Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Water Lilies Mural Paper


Wilson Kelsey Design asked us to create a homage to Monet for a bath they were designing for the 2018 DXV Design Panel. Their design is based on the room housing Monet’s "Water Lilies" in the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. Lena and Brooke used photos of Giverny, Monet's home, for reference but used the modern color pallet of Bonard. 

Zoë Design’s Water Lilies mural takes on a life of it’s own, emphasizing almost brash juxtapositions. It is, at times, bright and dynamic and at others calm and deep. Their aim was to wed the classical elegance of John and Sally’s design with the room’s equally important contemporary flair.

The Nymphéas [Water Lilies] cycle occupied Claude Monet for three decades, from the late 1890s until his death in 1926. He referred to this cycle as his "great decoration”, taking it’s final form in the l’Orangerie: a panoramic frieze laid out almost seamlessly enveloping the viewer. Two types of composition were defined by Monet. While the first includes the edge of the pond and its dense vegetation, Lena and Brooke chose to concentrate on the second, which plays on emptiness and includes only the surface of the water with flowers and reflections interspersed.

Water Lilies mural paper is available from select showrooms or directly from Zoë Design. Repeat: 261.5”W. at 114”H. (Customizable to your specifications). Zoë Design is a Boston based, husband and wife team of artists producing murals, wallpapers and decorative finishes, since 1984, for projects in UK, Jamaica, Tokyo, Sweden, France and all over the US. When you call us, you are speaking directly with the artist who can bring your ideas to life.

Water Lilies Mural - Lena Fransioli & Brooke Sheldon
Mural Paper - Doug Garrabrants
Oval Bathroom Design - Wilson Kelsey Design
Mosaic Lily & Water Floor Desgin - Artaic
Fixtures - DXV


Finished Mural
Preparing Mural Paper Panels
DXV Installation

And finally, a quick time lapse of the painting process.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Italian Renaissance Mural

Areen Design, in London, recently asked for a mural paper leaning toward the Italian Renaissance period and it made me think of a mural we did in 2009. Since a photo is worth more than my words, here is the whole story.

Preliminary Sketch
















These murals represent almost two months of work for 5 people. The air, sky, angels, putti and landscape are anchored by the trompe l'oeil fabric, flute, sheet music and faux marble. The artists involved were Lena Fransioli, Brooke Sheldon, Doug Garrabrants, Natalie Gardner and Kasia Mirowska.