In a world of peel-and-stick wallpaper, dare to be Fabscarte.
The Milanese brand of handmade wallpaper has been meticulously produced by a team of craftspeople for 30 years. Led by co-founders Luigi Scarabelli and Emilio Brazzoloto, Fabscarte’s workshop of hand-painted paper works is characterized by experimentation with techniques and materials. The Fabscarte team is inspired by nature and art, blending matter, touch, and color.
Fabscarte preserves and reinterprets an illustrious artistic legacy from bygone centuries, which results in a collection of wallpapers that evoke the rich tapestry of Italian tradition, enlivened by contemporary appeal. Their bespoke wallpapers are tactile and sensorial, with each uniquely crafted and customized to suit the needs of each project. Scarabelli elaborates on the ethos and processes that make Fabscarte so special below. (Conversation lightly edited for length and clarity.)
What is the origin story of Fabscarte? How did you first get involved in the world of
handmade wallpaper?
Fabscarte was born in Milan from the encounter between its founders and a group of artisans united by the desire to reinvent wall decoration. With over 30 years of experience, our journey is rooted in the constant experimentation of materials and techniques, within a living artisanal process where thought and craftsmanship intertwine and evolve endlessly. From this vision also comes our collection of artistic wallpapers, entirely handmade and continuously transforming.
What are the qualities that wallpaper made by hand can achieve that machine-produced wallpaper can’t? In other words, what makes handmade wallpaper so special?
Each Fabscarte wallpaper is a unique, entirely handmade piece. Variations in texture, reflections, and details are the authentic marks of human craftsmanship. Unlike industrial production, each creation stems from an artisanal and artistic sensibility that brings life and character to every surface. These wallpapers are not mere decorative elements, but evocative works with a tactile and visual depth that is immediately perceptible. Time is an essential part of the process: it is time that allows the paper, the material, and the gesture to transform. Every layer, every mark, tells a different story. It is precisely this deep connection with the hand and with time that gives Fabscarte wallpapers their authentic and unrepeatable strength.
We observe organic forms, landscapes, mineral and vegetal elements, reinterpreting them through a poetic lens.
What is your typical design inspiration for your Fabscarte wallpaper?
At Fabscarte, we draw inspiration from nature, classical art, and material itself. We observe organic forms, landscapes, mineral and vegetal elements, reinterpreting them through a poetic lens. Our aim is to capture their deepest essence and transform it into marks, textures, and surfaces that evoke different sensations and lend themselves to multiple interpretations.
What is your process like for creating your wallpapers?
The Fabscarte creation process is born from a feeling, an emotion that transcends fashion and time. Each project takes shape through meticulous research into materials and techniques, but, above all, through the artisan’s sensitivity that transforms an idea into a visual and tactile story. Each wallpaper is handcrafted using both traditional and contemporary decorative techniques.
Layer by layer, with slow and precise movements, the artisan’s hands create beauty, while leaving room for the unexpected and the imperfect. It is a process that blends thought, emotion, and craftsmanship to create surfaces that speak directly to the heart. In practice, we always start with a classic paper roll, creating three-dimensionality from the very first background layers, whether by adding tissue paper or pigments. Each wallpaper then undergoes specific processes based on its pattern; we focus on texture, using elements such as stucco or techniques like glazing.
What is your typical clientele?
We primarily work with architects, interior designers, and private clients seeking something unique for their spaces. Our clients appreciate craftsmanship, quiet beauty, and subtle details. They often turn to us for bespoke projects, both residential and contract, in Italy and abroad.
Which of Fabscarte’s wallpaper patterns are you proudest of?
The “Ginko” pattern best embodies the spirit of Fabscarte. Inspired by the leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba—one of the oldest trees in the world and a symbol of strength and resilience—this design uniquely blends lightness and texture. Created through layers of tissue paper and glazes of natural earth pigments, “Ginko” reflects meticulous attention to detail and the poetry of artisanal craftsmanship, transforming walls into living, vibrant, and dynamic surfaces.
Ginko Giallo
Ginko Bianco
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