FAQs
How are projects structured?
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Discovery
We start with a site visit to understand the space, project goals, and overall creative direction. Following the consultation, Mikaela provides a proposal outlining scope, timeline, and investment.
Design Development
Mikaela develops the mural concept through a fun, collaborative design process. Depending on the scope, this may include mood boards, color studies, sketches, and digital mockups, with revisions incorporated before final approval.
Design Installation
Once the design is approved, Mikaela comes for the fun part ~ painting!
What should I think about if I am interested in a mural?
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To get a better sense of the scope and process, you can start thinking about these things:
Size of the Wall: Measure height × width for square footage to estimate painting costs.
Complexity: Simple graphic or detailed layered? More intricate designs require more time and budget.
Wall Texture & Condition: Textured surfaces need extra prep; dirty or greasy walls require cleaning before painting. Is the wall inside or outside?
Accessibility: Is the wall easy to reach? High or tight spaces may need special equipment or extra setup time.
Design Readiness: Do you know what you want, or are you looking to develop things from scratch?
How much do murals cost?
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A great working relationship starts with clarity to make the process smooth, respectful, and collaborative from the start.
Pricing Basics
Project pricing ranges from $5,000-$50,000+ depending on wall size, complexity, wall condition, and location.
Mikaela has a $3,000 minimum (simple sign painting can shift lower).
Initial Consultation Fees
Projects often begin with a paid on-site consultation that includes a walkthrough, creative conversation, and wall condition assessment (no design work provided yet).
Design & Painting Fees
Projects are charged between $30 and $75 per square foot of painted wall space. This number includes a custom concept tailored to your space during design development + painting labor, and standard materials.
Additional fees include but are not limited to: travel, mileage, lodging, lift rental, UV / anti graffiti coating, extreme site or wall conditions, extraordinary materials and additional rounds of revisions.
Customized estimates are provided for each project, and rates may adjust over time.
Can you explain wall coverage approach?
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Coverage refers to the percentage of a wall that is actually painted as part of the mural. A project might use 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% coverage depending on the space, design, and budget.
Lower coverage does not necessarily mean less impact. Artwork can be concentrated as key spot graphics, wrapped around or flowing through architectural features, or composed with intentional negative space so the mural feels fully integrated but not filling 100% coverage.
Because murals are priced in part by square footage, adjusting the amount of coverage can help balance financial and creative goals.s.
Click here to see examples of different mural coverage approaches.
What makes Mikaela different?
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As a lifelong artist with a background in the Architecture and Engineering industry, Mikaela has experience at firms including Gates Studio and WRT Inc., Mikaela approaches murals through both a strategic and artistic lens.
Her work begins with site analysis: studying scale, aesthetics, circulation, lighting, architecture, brand identity, and how people experience the space. She considers not only visuals, but constructibility, longevity, maintenance, and long-term visual impact.
For businesses, this means aligning murals and signage with brand identity while creating immersive, user-driven moments that encourage interaction and organic marketing. For residential clients, this means responding thoughtfully to lifestyle, personality, and the emotional tone of the home. For civic and community projects, it means honoring local identity and reinforcing a sense of place.
She doesn’t simply paint walls, she designs environments that are intentional, experiential, and rooted in context. Murals are tools for placemaking to reinforcing purpose, deepen connection, and transform space into place.
What tools and software are used for design development?
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Most concepts begin by hand: sketching directly on paper or in a sketchbook to explore composition, proportion, and form. From there, Mikaela works digitally in Procreate for detailed drawing and color exploration, and uses Adobe programs for layout, presentation, and final design deliverables. This combination of hand drawing and digital tools keeps the work feeling personal and crafted while producing polished, client-ready concepts.
What paints and materials are used for mural installation?
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Mikaela selects materials based on the specific demands of each project: interior vs. exterior, surface type, traffic levels, and longevity.
She uses professional-grade, high-quality paints suited to the environment: interior latex for walls inside homes and businesses, exterior-grade paints for outdoor surfaces, and specialty paints for high-touch or unusual materials. Protective coatings such as UV-resistant or anti-graffiti sealers are available for projects that need added durability and are quoted separately.
The Bay Area is big. For multi day local projects how does Mikaela get there?
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Mikaela’s studio is based in the East Bay Berkeley California. For projects that required commutes of over 1 hour and or very unpredictable traffic within a commute (hello Berkeley → Palo Alto) Mikaela will stay in an Airbnb closer to the project location to save everyone time and money.
The 2-5 hours not commuting is given to painting time which reduces your project timeline.
The 2-5 hours of client paid commuting time is typically more expensive than the price of accommodations.
Beyond the San Francisco Bay Area, does Mikaela travel for mural painting projects?
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Mikaela travels for the right project. Whether it's a domestic destination or international commission, she's worked with clients beyond the Bay Area and is open to projects that are a strong fit.
Reach out and let’s discuss!
Do you work with architects, interior designers, developers, and design teams?
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Yes. Collaborating with architects, interior designers, branding agencies, and project teams is one of Mikaela’s favorite things to do.
Depending on the project, she may be brought in to develop artwork concepts, integrate murals into the overall design vision, provide digital renderings and presentations, or execute the final installation.
Projects may be scoped as a complete design-build package or as a specialized subconsultant service integrated into a larger project team.
