We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tula Summerford a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tula, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Finally, the return of antique and vintage furniture

Colors that are rich and saturated with color

Statement lighting, jewelry for your home!

Tula, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I studied at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. I worked for two of the most prestigious design houses in the industry and was responsible for identifying the newest fashion and color trends for each new season and developing the company’s new product lines. I relocated to North Carolina where I became the New Products Design and Development Manager for Westwood Incorporated and coordinated product design, production and technical matters, and sales support between the New York office and the manufacturing facilities throughout the country. After relocating to North Carolina I founded my company, Design by Tula.

I have a deep respect for tradition and history with a profound appreciation of current design trends. I enjoy coordinating modern elements in classic designs. My forte is incorporating unique objects from around the world with modern elements. Design By Tula provides design and decorating expertise for both residential and commercial clients. Project scope includes overall design and space planning. I believe whether a home is formal or casual, traditional or modern, all rooms should be a reflection of the client’s personality and style.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience slowly but steadily. My audience continues to grows daily, but in real time. No bots, no fake accounts etc… I personally create each story, post and Tik Tok. Keep true to yourself on social media. I show the cool, glamorous events and projects but I also show what goes on behind the scenes. My followers love that! I try to share the creative parts of each project but if something goes wrong my audience sees that as well. Don’t copy any one’ else’s style, create your page and your platform to showcase you and your vibe.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I started out small, I kept my pricing low in the beginning. As my business grew & my client base grew I began raising my pricing and attracting higher end clients. I dId not pay for any advertising but I worked with a few charities and non profit organizations, donating products and donating to auctions. My name soon became a household name. I of course am still invested in a few non profit organizations and love to contribute to all charity auctions.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @designbytula
• Facebook: Group Page: Design by Tula
• Linkedin: Design by Tula
• Twitter: Tula Summerford

Image Credits
Cat Nguyen Auru Marzouk