Paper Mills

What Paper Mills does

Paper Mills, Inc. is a Brooklyn-founded private design house established in 2005 by Amy Mills that manufactures and supplies custom wallpapers and fabrics. The company's core production method is hand block printing, with selected designs also offered via digital printing; substrates include a post-consumer poly cellulose (recycled paper) non-woven ground and, for commercial use, Type II vinyl. Water-based, zero-VOC paints and a proprietary water reclamation system that reduces consumption to under five gallons per week support a sustainability-led manufacturing profile.

The product portfolio spans wallpaper (Lotus, Checkmate, Little Havana, Olivia, Vales, Desert Rose, Sedimentary, among others) and fabric (block-printed and embroidered on Belgian linen from partner mills worldwide). All designs can be custom color-matched to designer-supplied palettes (Benjamin Moore, Farrow and Ball), and bespoke pattern development is available, with custom strike-offs priced at $220 per yard and lead times of 4-6 weeks for standard production. Class A fire-rated and Type II commercial-grade variants extend the addressable market into hospitality and contract specifications.

The business operates exclusively on a trade-only model: products are sold to interior designers and design professionals through a network of authorized showrooms spanning ten US design centers and international agents in Paris, Madrid, London, and Germany, supplemented by direct trade accounts for unserved territories. Pricing is unit-based with no recurring or subscription economics. The company remains founder-owned and bootstrapped with 11-50 employees, and has announced a planned direct-to-consumer retail site as a future channel expansion.

Name

Paper Mills

Legal name

Paper Mills, Inc.

Website

https://papermills.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Paper Mills is a Brooklyn-based private design house, founded in 2005 by Amy Mills, that manufactures custom hand-printed wallpapers and fabrics. It sells exclusively to the interior design trade through authorized showrooms across North America and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wallcoverings and Textiles

NAICS

Paper Mills (32212), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222), Paper Manufacturing (322)

SIC

Paper Mills (2621), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

Decor & Laminating Paper Manufacturing (Furniture, Flooring, Impregnated Papers) (IMAMAEAE)

Keywords

• Custom wallpaper manufacturing
• Hand block printed wallcoverings
• Trade design house fabrics
• Interior designer wallcoverings
• Type II vinyl wallcoverings

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Wallpaper Sales: Hand printed and digitally printed wallpapers, customizable to customer color specifications. Lead time 4-6 weeks for standard production, 2 weeks for custom strike-offs of existing patterns.
2. Fabric Sales: Fabrics manufactured by partner mills worldwide, featuring block printing and embroidery. Some customization available for orders over 100 yards.
3. Custom Strike-off Services: Custom color strike-offs provided at $220 per yard for color approval. Type II vinyl goods available with 5 week lead time for custom orders.
4. Trade Account Direct Sales: Direct ordering for authorized trade professionals who set up trade accounts. Minimum order requirements typically 25 yards for wallpaper.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paper Mills manufactures and supplies custom and stock wallpapers and fabrics using hand block printing as the core production method, supplemented by digital printing for selected designs. Products are made on post-consumer recycled poly cellulose non-woven substrates with water-based, no-VOC paints, and include customization services for color matching (Benjamin Moore, Farrow and Ball, and other color decks) and custom pattern development. The company also produces commercial-grade Type II vinyl wallcoverings in 54-inch double-width goods for high-traffic installations.

Product overview

Paper Mills is a design house specializing in custom wallpaper and fabric manufacturing, founded in 2005 in Brooklyn by Amy Mills. The company offers two core product lines: wallpaper and fabric. Wallpaper products include hand-printed designs (the core of production) and digitally printed options, with non-woven and Type II vinyl substrates available. Fabric offerings include block printed and embroidered designs on Belgian linen and other materials. The company provides customization services including custom color matching using color deck references and custom pattern development from customer designs. Products are sold primarily to the trade through showrooms across North America, Europe, and other international locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wallpaper Collections: Hand-printed and digitally printed wallpapers including Lotus, Checkmate, Little Havana, Shanti, Artemis, Olivia, Pablo, Kyoto, Topo Hum, Sirtaj, W. 12th St., Zebra Fern, Desert Rose, Vales, Tania, Nani, Kelp Tea Paper, Strata, Quartzite, Sedimentary
• Fabric Collections

Products and services

• Wallpaper Custom and standard hand-printed and digitally printed wallpaper designs on post-consumer recycled poly cellulose non-woven substrate, with optional Type II vinyl grounds for high-traffic areas, available to interior designers and trade professionals through authorized showrooms.
• Fabric Custom and standard fabric designs, including block-printed and embroidered options, manufactured by partner mills worldwide with dye-lot accuracy, available to trade professionals with customization possible on orders over 100 yards.
• Custom Wallpaper and Color Matching Service Custom color matching service against customer-provided color references (Benjamin Moore, Farrow and Ball, or other color decks), plus custom pattern development from customer designs, with 2-week strike-off lead time for existing patterns.
• Type II Wall Coverings Commercial-grade Type II vinyl wallcoverings meeting Type II standards, available as a ready-made VALES pattern or custom on all print designs in 54-inch double-width goods, intended for high-traffic commercial and hospitality installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water usage reduced to less than 5 gallons per week through proprietary reclamation system

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Studio Four NYCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom in New York at 900 Broadway, Suite 204. Serves as primary showroom for the New York market.
• M-GeoughcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom in Boston at One Design Center Place, Suite 350.
• Travis and CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom in Atlanta at 351 Peachtree Hills Ave. NE, Suite 128.
• John Rosselli & AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom in Dania Beach, Florida at 1855 Griffin Road, Suite C-100.
• Michael - ClearycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom with locations in Chicago (Merchandise Mart) and Washington DC.
• E.C. DickencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom in Dallas at 1025 North Stemmons Freeway, Suite 260.
• De Cioccio ShowroomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized showroom in Cincinnati at 700 W. Pete Rose Way #4F.
• Jules & JimcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational showroom in Paris, France at 1 Rue Therese, 75001.
• Macarena SaizcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational showroom in Madrid, Spain at Valazquez, 115-bajo 5.
• Rosebank FabricscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK agent representation through Rosebank Fabrics, agent Simeon Turnbull.
• Elan CollectionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLas Vegas showroom at 7711 W. Post Road, opened March 2016.
• Wesley MoonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterior designer based in New York, New York, featured on Paper Mills resources page as recommended designer.
• Bella Mancini DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterior designer based in New York, New York, featured on Paper Mills resources page as recommended designer.
• Cloth & KindminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterior design firm with locations in Georgia and Michigan, featured on Paper Mills resources page.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Rebel Walls: Scandinavian wallpaper design house offering designer-led mural and pattern wallpapers with custom and standard lines. Comparable on design-house product positioning though more digitally-native in production.

Broad incumbents

• Pierre Frey: French heritage textile and wallpaper house producing premium printed fabrics and wallcoverings for designers and luxury hospitality. Comparable on premium trade positioning, European distribution, and fabric/wallpaper dual offering.
• Schumacher (Schumacher & Co.): Major US heritage brand offering premium wallpapers and fabrics to interior designers through showrooms. Much larger and broader catalog, but the closest scaled incumbent operating in Paper Mills' exact trade and product lanes.

Direct peers

• Eskayel: US-based wallpaper design house with proprietary patterns, sustainable substrates, and custom capabilities. Comparable on design-house positioning, custom orders, and sustainable manufacturing story.
• Adelphi Paper Hangings: US wallpaper manufacturer specializing in hand-printed and historically-inspired wallcoverings, trade distribution. Direct analog on craft hand-printing production method and small-team operation.
• Calico Wallpaper: US-based design house producing custom, hand-crafted wallpaper with bespoke patterns and trade showroom distribution. Closest US analog on small-batch craft manufacturing and designer trade model.
• Cole & Son: Historic British wallpaper maker known for hand-printed and design-led wallcoverings distributed through the trade. Directly comparable to Paper Mills on hand-printing heritage, trade showroom distribution, and premium designer positioning.
• House of Hackney: British design house producing wallpaper and fabrics with bold printed patterns, sold through trade showrooms and DTC. Comparable on dual wallpaper/fabric product line, trade channel, and design-led positioning.
• Farrow & Ball: Premium British paint and wallpaper brand serving interior designers with custom color services and a trade showroom network. Highly comparable on custom color matching, sustainability narrative, and trade-led GTM.
• Hygge & West: Wallpaper design house offering designer collaborations and custom prints sold through trade and direct channels. Similar scale and designer-led product positioning to Paper Mills.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PaperMillsInc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paper Mills