Wallpaper - Chicago, the Gateway Illustration

Our Chicago, the Gateway Illustration wallpaper brings early 20th-century urban architecture to life through a detailed vintage etching by Donald Shaw MacLaughlan. The composition captures a bustling streetscape defined by soaring buildings with intricate arches, columns, and decorative facades, anchored by a handsome domed structure in the foreground. Rendered in monochromatic earthy brown and warm sienna line work, the fine drafting and lively street details of vintage motorcars and pedestrians create a rich, nostalgic scene. Produced to order as custom made-to-measure mural wallpapers, each order is printed on PVC-free paper with a subtle surface structure and designed to be straightforward to hang.

In the room

Because of the architectural depth and fine linework in this design, we see it working especially well across a main feature wall in a study, home library, or dedicated reading space. The vertical thrust of the high-rise facades naturally draws the eye upward, making it an effective choice on walls with standard or higher ceilings. In a study or home office, placing this wall mural behind a writing desk or adjacent to built-in shelving gives the room a considered, intellectual atmosphere without feeling crowded.

For a library or formal study, we would give the design a wider, relatively uninterrupted wall so the complete cityscape repeat has room to breathe. The monochromatic sienna palette allows the wallpaper to make an architectural statement while leaving room for low-profile furniture, such as a leather armchair or a low credenza, placed against the lower edge of the motif.

Styling it

When styling around this architectural sketch, we recommend letting the fine linework remain the central graphic element in the room. Pairing the wallpaper with warm, dark-stained timber furniture, such as walnut or aged oak, complements the heritage character of the etching. For surrounding upholstery, smooth leather or dense wool textiles in muted olive, deep tobacco, or charcoal anchor the vintage mood while keeping the focus on the illustrated scene.

Colour combinations

The motif itself is composed of deep sienna, warm brown, and soft parchment tones. When choosing paint colours for adjoining walls, door frames, and skirting boards, we suggest soft warm whites, cream, or muted biscuit tones to echo the paper's background. If you prefer a richer scheme, deep espresso, bitter chocolate, or warm olive on adjacent architectural trim will frame the wallpaper and accentuate its classic etching details.

About our wallpaper

At Wallism, our wallpapers are made-to-measure to fit your specific wall dimensions, which helps reduce unnecessary excess paper during installation. We produce our wall murals on PVC-free paper featuring a subtle physical surface structure that complements detailed graphic illustrations. Every design is made to order and created to be straightforward to hang, offering flexible solutions for homeowners and renters looking to transform their interiors.