Clintons Leave Paper Trail in White House Quarters

A number of wallpapers by Irvine-based Country Life Designs are being hung in one of the country’s best known residences: the White House.

The papers were chosen by the Clintons’ interior designer, Kaki Hockersmith of Little Rock, Ark., to hang in the private quarters of the executive mansion.

“We heard from our showroom in Dallas that Hockersmith had chosen our papers. We were honored, since we were the only domestic supplier chosen to participate,” said Stephen Gnadt, who heads Country Life.

Hockersmith “had used Country Life papers before, and so she was familiar with us. Since then we have been in close contact with her, sending her color boards for designs for Chelsea’s bedroom and bath, the family kitchen, sitting room and a second bathroom.”

The color palette chosen by Hockersmith is in muted tones of red, pink, blue and gold. Country Life’s “Brandon” and “Brandon Stripe” are in the kitchen, “Natalie,” a design with bouquets of multicolored flowers separated by a soft blue ribbon pattern, is in Chelsea’s bedroom.

All the papers picked by Hockersmith are cheerful and light, with heavy leanings toward traditional decor. “We like to say our papers have the charm of tradition in the spirit of today,” Gnadt said.

Coming from Country Life in the fall will be the Potager Collection, which is subtitled kitchen-garden wallpapers and fabrics. “We think that the garden is becoming more and more important to people, so our new papers and borders will reflect that by featuring sophisticated rabbits, McGregor’s garden, sunflowers, and vegetables,” Gnadt said.

Although 10-year-old Country Life Designs is based in Orange County, it has showrooms throughout the country, with most of its business coming from Chicago, Atlanta and Florida.