Since launching in 2008, Eskayel has woven fine art with exacting craftsmanship to produce highly customizable wallpaper, high-end fabrics, pillows, hand-knotted luxury rugs, and frame-ready prints. Across the library of over 800 patterns, each original design is based on a painting created by founder Shanan Campanaro, whose passion for nature and travel is reflected in all of Eskayel’s work. We use water-based pigment inks and sustainably sourced materials, work exclusively with trusted, transparent production partners, and make each product to order to eliminate stock waste and ensure outstanding quality. Celebrate the fusion of art, craftsmanship, and sustainability at Eskayel in today’s Maker Monday.
Shoal, inspired by snorkeling in the Maldives, depicts tropical fish in a serene underwater scene.
Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
Shanan Campanaro: I have a background in fine art and got my BFA from Central St. Martins in London. But I sort of fell into design in trying to figure out how the heck to make a living as an artist. As a surface designer, I get to apply my artwork to wallpaper, fabric, and rugs thus making the art an object that can be lived with – which is an idea that I love. My work is inspired by places I have been that I find to be beautiful and wild and so I hope that the work I create brings the sense of that place inside the home.
AJ: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
SC: How about four? Joy, Beauty, Ease and Grace. Those are the four words we have centered our company around for 15 years. We apply them to both our designs and our company culture.
Topiary, a watercolor-inspired botanical pattern, celebrates indoor gardening with overlapping houseplant silhouettes in turquoise, blue, and green, now available as luxury custom wallpaper.
AJ: How do you approach a new design project?
SC: Loosely – I start with gathering inspiration, usually by researching beautiful places to go and traveling there. Then I take tons and tons of photos while I am there not worrying too much about what type of patterns may come from the research later. Then I usually wait about a year and think about what I saw and what has stayed with me most from the trip. Eventually, I create a series of paintings around those things that inspired me based off of the photos I have taken. Then I start to think about the practical applications to wallpaper or fabric or the weaving techniques we could use for rugs. When I am painting I try to paint loosely and paint the same things several times as an exercise. Sometimes I already know exactly what I want to do with the paintings and sometimes I am not sure yet.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
SC: I try to base my inspiration on nature and moments that live outside the design world. I purposely do not look at what my competitors are doing or what seems to be of the moment or trendy so that my output does not get influenced. I also try not to take design too seriously. I wait for inspiration to hit me rather than forcing myself to stick to any kind of planned-out calendar for product releases, and in general I find I have more ideas than we can even manage to produce. That’s why I love doing collaborations, because it gives me more outlets for my ideas than just creating for my own brand.
Eskayel’s innovative Quotidiana rug transforms apartment window views into an abstract, hand-knotted design in silk and wool, featuring rich hues like blue, rusty orange, and subtle green against a white and cream base.
AJ: What’s your favorite cocktail?
SC: Hands down it’s a mezcal Negroni.
AJ: What is your favorite design-related quote?
SC: I don’t know if it is design related but it’s my most favorite quote of the moment and I think it relates to everything including design. “The surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.” It’s from Amor Towles in his book A Gentleman in Moscow. I just think it applies to design in that a home should feel cheerful and there are many ways to achieve this but a lot of environs feel less than cheerful and I feel those are the trends that don’t last. I hope that my work brings cheer to all the homes that it has the honor to live in.
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