In the 1970s Shull began selling house plans in do-it-yourself home building periodicals, which were sold in the United States and Canada.
Christie's Thornhurst Addition was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 for its mid-century modern architecture and as the work of a master builder.
[12] Following her marriage to Indianapolis newspaperman Richard K. Shull in 1951, she shifted her focus to building design and construction projects.
[9] Shull's first large-scale construction project was a suburban development on her parents' property, just west of what is now downtown Carmel, Indiana.
[15] To attract homebuyers to Thornhurst, especially the growing number of U.S. military veterans and their families who were eligible for low-interest loans under the G.I.
Bill, Shull designed modern homes to fit Federal Housing Administration guidelines.
Notable architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Joseph Eichler lead the way, influencing the work of others.
[15] Shull's concept for a modern home design combined streamlined interiors with casual living spaces outdoors.
[11] In the 1960s and early 1970s, Shull-designed custom homes could be found in subdivisions around Hamilton and Marion counties, especially in upscale Indianapolis and Carmel suburban developments such as Springmill Estates, Williams Creek Heights, Somerset Hills, Devon Woods, Meridian Hills, Village Farms, Eden Estates and Williston Green.
[11] As Shull's reputation increased, so did the number of custom-built homes in other Indiana towns, such as Evansville, South Bend, and Brownsburg, and in other states.
[10][20][22] Shull's mid-century modern design for this project included post-and-beam construction, expansive panels of windows, stone masonry, and varied roof shapes.
[23] Shull's other notable designs for commercial and industrial buildings the REA Terminal at English Avenue in Indianapolis and the Keystone Square Shopping Center in Carmel.
The Thornhurst Addition, which includes twenty-one of her designs, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 and is noted for its mid-century modern architecture and the work of a master builder.
[11] For more than twenty years, Shull designed and built modern single-family homes, apartment complexes, churches, shopping centers, libraries, and other commercial and industrial buildings that challenged traditional styles.