Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Garnett.
Hi Jeff, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My passion for design and architecture emerged at a very young age. From the very beginning, I loved to draw and build with wooden blocks around our childhood home. I remember observing the details of my surroundings and analyzing (or overanalyzing) the built environment as a young child. My father was a designer, which had a major impact on me throughout my childhood and greatly influenced my love of architecture. He realized I was interested in architecture when I was quite young and supported my path without any pressure. We have always shared a special bond with our passion for design and architecture, which I will forever hold sacred. My uncle is also in this industry, and his position as an architect was another inspiration that led me to enter this profession. His confidence and enthusiastic personality are a constant reminder that you can be successful while also staying true to yourself.
After finishing grad school, I worked at an architecture firm in Austin that allowed me to dive into the profession headfirst (sink or swim). They encouraged and tested my abilities daily with a wide range of tasks and responsibilities, which fast-tracked my design skillset and overall understanding of construction knowledge and the profession in general. I have always had a strong work ethic, but those guys really pushed me in such a positive way to keep evolving and keep climbing. It was the perfect place to learn both design and the technicalities of construction and I will forever be grateful for those years working in Austin.
I moved back to the Fort Worth area and started my architectural practice in 2016 and was fortunate to have acquired a few clients early on that trusted my design sense and overall vision. In our studio, we are constantly looking for ways to improve and evolve with each new design. We’ve had some great clients so far that embrace the design vision and understand the creative process. Our main objective is to provide each client with a built environment they can be at one with — a place to call home, a place for retreat, a place of purpose, a place of peace.
We have several exciting new projects currently on the boards and under construction this year — a nature preserve/family retreat, multiple Texas ranch houses, a ranch compound in Montana, infill studio, and an incredible lake house project in the Texas hill country.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
All new businesses face obstacles and my business is no exception. However, this has been a fairly smooth journey all things considered. Careful planning, strategic marketing, and an enormous amount of effort and energy have been put into this business. Ultimately, the immense passion I have for design fuels this process, which allows everything else to naturally fall into place with planning and a practical business mindset.
We are an intentionally small studio in size, which allows us to put an incredible amount of energy and attention into each project and client. Because of this, we are highly selective with the projects we take on. We would love to design for everyone that reaches out, but we’ve found that focusing on fewer projects generates a better final result. We still take on a healthy amount of workload each new year, but we strategically restrain from overbooking projects in order to preserve quality and continue to evolve with each new design.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I formed my architectural practice with the primary goal of creating meaningful, design-driven architecture. Clean lines, thoughtful details, and highly creative design solutions are the foundation of this practice. From schematic design to final construction, every project is approached carefully and uniquely with a sharpened focus on design and client collaboration. We are currently involved with a wide range of exciting project types across the state of Texas and beyond.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I often receive this question from aspiring business owners and my response is always this: Risks are required. Almost everything we do in this life involves some degree of risk. The risk/reward equation is always on my mind with both my business and beyond… Yes, risks are in fact required but each risk must also be calculated. Is this risk worth it? Does this risk benefit my life positively? How does this risk impact my family? As a business owner, husband, and father of four amazing kids, each risk must be evaluated no matter how large or small.
Taking the leap to start my own practice was a huge risk, but well worth it. Yet sometimes the risks do not pan out — Sidesteps are to be expected and sometimes we may even fall. But with strategy and positivity, risks are a huge part of the creative process and must be embraced.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jeffgarnettarchitect.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffgarnettarchitect/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffGarnettArchitect/
Image Credits
Jeff Garnett
