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meet the makers | Jun 30, 2022 |
This designer’s creative murals turn walls into works of art

This designer’s creative murals turn walls into works of art
Brett Beldock Franz Walderdorff

Brett Beldock, the New York–based founder of Brett Design, takes a painterly approach to her wallcoverings. “I constantly visit galleries, museums and auction houses for inspiration,” she says. Such dedication to her craft has earned her a devoted following of interior designers, but some of her closest fans are not above teasing her about her background. “Many members of my family are formally trained painters and sculptors, and though I studied fashion at Parsons School of Design, they get such a kick out of me being the only self-taught artist in the family.”

A former fashion designer, Beldock launched her namesake interior design studio nearly three decades ago before pivoting to product in 2005. “When my brother started building high-end assisted living facilities, I designed an attractive contract-grade wallpaper [for the rooms],” she says. “There was a huge demand for it, and I saw an opportunity.”

In 2007, she debuted her inaugural product line, a collection of removable ombre-patterned wallpapers, as well as photos of roses on self-stick paper, which she sold through Stark. “It was my career in decorating that first informed my product designs, and it still does,” she says. “The ombre wallpaper remains one of my biggest sellers today.”

This designer’s creative murals turn walls into works of art
Parlance Original Mural wallpaper by Brett DesignCourtesy of Brett Design

All of Beldock’s wallcoverings begin as original paintings that are translated into a repeat motif or a large-scale mural. “They’re unique in that they reflect both my sense of color and my sense of humor, but they also show off the quirkiness and fun of my entire talented team,” she says. “Since the pandemic, the team has spread out across Southampton, New York; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Seoul, South Korea. This helps with development, ideas and inspiration.”

More recently, she’s been experimenting with old-school artisanal print techniques. For the brand’s latest wallcovering collection, titled Language, Beldock used traditional African woodblocks to stamp distinct symbols into each pattern. “The goal was to create my own lexicon of images,” she says of the series. “Typically, I use a defined color palette, but this time I wanted my own symbols—my own iconography.”

This designer’s creative murals turn walls into works of art
The brand’s Vernacular Original Mural wallpaper and the Pearl sofa by Brett Beldock for ProfilesCourtesy of Brett Design

Along with an expansive assortment of vibrant wall murals, Beldock also offers contemporary customizable furniture pieces ranging from curvy case goods to upholstered seating, desks, tables and mirrors. Her very first furniture collection came to fruition after she designed tête-à-tête daybeds and bookcases for the 2011 Holiday House NYC. These pieces caught the eye of New York Design Center’s Jim Druckman. “He came into my room on the very last day of the showcase and said: ‘When this show is over, deliver these to my showroom [Profiles]’—and the furniture line was born.”

In addition to her beloved eponymous brand, Beldock has spent the past seven years designing everything from sofas and dining sets to bedding, rugs and outdoor furniture for CB2. Currently at work on her 16th collection for the company, she also has several upcoming collaborations on the horizon with an array of soon-to-be-named brands. “If I’m designing items for myself, I follow my gut,” she says. “When I design pieces for a company, I still use my gut—but also their gestalt.”

If you want to learn more about Brett Beldock and Brett Design, visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

Homepage photo: Crossroads Original Mural wallpaper by Brett Design | Courtesy of Brett Design

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