How to design with decals

After moving to Sydney from Europe five years ago, architects Julia Fantini and Stefano Cottini wanted to decorate their inner city rental apartment with wall stickers but quickly came up with companies that didn’t ship to Australia. [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Above image courtesy of Rhodesian.info “We ended up buying the required machinery and creating our own designs,” Julia explains. “I also saw a lot of potential for hand-made and designer products in the Australian market and, coming from old Italy where we have lot of bureaucracy, I was amazed at how quick and easy it was to set up a business here. “The first three wall stickers we put up on Etsy sold in one week. That’s when I got excited and decided that this fun business had potential in Australia!”  

Click the arrows on the side to view the next photo | Below images courtesy of Vinyl Design

[/vc_column_text][vc_images_carousel images="5238,5237,5236" img_size="full" onclick="link_no" mode="vertical" autoplay="yes" wrap="yes"][vc_column_text]Since launching in 2011, Vinyl Design has introduced a collection of chic wall stickers and decal designs to a market that was limited to frangipani flowers and kids motifs. “Wall decals are so successful because they are removable and they don't damage the paint upon removal, which is important in the Australian rental market where you're not allowed anything on the walls,” she says. “They’re also budget-friendly.” In addition to designing everything from nature motifs and chalkboard decals to cute kids figures and retro icons, Vinyl Designs can also customise contemporary wall stickers to your décor brief.   We asked Julia a few questions about how to install wall stickers and what to look out for: Q: If my wall is freshly painted, can I apply the stickers? A: We advise that you wait a couple of weeks before applying your wall sticker.   Q: Can I apply the stickers on my own? A: Yes, you can, with patience and accuracy for bigger designs. We suggest you position your sticker on the wall with some masking tape to be sure you're happy with the composition, then start the process of peeling and sticking. Always follow the instructions provided with the sticker.  

Click the arrows on the side to view the next photo | Below images courtesy of Vinyl Design

[/vc_column_text][vc_images_carousel images="5235,5234,5233" img_size="full" onclick="link_no" mode="vertical" autoplay="yes" wrap="yes"][vc_column_text]Q: On which surfaces can I apply my Vinyl Design wall decals? A: You can apply our wall decals on any clean, smooth surface like walls, doors or windows. You can also apply them on timber floors, tables or mirrors. Our wall stickers are not suitable for wallpaper due to the fact that they might rip it off upon removal. If your walls are rendered or porous, the vinyl might not adhere. If you're not sure about your wall email us and we will post you a sample. Please note: a few new wall paint formulas are causing decal-sticking problems. The most common ones are Dulux Wash & Wear Low Sheen and Taubmans Easy Coat Low Sheen. These paints are VOC free or low VOC. If you used one of these paints (or another VOC free paint) on your wall please request a decal sample before proceeding with your order.   Q: Are the decals re-usable? A. Our standard range is removable but not reusable, while our Chalkboard range is removable and re-positionable. They're both suitable for walls, glass, tiles, doors and any other smooth surface.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]