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DARION BARNHART
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Matt Donahoe, owner and principal at Bureau Interiors—our 2020 winner for Best Design Firm—is one of Nashville’s most respected designing minds.
With all the growth and development in Nashville and the design business booming both locally and beyond, Donahoe shared his thoughts on how his business has changed in the past year.
Nashville Lifestyles: How has the recent surge in building and design in Nashville impacted your work and your business?
Matt Donahoe: Our business continues to flourish in our market and beyond. Nashville has been and continues to be a focal market for a variety of reasons, and we are hoping to maintain stride with its remarkable pace. As a result, we have grown in every sense—my team has expanded, our studio is moving to a larger space, and our reach is growing beyond the city to vacation destinations and retreats both far and wide. Currently, we are working on several local projects, as well as residences in California, Colorado, Florida, and The Bahamas.
NL: How have you been able to meet all the demand?
MD: A personal objective of mine when forging my own firm was to ensure we were affable, accessible, and quality-focused. It remains true for me and my team as we approach almost five years of operation. I believe design is centrally balanced by an understanding of our clients and how we work to earn and maintain their trust and joy. In our current climate, we have more obstacles than ever pertaining to our workload. I am most proud of how we sustain our cadence, dedication to service, and commitment to curated, quality end results.
NL: Talk a bit about the process of taking a project from start to finish and what tools play a role in that process.
MD: We approach our projects with a full lifecycle mentality: Our underlying intent is to dive in deep and unearth a client’s wants and needs, as well as understand the technical and aesthetic requirements. Design begins with discovery, so initial conversations inform our design and build rapport with the client. After digging in on this level, we begin to develop the actual narrative of the spaces which gives way to documentation. At this point, we have vetted both the utility and creative parts of the puzzle and create a mix of visuals, typically models and renderings. Recently, renderings have become a staple of our presentations as they have expedited inspiration, understanding, and confidence in the projects.
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NL: How important are client relationships?
MD: Paramount to all, clients and our dynamic is what makes us tick. Sourcing incredible materials and products is meaningless if we do not have an environment for them. We are hyper focused on making our clients feel heard at every juncture in the span of a project. Being attentive allows us the opportunity to build lasting bonds beyond business. We are involved with clients often for years upon years, and like any relationship it requires work, communication, and trust.
NL: Have any recent projects especially stood out to you?
MD: It has been such a whirlwind year and a half; we have over a half a dozen projects yet to be photographed. But this fall season will be our opportunity to catch up and many of the renderings we have shared with you are part of that culmination. The most exciting aspect of our work is its breadth—we have both renovations and new construction, contemporary and transitional approaches. Above all, we are grateful to do what we do with those who give us the opportunity.