Backdrop × Schumacher’s ‘Archive’ Wallpapers Bring 20th‑Century Drama Back to the Wall

Newsroom+ · Interiors · October 2025

Backdrop cofounder standing before Palazzo mural-scale wallpaper from the Archive collection, a hand-drawn palatial architectural scene in grey and gold — Image: Palazzo panel set during development. Photo by Keith Oshiro, courtesy of Frederic Magazine.

Backdrop has taken a deep dive into Schumacher’s 135‑year archive to launch Archive by Backdrop—a tight edit of four wallcoverings that turns historical motifs into modern statement walls. The collection channels mid‑century gestural linework, classical architecture, and cameo trellis ornament, then scales and recolors each pattern for today’s rooms.

Inside the collection: four patterns, four moods

Created by Backdrop’s design team led by cofounder Natalie Ebel, the series draws from thousands of textiles and wallpapers housed in Schumacher’s Brooklyn archive. The result is a capsule that feels distinctly current while preserving the hand of the originals:

Palazzo (panel set) A grand, four‑panel architectural scene reimagined at mural scale with flashes of metallic ink for quiet shimmer.
Tanbark A lively field of equestrian sketches derived from illustrator John Groth’s 1957 drawings—fluid linework, rhythmic motion, warm grounds.
Horses A whimsical 1950s document of costumed riders and fanciful Victorian scenery, kept bright and graphic.
Edith A neoclassical lattice of shells, bee and butterfly cameos, and pearl‑like drops—named in a nod to Edith Wharton.

Close-up of Palazzo panel set wallpaper showing baroque arches and statues in charcoal with subtle gold accents — ‘Palazzo’ mural‑scale panel set. Image via Frederic Magazine.

Tanbark wallpaper with gestural horse studies printed on an earthy brown ground — ‘Tanbark’ captures the movement of Groth’s 1957 horse studies. Image via Frederic.

Edith wallpaper detail: cameo medallions of shells and cherubs on a light blue trellis with dotted swags — ‘Edith’ trellis with cameos and dotted swags. Image via Frederic.

Horses wallpaper with playful line‑drawn riders and carriages over white — ‘Horses’ keeps the collection’s playful, illustrative streak. Image via Frederic.

Why this launch matters

Beyond pretty patterns, Archive taps a larger interiors shift: rooms are embracing story‑scale walls again. In recent seasons, panoramic murals and illustrated wallpapers have become design movers—media from Euronews Culture to newspapers have credited wallpaper designers as unexpected tastemakers, while consumer titles note that mural wallpapers are sweeping away the old “accent wall.” Backdrop’s new capsule lands squarely in that current, pairing heritage linework with fresh, livable palettes and contemporary scale.

Architectural Digest also spotlights the collection in its monthly design discoveries, underscoring how the team modernized mid‑century Schumacher motifs and brought them forward with crisp printing and right‑now color stories. See AD’s overview here.

How to style it at home

Let one wall lead, not shout. Treat Palazzo or Horses as an artwork—anchor with quiet upholstery and one high‑contrast accent (iron, walnut, or matte black metal).
Echo a motif, once. With Tanbark’s lyrical lines, repeat the curve in a lamp silhouette or arched mirror—then stop. Restraint keeps heritage prints fresh.
Edit your palette. Edith’s cameos sing in limited schemes (e.g., powder blue + ivory + onyx). Pull two hues into textiles for cohesion.
Mind the scale. Oversized panel sets thrive on ceilings 9' and up; in tighter spaces, shift to the smaller‑scale grounds or run panels as framed “wings” beside a doorway.
Wallpaper‑curious? Start with large‑format art that borrows the same geometry, color blocks, or painterly movement, then graduate to wallcoverings.

If you’re weighing mural wallpaper vs. oversized art, our guide “Murals Are the New Accent Wall” breaks down when a full wall story wins—and when a single, commanding canvas gets you 80% of the effect with 20% of the commitment.

Where to see & shop

Explore the full capsule on Backdrop’s site: Archive by Backdrop. You’ll find colorway details for each pattern along with installation notes (the Palazzo panels are trimmed to fit ceiling height, a thoughtful touch for varied architecture).