Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Laney.
Stephen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Slaney Designs story started while I was in the midst of studying for my Interior Design degree at The University of Alabama. I’d always had a knack for and a heavy interest in creating things. My studies while there allowed me to explore how I could take these skills and make them into a career. I studied and degreed in Interior Design with a heavy emphasis on sculpture at The University of Alabama, followed by The University of Colorado where I received my Masters in Architecture. All these disciplines came together in my quest to create. While in graduate school I prepared my personal manifesto as a guide in this quest – “Function, form, timeless design, accessibility, reliability, sensibility. All these terms relate to what architecture should be. It isn’t. Budgets and inspiration can co-exist beautifully. I can see to that. That is my function as an Architect.” I’ve been lucky in that I have been able to create a successful company and realize my dream!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth would be a stretch, but steady would be a good way to describe the past 15 years of Slaney Designs existence. You have to be very flexible and determined to succeed in this business. I have chosen my endeavors wisely, always keeping a very open mind to the good and bad in the business, enlisting both to further my skill set and operations.
When I first started in the business as a green intern Architect, I was not privy to the nuts and bolts of how a business operates, my job was to design to the best of my abilities. The biggest hurdle then and now has always been the behind the scenes work – budgeting, accounting, taxes, insurance, book keeping, etc.
I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve never had to truly advertise my services. I always felt that as long as I did my best, treated my clients fairly, and stuck to the high moral code I expect of others, the well would never dry up. This has held true to this day.
The construction side of the business is definitely not easy, but I find that as long as you avoid shortcuts and maintain integrity in design and execution, the struggles can be kept to a minimum and the rewards can be great.
It never dulls seeing your lines on paper go from scribble to real habitable structures. This part of the business never gets old, regardless of the struggles to get there. The notion that you can build whatever you draw is always exciting and fuels the drive.
An element of construction that never seems to get the attention they deserve are the laborers that take our drawings and turn them into reality. I’ve always treated my laborers with the same amount of integrity and respect I expect in return and have spent my career weeding out the bad to where I have been able to limit the job site struggles that can plague a business and lead to failure. You’re only as good as the people who work for you and you can only maintain the good ones by treating them with respect and dignity. I don’t have a high tolerance for mistakes and the projects I have taken on over the years have not been the easiest to create, a situation that I enjoy as every day is a new day with the expected struggles and complications. Being ready for these struggles and adapting has allowed my company to excel and thrive. I’ve never pretended to know everything and in my opinion having that attitude is key to operating a successful business. You never stop learning…
Slaney Designs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Slaney Designs is a tough company to nail down as far as what we do. We are a design/build firm in the truest sense. We build our own designs as well as build many projects designed by others, including more than a few custom homes for Architects personal use.
Our tool chest is big and varied. I am an Architect who builds, which tends to be more rare than not in this business. I can say that construction found me and not vice versa. Creating was something I always enjoyed, building my first clubhouse in the back yard when I was 13 years old. I’ll never forget my father coming home while I was 8′ in the air with a chain saw about to rip a hole in the roof of my new clubhouse. “What the heck are you doing!” was his proclamation to which I shyly replied “What do you mean? Every clubhouse needs a skylight!!” not realizing that my safety was his utmost concern at that moment. He shrugged and went on his way, never doubting my intent.
After completing Graduate school and receiving my M.Arch degree, I moved back home to Houston and started off working for a custom home builder, creating the designs for high end custom homes predominantly in the villages’ area. After completing a few designs and presenting to him yet another completed set of plans, he threw them back at me and asked bluntly “why are you giving this to me, go build it!”
This was the start of something big for me and I realized very quickly that I loved being out in the field. I worked for this gentlemen for a few more years, realizing that I wanted to start my own company early on in the process of learning how to truly build. Let me be clear that you never learn all that it takes… Every day is a new day, every new design is just that. There are always new problems to solve.
As a builder you have to have a very open mind to new techniques, ideas, methods, materials, etc. The learning never truly ends. At Slaney Designs, we never implement something new without researching both the good and bad, making sure that it will be a positive addition to our arsenal of techniques and products.
Slaney Designs specializes in residential and commercial design and construction. The last few years have seen a large uptick in larger residential remodels and additions which have proven both difficult and rewarding as they require a different skill set to pull off successfully. This starts at the Architecture side, where our goal as always is to make the design of each structure appear as if the remodel never took place.
As a business owner, I’m most proud of being able to look back at the list of structures that we have created, knowing that I have been able to create a small legacy of tangible elements that are bettering society. I try to never forget that especially with regards to our residential projects, a home isn’t just a home to my client, it is a vessel to create memories. This is important and keeps me moving forward to the next.
Setting us apart is not only the quality, performance, look and feel of our designs, but also the personal attention we are able to give to our clients. In this business, you meet a lot of people, and a requirement to any successful design is getting to know those individuals better than they know themselves in some instances. I can look down my client list and see not just names but a list of personalities that I have had the good fortune to know. I was never told in school that I needed to be a designer, Architect, builder, psychologist, counselor, etc to succeed in this business.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Tricky question! I believe the definition of success is a moving target. Everyone’s definition is different. Success to me is a happy client and knowing that I’ve done my absolute best. I would venture to say that my definition of best would exceed most others in my profession with regards to the expected quality and performance of my projects.
I’ve never been one to look over my shoulder. There have been many instances where a client will ask if I know of “so and so” who happens to build/design in my area. Invariably the answer is “who?” never heard of them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 14103 Cindywood Circle, Houston, Texas 77079
- Website: www.slaneydesigns.com
- Phone: 2812217149
- Email: stephen@slaneydesigns.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slaneydesigns/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Image Credit:
Slaney Designs
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