Sometimes redecorating can become a portal to design opportunities (sometimes it can become a nightmare, but let’s not speak of such things). For anyone who admits to watching The Real Housewives of New York City, you saw what the remodel did for odd couple Simon and Alex, in Brooklyn as a matter of fact: it opened them up to their inner deviant selves—the red and black bordello theme made it seem like they were trying to crawl back into the wombs from whence they emerged.

Tigers Eye. Designed by Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel.

Thankfully, artist Shanan Campanaro has better taste (and psychology). When she redecorated in 2008, she had the bright idea to make wallpaper by digitally manipulating sections of her own paintings. If you can’t find what you want, you might as well make it. Campanaro’s result proved “fabulous,” catalyzing the formation of Eskayel, her line of Bespoke Wallpaper. This year at BKLYN DESIGNS 2009, Campanaro unveils her Frontier Collection, a modern take on tribal. Some of the designs are deceptively delicate, such as Setting Sun, which in Terracotta or Raspberry is almost reminiscent of melting sherbet. Tigers Eye and Checkered Past are intent of pattern; their traditional lines and rectilinear shapes recall frontier-day parlor rooms and trading posts—a sort of domesticity gone awry, infected by the natives. Other Eskayel patterns revel in Southwestern flavor, transforming the motifs into hallucinatory visions: Shamans Smoke reminds me of an ink blot turned psychedelic, Rorschach on peyote; Medallion retains a hint of Indonesian batiks. Festival Feast in green is perhaps the Frontier Collection’s star, incorporating just enough pattern and variation to make of the tribal something urbane.

Shamans Smoke. Designed by Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel.

Festival Feast. Designed by Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel.

Setting Sun. Designed by Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel.

Eskayel Wallpapers start at $15.00 per square foot, though the company prefers custom orders so they can match your space with minimal waste. All designs also come 2 feet wide with an 11 foot drop (60.94 cmm x 3.36 m) for $350.00. If you’re having trouble deciding on a pattern, order up to five samples for free or pay $30 for a complete swatch book. Printed digitally, Eskayel wallpaper uses water-resistant IDBM latex and nylon fiber reinforced paper. If you’re curious about the inspiration behind the wallcoverings, view Shanan Campanaro‘s original art on her website. What you’ll find may surprise you, since her Eskayel designs really take on their own life.