A toile (French word) is a classic pattern, a sort of pen & ink drawing in one color on a plain background, usually fat 1700’s ladies on swings being pushed by gallant gentlemen dressed in finery, surrounded by lambs and oxen and ducks and hunting dogs. (You can find other motifs, too, like Briar Rabbit or sailing ship scenes.)
This beautiful tan-on-cream design went in a guest bedroom in a new home in the Woodlands. The room is special to the homeowner, not only because the wallpaper makes it so lovely, but because it is furnished with her grandparents’ bedroom suite, bought in the 1920’s. This is the same furniture the homeowner slept on every weekend, as she was growing up.
This is Thibaut brand, pattern # 839-T-9506
The Wallpaper Lady's Blog 
January 11, 2014 at 4:48 am |
Dorota, who sells wallpaper at Southwestern Paint on Bissonnet (713) 520-6262, my favorite place to buy, objected to my description of the ladies in toiles. She said, “more like dainty shepherdesses. And don’t forget oriental themes!” Chinoiseries are quite common toile patterns, too.