When Elissa Cullman first tackles a project, before a single drawing is made or a piece of furniture is purchased, she often starts by dispelling one of the central myths about the profession for potential clients. Too often, she says, they believe designers are “informed by divine inspiration, a sort of ‘I see pink’ moment.” Rather, she explains, “before we can ‘see’ anything, we have a lot of practical work to do: We need a thorough understanding of functional requirements, an inventory of possessions and a concrete idea of the budget. Only then can the process begin.” Even after she lays the foundation, there are still “mountains of paperwork, extensive shopping, countless site visits and complex installations.”

As much as projects are about the nuts and bolts, Cullman does see independent, innovative vision as critical to an interior’s success. However, she feels vision in contemporary design has been in short supply in recent years. “Design has been dominated by the midcentury aesthetic,” she observes. “I believe that, sadly, there is less diversity in our field at the present time than at earlier moments.” She suggests that designers have a responsibility to reinvigorate the profession by producing work in a wide variety of styles, looking to other cultures for inspiration. If they do so, she says, “clients will realize that decorating is multidimensional and should reflect personal tastes and interests, not a canon that has been imposed by others.”

Elissa Cullman

212-249-3874

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