This ivy wall mural gave much needed life to my interior design studio walls. See the before and after.
After much thinking, I decided to order the wall of ivy wall mural instead of the very cool, huge leaf mural because I wanted it to look like a real garden wall right inside my studio.
My Interior Design Studio Before
Here’s the lonely blank wall, waiting for some inspiration to hit me. I have so many other walls in the house that will have a collage of frames that I didn’t want to do that here. So this 21 ft wall has looked like this for over a year.
See the entire transformation from backyard shed to interior design studio here.
It was finally time to liven it up with a green ivy wall mural.
I hired Terry Friesen and his son (who live in Abbotsford) to install the mural for me. They did a beautiful job!
When I called a paint store to get the referral she gave me 3 names and said Terry was her first recommendation. Since I have learned that you pretty much always get what you pay for (ugly costs the same as pretty), he was the first person I called. And I’m so happy I did.
Ivy Wall Mural
My wall of ivy looked so real! The next day I left the door open when I went for lunch. When I got back there were two birds flying back and forth in front of the mural! #nokidding
I felt so bad, I quietly tip-toed in and opened the second window so they could figure out how to fly out! I need to get some sheers installed ASAP.
Here’s the exterior view before.
And, here’s a view of it at night. So lush and green from the outside looking in.
I eventually added some curtains to my studio french doors. My backyard has been a work in progress. Tour my 2020 backyard tulip garden here.
Before
I love the drama and feeling of nature right inside!
I consulted with a client recently who had a big blank wall right in front of her kitchen sink in an apartment. I suggested an ocean mural so it would feel like she was looking outside a window.
Do you have a blank wall that would look amazing with a mural?
Related posts:
Are Murals Dated? Yay or Nay
A Shocking Way to get the Art you Want
Does your Art have a Story?
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That is SO COOL! I really love how it looks through the french doors. haha! I never would’ve thought to do that. Good move, Maria!
Are there any bugs in the ivy? JK!
I love the mural. I love the view from the outside looking in. Thank you for sharing.
…LOVE it.
WOW!
How FUN, Maria! Love it 🙂
Love this so much. It looks very real, and together with your energy Maria, no wonder the birdies came to visit!
It’s beautiful. It looks calming.
Great feature wall!
Very cool! So many interesting wall murals on that website. Thank you for sharing!
it’s so cool, especially at night, just gorgeous
…as long as it’s not Poison Ivy, I am in love.
pve
I’m always surprised how much you can change how I think. When I first saw the ivy I thought I’d hate it. But by the end of the post I love it. And I clicked to the second post about murals, and I loved the blue sky and yellow flowers as well. Thank you for making me challenge how I’m thinking about decorating — all the time.
Penelope
Penelope
Agree. Completely.
What a difference it makes! I really love it. And I can’t believe you have been in your home now for over a year. Wow how time flies. 🙂
Maria! That Looks fabulous! I love it! Such a creative solution! You will never tire of that. I always worry about using wallpaper for fear of getting tired of the pattern but when you use nature it’s a win win! Plus you feel like you are working outdoors! Love it!
It looks really great, especially outside looking in at night. Love this as a solution to a large blank expanse; the mural really complements your green and white landscaping scheme. “Bringing the outdoors in” is kind of overused as a decorating cliche (you know like put an old watering can and pitchfork in a room and it connects it to the outside — not) but you’ve sure done it successfully here.
beautiful–especially at night!
Stunning and inspiring. I’m considering a forest mural (either paper or painted) for a guest room, for an Enchanted Forest theme. Why not!? It’s only paper (or paint), right? 🙂
Perfect simple backdrop, with a huge impact!
HI Maria. Love, love, love your mural! I grew up with murals and miss seeing them. Plus now they are so much easier to remove when required.
The mural is the perfect backdrop for that room. Genius!!! Would you mind sharing the paint color used on the wall and trim? Thanks.
Love. LOVE. LOVE IT!!!
This is SO cool!
What a great solution to meet your “needs”!
Wallpaper has always been a favorite of mine….
I recommend you have the electrical plates covered (if you haven’t already)
Very creative!
Gwen
LOVE IT!!!
Maria, LOVE your new wall! Very enchanting, just like being in a garden ☺… but not to knit-pick; have you considered doing something with the outlet/switch (?) covers? Perhaps cover them with a clear cover and paint the remaining part out. (Just a thought.)
-Brenda-
P.S: Know it may be a little too late as you’ve completed your renovations but are you aware of Bocci flush electrical outlets? They are a Canadian Firm. Also for sources of switch plates ‘n covers you might be interested in — Forbes and Lomax or Switch Hits, both of whom have websites.
Your wall looks absolutely beautiful! I actually installed a wall mural in my office a few weeks ago too. I did it myself as I thought it should be fairly easy to do…ha ha ….oh no it wasn’t! I now have so much respect for those that install wall murals. My mural is of huge roses. It has some creases in it but I really still love it. Next time I will hire this out for sure!
Murals are back!!! My dad was a decorator and hung a lot of stunning murals in high-end homes back in the 60’s and 70’s. To pull a room together, he’d match the color of, say, an accent pillow, mixing paints on his artist’s palette, and then carefully paint the center of the flowers. (MRSBEN, he would have painted leaves onto the wall outlet!)
@Deborah: I am not an artist or a Decorator (just a hobby sewer) but I have painted out switch plates and covers for my own purpose and it is amazing what can be accomplished with just a plain white plastic one. Prime first, decoratively/faux paint and finish off with a suitable finish. The latter step often being the most crucial; in order to duplicate and have it blend in or co-ordinate. Your Father sounds like he was a very talented Artisan who had an eye for detail and finishing. -Brenda-
I love the ivy mural and the mirror. The thing which is an obstacle, for me, is the lamp on the desk. It breaks up the mirror and the ivy wall. There wouldn’t be a lamp sitting beside an ivy wall outdoors, right? Think about it and take a second look, if you care to.
Great job Maria!
I love the ivy mural looks so peaceful and blends seamlessly with the view looking into your studio.
Did you use the light, medium, or heavy wallpaper stock? Were you pleased with the one you chose?
Thanks!
I chose the medium and it seemed just right. My installer said it was great as well, he liked working with it.
Oh wow.
Your mural looks perfect there! I’ve always luv’d murals and am stillll looking for one to put in back of the tester bed to give the bedroom some depth. franki
Maria, I LOVE how this turned out!
Love the concept, but… LEAVES OF THREE, LET IT BE. Isn’t that poison ivy?
Normally I’d say “nay” to murals but you changed my mind, this looks amazing! Love it at night too.
Great–but would look much more grounded without the bright white baseboards …they jump out a mile!
Gorgeous. This has definitely opened up my interest in murals and erased my notion of tacky, 80’s, outer space or beach scenes.
Absolutely beautiful and as usually very clever idea from you and if you put over a very tiny thin layer of the translucent varnish it will never fade and the colors will pop up even better.
Love it–looks wonderful from every angle. I’m thinking of putting a mural on the triple hollow core closet doors in our bedroom, so this is great inspiration!
Fantastic wall, Maria! It is “trompe l’oeil” to the max. You give me the courage to seriously consider doing something similar to the 7’1/2″ wall behind my 7′ wide desk in my office (formerly dining room). The east-facing angled windows are to the left of the desk and the kitchen wall is to the right so I have a dark corner. Promise I won’t copy your ivy, but how wonderful this came out.
Wouldn’t worry about the mirror and lamp on the desk (it is an office, after all) and if the outlet/switch plates bothered (and they always do), I’d definitely get a little tester jar of green paint and paint them out.
How nice to walk into your studio to work and feel as though you have walked out to the garden.
Love the ivy mural! Brings the outdoors in! Who knew it would be so fabulous! You’ve inspired me.
Your wall is amazing.
Maria, I get goosebumps almost every time I read your blog…and it’s like you are reading my mind! I was thinking of using a mural for a wall in the guest bedroom and wondered if it was okay to do that or not. And now you have a mural yourself so I know it’s okay for me too! Ha! Ha! Thanks for sharing your wonderful designs and the people you use. I know I cannot use someone in Canada when I live in Texas, but I love that you share your referrals in your area. I do the same here for good vendors that I use.
Take care and enjoy your beautiful new mural wall. Going to decide which mural I want to use now. Probably an ocean view like you recommended to your client since there is a surfboard hanging on the connecting wall!
Hugs,
Victoria in Texas
Love this-would have never thought of it!
The mural is cool in every way. You now have an Eden to work in. Love that even the birds were enthusiastic about your project. The picture taken at night is lovely and quite a contrast to the “before” shot. Good job.
Maria, my jaw dropped when I saw this. It looks gorgeous and 100% real. If I was a bird, I would have flown into your studio, too. What a creative idea!
Wow that looks amazing! I love it!
While the dark color makes it feel cozy, it’s too much for me:(
You can’t go wrong with anything that mimics nature! Love the night picture.
Love your ivy wall.
I had an artist paint a mural of Venice in my powder room more than 16 years ago and I still love it. Probably the only thing in my house I’ll never change.
Hmm, I don’t love it, but kudos to you for daring boldly!
Fantastic !
I imagine that you have left the door opened many times before but birds never flew in wanting to be in there looking for a perch and place for their nest. They wanted their home in your studio !
Ummm–indoor/outdoor! Even the green Adirondack chairs go with it! When’s that party at your house???
Still wish I were down the street from you, girlfriend :)), Hugs, Paula.
I cannot possibly express how much I adore this mural! Perfect! Leave it to you, Maria, for the best solution!
I would never have believed that could look so cool. LOVE the night time photo
a-maz-ing!
Representations of nature are always inspiring.
Great pick, beautiful wall Maria. It looks stunning from outside too. Are those track fixtures giving white light? It would be nice if you can do a post on white light/yellow light.