Founder of 'Wallpaper*' set to quit after row with publisher over £6 taxi fare

After a row over taxi expenses and a series of disputes with his publishers, Tyler Brulé, the darling of the magazine world and the founder of the design bible Wallpaper*, may have finally decided to call it a day.

In an editorial for the latest edition, Mr Brulé bids his readers "thank you and adieu", fuelling rumours that he is planning to move on from the magazine to new challenges. The hint follows months of clashes with the management of IPC Media over the magazine's unique style of conducting its business.

The magazine, launched in 1996 and regarded as the ultimate chronicler of the latest interior fashions, was sold to Time-Warner for more than £1m. The magazine in effect came under the IPC umbrella when AOL/Time-Warner merged with Britain's biggest magazine publisher.

Even though Mr Brulé retained editorial control, he had repeated disputes with the publishers, and earlier this year failed in his attempts to buy back the magazine.

The clashes, including a spat over £6 cab fare, added to the rumours. At the time of that row, IPC would say only: "As long as he picks up the tab for his private helicopter rides, then IPC hasn't got a problem with his cab fares."

However, the possibility of his departure appeared even closer with his editorial for the latest issue of the magazine. Mr Brulé, 33, concludes with: "As for me, gentle readers, little more to say than thank you and adieu."

There was no other indication of his intentions in the editorial, which praises the outgoing creative director, Ariel Childs. However, Mr Brulé's role was diluted earlier this year when the publishing manager of the lads' magazine Loaded was named to fill the same role at Wallpaper*.

The company declined to make any comment yesterday about Mr Brulé's future, but it has been insisting for some weeks that he remained an employee of IPC Media and that the magazine remained part of the group.

Wallpaper* magazine is the envy of many in the publishing industry, and once on board few staff leave the specially designed office, which comes complete with its own chef. Mr Brulé turned away any advertiser whose ads failed to meet the standards he set on other pages.

Since the magazine was taken over, Mr Brulé, who was born in Winnipeg, has set up Wink, which he describes as a "multi-discipline creative agency". He has also won the contract to brand Swiss, Switzerland's new national airline.