Interior Design Review - Tonya Al-Mallah Schmitt
Tonya Al-Mallah Schmitt is an interior designer and the founder of House of Lah Lah, based in South Florida. With nearly two decades of experience in hospitality design, she brings a well-traveled perspective and a personal approach to storytelling through interiors. Inspired by her Middle Eastern roots, a European sensibility, and discoveries made abroad, Tonya creates spaces that feel collected over time. Layered with meaningful objects, thoughtful materials, and details that evoke history, intimacy, and belonging.
Here, she shares her experience working with belarteSTUDIO and reflects on how wall murals have become part of her approach to creating personal, considered interiors.
How would you describe the experience of working with belarteSTUDIO?
Working with belarteSTUDIO has always felt very collaborative and design-focused. As a designer, I usually come into a project with a strong point of view, but I also want the materials I select to add another layer to the story rather than simply fill a wall. The team understands that. From exploring patterns and colorways to reviewing samples and determining the right scale for a space, the process feels thoughtful and easy.
I also really value how responsive the team is. If I have questions about sizing, dimensions, or whether a graphic needs to be customized or rescaled for a particular application, I can always count on a timely response and a willingness to help find the right solution. That level of support is incredibly important, especially when working within tight project timelines.
The sampling process is another huge advantage. Samples arrive incredibly quickly, and I love their generous size. With wall murals, being able to really see the pattern, color, and overall impact is so important. The larger samples allow my design team to properly evaluate the product, but just as importantly, they help our clients visualize how the design will translate into their space. It makes the selection and approval process much easier.
I especially appreciate working with a company that understands that wall murals can be one of the defining elements of an interior—not an afterthought.
How did belarteSTUDIO’s wall murals help bring your design vision to life?
I love creating interiors that feel layered, collected, and a little unexpected, and wall murals is one of the main tools I use to establish that personality. belarteSTUDIO’s wall murals allow me to introduce pattern, texture, and color in a way that feels intentional, distinctive, and elevated.
What especially draws me to the collections is that the designs consistently feel ahead of the trend curve. My design inspiration is heavily influenced by travel, European design, and fashion, and I often look to the runway to see what is coming next in interiors. When new collections appear in European fashion, I can trust that belarteSTUDIO is translating those same influences into wallcoverings in a sophisticated way.
There is often a lag between European fashion and the American interiors market, but belarteSTUDIO stands out. The collections have a distinctly European sensibility—refined, fashion-forward, and willing to take risks with pattern, scale, and color—that sets them apart from more traditional wallcovering brands.
For me, it is always about the entire composition and how the wall murals works with the millwork, lighting, stone, metals, furnishings, and art. I want a wallcovering to contribute to the story, not just coordinate with the room. The right pattern transforms the energy of a space, and belarteSTUDIO’s designs provide that final layer that makes an interior feel complete.
What are you most proud of in the finished project?
What I’m most proud of in the finished project is that the space has a strong, unique identity. It has personality, depth, and a sense of discovery throughout the design, rather than feeling generic or interchangeable.
I always want people to walk into one of my spaces and encounter something unexpected. Those memorable moments—whether a bold pattern, an unusual color combination, or a detail revealed only once you are inside the room—are central to the design, and the wall mural played an important part in bringing them to life.
What makes belarteSTUDIO a recurring choice for your interior projects?
What keeps me coming back is how truly unique the wall mural designs are. I see a lot of wallcoverings in my work, and belarteSTUDIO consistently offers patterns and graphics that I simply don’t see from other companies. There is an artistry to them—they often feel as though an artist created something custom specifically for my project rather than something selected from a standard collection.
The quality is also exceptional. One of the greatest compliments comes from my installers. They consistently comment on the quality of the material and how much easier it is to work with and install. As a designer, that matters. A beautiful product is only successful if it performs just as beautifully in the field.
Even the packaging and installation information are incredibly clear and thoughtfully organized, which makes the process easier for everyone involved—from my design team to the installer. From placing the order to the speed of shipping, receiving the product, and ultimately seeing it installed, the entire experience feels seamless.
To me, that is what luxury should be. It isn’t only about how beautiful something looks; it’s about the experience surrounding it. With belarteSTUDIO, the experience feels every bit as luxurious as the finished product.
