The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is currently home to a long term exhibit entitled The First Ladies which they describe as exploring “the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The exhibition features more than two dozen gowns from the Smithsonian’s almost 100-year old First Ladies Collection, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. The First Ladies encourages visitors to consider the changing role played by the first lady and American women over the past 200 years.”

The exhibit designers wanted a background that mirrored these sentiments and wisely chose Flavor Paper’s Fruits of Design wallpaper in gloss white ink on matte white clay coated paper to achieve their goal of showing how history adjusts to the times and still looks good. The very traditional damask design that incorporates modern elements, artists tools and geometric shapes in a clean and sharp color way reflects how Flavor Paper, and artist Dan Funderburgh, love to take the traditional and toy with it to bring it into a more contemporary reference.

The designers love it and feel it made all the difference in the world in the exhibition adding reflectivity, but in a subtle well designed way. We have to agree.