Tag: custom wallpaper

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Brisbane artist creates unique metallic map prints

Tiny Giraffe

A trip to San Francisco proved a turning point for former landscape architect turned artist Kylie Harber. “What a magical city. Those endless hills. That breathtaking orange bridge. The charming row houses. When I couldn’t find the perfect art print of the city I left my heart in, I drew my own, and other cities followed,” says Brisbane-based Kylie who set up her business Tiny Giraffe in 2016, initially selling her hand-drawn map prints at market stalls.

Tiny Giraffe
London map print

And while the business started with fine art prints, it soon expanded into wallpaper and custom surface design after Kylie was commissioned to create a wallpaper mural by a boutique Sydney real estate company. “That project gave me the confidence and desire to focus on custom artworks. In 2021, I made the courageous leap to work full time in Tiny Giraffe and now I’m in my dream job working with dream clients!”

Kylie Harber in front of her Sydney mural
Kylie Harber in front of her Sydney map mural

Another arm to the business, the Tiny Giraffe wallpaper range is a unique proposition. Not only does Kylie create custom wallpaper designs (for commercial and residential spaces), but she handles everything, all the way from design through to installation. The range is underpinned by solid sustainability principles too; it’s produced using premium recycled, non-woven paper printed to exact size for minimal waste.

“Having a high quality and long-lasting wallpaper or mural in a truly bespoke, one-of-a-kind design, made just for you, is a very special collaborative experience. It completely transforms the room into a stunning and meaningful space. I love that I can bring so much joy to people’s lives every day,” says Kylie.

Eucalyptus wallpaper
Tiny Giraffe’s lovely Eucalyptus wallpaper

Inspired by travel and nature, Kylie takes photographs wherever she goes, using them as a reference tool when working on her designs. “Buildings, bridges, plants and flowers continue to draw me in, as do maps and aerial perspectives of any kind,” says Kylie. Recent custom projects include a hand drawn map of Katherine NT, clusters of eucalyptus leaves installed as a decorative glass film on the doors of a treetop home and a mural featuring quotes in hand lettering.

Tiny Giraffe art print
Bestsellers within the range, Kylie has created maps of Sydney, NYC, London and Brisbane in heat stamped gold foil.

As for the future of the business, Kylie recently worked with her first US client and the overseas market is one she would love to continue explore. “In five years’ time I dream of travelling for inspiration, working remotely and shipping my artworks worldwide.”

Tiny Giraffe

Shop Tiny Giraffe

Serena Dugan textiles and wallpaper now available in Australia

With almost one million Instagram followers, there’s obviously something very appealing about the aesthetic of California based artist and textile…
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Bathrooms Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT Reno Products Shopping

Custom mosaic tiles for inside and out!

Sponsored by Grafico

You’ve probably heard of Grafico’s custom print wallpapers from their regular features on The Block, but today I want to tell you about another offering they have which has impressed me no end!

You really need to know about their custom printed tiles! Custom, digitally printed resin tiles to suit your exact requirements, imported from Italy, fully waterproof and suitable for indoors and out. And all at a surprisingly reasonable price and lead time!

Making a small pool that bit extra!

You may have seen them in comedian Em Rusiciano’s bathroom on Instagram, or you might remember the epic (and no maintenance!) outdoor green walls from 2019’s Block. The good news is, you too can have something this unique in your own home and the options are pretty much endless!

THAT green wall on The Block: no watering required!

Just 2mm thick, lightweight and easy to apply (on curves too), you can even install them on top of existing tiles in good condition. They come in 250x250mm sheets and you definitely don’t need an angle grinder to cut them! And because the design itself is actually at the back of the mosaic, it’s totally protected from the elements and you can rest assured it isn’t going anywhere!

Bougainvillea all year round!

Grafico are the exclusive distributor of this innovative product after managing director Damian Corney discovered it a few years ago and started a successful relationship with a factory in Puglia, Italy. And because the tiles are so lightweight, even shipping them here via airmail doesn’t make the price point prohibitive. And even during the pandemic, they can be here in four-to-six weeks from artwork approval. You can design your own or choose from existing designs. Oh, the possibilities!

Em Rusciano used this natives design in her bathroom

To give you an idea of price, you’re looking at around $1,700, including air freight and GST, for the average 2.5mx2.5m feature wall of mosaics, made exactly to your requirements. A bargain for such a show-stopping and unique design feature if you ask me! And they come with a 10-year warranty. The same thing in regular custom-design mosaic tiles could run to tens of thousands!

The installation process is so simple, you don’t need to worry about upsetting your tiler! Each custom tile square (usually 250x250mm sheet) is numbered individually during production, allowing them to be laid out in numerical order to form the whole image in preparation for tiling. They use the same glue and grout system and products as for regular tiles too.

The flexible nature of the tile sheets allows them to be applied to irregular surfaces including curved objects as well as be trimmed to fit into unusual wall or floor spaces. Whole bathroom feature wall? Eye-catching outdoor mosaic artwork? Pool feature? The choice is yours!

The hardest part? Choosing how and where you’ll use Mosaico!

Jimmy and Tam were one of many couples to use Grafico’s custom wallpaper on The Block over the years
Sarah and George use Grafico wallpaper on The Block last year

For more information on Grafico

The Block 2019: courtyard reveals

Today’s wrap up of last night’s courtyard reveals comes to you from our friends at The Block Shop! MITCH AND MARK: 2nd PLACE SCORE: 29/30 Mitch and Mark once again…
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Designers

We’re loving: these wallpapers by RMIT students

Various coffee makers on commercial kitchen counter

Custom wallpaper company Design To Print has collaborated with RMIT textile students again this year with some pretty fabulous results. The partnership (which began in 2015) gives RMIT students studying the Bachelor of Arts in Textile Design, the opportunity to work on a live brief and sell their designs to the public. Obviously, this sort of commercial exposure is invaluable for any budding designer.

Various coffee makers on commercial kitchen counter
Design by RMIT student Stephanie Cannalonga

“It goes without saying that it is of primary importance that emerging textile designers have every opportunity to work with the industry on live projects. The Design To Print custom wallpaper project engages students with the wider market comprising home renovators, decorators and designers, enabling them to bring their highly creative design ideas to a myriad of applications,” says Claire Beale, RMIT program manager. The collection has certainly piqued our interest and we’re particularly taken with Stephanie Cannalonga’s striking designs.

Studio shot of teddy bear sitting on red chair
Design by RMIT student Alice Rooney

“From the perspective of the program, projects that showcase the skills of textile designers to a broad customer base are a great way to inform the public about just what it is we can do to enhance your life and demonstrate to the design profession the potential for collaboration and innovation in a commercial sector,” says Claire.

Design To Print - Maddy North_3
Design by RMIT student Maddy North

“It was a totally invigorating experience to be among such enthusiastic and talented young people with a passion to create, and who are not afraid to explore their imagination,” says Gianni Favaro, managing director of Design To Print.

Design To Print - Qing Lin_03
Design by RMIT student Qing Lin

Available to purchase on the Design to Print custom wallpaper shop, all of the new student designs are available for $120 per square metre and a commission is paid to each student when their work is purchased.

Design To Print - Stephanie Cannalonga_02
Design by RMIT student Stephanie Cannalonga

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