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What is a NightScapes mural?
A NightScapes mural looks similar to this background only (thanks to our special proprietary paint) our murals have a 3D effect which makes the stars twinkle and even appear to move sometimes!
Each star is hand-painted one at a time which produces a very realistic illusion of thousands of glowing stars...making your room look like it has no ceiling. You'll feel like you're staring into the far reaches of the universe. The night-time sky will emerge as clearly as if you were outdoors. When the lights are on, no one will even know the stars are there.
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Can you paint the mural on any type of ceiling and will the stars be visible during the day?
Almost any type of surface can be painted (i.e. textured, popcorn, wood, metal, cloth). A NightScapes mural is invisible during the day on light-colored surfaces. A dark ceiling or wall might show some hint of color in daylight. We will talk with you about this before we paint (and even paint a star or two for you) if there is a concern that the surface is too dark. All surfaces on ceiling (i.e. lights, smoke detectors, ventilation registers) except fans are painted over since when the lights are out these items disappear and blend into the rest of the mural.
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How does a NightScapes mural compare with regular glow-in-the-dark paint or pre-cut stick-on stars and how long do the stars shine?
There is no comparison. First of all, we only use a proprietary paint that meets our high standards for not only duration and brightness of "glow" but realistic colors. Secondly, the techniques that are used to recreate the illusion of a universe are a combination of skill and art. We take great pride in our work and love what we do!
The duration of the glow lasts for several hours at night. We have found that using a black-light to “charge up the glow” allows for the stars to be originally brighter if this is an effect that you would like or your room isn’t very dark. The darker the room is...the more detailed the stars will appear - please refer to our page entitiled "Benefits" . The murals are permanent unless painted over.
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Is my mural astronomically correct?
You can easily identify the major constellations. Since our murals are astronomically correct, they are a wonderful way to learn more about the constellations.
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Do you have any recommendations on where a the mural would look best?
See our “Take a Tour” gallery for different ideas for your project or gift. Most of our murals are surprise gifts! We paint for residential, commercial and even special projects. The only requirement is that you are able to "control the light" so that the area is dark enough to show the stars.
An example of the beauty of a NightScapes mural can be seen in your home by appointment.
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How long does it take to paint a NightScapes mural and do I need to do anything in advance to prepare the room?
Some murals, like our small “star portals”, can be created in about an hour but most take anywhere from 2-4 hours for an average-sized room.
We'll discuss further with you (on the phone or email) how extensive your project is and then we will be able to give you a better estimate on the time involved. Since you're paying by the square foot and not by the hour...this is usually not even brought up unless the project is very extensive.
The only thing that we ask for you to do (to prepare the room) is to make the work area easy for us to move around in. Also, if you are planning on painting your ceiling in the near future…do this before we paint the murals.
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How much does a NightScape mural cost and do you travel?
The cost depends on the size of the room and the complexity of the project. We base our fee on $$/square foot. An average mural will be $1.50/square foot. This price is based on an average room with an average ceiling. Specialty ceilings will run a little more...we take measurements and discuss options before beginning any work. Prices are subject to change at any time. However, we will not raise the total amount due once we have looked at the project and given you a price.
If you would like us to travel outside of the Des Moines, Iowa area the only addition to the original cost would be travel expenses…and these will vary by location.
Call or email us today for an estimate and we will do our best to create a star mural to fit your budget. For your convenience we accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
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