Escape the Everyday: Make a Mural

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Issue 48

The Refresh Issue

Make Gym Equipment
Preserve Summer Fruits
Tailor Thrift Store Finds

Escape the Everyday: Make a Mural

Designer Chris Rubino (chrisrubino.com) teamed up with the Ace’s resident artist Johnne Eschleman to create this poster mural made with leftover music show posters that Rubino designed.

Rubino is a New York City-based art director/designer/illustrator whose work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. He recently created designs and illustrations for The New York Times and Banana Republic.

by Keith Mulvihill

There’s a certain feeling you get when you walk into a really great hotel room—a mix of relaxation, serenity, inspiration, and comfort; it’s as if your brain suddenly exhales.

Wouldn’t it be great to produce that in just one room where you live? We think it can be done, especially if you take some cues from the New York outpost of the Ace Hotel (acehotel.com). Ace’s staff designers collaborated with Manhattan-based duo Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams (romanand williams.com) to create an aesthetic that exudes just the right amount of style, charm, and soul.

“We wanted it to feel just like staying at a friend’s cool apartment in New York City, so very un-hotel like,” says Ace cofounder Alex Calderwood.

To that end, the team mixed mostly vintage items with custom-made furnishings and one-of-a-kind hand-crafted art, including murals, illustrations, furniture, and paintings, done by a slew of local artists and craftsmen.

“There are many inexpensive things you can do to make a room interesting,” says Calderwood. Here, our three favorites to re-create at home (or see in person with a stay at the hotel).

Lay all the posters out on the floor and create the pattern and design that you want to achieve.
Mix paste according to package instructions.
Start in the top left corner of the wall. Using a paintbrush, paint on wheat paste in an area just larger than the poster. Align and fit the poster edge so it is flush against the corner of the wall.
Immediately paint wheat paste solution over the poster and let the glue soak in. Note: Once the poster starts to absorb the water, it will expand a tiny amount and create air bubbles. You must peel the poster away from the wall and smooth it down again with your hands or paintbrush, being careful not to tear the paper.
Work across the wall creating the top row. Continue adding posters left to right, top to bottom.
Most likely, the poster used at the end of each row won’t fit exactly. Carefully measure and cut the dry poster before applying to the wall.
When the wall is completely covered, add smaller posters (or cut-up portions) directly over the first layer. This is a chance to balance out the design and add color to areas of the wall that need it.
Let dry overnight.
Add a protective finish. If you use polyurethane, it may cause pigment to bleed. Apply gingerly with a smooth, nontextured roller; roll over the surface of illustrations only once.