Business Details
Custom Murals and Decorative Painting Services
Art For Design was founded on a deep commitment to classical artistry and technical excellence in decorative painting. Our team, led by George and Elise Shadow, brings decades of fine art training and hands-on experience in trompe l'oeil faux finishes, antiquing, and gilding. We specialize in creating custom murals and decorative finishes that blend historical stylesfrom Victorian to Modernwith contemporary design. Collaborating closely with architects, designers, and homeowners, we transform spaces through meticulous attention to detail and a passion for elevating interiors.Our expertise includes restoring historic elements, crafting illusionary architectural features, and applying hand-finished effects that reflect each client's unique vision. We pride ourselves on integrating traditional techniques with modern aesthetics to deliver timeless, bespoke solutions for residential and commercial properties across the San Francisco Bay Area and the West Coast.
Services
Custom Murals
Trompe l'oeil Painting
Antiquing & Gilding
Decorative Finishes
Artistic Restoration
Folding Screens
Ceiling Murals
Faux Textures
Victorian-Style Painting
Arts and Crafts Restoration
Highlights and features
- We combine classical art training with expertise in Victorian, Art Deco, and Modern decorative styles.
- Our team specializes in precise trompe l'oeil illusions and gilded architectural details.
- We collaborate closely with architects and designers to ensure seamless integration with interior projects.
- Our restoration work maintains historical accuracy while applying modern conservation techniques.
- We offer hands-on expertise in creating bespoke finishes for unique residential and commercial spaces.
Services
Custom Murals
We create trompe l'oeil murals that mimic three-dimensional spaces, light effects, or historical scenes on walls and ceilings. Our process involves collaborative design consultation, color matching, and hand-painted execution. Ideal for residential and commercial interiors seeking focal points with artistic depth.
Trompe l'oeil Painting
Our trompe l'oeil techniques transform flat surfaces into visually complex architectural elements like faux columns, windows, or textured panels. Based on classical training, we produce hyper-realistic details that enhance spatial perception without structural changes.
Antiquing & Gilding
We apply antiquing methods to simulate aged patinas on wood, metal, or plaster elements. Gilding services incorporate metal leaf application to decorative features, replicating historical craftsmanship techniques for both ornamental and conservation purposes.
Artistic Restoration
Our team restores decorative finishes in period properties using archival research and material-matching techniques. This includes reviving faded murals, repairing gilded surfaces, and recreating lost design elements in styles ranging from Victorian to Arts and Crafts.
Decorative Finishes
We produce faux textures that mimic natural materials like marble, wood grain, or hand-forged metal. These finishes enhance architectural details through layered paint techniques, offering durable yet aesthetically rich solutions for walls and trim.
People
George Shadow
Co-Founder & Lead Artist
George Shadow, a San Francisco-based realist painter, specializes in trompe l'oeil murals and decorative finishes. With formal training in classical art, he has over 25 years of experience creating bespoke interior solutions that blend historical techniques with modern spaces.
Elise Shadow
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Elise Shadow collaborates on design concepts and restoration projects, combining fine art expertise with decorative painting. She oversees client collaborations and ensures technical precision in antiquing, gilding, and mural execution across the Bay Area and West Coast.
Questions
What styles of decorative painting do you specialize in?
We work in Victorian, Art Deco, Arts and Crafts, Mid-Century, and Modern styles using trompe l'oeil techniques and traditional finishes.
Can you restore historic painted finishes in older homes?
Yes, our team specializes in conserving and recreating period-specific decorative elements through archival research and material-matching techniques.
Do you collaborate with interior designers?
We frequently partner with architects and designers to integrate custom finishes into broader interior projects across the West Coast.
What surfaces can you paint on?
We work on walls, ceilings, columns, fireplaces, trim, canvas, and architectural elements using specialized priming and painting methods.
How do you create trompe l'oeil effects?
Our artists use perspective tricks, shadow techniques, and precise brushwork to create optical illusions that simulate 3D architectural features.
