How did your family background in real estate and construction impact your view on design and architecture?
Working on all aspects of construction projects throughout my entire adult life has provided me with an unparalleled education. No school can match this level of experience, and it has given me a unique perspective.
You learned from the best and combined decades of best practices, knowledge, and experience. How does this experience impact your residential projects?
Few people can harness multiple levels of knowledge and combine them into a focused vision to produce projects of our caliber. This is evident in the detail and overall quality of our work, which is seamless, integrated, and thoughtful.
What does architecture and interior design collaboration look like for your team?
Our work is a singular vision. I don’t see it as a collaboration, but rather as a natural approach to design. All elements of architecture, interiors, and landscape interact like a symphony, where the melody is incomplete without all its parts.
You have a wide-ranging portfolio, what speaks to you about these different projects?
Many of our projects incorporate water features and plantings adjacent to the home or even inside, effectively blurring the lines between interior and exterior spaces. These elements can surprisingly expand a space and create dramatic views where none existed before.
What is your favorite design rule you use again and again?
There must be balance in everything we do. This can be achieved symmetrically, but I find it even more powerful when done asymmetrically. Discovering this unexpected balance creates a unique interest, and when done right, there’s a certain magic to it all.
As you look to the future, are there any ideas you think should be front and center in the minds of residential architects and designers?
I find that most homes are designed as a single box. I prefer to break a home apart into several distinct destinations, creating a journey through different parts of the home interlaced with nature and connected by bridges or other divisions. This approach is far more dynamic and interesting.
Does the ambition of designing unique spaces mean that the bar is continually raised for you personally?
Each project and client is unique, offering special and dynamic opportunities that continually challenge my craft. It’s a never-ending story filled with delight.
Are there any awards and recognition that the firm is particularly honored to have?
We have won many awards over the years, and while it’s always wonderful to be recognized, the greatest reward for me comes from our clients. Recently, an owner texted me a photo of himself inside the home, gazing out at the view, and said, “Christmas every day, thanks to you, Garret.”
What’s next on the boards?
We have some terrific projects coming up, one is an oceanfront home that floats over the water with a dramatic glass bottom pool.
How do you stay inspired?
I am creative by nature and the natural world is forever full of unimaginable beauty that is always my main source of inspiration.
