One of my great personal revelations about the nature of home ownership occurred when we were outfitting our 1885 miner’s cabin with new windows: in the oldest part of the house, the only insulation was crumpled newspapers—I could still read the classified ad proffering a 1944 Coupe de Ville. Even though the papers had been obscured from view, I quite admired the retro aesthetic; so, it would seem, does product designer Lori Weitzner. Her “Newsworthy” wallcovering is made of 100% “upcycled” newspaper.

Newsworthy Newspaper-Based Wallcovering. Designed by Lori Weitzner. Manufactured by Weitzner Limited.

Friends and Relatives Alike will Admire Weitzner Limited’s Newsworthy Wallpaper

I can’t let the last verbiage pass by without comment, since the notion of “upcycling” evokes another common saying anathema to journalists—something along the lines of “the news isn’t worth the paper that it’s printed on.” Given the specifics of the particular swaths of Newsworthy you happen to install, that may or may not be the case.

What is certain, however, is that this clever product definitely represents a value-added enhancement to the original material. Weitzner creates Newsworthy by hand-weaving said strips of 100% newspaper on a loom, then paper-backing them to make them durable and to facilitate installation.

Weitzner offers the 47” wide strips in five-meter lengths. Installation is as easy as it is for any wallpaper: just apply paste to the back of the paper and secure it in place. You must take extra caution, however, to avoid getting paste on the front. And always make cuts with a clean, new blade, since Newsworthy is, not-surprisingly, prone to fraying.

As Newsworthy is a 100% recycled and recyclable product, it’s LEED certified and may contribute to LEED MR credit 4: Recycled Content. Newsworthy cleans easily with regular dry-dusting and vacuuming. Variability is among its many charms as—for obvious reasons—no two swaths are the same and “graphics and color will vary throughout rolls and from roll to roll.”

Via Inhabitat.

About the Manufacturer: The NYC studios of Lori Weitzner are packed to the gills with all manner of “energy on full display… inspiration transformed into the materials that challenge our clients’ perceptions of what a wallcovering, textile, trim, or rug can be.” As one who enjoys having his perceptions challenged, I’m rather charmed by the contents of what she calls her “White Box Sanctuary.” Wallcoverings like the lovely Nimbus Solar and the tantalizing Temperance indeed defy expectations, while still evoking the “luxury, beauty, innovation, environmental consciousness and performance” associated with Weitzner’s products.