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Outside of public restrooms, writing on the walls is generally frowned upon. But a few cutting-edge decorators are taking the art-class staple to a whole new level, turning magic markers into a high-end decorating tool.

AOL Home found a few artists and decorators who've made the most of these $2 pens -- click to see the unbelievable results.

Incredible Sharpie Decor

    Charles Kratzer, a lawyer for Lexmark, wanted impressionist art to adorn his cream-colored basement walls in Lexington, Kentucky. But instead of spending millions, he drew his own masterpieces with $10 worth of Sharpie markers. Keep clicking to see more pictures of his museum-worthy basement mural, and some other ways people are getting creative with magic markers.

    David Stephenson, Lexington Herald-Leader/ MCT

    To understand this basement mural, you need to look closely and be well-read. The characters whose portraits were drawn with Sharpie marker include Sherlock Holmes, Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Joan Crawford, George Bernard Shaw, the Marx Brothers, even R2D2 from Star Wars.

    David Stephenson, Lexington Herald-Leader/ MCT

    Krazter recreated some famous artwork, including Georges Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. And of course he put some 2-D logs in the fireplace.

    David Stephenson, Lexington Herald-Leader/ MCT

    Kratzer included some things of personal significance, too, like a portrait of his father and Cornell University's Law School, his alma mater.

    David Stephenson, Lexington Herald-Leader/ MCT

    The artist even added this framed portrait of cartoon heroes Rocky and Bullwinkle to the bathroom wall.

    David Stephenson, Lexington Herald-Leader/ MCT

    The stairway leading down to the black-and-white mural features a colorful Sharpie reproduction of Picasso's painting The Dream.

    David Stephenson, Lexington Herald-Leader/ MCT

    It took Prestige Imports in Miami more than a thousand hours to cover this $200,000 Lamborghini (or "Lambo," if you're lucky enough to own one) with hand-drawn Sharpie designs and a clear coating.

    Jason Thorgalsen, VODCars/Flickr

    The Lamborghini was eventually sold on eBay for $289,950.

    Jason Thorgalsen, VODCars/Flickr

    The car's artists said it attracted positive and negative attention everywhere it went.

    Jason Thorgalsen, VODCars/Flickr

    Seeing the Sharpie detailing makes it clear why artists needed two weeks of non-stop work to finish the design.

    Jason Thorgalsen, VODCars/Flickr




Tell us! How have you customized your space? Send us a photo and we may feature it on Lemondrop; or click here to design your dream room. And check out AOL Home for more cool decorating ideas.