Custom Palm Wallpaper for Nambour Cinema, Sunshine Coast
Project Details:
Client: Onyx Studio on behalf of Nambour Cinema and Sandran Property Group
Location: Nambour, Sunshine Coast
Size: 5 Walls - up to 7.3m W and 2.7m H
Materials: High-quality, non-woven, custom-designed wallpaper
Concept: Reflecting art deco, cinema theme and connection to place
Completed: November 2024
Award: Best Commercial Interior Award by Building Design QLD - Sunshine Coast Regional Design Awards
When Nambour Cinema on the Sunshine Coast was reimagined by Onyx Studio, Tiny Giraffe was commissioned to create a custom palm wallpaper that would capture the spirit of the region.
The result is an award-winning commercial interior design project that celebrates story, place, and cinematic atmosphere.
Barbie Payton, Onyx Studio
"Having the opportunity to work with Kylie on a very special project has been nothing short of an amazing experience. Her talent is second to none! The way she listened, designed and executed her services throughout the whole process was incredible. I can't wait to work with Kylie again in the future. She has a very special gift of creativity that needs to be shared."
Design Concepts
When Barbie reached out to me, she was searching for a 'hero wallpaper' design, something iconic that would stand out as distinctly coastal and unique. She had a strong vision for a patterned, Art Deco themed wallpaper featuring palms and arches.
Barbie chose dark, vibrant space features hues of blues, terracottas and sand. This colour palette, along with her inspiration images and initial material selections - such as paint and carpet - gave me the inspiration I needed to start drawing concepts.
The clients loved my initial concepts but wanted something more thematic, requesting to see options that incorporated film strips.
One of these options included 'dancing' film strips, elegantly scrolling to give movement to the pattern. However it was a classic, elegant design option that was chosen, where the arches were replaced with the movie film strip.
Originally set on a solid navy background, my last minute idea to incorporate a gradient as the background colour to the pattern came with a resounding yes from Barbie! I loved how it gave a nod to subtropical sunsets, further emphasising the location we were designing for.
Sample wallpapers were printed to check colour and the design was finalised and wallpaper panels were sent to print. Barbie offers the perfect mix of professionalism, inspiration and timely communication - our shared values in collaboration and her trust in my creative freedom is what made this a dream project for me.
Working With Barbie + Onyx Interiors
Barbie had a strong vision for Nambour Cinema and was incredibly easy to work with. She saw the benefit of custom designed wallpaper as a way to create something special for an iconic venue, incorporate story, inject connection to place, as well as save herself time searching for the right pattern.
Barbie is a very talented interior designer who offers the perfect mix of professionalism, innovation and timely communication - our shared values in collaboration and her trust in my creative freedom is what made this a dream project for me.
Design Outcome and Award Winning Project
This gorgeous, bespoke patterned wallpaper now stretches across 5 walls within the cinema, ranging in heights and widths.
Opening just in time for the 2024 School Holidays, this project was an incredible transformation of a decades-old cinema back into an entertainment hub.
Sophisticated, yet humble, the interior design takes cues from the area's Art Deco buildings, coupled with the coast spirit of relaxation and fun. The vibrant space has become an immediate hit with locals and Sunshine Coast visitors alike.
In August 2025, Onyx Studio won the Building Design Queensland's Sunshine Coast Regional Design Awards for 'Best Commercial Interiors'. Congratulations to Barbie and the entire team. It was a privilege to work alongside such talented suppliers and tradespeople.