Custom Staircase Mural in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn: Problem-Solving in Action
As a Brooklyn Mural Artist, I was approached to create a custom staircase mural for a home in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn- this was a truly unique project, because the brief came from the children, not the parents.
The Client Brief
The two young girls imagined a butterfly, blossom tree, horse, dog and dog walker as well as themselves, birds, mosaic, a bunny rabbit, lily pond and sun rays within the hand-painted wall mural design.
Bringing all those ideas together into a cohesive, interior residential mural was quite the creative challenge. However, it was also an opportunity to flex my designing muscles and push myself out of my comfort zone.
The design process - take one
Designing a Custom Staircase Mural in Brooklyn
After a mood board to clarify what they did and didn’t like, I started with some rough sketches before using Photoshop to collage up reference images. I’d managed to fit everything in (phew!) and create a flow down the staircase of their Brooklyn home. I crossed my fingers and sent the design over to the family.
The original staircase mural design
The design process- take two
While one of the daughters exclaimed that it was perfect, mum, dad and the other daughter hesitated. Was this a bit much for the staircase? Maybe something more subtle and traditional would be a better fit?
This is a very normal part of the residential murals design process — especially when creating artwork for a family space that everyone sees every day.
I always want my clients to really love the design, and understand that sometimes I don’t get it first time. So, I went away and created a new design, of atmospheric trees with the references taking a backseat in the design.
For this concept, I hand-painted the design rather than using photo-collage references. I wanted to create depth and atmosphere that felt organic wrapped around the space — something especially important for a nature-inspired interior mural.
The second design for the staircase mural
The new, colourful staircase illustrations to inform the design.
All my workings out together.
The design process - take three
The clients loved the new composition- but worried we’d gone slightly too far in the other direction. The design was less child-friendly, and perhaps a little too moody for a bustling family home in Prospect Heights.
So, I returned to the drawing board again.
The third design was the middle ground between the two designs. Combining the joy, colour and family fun elements in a composition that felt more refined and immersive.
I sent over the third design you can see below, and bingo! The design was approved.
The final design
The final nature-inspired mural in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
What happens when things don’t come together smoothly? We work together until you get the design you love.
Creating a custom, hand-painted mural in a residential home is about listening, refining and understanding how a family wants their space to feel.
Not only that, but some of my most successful working relationship have come from clients where we’ve reworked the design together. It builds trust and results in artwork that feels unique, personal and tailored to their home and lives.
Below you can see the final painting staircase mural for a Prospect Heights Family.
Looking for a Custom Mural in Brooklyn or Manhattan?
I create custom residential murals across Prospect Heights, Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan. If you're considering a staircase mural or interior wall mural in NYC, I’d love to hear about your space, just fill in the form for a quick quote!
