Deus Ex Gardenia has announced the launch of a new wallpaper collection in collaboration with The British Museum, on show at London Design Week, 9th-13th March. The collection celebrates the interplay between history, nature and storytelling, reimagining rare artworks from the museum’s collections into 12 richly detailed, contemporary designs. Presented as botanicals, all-over patterns and atmospheric murals, the series moves between the understated and the expressive to bring quiet depth to modern interiors.
The brand will also unveil a whimsical new wallpaper and decorative border in collaboration with lifestyle storyteller Leah Lane of My Mulberry House. Deus Ex Gardenia worked closely with Leah to reinterpret The British Museum archival artwork through her own aesthetic: warm, nostalgic, layered and rooted in daily family living.
Deux Ex Gardenia X The British Museum Collection
Deus Ex Gardenia’s collection with The British Museum comprises lush and layered designs that feel fresh, exotic and bohemian – described by Deus Ex Gardenia as having ‘a jewel-box aesthetic.’. Each design invites a sense of escapism, allowing viewers to feel as though they have uncovered a fragment of history. Vibrant palettes and intricate pattern work take cues from Indian 17th and 18th century miniature paintings, textiles, and metalwork, where nature, myth and craftsmanship intertwine.
The design collaboration was born following an inspiring visit to The British Museum. Co-Founder of Deus Ex Gardenia, Katya Nappolini explains: ‘We were wandering the galleries and thought, imagine bringing these magnificent artworks to life through wallpaper. As a brand, we have always been fascinated by design that tells a story and invites discovery. Working with a museum that holds such extraordinary global heritage felt like the perfect alignment of values.’
Among the standout designs is Fenton, inspired by the metalwork of celebrated Indian silversmith Oomersee Mawjee, whose pieces were once sold at Liberty. At first glance Fenton, which is printed on Grasscloth, reads as a classic damask, but closer inspection reveals whimsical scenes of dogs, hares and movement hidden in the pattern.
Fablewood evolved from the borders of two 17th century Mughal paintings, pieced together to form an enchanted forest filled with real and imagined creatures.
‘Deus Ex Gardenia means God from the Garden, so nature has always been our central inspiration and at the heart of our visual language.’ says Katya Nappolini. ‘We wanted to celebrate the beauty of handmade artistry – details that feel both folk and modern, historic yet contemporary.’
Each design has been made by hand and digitally printed in the UK using eco-friendly water-based inks on FSC-certified papers, ensuring minimal waste and a responsible production process. The wallpapers are designed to suit a wide range of interiors – from period homes to contemporary spaces – offering both drama and subtlety depending on their application.
From the delicate Kanopea pattern, perfect for intimate corners, to the grand Mayura Valley Mural, every design reflects the brand’s philosophy of thoughtful composition, storytelling and beauty grounded in sustainability.
Visitors to London Design Week will be welcomed into the world of Deus Ex Gardenia through an immersive studio style installation within the venue’s Design Avenue. A beautiful display of the Mayura Valley Mural and large wallpaper cut-offs will create a glimpse into the creative process behind the collaboration.
Katya Nappolini says: “Ultimately, we hope the collection with The British Museum makes people feel as if they have uncovered a little piece of the past. Authentic and timeless, playful, yet intimate, grand in its own quiet way.’
Deux Ex Gardenia X Mulberry House
Deus Ex Gardenia will also unveil its first collaboration with My Mulberry House during London Design Week which comprises an elegant new wallpaper and complementary decorative border. Working closely with Founder of My Mulberry House, Leah Lane, the wallpaper was inspired by an early 18th-century design by Claude Gillot from The British Museum collection.
Katya Napponlini comments:’When approaching the design Leah and I focused on its delicate botanical framework and drifting birds, turning the original into an open, softly balanced composition that feels whimsical yet easy to live with.’
