Wallpaper Inn is a family-run business that was situated in Bowls Road for many many years. People still pop into our shop and reminisce about the old days, remembering my dad, Darryl, behind the paint or framing counter and my mother, Lesley Pringle, who lived and breathed wallpaper. Lesley was an astute businesswoman who loved to be with her extended family at the Inn.
The original Wallpaper Inn was established in 1964 by my Grandfather Pat Broli. He ran a business called “East London Property Maintenance” and would often use wallpapers in the homes he was decorating. The idea then came to mind to start a wallpaper business. My mother, who was only 19 at the time started working at the shop,then in Union Street. When they started importing their own wallpaper, they soon needed larger premises and 11 Bowls Road (where Buzz Hardware is now situated) became the home of Wallpaper Inn. Harlequin Paint shop was soon opened and started selling paints, hardware and framing. My father, who nearly moved to Durban to join his father in the wool trade fortunately made the move to manage the Harlequin Paint shop.
My parents worked together at Bowls Road Premises for almost 45 years before my father’s retirement in 2007. My mother and I then continued to concentrate on the the wholesale side of the business for a further 10 years. During that time my husband, Clinton, joined the business. When my mother passed away in 2015 there was certainly a lot to learn in the Wallpaper business, but she and my father had set up a lasting legacy for my husband and I to continue. My mother included me in the business from a very early age. I was traveling with her to wallpaper fairs in Germany from the tender age of 17. I too learned to love wallpaper and fell in love with art and design. This lead me to study Graphic Design at Port Elizabeth Technikon and thereafter to travel and work in London for 7 years before returning to East London to assist in the family business. Our main showroom and warehouse were moved to Johannesburg in 2017 so that we could better service our distributors thoughout South Africa and run the business more efficiently. Our Cape Town store is situated in Paarden Eiland and our headoffice remains in East London as we still consider this beautiful city our home.
East Londoners, we are very excited to announce that we will be reopening in February 2025, more information to follow shortly.
Clare Kearney
Director
The original Wallpaper Inn was established in 1964 by my Grandfather Pat Broli. He ran a business called “East London Property Maintenance” and would often use wallpapers in the homes he was decorating. The idea then came to mind to start a wallpaper business. My mother, who was only 19 at the time started working at the shop,then in Union Street. When they started importing their own wallpaper, they soon needed larger premises and 11 Bowls Road (where Buzz Hardware is now situated) became the home of Wallpaper Inn. Harlequin Paint shop was soon opened and started selling paints, hardware and framing. My father, who nearly moved to Durban to join his father in the wool trade fortunately made the move to manage the Harlequin Paint shop.
My parents worked together at Bowls Road Premises for almost 45 years before my father’s retirement in 2007. My mother and I then continued to concentrate on the the wholesale side of the business for a further 10 years. During that time my husband, Clinton, joined the business. When my mother passed away in 2015 there was certainly a lot to learn in the Wallpaper business, but she and my father had set up a lasting legacy for my husband and I to continue. My mother included me in the business from a very early age. I was traveling with her to wallpaper fairs in Germany from the tender age of 17. I too learned to love wallpaper and fell in love with art and design. This lead me to study Graphic Design at Port Elizabeth Technikon and thereafter to travel and work in London for 7 years before returning to East London to assist in the family business. Our main showroom and warehouse were moved to Johannesburg in 2017 so that we could better service our distributors thoughout South Africa and run the business more efficiently. Our Cape Town store is situated in Paarden Eiland and our headoffice remains in East London as we still consider this beautiful city our home.
East Londoners, we are very excited to announce that we will be reopening in February 2025, more information to follow shortly.
Clare Kearney
Director