Our bestselling Kitito wallpaper holds such a special place in my heart. It was the very first wallpaper I designed for Whistling Thorn Designs, and really, it’s where the whole journey began.
The design grew from a love letter to the garden we had in Kenya, our sanctuary, our playground, and the place that carried us through the strangeness and stillness of lockdown. It became my little haven, the space where I felt most grounded, where I could breathe, reflect, and finally slow down enough to draw again.
I spent countless hours outside, sketchbook in hand, observing the birds flitting between the trees, the vines creeping along the veranda, and the wildlife that made every day a little unpredictable. That garden wasn’t just a patch of land, it was alive, chaotic, comforting, and bursting with character.
The Characters of the Garden
You’ll find one of those characters hidden within the Kitito design. One of my favourites is the mousebird, scruffy, comical, and always up to something. These quirky little birds were a constant source of entertainment, with their untidy feathered mohawks popping up whenever they heard the slightest rustle.
They loved nothing more than a good dust bath right in the middle of our driveway, completely unbothered by the world. They also had an unnerving habit of peering at us through the bushes by our bedroom window, their curious little faces watching us go about daily life as if we were the wildlife exhibit!
It wasn’t just the birds, of course. Our garden came with its fair share of unexpected guests. Out near the washing line, we had a little cluster of around 15 to 20 banana trees, but let me tell you, it was a real luxury to actually get your hands on a bunch of ripe bananas.
The weather could be temperamental, heavy rains one day, scorching sun the next — but even when the conditions were perfect, there was another challenge: the vervet monkeys.
Not just one, but two resident troops of these mischievous, clever little creatures roamed our property, and they had a particular fondness for our bananas. They’d cause absolute chaos when they were around, pulling fruit from the trees, raiding the garden, and generally creating mayhem.
The mousebirds weren’t much better, truth be told, they were huge fans of bananas too. Fruit made up a big part of their diet, so between them and the monkeys, we often joked that we grew bananas more for the local wildlife than ourselves.
But that was life in our corner of Kenya, unpredictable, a little wild, and full of life.
Drawing from Nature
The garden, with its colourful chaos, gave me endless inspiration during lockdown. I found myself sketching the mousebirds, the twisting vines, the leaves, and flowers, all the little details that made that space feel like home.
One of the most beautiful plants we had trailing across our veranda was the Lady Slipper Vine — delicate purple stems with bright yellow flowers that cascaded down in the most magical way. It wrapped around the farmhouse veranda, making even the most ordinary morning coffee feel like you were sitting in a hidden tropical retreat.
Those vines, the mousebirds, the wildness of the garden, they all made their way into the drawings that eventually became Kitito.
For me, Kitito isn’t just wallpaper. It’s a piece of that life, a reminder of home, of joy, and of how nature grounds us, even when everything else feels uncertain.
Seeing Kitito Come to Life
The most incredible part has been seeing how Kitito has found its way into homes all over the world, bringing with it a little of that African warmth, colour, and character.
One customer transformed her kitchen, designing the whole space around the bold, vibrant wallpaper:
“As soon as I met Georgina, heard her inspiration for her wonderful wallpaper, and saw the wallpaper itself, I knew I had to find a place in our home for it. I love the vibrant colours and depth of detail; it’s the feature wall in our kitchen and I’ve designed the whole space around it — natural materials, soft lighting, colour everywhere. The wallpaper is such good quality, like nothing I’ve come across before. Georgina was so helpful with advice on how to hang it and what we’d need to make it easy. We even made a matching lamp and cushion from the fabric — now the whole room makes me smile. It brings me joy every time I cook or make a cup of tea.”
Another created a tropical bathroom escape, reconnecting with her own memories of Kenya, all the way from Chicago:
“I cannot emphasise enough how much I love my new wallpaper from Whistling Thorn Designs. It is just beautiful. It transformed my bathroom into a tropical oasis and takes me right back to living in Kenya. The quality is superb — my decorator even commented on how high quality the paper is. If I ever move, I will be recreating!”
And I love how versatile Kitito is. It’s even made itself at home in a grand, historic property in California:
“We recently refreshed our dining room in our very old historic house. We put in dark wood panels to match our picture rails and then hung Whistling Thorn's 'Kitito' design in teal. The quality of the paper and beauty of the design have made our dining room the most remarked-on room in our house. Everyone loves it — but especially me! Well done, Whistling Thorn, for producing such beauty paired with lasting quality.”
From Africa to Anywhere
One of the things I love most is how people from all sorts of places and homes connect with Kitito, whether they’ve lived in Africa or simply dream of bringing a little colour and joy into their space.
The playful, bold patterns, the nods to nature, and the layers of detail mean the design works in so many settings, kitchens full of life, quiet bathrooms, grand dining rooms, or cosy reading nooks.
It’s been so humbling to hear how often people comment on the quality of the paper itself. When I created Whistling Thorn Designs, it was never just about pretty patterns, it was about creating pieces that last. I wanted something made with care, high quality, and attention to detail, the same way nature crafts its masterpieces. I didn’t want a throwaway, trend-led product that goes up for a season or two only to be discarded when the next fad arrives. Kitito, like all our wallpapers, is designed to stay, to become part of your space and story.
Why "Kitito"?
People often ask me where the name comes from. Kitito was the area of the farm where we lived. It also happens that "Kitito" means "little thing" in Swahili, and it felt fitting for this design, a collection of little things from our life in Kenya that, together, tell a bigger story.
Every time I see Kitito up on someone’s wall, I feel like a little piece of that African garden is still growing, far beyond the farmhouse, the mischievous monkeys, the banana trees, and the dust-bathing mousebirds.
Create Your Own Magical Space
Wherever you live, I truly believe every space can have its own little pocket of magic, a corner that lifts your mood, sparks joy, and makes you smile every time you walk past.
Kitito was born from that feeling, and I’d love to help you create it in your home too.
If you’re dreaming of your own colourful, bold space, start by ordering a few samples — seeing the design in your own light and space makes all the difference. You can browse the full collection and order samples directly from our website here.
Bring a little piece of Africa home and create a space that feels truly yours.