Visual Image : A Biography

Visual Image is a full service Interior Design firm that offers an array of design services. We provide services ranging from an overview of construction plans, supervising construction sites and development of projects in the pre-planning stages. Visual Image has produced outstanding projects that include office spaces, commercial retail spaces with a main focus on Residential interiors. We offer a wide range of Interior and Exterior designs, landscaping and hardscaping.

As a complement to their many facets of design work, they offer Retail and Wholesale Visual design, display and merchandising. They are also uniquely qualified in event planning having produced many art exhibits, site specific installations and themed parties for high profile clientele.

Its partners, Stephen Perkins, who has been in the design industry for over 30 years, and Mark Sanchez have worked together for five years prior to officially starting their company, Visual Image, in 1995. 

Stephen is originally from Boise, Idaho and has had varied life experiences that led him to discover his innate talent for design work. He started his design career at an early age as a floral designer. In turn this led him to establishing Perkins and Company, a retail establishment that offered design services as well as high end furnishings and accessories.

Stephen has lived in Los Angeles since the late sixties, but relocated to Denver and Seattle among other cities before returning to Los Angeles in 1980. These various cities have afforded Stephen the ability to gain invaluable experience from the different parts of the country he resided in.

Upon his return, he opened a showroom that featured accessories by noted artist Bustamante. These efforts lead him to gain a vast array of design clients that continues to this day. In establishing himself as a noted designer, Stephen is known for his direct approach to all aspects of the design industry.

Mark is originally from Texas, but moved to Tucson, Arizona with his family in 1969. He studied many of the arts including photography, speech, dance, printing and fashion. He moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. He worked in sales and as a tailor for a well known men’s boutique in West Hollywood while attending school. His first foray into design came when he was hired as Graphic’s Coordinator at Neiman-Marcus, Beverly Hills.

From there he worked in Visual Display at many of the high end retail stores on Rodeo Drive. Eventually this led to being hired as the Visual Director of the Valentino Boutique on Rodeo Drive in 1999. While at Valentino, he worked on free lance accounts as well as assisting on the many of the projects that Stephen was working on at the time.

To date Visual Image has designed projects that have been varied. A partial list includes a 4 million dollar contemporary re-model in Bel-Air, California to an outdoor plaza on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles. Their designs, just to name a few, have included a Spanish, Moroccan, Mexican guest house in Rancho Santa Fe, California; a Modern Contemporary residence in Scottsdale, Arizona; a very Western/ Cowboy style residence in Palm Springs, California, a Craftsman’s style bungalow in West Hollywood, California, a Malibu getaway, an ultra contemporary residence in Rancho Mirage, California and a 1960 style residence in Michigan.

The hallmarks of Visual Image are that each of their projects reflects the owner’s personal style and taste, that the execution is performed in a timely manner, and that each client realizes their own vision through good design.

Visual Image believes that each project should be a completely functioning environment, from the moment the client sees the house, walks up to the door, tours their residence and then out on to the outdoor areas. It is a complete package.

Visual Image believes that there are no projects that are too small or too large. To the contrary, each project deserves to be handled to the best ability and budget that the client can provide. Visual Image is best known for never doing the same style twice. They believe that since no two people are alike this should be reflected in the individual design for each client.

Visual Image believes that good design work is a team effort. That when it comes to producing quality work, it takes all parties involved to discuss all options and provide opinions. Good design stands the test of time and Visual Image provides quality and long lasting vision to this end.

We are pleased to provide this brief history to introduce Visual Image, its partners and its design philosophy for your consideration.