Tempaper’s Jennifer Matthews & Julia Biancella Au On Creating Stylish Yet Affordable Wallpaper

Temporary wallpaper is becoming increasingly popular among millennials, young design professionals and short-term apartment-renters alike. Aimed to cover walls while providing style and good vibes, Tempaper is a leading designer within the temporary wallpaper world, having been featured by Martha Stewart Living, Architectural Digest, and Vogue.com alike. Beyond creating appealing designs that are FDA-approved, American-made and lead-free, Tempaper also holds its own in collaborating with top-tier designers, including Genevieve Gorder, Cynthia Rowley, Bobby Berk, and The Novogratz.

I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with Tempaper’s owners Jennifer Matthews (also the company’s Creative Director) and Julia Biancella Au (also Tempaper’s CEO) on behalf of The Hype Magazine. More on the popular company can be found online at www.tempaperdesigns.com.

How would you describe Tempaper to someone not familiar? How is it different from traditional wallpaper?

Jennifer Matthews: Tempaper is not your grandmother’s wallpaper! It’s self-adhesive, repositionable and removable nature makes it a perfect DIY product for all skill levels. Our design-forward and sophisticated collections create high-impact design environments that designers and consumers alike can enjoy! Application is simple and does not require messy pastes or glues like traditional wallpaper.

How long should Tempaper last on a wall for?

Julia Biancella Au: A month, a year or indefinitely — we let the customer decide.

Which was the first Tempaper design you came up with?

Jennifer Matthews: Damsel was our first design, a traditional and timeless damask that never goes out of style. The print was so popular that we created a textured design from it with additional colorways.

Do you have a favorite of the designs?

Jennifer Matthews: Typically, the designs we are currently creating and have not launched yet are my favorites. Once designs are finalized, I instinctively move on and fall in love with the next beauty. I am crushing hard on
our new panoramic design set to launch this fall.

Julia Biancella Au: Please don’t make me choose!

What is coming up for Tempaper as a company?

Jennifer Matthews: It is a very exciting time for Tempaper with our domestic and international distribution channels and manufacturing opportunities expanding greatly. Removable wallpaper is a staple in home design now and our product is being included in all facets of the market. It’s just incredible. From a design perspectivewe are developing our special order collections to include hand-painted murals. The art is just breathtaking. We will also start to explore selling design favorites in smaller roll sizes and panel format. Fresh Pressed By Tempaper will launch next month! Also on the horizon, we will launch additional peel-and-stick products!

When not busy with Tempaper, how do you like to spend your free time?

Jennifer Matthews: Having fun with my family. I have twin 5-year olds at home. We keep busy taking them on fun adventures! A good work out keeps me happy too!

Julia Biancella Au: As a new mom, I run home to cuddle my little one. I always try and throw in a work-out to keep my sanity!

As a music-centric website, I must ask: What is the last concert you went to?

Jennifer Matthews: Stevie Nicks and The Pretenders.

Julia Biancella Au: The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey’s Summer Stage featuring Rebelution.

Do you have a favorite album, or new song at least, of 2018?

Jennifer Matthews: Florence + The Machine’s “Hunger.”

Julia Biancella Au: Gregory Issac’s “Night Nurse,” my favorite song in 2018 from 1982.

Finally, any last words for the kids?

Jennifer Matthews: Believe in your dreams and go for it.

Julia Biancella Au: Work hard BUT always have fun.

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Tags: Asbury Park, Design, Florence + The Machine, Jennifer Matthews, Julia Biancella Au, Stevie Nicks, Tempaper, Wallpaper

About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."