The journal
Paint Meets Pattern
It's a shared appreciation for craft and depth of colour that forms the foundation of Annika Reed's collaboration with our paints. Annika has carefully selected shades from our collections to sit alongside her wallpapers, creating combinations that feel harmonious and dynamic.
"Wallpaper never exists in isolation; it's part of a wider conversation in the room. Pairing it with paint felt like a way to guide that conversation, so everything works together from the outset." - Annika Reed.
In a world of mass-produced interiors and trend-driven aesthetics, Annika Reed stands apart as a designer deeply rooted in craft, storytelling and tradition. Driven by the allure of the absurd, she infuses her work with a unique blend of historical and folklore influences, all offered through a lens of whimsical irreverence. A two-time award winner, Annika designs wallpaper and prints using traditional printmaking techniques, her playful designs weaving narratives that bring life to the spaces they're installed in.
Her process is meticulous and expressive, letting each line and layer contribute to a broader story; there's an intimacy in her work and an understanding that pattern is not only decorative but emotive, each design inviting the eye to linger and revealing playful, joyous details and subtle narratives that unfold as you take it in.
It's this shared appreciation for craft and depth of colour that forms the foundation of her collaboration with our paints. Annika has carefully selected shades from our collections to sit alongside her wallpapers, creating combinations that feel harmonious and dynamic, the interplay between paint and pattern deliberate, each element in dialogue with the other.
Annika says: "One of the main things that put people off buying wallpaper is not knowing what colour paint to pair it with. I wanted to make it easier and more streamlined for people."
Tones of sunshine
Sunshine Masquerade is a joyful celebration of the circus's vibrant spirit, bringing the warmth and energy of the sun into your space; to complement its motif, Reed chose a trio of warm shades to bring out its whimsical radiance, beginning with Wharf Sacking™ No.127, a shade representing the traditional sacks in which we still receive raw materials from India, its deep yellow and cream providing the perfect sunny balance, while Eaton Square™ No.232 and Arts Club™ No.281 bring cosiness, warmth and happiness through their depth and softness.
Inspired by Athena, goddess of wisdom, war and crafts, A Muggle of Jugs is a playful pattern that transports you back to wondrous ancient Greece, paired with a terracotta palette of Honest John™ No.58, Henna BH.18 and Wheatsheaf BH.23; these colours evoke a rich, earthy warmth and a gentle, lived-in softness, and with understated beige, terracotta and a muted golden hue, together they amplify the sunlit depth and natural elegance of the design.
A blue lagoon
On the left, Mermaid highlights the enchanting depths of the ocean, capturing the sea's mystique and weaving together sailors' legends and mermaid lore, where laughter and tales drift on coastal breezes; paired with the soft trio Temple Bar™ No.70, Bloomsbury™ No.267 and Long Acre™ No.102, these shades bring notions of spring and the ocean at its most peaceful rest.
On the right, Balancing Act is a more British-inspired combination, where every stripe tells a story of circus elegance and coordination, alongside Acanthus Leaf™ No.12, Henna BH.18 and Burlington Arcade™ No.216; this richly balanced combination allows a grounded, calm, elevated structure, evoking a contemporary look while bringing heritage and style.
Asked her favourite Mylands colour, Annika says: "I love blue, so Eaton Square™ No.232 is one I return to often. It has depth without heaviness and shifts beautifully with the light, it feels steady and easy to live with."
Between forest and sea
On the left, Kit Moon - Blue Moon is a delightful celebration of the playful, whimsical crescent moon, its charming design capturing the essence of change and renewal with an array of half-moons for a lively backdrop, perfect for any room seeking a touch of light-hearted magic; paired with Acanthus Leaf™ No.12 and Burlington Arcade™ No.216, this combination evokes a spirited style, the greenish-blue and soft neutral adding a grounding touch.
On the right, Bluebell is steeped in British folklore, where bluebells are said to ring to summon wood fairies and symbolise humility and everlasting love, traditionally thought to bring peace and calm; paired with St James™ No.40, Primrose Hill™ No.201 and Boathouse™ No.33, these shades enhance the wallpaper's floral essence, a perfect combination for a cosy part of the home.
What made you choose Mylands?
"It was the history and the way the paint is made. There's something reassuring about a company that's been producing paint in the UK for over a century; it carries a sense of longevity and care that aligns with how I approach pattern. It felt like a natural pairing."
Click here to see all of Annika's wallpaper-paint pairings.
