Bjella Architecture

Q&A with Tim Bjella

Where do you find design inspiration?

Because every home is a unique challenge, the inspiration must be as well. I design each home as though it is my first, with the excitement and enthusiasm that only comes from exploration and discovery. As a result, my design inspiration comes from many sources and varies with the particular project. Yet, there are some common threads that permeate my designs: the forms of nature, historical precedents, the physical characteristics of the site along with climatic influences, the larger context of home’s location within the community, and the client’s aesthetic and functional preferences are a few.

How do you approach the design process?

I create interiors, kitchens, landscapes and architecture simultaneously, allowing each to influence the others. The result of this holistic approach is a balanced and cohesive home where the interior and kitchen design transcends mere decoration and the landscape melds, inseparably, with the architecture.

What makes your aesthetic stand out amongst other designers?

Detail, detail and sometimes more detail. I believe the spaces of a home must be beautiful and feel complete, not barren and lifeless, before the furniture and furnishings are installed. This is accomplished by a layering of details whereby the functional and expressive architectural details provide the foundation for the decorative details. I like to think of a well-designed home as the place where form and function come together to share a glass of wine.

What is the greatest value you provide to your clients?

A home that is artful and unique, yet eminently livable. My spaces are designed to move the client emotionally through a careful manipulation of space, light, material and detail. Light-filled spaces with pleasing proportions, delightful details and sensual textures stir emotions and lift spirits. The intangible is as important as the perceptible.