grenade fishing

 

8” Glow-in-the-Dark Qee as Dr. Hoffman. I dig the suspended underwear and combat boots. $52 at Statue Toys.

The one item that is stalling my kitchen remodel is the counter top. With delicate and expensive custom cabinets already in place, it was extremely important for me to find the ‘right’ match. The latest decision was to go with micro tiles (a pain, by the way).

However, if I had found this Inglas glass sooner, and if they were readily available in the U.S., I would have pursued this option instead. German company Inglas makes the most gorgeous laminated glass, which engineered to mix with non-glass objects and materials for creating decorative surfaces, such as furniture, counter tops, walls, railings, windows, fountains, signage, and more.

In order to save myself from another six-month delay, I did not research further how to buy this. If I pursue, for sure my project manager (aka boyfriend) will have a heart attack. We’re not talking because of the bankrupt-me-budget either. Let’s put it this way, it took him 2 months just to get me to agree to a tile color.

via Core77

What a massive trend explosion this has been. People and businesses are definitely catching on… Suppliers of wall decals are starting to pop up here and there, and very soon, everywhere - including Target, who is working on a program to launch by Fall..

This kind of explosive popularity can shorten the lifespan of any trend, but wall decals will probably survive, because it is a great product concept. There is no reason why it cannot become a household basic, like wallpaper. As with all fast-growth trends, very few companies will survive the equally fast downfall to reach the next stage, fashion. Even fewer companies continue on to become a classic. 

The companies that will survive it all will be the ones focused on creativity, innovation and service excellence.

Below are my latest findings…

 

Paintless Design was recently posted on ThisNext. Their wall decals are decent, but not extraordinary. Their value proposition is price - Cost per design is around $50 for a set that can include 10-15 stickers. I think they could have potential if they can execute better. Their site needs polishing. The product images were obviously done with a non-pro camera and photographer… It looks so home-made that I immediately became suspicious of the products’ quality. To be competitive long-term, they’ll need to take branding a little more seriously. Hire a good photographer and copywriter (it’s worth it, trust me). 

Yeah, their pricing is great, until Target starts offering incredible wall decals at incredible prices. Then what?

 

German company Anna Wand offers a nice selection of wall decals, with a few exceptional designs. I particularly like the Buddha and Bonsai. They’re unexpected, and others do not have the same or similar styles.

My favorite is their custom words option. While other companies offer letters for purchase individually, Anna Wand allows custom messaging. It is then up to you to be prolific about what you want to say. You can select color and one of three font sizes as well.

Sprout Home, one of my favorite shops, has a wall decal offering from France I haven’t seen elsewhere in the U.S. yet. Very graphic and bold. They can be a lot of fun to decorate with. I particularly like the 18” lettuce head. It’s so unexpected and would look great wrapped around a corner from the dining area into the kitchen. The orange dahlias are great too. They look like exploding fireworks. These decals are made of heavy-duty vinyl with semi-permanent adhesive, so they can be removed easily. Best part? They are washable.

Fold Bedding manufactures these Wallter wall applications that are basically the same as wall decals, but they are three dimensional objects instead of two dimensional vinyl. I like these better, though I think they are limited by the graphic element. What makes wall decals so great are their amazing graphic art elements.

Some very decent wall decals by Wall Print, a new company based in Columbia (Yes, as in South America. I know… Heh?). I actually like the in-your-face presentation, as well as its grand color way. This assortment could have turned out boring, but because they offer customers the choice to select their own color (and a good selection too), their products went from being ho-hum to being personal and creative. Just the color offering alone makes them better than some of the superstar wall decal makers today.
 
A word of caution before you visit this site…chances are you will run across some graphic that may deter you, but fortunately, they are few and in one collection (Characters)… Like below, my two favorites… Aiyah, huh? Imagine this big-haired redhead 8’ high in my livingroom… Aiyah, again.

 

One more warning. Hit the mute button. They kinda blast music at you when you sign on, and it takes a little bit for the volume button to show up (Flash site).