Get To Know Vahallan
Where can you find a house flipper, theatre producer, dancer, sculptor, writer, kettle corn maker, cave diver, beer brewer and travelers all in one place? Working their magic on the beautiful, custom cut/made to order wall covering at Vahallan’s Studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. And it is easy to find these fun hobbies, passions and talents influenced throughout the collections Vahallan offers. This team clearly loves what they do.
Although you can find Vahallan’s work all over the world, I have had the pleasure of representing Vahallan in Arizona to designers over the last three years and have experienced really wonderful collaborations between them to create some one of a kind spaces.
One of my goals in 2021, is not only to continue showing the products I represent, but to help you know and understand my vendors like I do. A giant thanks to Vahallan for sharing their time and participating in this first of the Get To Know Them series of posts. I am passionate and proud of the companies I represent and hope you find that same passion and pride in their products as you design for your clients and get to know them a little more over the next year.
Enjoy getting to know them through the Q&A below and take a little sneak peek into their studio where their artists are working hard to create!
J: From the restaurant industry to a business owner providing products found in luxury homes and hospitality venues all over the world. Can you share with us how it all started?
V: Our owner Dan started Vahallan 24 years ago, like all successful businesses, in his garage! His mother wanted to spruce up her bathroom walls – so Dan accepted the challenge and created his first wall covering. A few local designers caught a glimpse and decided they needed it too. And BOOM – Vahallan was born.
J: You have taken a non-traditional approach to wallcovering. What is the reason you decided to? (i.e. panels and tiles instead of traditional rolls).
V: Honestly – in an effort to be more cost-effective and reduce waste. Creating our wall coverings requires the eyes and hands of skilled artists – so we would rather produce just what is needed than rolls and rolls of potential waste. Producing custom sized panels and tiles allows us to keep material waste and labor costs down, and keeps our prices affordable – as a small company (only 6 full time artists!) we strive for efficiency.
J: What are some of the other most interesting custom projects you have done?
V: We’ve created so many custom pieces – it’s hard to choose! The one that comes to mind is the obnoxiously hot pink/silver leafed paper we did for a hotel a few years ago. Sometimes the requests for customizations seem ridiculous in the moment, but the final result often turns out beautifully. The best customized projects have been the ones that make their way into our permanent collections. Similarly to how Vahallan got started, someone sees it, needs it, and the snowball continues.
J: What do you find to be the biggest hurdle in getting someone to use Vahallan? What are some things that every designer should know and/ or consider when specifying Vahallan for a project?
V: The biggest hurdle is fear! I have heard countless times “I love your product, but I have no idea how to begin the ordering process – so I haven’t until now.” Many designers like to stick with the materials and vendors that they know, so for new customers Vahallan can seem confusing and a little daunting! But once we walk them through the concept of “custom panels” and explain the ease of installation – they tend to keep coming back. One thing every designer should know – is that your project will be one-of-a-kind. While we do our best to match our sample material – each order has been hand-painted specifically with your space in mind.
J: How is the installation process for your panels and what are the care instructions after installation? Is it possible to replace one panel after installation if down the road it was damaged somehow?
V: Our wall coverings install very similarly to traditional wallpaper! We recommend that you prepare your walls with primer, apply a clear adhesive to the back of the wall coverings and let it book for 2-3 minutes, then double-cut. Some of our collections can be butt-seamed and require no trim. We have installation instructions available on our website under the “Resources” tab along with some instructional videos to help with the process.
In regards to replacement – due to the hand-painted nature of our wall coverings, replicating a perfect match is often difficult to achieve. I would recommend saving a cutting from your original order if you think this is a possibility.
J: Around the world with Vahallan! You are from and operate out of Nebraska part of the heartland of the US. However, your products are known worldwide. Is there a project you are most proud of and why?
V: Again – this is a tough one to answer! There have been so many cool projects we have had the honor to be a part of that it’s hard to choose just one! We’re currently in a handful of known locations throughout the world, like Christian Dior, Mikimoto, and Hilton Hotels. Most recently we were able to visit Saks Fifth Ave in NYC, where we got to see in person the entire first floor filled with Vahallan wall coverings. The most memorable has got to be from this last year when we wallpapered part of Steve Harvey’s house! The order was rushed, and the product needed to arrive by a certain day – but our shipper could not guarantee the quick delivery. To make sure we met the deadline, we decided to drive through the night to hand-deliver the package ourselves! Worth it.
J: You have been in business for a long time so I am sure you have seen some evolution within the industry. What are the biggest changes in design and in business you have experienced or witnessed over the years?
V: The biggest change in the industry has been the rise of social media! We’ve now got manufacturers and designers who can directly showcase their art and talent to consumers. In our case, we can show consumers and designers alike our entire process - the artists responsible, where we produce, and experimental items we are working on. The indirect face time with the consumer creates a virtual relationship, which I think people really enjoy when choosing a product to purchase.
J: What does the future have in store for Vahallan? Where do you see yourself and your company in 5 or 10 years?
V: Vahallan hopes to be relevant for the foreseeable future. We have seen a great growth spurt in the last few years, and we hope it continues! As artists we are always listening to consumers and innovating with the ebbs and flows of current design. We’ve got a few new concepts to introduce to the world this coming year, so keep an eye out!
J: What advice would you share with creatives and designers who are just starting out?
V: The most basic and best advice is to keep creating. Don’t stop. No matter what roadblocks you run into, your level of motivation, or lack of access to materials – just keep producing.
J: Aside from creating some of the most beautiful wall coverings, any other secret hidden talents you can share with us?
V: All of our artists have a variety of side hustles or hobbies – we flip houses, direct theatre productions, dance, sculpt, write, and travel. We make kettle corn, cave-dive, brew beer, and curate our own art shows. All of us have a unique set of skills – so when we collaborate, we really depend on each other.
