Wall Murals: A Reflection of You

Murals Make Lasting Impressions

(ARA) - The next time you get the urge to update your home décor, look for items that are meaningful to you personally. Is your passion sailing? Do you love going on nature walks? Or are you interested in animals or wildlife? No matter what your interests, your home should be a reflection of you.

When Annette Williams and her family moved into their new house in Cameron Park, Calif., west of Tahoe this past summer, they decided to go with a Spanish theme. "It's part of my family culture," says Williams. "We're Portuguese, Mexican and Spanish and wanted our house to reflect who we are."

There are Diego Rivera and Botero prints with lots of rich reds, yellows and oranges on her home's walls. Complimentary Mexican pottery is scattered throughout the house. "I like the fact that everything ties together nicely," she says. But until recently, there was something missing.
One day towards the end of the summer while her father was visiting, he looked up at the niche over the formal dining room and said, "You really need something to put up there." Williams looked up at the seven foot high by six foot wide space and told her father she agreed. "I couldn't find a picture big enough to fit in that space at any of the print shops I visited, so I decided to go on line and look for a wall mural," she says.

The first mural she found that she liked was on the Murals Your Way Web site. "It was a picture of a bull fighter," she says. "It had the right look, but the colors were all wrong." So she decided to check out the vintage posters on the site. When she found the one titled, "Sweet Corrine's," she was blown away.

"The woman in the poster looked exactly like my mom when she was in her 20s," says Williams. Both women had porcelain white skin and long dark hair. Williams' mother loved to sing and the woman in the picture was standing in front of a microphone. "They even had the same first name -- Corrine. When I saw the picture it brought me to tears. I lost my mom to a stroke two years ago."

After showing the mural to her father, they placed the order together and waited eagerly for it to arrive. "Once I had it hung up over the dining room, my dad came over, looked up at it and just cried. 'Sweet Corrine's' is a great tribute to my mom and one I will treasure always," says Williams.

"Sweet Corrine's" is just one of the more than 4,000 images available from Murals Your Way. The company also offers custom murals from personal photographs, artwork, corporate photos or illustrations. Murals can be printed as small as 4 feet by 6 feet, or as large as a house. To check out the gallery, log on to http://www.muralsyourway.com or call (888) 295-9764 to speak with a design consultant to get started.

Courtesy of ARA Content

New Sesame Street Wall Decor

Let Your Child Have a Sleepover Every Night:
New Sesame Street Wall Decor Lets Best Friends Last A Lifetime

(ARA) - Sesame Street’s Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird and Cookie Monster hold a special place in the hearts of children around the world. Now you can surround your little one with their favorite Sesame Street buddies in the form of wall décor that you both can appreciate in the comfort and safety of your child’s own room.

New this fall, Sesame Street wallpapers bring Sesame Street’s lovable characters to life in a whole new way. “Elmo Wants a Hug” and “Zoe Loves to Dance” are irresistible child-size cut-outs; everyone from Ernie to Elmo appear on use-anywhere appliqués; there is even a growth chart that can be personalized with your child’s name.

Most importantly, Sesame Street wallpapers reflect Sesame Street’s primary purpose of educating children and enriching their lives. The new “ABC” border includes the entire alphabet featuring a corresponding icon for every letter such as a penguin for “P” and a tiger for “T”. The colorful “123 Border” counts all the way to ten and illustrates the accurate number of balloons or birthday candles for each number. “These wallpapers are as engaging as they are educational,” says Maura Regan, vice president and general manager of global licensing for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. “They are designed to help children think, discover and prepare for school, and the learning is meant to be joyful.”

Even the clever character wallpapers make learning fun while conveying comfort and love. “Street Scenic” border is as interactive as a children’s picture book, and “Sesame Street Gang” cut-out shows the whimsical characters sharing the spotlight incolorful, smiling splendor. “The borders and appliqués can be hung at changing-table height or chair-rail height, wherever children can most enjoy them,” says Deb Zadnik, design director for Village, the company that created thewallpapers. “There is reassurance in seeing familiar, friendly faces while lying in bed or coloring at the desk. It’s also great to hang the ‘ABC’ and ‘123’ border just above the floor molding so even the tiniest tots see the bright colors and shapes while playing or crawling. These wallpapers meet kids at their level, and bring comfort and stimulation to them in the safest place of all, their own rooms.”

Sesame Street wallpapers are part of the “Completely Kids” children’s wallpaper collection from Village, available at wallpaper stores nationwide. Proceeds that Sesame Workshop receives from wallpaper sales help fund educational programs for children around the world. For a list of local retailers, call (800) 552-9255.

Courtesy of ARA Content

See What's Featured at Wallpaper Trends from the Sesame Street Collection