Paper, paper on the wall. Who's the coolest of them all? If that paper don't answer back "Alpha Workshops," then it may not know what's hot in the design world.

Alpha Workshops, the original Manhattan-based, non-profit collective of decorative artisans who are HIV-positive, has just introduced The Texture Collection, which adds the illusion of texture to the wall. It follows more than a dozen other patterns that are retro, exotic, blissful and even earthy (see the Oh So Faux wood grain design). I have a soft spot for the Fez design which goes Moroccan chic in such an updated 70s fashion, as well as the fetching Kimono pattern that would be groovy in a kid's room. All of the papers make a dramatic and bold statement and are hand-made using stamping and paint techniques. The company even matches its colors with Benjamin Moore paints, offering to custom your order so you arrive at the perfect tint you are seeking.

Alpha is the brainstorm of Ken Wampler, who wanted to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. It provides 10-week training courses to people with a wide range of experience. Specialists show the students decorative paint and faux finishes, along with color theory and wallpaper production. The Collective has grown from two employees to a staff of 35 and over $600,000 in income. It all adds up to a brilliant notion that uplifts lives, along with our surroundings.