Van Tullis Interiors | Collaboration and Vision

Understanding your needs
Style, history & fashion
People, objects & nature
The design firm's roles
Design guidelines

Understanding your needs
A home should reflect its inhabitants - not the designer.

Our design work begins with active client collaboration and dialog. We interview you and ask questions, both specific:

"How many linear feet of closet space do you have now?"

and open-ended:

"What space have you enjoyed the most?"
"Which hotels do you stay in when you're on vacation?"

Conversation is the foundational tool of our design approach. Your answers help us develop insights about your true needs and wishes.

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Style, history & fashion
Every client, and every interior, is different. Van Tullis allows each interior to develop naturally into a uniquely resonant space, without relying on any predetermined design style.

History plays an important role in each design, but we take a personal approach. We get to know your history and how you've related to objects over time. We often explore ways in which historically different pieces can work well together.

Modern media and fashion naturally play an unavoidable role, but we refrain from trends and tricks. A successful space should achieve a timeless quality in today's world.

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People, objects & nature
Three key elements of the Van Tullis Interiors approach are people, objects and nature.

People provide the impetus and the meaning behind any design. Objects within the built environment, including art and furniture, employ intriguing forms, colors and textures. We often seek to relate interiors to nature by introducing views, sunlight, and/or natural forms and textures.

Many of our clients find their spaces to be "restorative" and "calm." This seems to be the natural outcome of our aesthetics. We carefully consider each design element, and the space around it, in terms of the whole.

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The design firm's roles
Van Tullis Interiors develops the vision and sees the big picture. Our firm actively ensures that every detail is a success by playing many important roles throughout the project: creative leader, collaborator, advisor, logistical coordinator and administrator.

We work with our client to create a shared vision from often ambiguous beginnings, and then develop a clearly rendered design.

Next, we serve as the torchbearer, communicating the vision to architects, contractors and tradespeople.

As the project progresses, new insights inevitably occur. Van Tullis Interiors advises the client, helping to keep potential changes in context.

Van Tullis Interiors also provides crucial scheduling and logistics management. We communicate clearly with all parties, and carefully document changes and requests.

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Design guidelines
Each unique project and space is evaluated by Van Tullis Interiors using several criteria including:

Appropriateness
Function
Materials & architecture
Aesthetics

Appropriateness
Appropriateness is all about context. Even disparate elements can work well together when combined and placed correctly.

• Do the colors and textures relate to the latitude and location?
• Do the various elements retain their integrity while relating to the architecture?
• Do the elements create harmonious counterpoints?

Function
• Does the room size/shape match its purpose?
• Does furniture placement match usage?
• How well can people move through the space?
• What is the quality of light (natural and artificial)?
• What is the quality of sound (acoustics)?

Materials & architecture
• Is the construction of good quality?
• Do construction costs relate to their quality?
• Do the selected materials serve the intended purpose?
• Are there durability and maintenance concerns?
• Have safety and environmental concerns been considered?

Aesthetics
• Does each material honestly express its inherent characteristics?
• Is there a sense of locale and time frame?
• Does the project express its essence (atmosphere and character)?
• Is the project's essence appropriate to its intended use?
• Is there a clear design intent?

Also at this stage, and throughout the project, Van Tullis Interiors always considers these principles of design.
• Size, scale and proportion
• Balance
• Rhythm
• Unity and Variety
• Emphasis

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	Collaboration & vision Our process Van Tullis biography Case studies	COLLABORATION & VISION Understanding your needs Style, history & fashion People, objects & nature The design firm's roles Design guidelines Understanding your needs A home should reflect its inhabitants - not the designer. Our design work begins with active client collaboration and dialog. We interview you and ask questions, both specific: "How many linear feet of closet space do you have now?" and open-ended: "What space have you enjoyed the most?" "Which hotels do you stay in when you're on vacation?" Conversation is the foundational tool of our design approach. Your answers help us develop insights about your true needs and wishes. Back to Top Style, history & fashion Every client, and every interior, is different. Van Tullis allows each interior to develop naturally into a uniquely resonant space, without relying on any predetermined design style. History plays an important role in each design, but we take a personal approach. We get to know your history and how you've related to objects over time. We often explore ways in which historically different pieces can work well together. Modern media and fashion naturally play an unavoidable role, but we refrain from trends and tricks. A successful space should achieve a timeless quality in today's world. Back to Top People, objects & nature Three key elements of the Van Tullis Interiors approach are people, objects and nature. People provide the impetus and the meaning behind any design. Objects within the built environment, including art and furniture, employ intriguing forms, colors and textures. We often seek to relate interiors to nature by introducing views, sunlight, and/or natural forms and textures. Many of our clients find their spaces to be "restorative" and "calm." This seems to be the natural outcome of our aesthetics. We carefully consider each design element, and the space around it, in terms of the whole. Back to Top The design firm's roles Van Tullis Interiors develops the vision and sees the big picture. Our firm actively ensures that every detail is a success by playing many important roles throughout the project: creative leader, collaborator, advisor, logistical coordinator and administrator. We work with our client to create a shared vision from often ambiguous beginnings, and then develop a clearly rendered design. Next, we serve as the torchbearer, communicating the vision to architects, contractors and tradespeople. As the project progresses, new insights inevitably occur. Van Tullis Interiors advises the client, helping to keep potential changes in context. Van Tullis Interiors also provides crucial scheduling and logistics management. We communicate clearly with all parties, and carefully document changes and requests. Back to Top Design guidelines Each unique project and space is evaluated by Van Tullis Interiors using several criteria including: Appropriateness Function Materials & architecture Aesthetics Appropriateness Appropriateness is all about context. Even disparate elements can work well together when combined and placed correctly. • Do the colors and textures relate to the latitude and location? • Do the various elements retain their integrity while relating to the architecture? • Do the elements create harmonious counterpoints? Function • Does the room size/shape match its purpose? • Does furniture placement match usage? • How well can people move through the space? • What is the quality of light (natural and artificial)? • What is the quality of sound (acoustics)? Materials & architecture • Is the construction of good quality? • Do construction costs relate to their quality? • Do the selected materials serve the intended purpose? • Are there durability and maintenance concerns? • Have safety and environmental concerns been considered? Aesthetics • Does each material honestly express its inherent characteristics? • Is there a sense of locale and time frame? • Does the project express its essence (atmosphere and character)? • Is the project's essence appropriate to its intended use? • Is there a clear design intent? Also at this stage, and throughout the project, Van Tullis Interiors always considers these principles of design. • Size, scale and proportion • Balance • Rhythm • Unity and Variety • Emphasis Back to Top


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