1. No results to show.
  1. No results to show.

MIKAELA KARTHIK DESIGN

Top Pro

Design

Responds in about 4 hours


Thumbtack Guarantee

If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more

If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more

About
Mural art and branded logo / sign painting for residential, commercial, and public spaces (interior or exterior) starting at $3,000 (simple sign painting often lower). Hi Hello Hey! I’m Mikaela Bernhardt, the artist and designer behind Mikaela Karthik Design, a Berkeley-based studio specializing in site-specific murals, environmental design, and placemaking. How can we make people feel special in a place and want to return to while celebrating brand, people, place, and culture? With a background in the Architecture and Engineering industry, I approach murals through both a strategic and artistic lens: considering architecture, scale, brand, context, and how people experience / use a space. A note on artistic style: My visual language is bold, graphic, and illustrative: layered color, organic shapes, intricate linework, pattern, and stylized forms. I do not offer photorealistic, scenic, or painterly/atmospheric murals, including realistic landscapes or imagery requiring soft, blended shading. Please review my portfolio to ensure my artistic style aligns with what you’re looking for before reaching out. I look forward to connecting with you to support your goals for your mural project!
Overview

Current Top Pro

Hired 2 times

Serves Berkeley, CA

Background checked

1 employee

2 years in business

Business hours

Sun12:00 am - 11:59 pmMon12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Social media

Instagram

Services offered
Type of property

Residential

Commercial

Mural size

Medium (25 - 50 sq ft)

Large (50 - 100 sq ft)

Very large (over 100 sq ft)

Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and value.

Exceptional 5.0

15 reviews

5

100%

4

0%

3

0%

2

0%

1

0%

Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.

Read reviews that mention:


pro avatar
Mary M.

Apr 21, 2026

•

Hired on Thumbtack

There aren't enough good things to say about Mikaela. She created a true work of art in our office. She jumped right in and worked with us to make a vision (because we really didn't know what we wanted) then executed in a better way than we could even imagine!

It's not just WHAT she does that is spectacular but HOW she does it. She has the best personality. I consider her a friend now after meeting her on Thumbtack.

If you are on the fence, HIRE HER!! She is amazing.

Details: Indoor wall(s) • Commercial • Large (50 - 100 sq ft) • Renter, with owner’s permission to do this job

Muralist
pro avatar
Max r.

4 weeks ago

500/5!

We found Mikaela through Thumbtack while searching for someone to create a custom mural for our wedding chuppah, and we are incredibly grateful that we took the leap.

Commissioning original artwork for such an important part of our wedding felt like a risk: we had inspiration and emotions we wanted it to capture, but it was difficult to imagine exactly how everything would translate into a finished piece. Mikaela quickly made us feel confident, understood, and genuinely involved in the process.

She has a rare combination of artistic talent, technical expertise, and genuine warmth. Her background in landscape architecture was evident in how thoughtfully she considered the mural’s scale, composition, setting, and overall experience—not simply how it would look in isolation. At the same time, she never lost sight of the personal meaning behind it. She listened closely and transformed our ideas into something completely original and unmistakably ours.

Mikaela created a Miro board where we could share inspiration and collaborate on the visual direction, which was such a cool and helpful part of the experience. She was incredibly patient, communicative, and receptive to feedback. Whenever we suggested a tweak, she welcomed it and turned around thoughtful revisions phenomenally fast. We have truly never had such a collaborative and seamless creative experience.

The finished mural exceeded everything we had imagined. It brought our wedding chuppah to life and beautifully captured one of the most meaningful moments of our lives. What began as wedding artwork is now a true family heirloom that we will cherish forever.

The value was exceptional—not only because of the quality of the finished artwork, but also because of the care, the hours and hours of collaboration, and responsiveness Mikaela brought to every stage. For something that will remain in our family for generations, it was worth every penny.

Mikaela is a consummate professional, an exceptional artist, and a deeply thoughtful person who genuinely invests herself in both the work and the people behind it. If you are considering hiring her for a mural or another meaningful custom piece, take the leap—you will be so glad you did. We would recommend her to anyone and everyone, we hope to work with her again soon.
pro avatar
Sheila H.

Jun 5, 2026

I inquired about a mural project for my building and Mikaela was very responsive and professional. We talked about the project and the needs and wants and she was able to address these with certainty. Her questions regarding the project were informative and she is a great listener. She wants to give the customer what they want. Even though I did go with her business for our mural project, I would highly recommend her for any projects. Her porfolio of mural projects was very impressive. If I am ever in need of another project like this, I will be contacting her for sure.
pro avatar
Miriam P.

3 weeks ago

Mikaela was wonderful to work with! She created a beautiful custom canvas painting that wrapped around the ceremony arch, and it turned out absolutely gorgeous. She was friendly, creative, and very easy to work with throughout the process. The finished piece added such a unique and personal touch to the ceremony space. I would definitely recommend Mikaela to anyone looking for something creative and one-of-a-kind for their event!
pro avatar
Sowmya S.

May 11, 2026

Working with Mikaela on the micro placemaking project for Mylapore was a rare collaboration where intent, craft, and execution stayed aligned. She absorbed the brief quickly and carried the vision through design development with clarity. Her intuitive grasp of Eastern design sensibilities came through in a way that felt grounded and atmospheric.

The final mural is rooted, layered, and impactful, strengthening the connection between brand and customer experience. Patrons naturally pause and linger, which speaks to its success. With a background in landscape design, she collaborates seamlessly with architects and interior designers. A skilled mural artist in custom murals, hospitality design, restaurant interiors, and placemaking. I would work with her again without hesitation.
Credentials
Background Check

Mikaela Bernhardt

FAQs

  • What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

    Square Footage pricing ranges from $30/sf to $75/sf depending on design complexity, surface conditions, and access. (see notes on coverage approach at bottom) Materials and project consumables are charged at 10% of the square footage. Additional fees include but are not limited to: travel, mileage, lodging, lift rental, UV / anti graffiti coating, extreme site or wall conditions, extraordinary materials and additional rounds of revisions. Customized estimates are provided for each project, and rates may adjust over time. Mikaela has a $3,000 minimum (simple sign painting can shift lower). Coverage Approach: Coverage refers to the percentage of a wall that is actually painted as part of the mural. A project might use 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% coverage depending on the space, design, and budget. Lower coverage does not necessarily mean less impact. Artwork can be concentrated as key spot graphics, wrapped around or flowing through architectural features, or composed with intentional negative space so the mural feels fully integrated but not filling 100% coverage. Because murals are priced in part by square footage, adjusting the amount of coverage can help balance financial and creative goals.

  • What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

    Discovery Projects start with a site visit and or virtual call to learn more about you, your space, and your vision. Following the consultation, Mikaela provides a proposal outlining scope, timeline, and investment. No design work is done until a contract is signed and a project deposit is paid. Design Development Mural concepts are developed through a fun, collaborative design process. Depending on the scope, this may include mood boards, color studies, sketches, and digital mockups, with revisions incorporated before final approval. Design Installation Once the design is approved, Mikaela comes for the fun part ~ painting!

  • What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

    Size of the Wall: Measure height × width for square footage to estimate painting costs. Complexity: Simple graphic or detailed layered? More intricate designs require more time and budget. Wall Texture & Condition: Textured surfaces need extra prep; dirty or greasy walls require cleaning before painting. Is the wall inside or outside? Accessibility: Is the wall easy to reach? High or tight spaces may need special equipment or extra setup time. Design Readiness: Do you know what you want, or are you looking to develop things from scratch?

  • Loading