I LOVE art but I do feel that murals date a house....unless they are in a childs room. But if you have no intentions of selling the house and you love the art, then I see no reason to change it, or even add to it. You will never be able to please everyone, and after all, it is YOUR house. And you should, therefore aim to please yourself.

I have a friend that has a niche painted on her wall. She has a very nice house (minus the murals). The niche is what I always remember though. I cant tell you what her sofa looks like, what color her cabinets are, or anything else. I can tell you about the niche....

I have a ton of self made art in my house. Many of my friends give me the same obligatory...

I made the headboard in my bedroom. Im sure that most think of it the same as I think of my friends niche. Its one of the favorite things in my house. I smile everytime I go into my bedroom. My husband tolerates it. My friends all have lots of wrinkles for their age. Its because of all the laugh lines that the headboard has caused. Of course thats done after they leave my house. I get a little chuckle out of that ;)

One of my old coworkers had one going up the stairs in their home. It looked nice.

I would tire of it much like wallpaper so none for me but I think if they're done right they look good.

I'd love to see photos of yours!

I guess it dates it a little. I would still like to see it though. It might not be right for me but I would like to see what you enjoy:)

I think wall murals are beautiful. I did a post on grisaille murals which are monochromatic ones - mostly grays and taupes. Murals of any kind are still beautiful to me. I think they are timeless.

Here is a link that might be useful: Murals - grisaille

The Sistine chapel is a mural and it's been there for, well, a long time!
That said, I paint murals for a living, and I have to say, when done right, they are timeless...Also, faux painting is not out of *style* either. Sponge painting is dead (thank goodness), but treatments like glazing, strie, faux bois and trompe l'oeil are alive and well. As are painted floors and furniture and decorative accessories such as floorcloths.

Although murals are not for everybody, and maybe in certain areas because of the economy, people are opting for solid walls, since it is basically a luxury item, but not dead or out of style IMHPO.

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. I will try to post some pictures this afternoon after church and lunch so you can see what type I am talking about.

eclecticme, our impressions of murals are totally opposite. I got these ideas from going into parade of home tours where the homes that had tasteful murals were the ones I remembered "positively." I thought they stood out as impressive. Some were in hallways, others in children's rooms or laundry rooms. But those were before the "turn of the millennium", hence my dated concerns.

I have some wallpaper in my house also dated installed in 1997 when wallpaper was still popular. I am removing it from one half bath when we redo it, but the textured wallpaper in the bedroom-soon-to-be-guest room/home office will stay as it looks like plain walls but gives a great sense of texture. I have always loved wallpaper but I don't think the majority of people do (including my DH). I keep telling myself that Candace Olson and many other HGTV designers use it regularly!

One technique I want to use is the striping technique with the same color in gloss and matte. I think that is a really smart looking finish. Right now the only wall technique I have is a glazing technique using scrunched up thin plastic. I have panels on a couple walls with that technique, very subtle and then use them as focal decorating points.

I just have a hard time with plain walls.....

Willow, I just saw your link. Yes, the grisaille is certainly an option. The Martha Stewart mural looks like it's based on a Rufus Porter mural who's original work can be seen at Sturbridge Village.

Zuber wallpapers, also a good source of inspiration for murals. Jackie O. used it in her White House.

Wallpaper is not dead, either. But, if you notice, Candace usually chooses a *feature wall* to showcase her paper.

Susan, looking forward to seeing your work!

I've never heard of grisaille, but it reminds me of toile and I adore toile, so I think it's gorgeous. I think it definitely takes a certain type of house to pull it off, but if I had the right kind of house, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I can't wait to see your murals, Susan!

Laurie

Your home, your choice. That's my personal thinking.

My Grandmother had a mural of ancient Rome in the formal dining room. It was actually painted on cloth and very muted, but oh how I loved that mural. Everyone (this was back in the 70s!) would tell her to take it down, but she refused. I heard that when they sold her house 10 years ago the new owners kept it!!

As long as you love it, do it. I have elements in my house that get the same reactions, but DH and I love it and that is what counts.

I am trying to pick out what design I will do for 2 of our bedroom walls, but they will be stencils to look like wallpaper. They are easier to undo down the road than wallpaper and will not have the lines that wallpaper can get from the seams. That is the big downside for paper IMHO.

If you are concerned about not liking what you do later on, you may want to consider doing the same mural but as a tapestry or wall panel that can be taken down later. If you do not hate the process, I think do what makes you happy. If you find it to be a lot of work and are not sure about it, hold off for a little while more until you are more certain.
It is not permanent like a tattoo, but it will be with you for a while, so you don't want to regret it after doing all the work.
I found some good patterns at www.stencilease.com. I did a google search of wallpaper stencils and they had a lot of same patterns as seen elsewhere, only a bunch cheaper. Now, the real problem will be deciding which pattern and what color combos to do. There is almost too much choice (heresy!).

So glad paintergirl weighed in on this. I think wallpaper/murals/stencling/faux are great when done well and also when matching eras. I do think it is a personal choice and may not be used or admired at all by some folks. But that shouldn't stop you from doing what you like to your home...if it feels right to you and brings you joy, go for it. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

I think murals, like other art, reflect a personality (owner or space.) I don't think they've become kitschy like an avocado wall oven or rotary dial wall phone.

A couple we know hired a tagger to do a wall in their loft a couple years ago. It's really a 21st century mural that looks cool in the setting.

I'd pay to have someone come do the first mural that features Grisaille! I decorate to please my dh and myself.

My personal mottos is, "So what if something is dated! If I like it, that's all that matters." And if something is tastefully done, whether it be a mural or wallpaper, no one will think it's dated. Actually the word "dated" should be eradicated from the decorating language! lol

It's art, we don't always love the same art our friends have, and vice versa, so don't worry about what people say.

I remember back in the late 50s my mother hand painted her own oriental mural in the living room. That thing was HUGE. It took forever gut gosh was it beautiful! Sadly I didn't pick up any of her decorating genes!

I too would love to see pictures of your murals!

This mural hasn't gone out of style:

This mural is in our Home Theater behind the last row of seats:

This is the main bathroom underwater mural painted by a professional painter/teacher in oils. A new Solatube with exhaust fan was installed recently to provide natural light where there is no window:

This is the hallway mural I did with bridgeless stencils and the column mid-section is freehand. Behind the mural is a wall technique applied to frame the mural. A new Solatube light tube was installed to flood hall with natural light:

Lastly, this is where I want to add the new mural on the wall to the left. This hall way goes to the laundry room around the corner, out to the garage and to a half bath on the right. A new Solatube is installed in this hall as well:

I'd love to do a floor mural in my central hall of a koi pond. I saw it yrs. ago in a book called The Paris Apartment and have never forgotten it.

I think your murals are fun and well-done. I know you didn't ask, but have you thought of painting the grill and that other white outlet-type thing to blend in with the mural? I think that would make a huge difference as the white is pretty jarring compared to the classic columns.

What are you planning for that last wall?

ttodd, you can have a floorcloth painted with that theme. I am actually doing one right now for a client, how weird is that?! It's actually a theme that turns up a lot, and I've even done it in my own home! The first time I saw it was in a book on murals, done by a company named *Tromploy* out of NYC.

Susan, not too shabby! Nice job on the wrought iron. What were you thinking of doing in the hall?

Oh, and thanks vampiressrn, appreciate the props!

cyn427, that white plug in the mural is our central vac outlet, and paint would not easily stick to it, not to mention that with use, I think it would all chip off. The grille, I agree probably needs some attention. I am thinking of getting a solid wood one that I can stain to match the floor trim. Then it would blend better with the trim and floor and not be so jarring. But then it begs doing all the other rooms so I'm not sure I'm up to doing six of them!

paintergirl, which theme are you referring to? The hallway or the underwater mural in the bathroom? Thanks for the props...I really did a lot of research on shadowing, shading, ironwork colors and how to draw out and shade those columns. Only the top and bottom were bridgeless stencils. I did have someone point out that the flame of the candle doesn't cast a shadow quite like that but I liked it so I kept it. And, after I did the shadows for the pot, it looked like it was hovering so I had to fix that!

I could use some decorating suggestions here from everyone for what to do in this hallway..I was thinking of doing a stone wall effect and then inserting a niche with hopefully a lion's head. I saw that in a home show tour and really liked it. I also have some garden flowers that I am considering placing behind a bench that sits across from our coat closet (past the white closet door on the left and around the corner). However, I don't want it to look too country or casual.

My house is decorated in a mix of Oriental/Asian/Indian/Out of Africa type theme. My master bedroom where I was basically standing to take that picture is definitely Tuscan. So I guess my theme is "Around the Globe!".

The half bath (first door past the wrought iron on the wall on right) is going to be redone to a more contemporary feeling with a new clean line vanity, granite and hopefully a Toto vessel sink. I am considering painting the walls to match my red kitchen in the matte/gloss stripe pattern that I like so well. There will be a Solatube installed there too and so there will be no issue with it feeling cramped.

So the treatment needs to transition from a Tuscan bedroom to a contemporary/somewhat Asian bathroom. Plus it needs to keep in mind the other hallway mural since they both can be seen at the same time if you stand in the main hall and look to the right and left. Any help you guys can give me would be awesome.

OMG...those are just beautiful...I especially love love love your bathroom (hope you have a sound machine in there with the sounds of the ocean and ocean air fragrancer....LOL). I think your plan to do the hallway sounds fun.

ttodd, the koi pond sounds neat. I once saw a patio with painting of a pool on it...the rippled water look inviting enough to jump in...I too have never forgotten that. I have also seen things like that done on floor cloths which are really cool.

If I ever do it I'm doing straight on the hardwood and lacquering the crap out of it! I want to see it wall to wall front to back. I love when painted hardwood gets worn back and patchy kike my parents coffee table.

So are you actually doing a koi pond? Pretty cool - what crazy timing!

Susan, I was referring to the koi pond theme, sorry about that.

I like the stone wall idea. You can have potted plants sitting atop the wall.

Or, a sandstone half-wall could be good, too. That would tie in w/the columns and the lion's head.

Have you thought about painting a faux bamboo for the bath? I did a couple of Asian/contemporary themed rooms with a soft strie on the walls, stands of bamboo and a metallic gold ceiling.

Also, to paint the central vac outlet, you have to use a shellac-based primer, then your paint will stick. If I do paint the outlet covers, I will seal them with at least 2 coats of poly.

Susan - Wow! I love your murals ;) They add so much personality and fun to your spaces. I enjoy going on vacation and seeing stuff like that in hotels and restaurants. Disney is good for that kind of stuff too.

I would do your other side of the hall to coordinate with the column side. The stones would work if they were in the same color family. I think doing a faux sky along that hall would be amazing as well. I see a hint of it through your "window"....
Have you thought of covering the vac thingy with contact paper? It would peel off if you ever wanted to, but could tone down the white while on.
I have seen a lot of stencils of tromp l'oil online but always wondered if it looked as good when a DIYer tried. I guess if one is conscientious, it can come out looking great like yours! My hat is off to you ;)

Paintergirl, I have often thought of the bamboo idea. There are nice bridgeless stencils out there for that and it wouldn't be that hard. I LOVE the gold ceiling idea. However, I'm not sure it would mix with the nickel or chrome faucets I'm planning on using. Maybe silver? I have painted ceilings in many of my rooms (kitchen, great room, foyer) and white seems so dull for me now.

I forgot that I have a white PBarn mirror and wall cubby in the half bath that might not seem so Asian. I think PB has that Nantucket/Martha's Vinyard feel to it. If the vanity was black, the granite tan/gray with burgundy veining with white vessel, mirror and cubby, would the red striping treatment on the walls look cohesive? Maybe the silver treatment on the ceiling then? So many choices!

dianalo, thanks! You really have to take your time and be ever so concious of details...It really is about light and shadow if you want your murals to be realistic. I haven't done any painting in years now but I think it will be like riding a bike. It's just getting started!!!! I like the sky idea...

Can you paint the PB mirror? A flat black, a faux tortoise shell?

Silver ceiling...love it. Paint the base coat a dark color (black, gray) and then brush on the metallic. Or, how about a red basecoat kinda like a Chinese lacquer?

Love the sky idea. Doesn't always have to be just blue, either.
Some many ideas, so little time!!! :)

paintergirl, yes the silver sounds so enticing! However, I paid big money for the PB mirror to get painted a true bright white (it came in with this gross pinkish white tint). The other issue is a professional oil painting I bought from a local artist. It is of an older home from the West End of Toledo, OH and I have always liked it but it is cramping my style in that room!

The problem with planning something is that one decision is affected by so many other factors. The color scheme and style must coordinate and flow. So that mural needs to blend well with other elements.