One of my favorite movies growing up was The Royal Tenenbaums, and the character of Margot Tenenbaum, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, remained an icon for me. There was something about her melancholy and rebellious style that fascinated me.
Rewatching the film recently I noticed another silent protagonist: the Scalamandré Zebras wallpaper.
This Zebras wallpaper isn't just a scenic backdrop; it's a piece of design history. Created in 1945 to decorate the Gino of Capri restaurant in New York, it was designed by Valentino Crescenzi and immediately captured the imagination with its leaping zebras, crossed by small arrows, against a deep red background. The design was so unique that even a printing error—a zebra with a missing stripe—became legendary. Over time, the wallpaper became a cultural icon, appearing in films such as Mighty Aphrodite by Woody Allen and becoming unforgettable with Wes Anderson in The Royal Tenenbaums.
In the scenes with Margot, that wall of red zebras says so much about the character: eccentric, enigmatic, elegant, and melancholic. It's proof that a pattern can transcend decoration, transforming into a visual language and narrative identity. From that moment on, for those who love cinema and design, Scalamandré's zebras have become an instantly recognizable symbol.
The exciting part is that today, this epic wallpaper is no longer just a movie-set dream. It's available online at Deco Interni, in all colors and variations. Not just the famous tomato red seen in the film, but also blues, greens, and more sophisticated shades, perfect for any interior design project. Whether creating a dramatic feature wall in the living room, covering an unexpected hallway, or adding personality to a bathroom, Scalamandré Zebras wallpaper can transform any space into an iconic, history-filled space.
Decorating with this wallpaper means bringing a piece of cinema, New York, and design culture into your home. It's a way to tell a story every day, with irony and elegance, and to bring to life the magic that Wes Anderson captured on screen.