections can also be purchased in Vavex stores, in the selected trade network, and in the internet store from February, sold from CZK 600 and CZK 800 per roll.

For more information, see www.lavmi.cz.

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