Meet Zack Davenport | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zack Davenport and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zack, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wasn’t exactly sure what kind, but I always imagined myself starting my own business from pretty early on. After about 7 years as an interior designer, I knew I wanted to be in it for the long haul. It became clear that for a lot of people, our line of work lends itself to eventually going out on your own. I view interior design as a multifaceted, highly creative art form. For some, there comes a time when you reach this point of needing to check that box of truly putting your mark on things creatively with more artistic freedom and expression. I had the privilege of working for some incredible designers and got a real education that I am forever grateful for. But at the end of the day, it’s their name on the shingle and they (understandably) have the final say. I felt that was ultimately going to stifle my creative growth and a lot would be left on the table.

For years, I discerned through when was the best time, if I was really cut out for it, and all of the things that come along with a leap of faith like starting your own business. Ultimately, I realized there was never going to be a perfect time. I knew the longer I waited the more complex it might be down the road with the curve balls life can throw your way. I got to a place where I knew if I didn’t do it, I would regret not at least trying. I was confident God had gifted me with the ability to design and placed a desire in my heart to pursue it as an entrepreneur in a highly-personalized and relational way. That path was made more and more clear. Eventually, you have to rip the band-aid off. I’ve heard a lot about not having a plan B when starting your own business. I largely agree with that. But when push came to shove, I also told myself that worst case, my design firm would crash and burn in a year or two and a regular job would always be there. In moments of reflection later on, at least I’d know I gave it a shot.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Davenport Studio is a full-service interior design firm specializing in high-end residential and commercial interiors across various design styles. Our design philosophy is rooted in the belief that interior design and architecture possess the ability to make lives better by shaping and improving the spaces that surround them. It’s our goal that a project is defined by reflecting the client’s lifestyle, while incorporating restraint, authenticity, and a feeling of being collected over time. All of those goals hopefully result in a timeless, unique, comfortable and well-edited interior.

We are committed to excellence and strive to create highly personalized spaces with fanatical attention to detail. We take pride in our work and try to go above and beyond in serving our clients from the very first meeting all the way through project completion and beyond. We also aim to strike a balance between beauty and practicality. Too often there are rooms in a home that look great, but that no one really uses – we try to avoid that. Of course, what is considered practical can be subjective, (I’m a designer after all!).

There are definitely times when I find myself questioning the depth and purpose behind helping clients build a dream home, or enriching an already affluent lifestyle. Designing a highly custom interior is very personal for most, and many of our projects take several years to complete. I find there is an opportunity for the interaction to be very relational – not just in the sheer amount of decisions we make together, but in the fact that as a designer you are invited to help them shape how they interact with their most personal private space and gather with family and friends. It’s always rewarding to get a text from a client after an install with a happy face emoji and photo of their kids with the dog enjoying a movie in a home you helped them create (in this case, on a sofa upholstered in a high-performance stain-resistant fabric, of course!).

I’ve been very fortunate in the fact that every project I’ve worked on thus far has been through a referral. I think looking at every job with a relationally focused mindset has served us well, and having a community of mentors and friends has been crucial in overcoming the challenges that go along with getting a business off the ground. I’m a Christian and my faith is far and away the most instrumental thing that helps me overcome personal and professional hurdles. During a lot of the tough early days as a business owner, I would turn to a favorite passage of scripture (Romans 5:3-4) as a reminder to trust and believe that suffering can help build perseverance and really refine us (as I’m sure many designers would agree, with so many details to manage there is a fair amount of suffering to overcome in our business). Some days are particularly tough, but choosing to trust that God ultimately works in all things for our good has helped me beyond measure. Believe me, that doesn’t mean I’m immune to the challenges – I just find it helpful to try to look at them as an opportunity to deepen my trust in his plan and remember that at the end of the day, we’re designing an interior, not trying to cure a terminal illness. Straddling that line between keeping things in perspective while maintaining a desire to do an excellent job and serve your clients well is challenging but necessary to keep your head above water.

Imposter syndrome was very real for me. I think it’s important to be honest with yourself about the things you need to work on and actually put in the time to improve them. You also need to have grace for the mistakes along the way, take ownership and learn from them for next time. I focused on doing the absolute best I could, remembering that the learning never stops, and going the extra mile to remain humble and grateful for the opportunity to run my own business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start with coffee at Intelligenstia in Silver Lake, then take a quick stroll around the neighborhood and grab breakfast at Millie’s. Then we’d head over to Pasadena for a tour of the Gamble house, followed by a stroll through the Norton Simon Museum to take in some art, and head to lunch at Home State in Highland Park. There are a million potentially cooler spots, but I love that it’s not fussy, the tacos are great, and the frozen Margaritas are some of the best I’ve ever had. It also reminds me Texas, which I love and spend a lot of time in for a project we have in Austin.

Pretty predictable, but I’d take them to the Griffith Observatory and pick a hike in that area. Maybe a drive down Sunset to check out the Chateau Marmont, followed by dinner at the Dal Rae in Pico Rivera. My Dad grew up in Montebello, and we have a lot of fond memories going there as a family. Plus the vibe in the main dining room is all time and pretty much unchanged since the late 50s. It’s unpretentious, they make great steaks and have one of the best tableside Caesar salads out there. The garlic cheese bread is also addicting. On the way back into town we’d grab a cocktail at The Varnish inside of Cole’s or head to Tiki-Ti.

We’d definitely check out Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu, Topanga Canyon, Laurel Canyon, ideally both the Getty Villa and Getty Museum, LACMA, and a few more architectural tours if time permitted – Sheats Goldstein, Stahl, Hollyhock, Ennis, Neutra VDL, Schindler, etc. Would have to throw a concert in there too, if a band of interest was playing. Always been fond of the Troubadour, Hollywood Bowl, and the Greek, which all feel so uniquely LA to me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I was largely inspired by having mentors in my life that were entrepreneurial in spirit and an older brother that had tried and failed several times over before running a successful business. I have been very fortunate to have people pour into me over the years. Being the youngest of five brothers afforded me the opportunity to learn from a lot of their trials and tribulations and really glean some important things to embrace and simultaneously avoid (thanks guys). We are all best friends, and they have been hugely encouraging and supportive. Our Dad was also hugely inspirational to me. He valued relationships over numbers in his business, and that left a lasting impression.

I also had the opportunity to work under some amazing designers before going out on my own. When I first started in the design industry, Barclay Butera really took a chance on hiring me. I had no prior experience, just persistence, a passion for design and the ability to freehand draw. I learned a lot about what I didn’t know. My time there served as a great introduction to field of interior design.

I eventually went back to school to earn a Master of Interior Architecture at UCLA. I knew I wanted to take my technical skills and architectural acumen to a higher level. That program delivered, and then some. I had some incredible professors that taught me a lot while also challenging and encouraging me: Eleanor Schrader, Judith Corona, Luis de Moraes, Michael Hricak, Gray Adams (R.I.P) and others. Some of those later studio classes were a real lesson in humility.

Most recently, I worked for John Wooden Interiors while going to design school, and continued on for several years after graduating. John is the namesake and grandson of the legendary UCLA basketball coach, and that pedigree was evident though his work ethic and integrity. John taught me so much about good design and what it takes to be a true artist and designer, not just a decorator. John is incredibly talented and one of the hardest working people I know, all while maintaining a healthy work/life balance. He led by example, and cares deeply about design details, authenticity, and that a project ultimately reflects how the client lives. He believes that one should never have a “signature look” that they steamroll a client with, but rather a collaborative through line that mixes things up so a project feels timeless and ages gracefully. John helped refine my taste and eye for detail, scale, materiality, mixing new with old, and the importance of restraint and editing in design. He was ultimately very supportive of my decision to go out on my own, which can be rare in our line of work. We are still close and I am grateful he continues to mentor me to this day.

Website: www.davenport-studio.com

Instagram: @davenport.studio

Image Credits
Drake Alexander Sam Frost Davenport Studio