Who We Are

There's an incredible amount of detail that goes into truly skilled wallpaper installation. Variances in construction, environmental conditions, and the unique personality of each paper all require a watchful eye and a careful hand. For us — Jacquez Duncan, Harrison Ross, and Lani Ross — those details are exactly what make this work so compelling. At Applying Art, precision isn't just a practice. It's a passion.

Applying Art started the way best things usually do: from friendship, shared ambition, and a mutual obsession with the craft. Harrison and Jacquez spent years working side by side across the Charleston area and up and down the East Coast — from Naples, Florida to Isleboro, Maine — pushing each other to grow, trading techniques, and quietly building something rare: a true partnership grounded in an uncompromising commitment to quality. Together, their technical mastery spans the full range of the craft, from everyday installations to the most demanding boutique-grade wallcoverings in the industry.

Turning that expertise into a thriving business, however, would take something more. That's where Lani came in. With eight years practicing family and criminal law and additional years managing a local CPA firm, she brought the business foundation, operational discipline, and professional rigor that a company built on high standards demands. The combination of what all three of us bring to the table is what makes Applying Art work. Together, we've built something none of us could have created alone — not simply a wallpaper installation company, but living proof of what this work can and should be.

That commitment has not gone unnoticed. We're proud to be recognized as a recommended installer by Gracie Studio, one of the most prestigious hand-painted wallpaper companies in the world — a distinction held by only 74 installers globally.

From the very beginning, our goal was to build something the industry had been missing. We wanted every client to experience the difference of working directly with the owners of the company — people who are personally invested in the outcome of your project. Beyond that, we set out to restore a standard of quality and service that has quietly faded from the trades over the years. At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: true craftsmanship should never be the exception. It should be the expectation.

That attention to detail shapes every project we take on. Most people can tell when a room looks amazing, but they can't always put their finger on why. A lot of it comes down to decisions made long before the first sheet goes up — working through layout options to find the one that makes everything feel just right, centering patterns, creating clean sight lines, placing seams so they disappear into the design. That kind of planning is what separates a beautiful room from one that simply has wallpaper in it. And then there's the execution: seams laid perfectly plumb, cuts around molding so precise they look like they were made to be there, and a level of cleanliness that protects even the most delicate papers from permanent damage. We like to think our installations are something you brag about right alongside the paper you chose. The wallpaper gets you a beautiful room. A flawless installation gets you a jaw-dropping one.

In a market like Charleston, that standard is put to the test on nearly every project. Historic homes bring their own set of challenges — corners several inches out of plumb, rooms that slope off center, plaster walls patched countless times over, temperature conditions that shift with the movement of the structure itself. There is no standard playbook. Every room demands its own approach, and only experience teaches you how to read those variables and still deliver a result that looks like the paper was always meant to be there. Charleston's historic homes aren't an obstacle for us — they're the ultimate proving ground.

The world of wallpaper itself has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, and we love being part of it. Today's wallcoverings are a far cry from what most people picture — they're sophisticated, expressive, and truly capable of turning a room into something breathtaking. We've seen a surge of interest in elevated materials like embroidered textiles, silks, linens, and hand-painted murals that bring warmth and texture to a space in ways paint simply cannot. And as AI-generated everything has become more prevalent, there's a parallel hunger for the opposite: one-of-a-kind, handcrafted work that can't be replicated. It's become the choice for clients who want their homes to feel considered, layered, and completely their own.

Charleston's architectural heritage runs deep in that story. The city's harbor was among the first points of entry for wallpaper arriving in the American colonies from England in the 1700s, making Charleston one of the earliest chapters in American wallpaper history. That legacy still resonates in the choices our clients make — sweeping scenic murals anchoring formal entryways, vibrant botanical patterns breathing life into powder rooms, and a consistent desire for something classic and enduring. Our clients aren't chasing trends. They're reaching for the same sense of beauty and permanence that this city has embodied for over three hundred years.

What began as a way to fill a gap in the market has grown into something far more meaningful for all three of us.

Each transition is a fresh start, achieved without a single contractor. There is something deeply satisfying about an art form that is both impactful and adaptable — one that grows alongside the people who live within those walls.

In the end, our reputation has been built through precision, artistry, and a genuine love for this craft. Every project is an opportunity to transform a space in a way that feels flawless and completely intentional — as though it has always belonged there. That is our hallmark, and one we hope will quietly become part of your home's own story.