Most people would be leery of keeping a giraffe in the living room. While cute, these safari animals are too tall for the average ceiling, a challenge for modern decor and hard to explain to guests.
But Shirley Craddock is not afraid to be different. When decorating her home two years ago, she hired artist Pat Christian to paint a 10-foot giraffe on the wall behind her living room chair.
“I wanted something unique,” said Craddock, who named the giraffe Jessica. “We’ve really gotten attached to her.”
When it comes to personalizing a home, forget wallpaper and faux finish techniques. More and more people are turning to wall murals for a signature style.
“You know you won’t see another like it in any other home,” Christian said.
Murals aren’t a new concept. From caveman sketches to the Sistine Chapel, wall drawings have been around for centuries as an artistic means of storytelling. But their purpose in home decor tends to be jazzing up dull rooms. “They’re customized to a person’s taste and interest,” Christian said.
Artist Rosemary Kilbridge said they also add depth to a room.
“When you walk in a room, the walls are no longer flat,” she said.
Michael Sees and his wife, Yanci, recently commissioned Kilbridge to paint their 8-year-old daughter’s bathroom.
“We wanted something kind of whimsical,” Sees said.
After talking to their daughter, they decided on a jungle theme–complete with palm trees and a hanging monkey.
It’s the originality of murals that makes them more appealing than wallpaper, Sees said.
“This brings a room alive,” he said. “You’re stepping into a jungle every morning. It’s like you’re getting ready inside a piece of art.”
According to Kilbridge, almost any room can boast a mural.
“I’ve painted in hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, even the doorway into a wine cellar,” Kilbridge said. “That’s the beauty of a mural. It fits into any space.”
Think before you paint
– Know the artist’s style.
– Have an idea of what you’re looking for. Look at books, photos, magazines and fabrics so you can communicate your idea with the artist.
– Don’t pull furniture away from the wall when having an artist look at a room. They need to know where the furniture will be so that it doesn’t cover their work.
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– Know how much money you can spend. Some artists charge $25-$40 an hour.
– Ask the artist to sketch out a few ideas on paper.
– Trust the artist. Don’t stand over their shoulders and dictate.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])