“Couple days ago, a woman came in with all these sample tiles, and she laid them out on the table and said, ‘I’m on my way to the tile shop now. Just need to make sure I have the right wallpaper.'”
Capp said interior design is always in style, and this isn’t your grandmother’s wallpaper. He spoke in the showroom of the store, the sound of an industrial printer humming along in the background. Capp and his brother, Bryce, started the company online in Australia in 2009, and it took a few years for technology to catch up with their idea. They wanted to print on demand, which requires the right paper and ink combination for a quality product that doesn’t bleed or smudge and is easy to both hang and remove.
But by 2015, not only was it a success, it was time to expand. And while they have customers on every continent, the United States had grown to be one of their biggest markets, so it made sense to add a physical store here. Texas was attractive because of the business-friendly policies, and it seemed like everyone was moving to Austin, so that’s where he and his family first headed. But one road trip to Dallas-Fort Worth, and he realized that their first storefront needed to be in Dallas’ Design District.
“We wanted a vibrant neighborhood that embraced creatives and where our neighbors would also be in the design space,” said Capp. With art galleries, interior design showrooms, and fine dining, the Design District is an eclectic neighborhood that borders Trammell Crow Park, and sits next to 35E, opposite of the Harwood District.
DFW’s geographic advantage was also a factor since so much business comes from the United States. When customers place an order, samples go from store to door in an average of three days.
“I’m passionate about continuing to build our business in Dallas and throughout Texas. Every day has been a new opportunity to meet people inside and outside of the design industry. We’ve developed a great staff here in Dallas that seamlessly blended into the Milton & King family.”
Capp, his wife, and their children chose Lakewood for their new home.
“While it is close to everything that Dallas has to offer, the neighborhood feels a bit slower-paced, and that is the way that we like it,” said Capp. “Lakewood also offers a lot of green space and room to breathe, which reminds us of back home in Australia.”
Hudson House, Olivella’s, and Jarams Donuts became fast favorites, as did the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas World Aquarium, and Klyde Warren Park.
To be clear, Milton & King is not your grandparents’ wallpaper. The company has found success working with artists to create digital designs, and on the wall, the look is reminiscent of a mural. And Capp would love to create a Dallas-specific design.
Two printers run from six o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock at night most days, producing 120 rolls of designer wallpaper per day per machine. Demand is so great that a third printer is on the way. Customers can browse through roughly 1,700 samples online or visit the showroom at 900 Dragon Street. From the people he’s met so far, he describes Dallas as friendly, relaxed, and sophisticated.
