How a Custom Mural Can Become Part of Your Brand
When someone walks into your business, they're taking in far more than your products or services. They notice the atmosphere, the colors, the personality of the space, and the little details that make it memorable.
A thoughtfully designed mural has the power to become more than wall art. It can tell your story, create a sense of place, encourage customers to linger a little longer, and even become the backdrop for countless photos shared online.
One of my favorite examples of this is a project I completed for UR Nuts, a family-owned roasted nut shop in historic Downtown Frederick, Maryland.
A Conversation That Turned Into a Collaboration
One afternoon I was painting a storefront window for another client when someone stopped to ask if I created murals for other businesses. We chatted for a few minutes before he had to leave, but not before pulling out his phone and typing my website into it.
A few months later, he reached out.
He shared his vision of opening a roasted nut shop in Downtown Frederick—a place filled with incredible aromas, warm hospitality, and a space that felt just as inviting as the nuts themselves.
As we talked, it became clear that the artwork shouldn't simply decorate the walls. It should become an extension of the brand.
Designing an Experience, Not Just a Mural
Because UR Nuts was a brand-new business, every design decision mattered.
The goal wasn't simply to fill blank walls. The murals needed to help establish the personality of the shop from the moment customers walked through the door.
To bring that vision to life, we embraced a bold orange color palette that instantly energized the historic interior while complementing the warmth of freshly roasted nuts.
The main mural features a custom illustration of a vintage nut roaster topped by the shop's cheerful mascot, Chippy the Chipmunk! Beside it stretches the recognizable Frederick skyline, complete with the Carroll Creek bridge—a tribute to the city the business proudly calls home.
Positioned behind the display cases, the mural naturally becomes part of nearly every customer's experience, creating a colorful backdrop whether they're choosing a sweet snack, browsing the shop, or capturing photos for social media.
Creating Moments Worth Sharing
Not every mural has to serve the same purpose.
While the large feature wall reinforces the shop's identity, the second mural was designed with interaction in mind.
A playful throne made entirely of nuts invites visitors to sit, smile, and snap a photo.
These kinds of interactive moments help transform a visit into an experience. Customers become part of the artwork, creating memories they naturally want to share with friends and followers. For a growing business, those authentic customer photos can become an extension of its marketing.
Behind the Paint
Every mural has a few stories hidden beneath the final coat of paint.
This project was completed just days before my move to Florida, making it my final travel mural before beginning a new chapter.
Photographer Kim Winey documented the process while my assistant, Josh Weber, helped bring two large murals to life on a tight timeline. Having an extra set of hands made all the difference and reminded me that sometimes working smarter really is the key to creating your best work.
There were a few unexpected challenges along the way—including a particularly stubborn shade of orange that seemed determined to test my patience. Even after four coats, the primer was still peeking through. Thankfully, a contractor working on-site suggested switching to a heavier roller nap, a simple change that solved the problem almost immediately.
Without a projector large enough for the space, I also relied on more traditional methods, transferring approximately 15 feet by 8 feet of artwork by hand before painting. It was meticulous work, but seeing the illustrations come to life inside the beautifully restored 200-year-old building made every step worthwhile.
One of my favorite surprises happened after I checked into our amazing Airbnb rightfully called the Downtown Artist Retreat just a few blocks away. Sitting on a small table were tourism brochures I had designed years earlier while working as the Senior Graphic Designer at Postern. It felt like one of those unexpected full-circle moments that reminded me I was exactly where I was meant to be.
More Than Decoration
One of my favorite parts of creating murals is seeing how they continue to serve a business long after the paint has dried.
A mural can strengthen a brand, spark conversations, create memorable customer experiences, and provide a backdrop for everything from family photos to social media videos.
Whether you're opening a new business, refreshing an existing space, or looking for a way to make your brand unforgettable, a custom mural is more than an artistic investment—it's an investment in the experience your customers will remember.
If you're considering a custom mural for your business, I'd love to help you create something that's uniquely yours.
Project Partners
UR Nuts is in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. They start with raw, premium-quality nuts and roast them onsite daily in small batches using only dry heat—never oils.
Kim Winey is the owner of Kim Winey Photography in Elizabethtown, PA. She documented the mural process from start to finish, capturing the behind-the-scenes moments and the finished artwork with beautiful, storytelling photography.
Josh Weber is a graphic designer from Lancaster, PA. Josh helped bring both murals to life on a tight timeline and proved that a great assistant can make all the difference on a large-scale installation.