About Phillip Jeffries

Phillip Jeffries is an American manufacturer of natural-fibre wallcoverings — grasscloth, sisal, jute, paper-weaves, and increasingly digital prints on natural substrates. Founded in 1976, the brand has become the reference for high-end natural-textured walls in residential, hospitality and commercial interiors. The papers carry a price premium (£140–£550 per roll) that reflects both the materials and the hand-finishing involved.

They're also among the most install-sensitive wallcoverings available. This guide walks through what installing Phillip Jeffries actually involves and why specialist installers exist.

What Makes Grasscloth Different

Standard wallpaper is a uniform manufactured product. Grasscloth is a natural fibre laminated to a paper backing — each roll has subtle variation in colour, weave, and texture. The fibre is also hygroscopic: it absorbs and releases moisture from the surrounding environment, which affects how the paper sits during install.

These two characteristics — natural variation and moisture sensitivity — mean grasscloth doesn't install like paper. The technique is closer to fabric hanging or veneer work than standard wallpaper.

Seam Visibility — The Defining Issue

The single most-discussed characteristic of grasscloth installations is seam visibility. Unlike printed paper where pattern matching can hide seams completely, grasscloth seams are always visible to some degree. The natural variation between rolls — even from the same batch — means the seam line shows as a subtle change in tone or weave.

This is not an install defect. It's a characteristic of the material that the brand discloses up front. What separates a good install from a bad one is whether the seam visibility is minimised through correct technique, or amplified by carelessness.

Reverse-Roll Sequencing

The standard technique for reducing seam visibility on grasscloth is "reverse-roll" hanging: alternating drops are installed with the roll flipped end-to-end. This sequences the variation in weave direction so that adjacent drops have their grain running in opposite directions, which catches light symmetrically across the seam and de-emphasises the join.

This is part of the standard installation specification for Phillip Jeffries. Skip it and the seams become much more visible. We routinely encounter installations where reverse-roll wasn't followed — the result is salvageable only by stripping and re-hanging.

Adhesive Grade

Grasscloth requires a specific clear adhesive. The wrong adhesive can:

Bleed through to the front of the paper, staining the natural fibre
Fail to bond properly to the textured back
Release at the edges as the paper expands and contracts with humidity

Phillip Jeffries specifies clear premium-grade vinyl adhesives such as Roman Pro-880 or equivalent. Hanging with standard wallpaper paste is a common mistake — visible within months as edge curling or paper release.

Lining Paper Specification

Lining paper is essential under grasscloth. We use 1700-grade as standard because:

The heavier paper bridges minor plaster imperfections that would otherwise telegraph through the grasscloth's textured surface
It provides a more uniform absorption surface for the specialist adhesive
It buffers humidity-driven expansion and contraction of the natural fibre

Cross-lined (hung horizontally) to prevent seam alignment with the grasscloth's vertical drops.

Wall Preparation Standard

What we typically specify for a Phillip Jeffries install:

Sound plaster — any cracking, blowing, or significant unevenness skimmed before lining
1700-grade lining paper hung horizontally; joints staggered; 48-hour drying minimum
Brand-approved primer sealing the lining paper
Temperature 18–22°C, humidity 45–55% during install — heated and stable
Adjacent woodwork, coving and trim either complete or scheduled to follow install
Dust sheets across the room and adjacent circulation

Environmental Considerations

Grasscloth is moisture-sensitive at install and remains so over its life. Bathroom installations are not recommended — the consistent humidity will degrade the fibre. Kitchens are marginal — adequate ventilation is essential. The natural environment for grasscloth is studies, dressing rooms, drawing rooms, principal bedrooms, and any space without steady moisture.

During install, humidity spikes (steam from contractor work elsewhere in the property, weather changes) can mark the fibre permanently. We schedule installs around predictable conditions.

The Install — Day by Day

Day 1 — Final wall inspection and dry positioning

Walls inspected (lining and primer applied previously and cured). Panels unboxed, identified by sequence number. Dry-positioned against the wall to confirm reverse-roll sequencing and pattern flow. Adjustments routine.

Day 2 — First drops

Brand-specified adhesive applied to the wall. First drop hung, reverse-rolled second drop hung adjacent. Air worked out from centre to edges with a soft smoother (metal tools mark grasscloth). Seam alignment confirmed before continuing.

Day 3 — Remaining drops

Continuing across the wall(s). Inside and outside corners handled drop-by-drop rather than wrapped. Switches and sockets cut around with templates — grasscloth doesn't cut as cleanly as paper, so templates are pre-made and tested.

Day 4 — Touch-up and sign-off

Edge inspection, any minor adhesive squeeze-through cleaned. Final walkthrough with you and (where applicable) your designer.

What's Different About Grasscloth Pricing

Phillip Jeffries paper itself: £140–£550 per single roll. A typical drawing room install (3 walls) uses 14–20 rolls plus extra for waste, so paper alone is £2,500–£11,000.

Installation is quoted by consultation. Indicative numbers for the Cheshire / South Manchester corridor:

Feature wall (paper, lining, full prep, install): £750–£1,400
Full study or dressing room (3-4 walls): £1,800–£3,500
Drawing room or principal bedroom: £2,800–£5,500

Costs depend on room dimensions, prep scope, panel count and access. Written fixed-price quote following consultation.

Common Mistakes

Skipping reverse-roll

The most common mistake. Hanging all drops the same way produces visible seam variation that didn't need to exist. Salvageable only by stripping and re-hanging.

Wrong adhesive

Standard wallpaper paste used because "it's easier." Visible within 6 months as edge release and curling.

Inadequate prep

Hanging on minimally prepared walls. Grasscloth's textured surface amplifies any unevenness underneath rather than hiding it. Lining paper at proper grade is non-negotiable.

Bathroom installation

The brand specifies against it, but it's sometimes attempted regardless. Fails within a year.

Different batch numbers mixed in one room

Always confirm batch number on roll wrappers before install begins. Different batches show as visible colour variation.

For Interior Designers

Most Phillip Jeffries installations come through designers. We're set up to work that way:

Concept-stage site walkthroughs at no charge — advice on prep, room suitability, timeline
Written prep specifications shared ahead of any wall work
Coordination with the wider project schedule
Dust-controlled working in occupied properties
NDA-friendly conduct
Photography for portfolio with client permission

What to Ask an Installer Before You Hire

How many Phillip Jeffries installations have you completed?
Do you use reverse-roll sequencing as standard?
What adhesive grade do you specify?
What lining paper grade do you use under grasscloth?
What environmental control (temperature, humidity) do you require during install?
Can you show photographic examples? (With permission of previous clients.)

Our Service

We install Phillip Jeffries across the Cheshire / South Manchester corridor by consultation. Working directly with interior designers and private clients. Specialist installer overview | Request a consultation.

Phillip Jeffries Grasscloth Installation: A Specialist Installer's Guide