A mural in a child's room creates a total mood and a playful background. It functions as a stage set, open to a child's imagination. Using colors imbued with softness and translucency, whether they are bright or pastel, allows a room to feel both stimulating and calming.

The Sheffield School of Interior Design of New York City features work by Art by KD in their article about using murals to decorate a child's room. Murals fulfull the three Sheffield Guidelines to Interior Design: function, mood and harmony. See the full article at:
http://www.sheffield.edu/htmlsrc/children0901.html
Sun-to-Moon Ceiling
As the sun rises in one corner and the moon in the opposite, clouds make the transition from day to night. Washes of color float down below the crown moulding to soften the ceiling line. The kids chose fun things to paint along the top of the wall: a fancy compass, cloud porthole, flowers, biplane, planet and sea monster. The lower portion of the walls is available to display artwork.
Pirates' Lair
She may have lost her roof but the walls are still standing, old as they are. Throughout the room there are cracks and areas of peeling plaster. The ship is anchored in the harbor down below. Don't miss the mouse running off with the key to the chest. The rascal!
"Ahoy Matey! Welcome to our Fort. We overlook the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Ahhrrrr. We lost the roof in the last shenanigans, but we still have our treasure!"
An antique map on canvas, painted to look like old paper peeling off of a wood backing, shows the location of the fort and the local geography, with most names changed to those of the extended family. The wind icons are portraits of the boys.
A fancy lizard keeps Eric company next to his bed.
And a rattlesnake is this pirate's loyal friend.
Noah's Ark Nursery
The design for this room grew out of specific ideas: tell the story of Noah's ark, emphasize the rainbow, use sherbet colors and lots of geometric shapes. The color scheme around the room follows the rainbow from left to right, and the rainbow itself continues from the ceiling onto a piece of canvas. The mural composition allows for varied furniture arrangements.
Cowboy's Paradise
The layout of this room lends itself perfectly to becoming a barn and surrounding corral. Inside the "barn" there's a kitty in the hayloft and pigs, a dog and rabbits visible down below. The brand at the top forms the child's initials. Grass, sky and distant hills are painted in a watercolor method to keep the room light and airy.
Barn wall with painted tack.
The picket fence on the side wall matches the picket size of the bookshelf, so that it can be moved anywhere along the wall.
Dolphins at Play
A faux window opens onto an idyllic scene: a sparkling mermaid watches dolphins cavort in the waves of a secluded bay. The sparkle, also on the rainbow, comes from iridescent medium.
Journey to Moonbeam Mountain
A tryptich of original paintings in acrylic travels from land to sea, day to night, summer to winter and back again. Each one is 9" x 12".
McKenna's Room
At the Beach, 36" x 24".
At the Pond, 16" x 20". Flower Power, 12" x 16". Under the Sea, 16" x 20".
This series of original paintings in acrylic on canvas coordinates with a chairrail wallpaper border. The lower portion of the walls are glazed in yellow. In "At the Beach", McKenna is swimming in the ocean while her dog plays on the beach. In "Brandy & Pals", we see together a few generations of family pets. The picture on the wall is a family portrait.
Brandy & Pals, 16" x 20".
Painted Antique Hutch
An antique hutch is repainted in the colors used in the room. Pink watercolor stripes on the door add the finishing touch. As seen to the right of the hutch, flowers from the crib quilt fabric are painted on the wall throughout the room.
All images, text and web site: Copyright © Kathryn A. DeBra 1998 - 2005. All rights reserved. Reproduction of imagery and content without prior written consent is prohibited by law.

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