Why Great Design Takes Time and Investment with Jamie Bush

Jamie Bush, founder of his eponymous Los Angeles-based interior and architectural design firm, discusses why the success of a project rests in taking a slower, more intentional approach.

“I truly believe that good design takes an investment in time,” says Bush from Montecito Residence, a home he designed near Santa Barbara. He adds that “it’s worth spending the time to do considerate, careful, meaningful design moves. I feel that rushing this is a disservice to the client but also to the fabrication and the longevity of what we build.”

“It’s worth spending the time to do considerate, careful, meaningful design moves. I feel that rushing this is a disservice to the client but also to the fabrication and the longevity of what we build.”

For Bush, identifying his subcontractors’ unique skills and utilising those aptitudes in a project’s design is a valuable investment. “Not every client is going to give us the space and time to work directly with the subcontractors and to discover what talents and skills everybody working on the job site has, but for this project in particular, the clients really allowed us to step into getting to know the people that are crafting the home, and that‘s when the ordinary becomes the exceptional.”

For example, the design and fabrication of a custom vanity and mirror at Montecito Residence is the result of a lengthy dialogue and collaboration between Bush and the fabricators. Understanding the fabricator’s parameters and capabilities allowed for a completely bespoke unit, one that enhances the space yet elegantly meets the clients’ briefing requirements.

Bush also believes spending time understanding the clients’ preferences and patterns of living is invaluable to the outcome.

Other examples include the integrated custom Casey Johnson Studio cabinet and the wall panelling crafted from the same white oak boards used for the flooring. Of these unconventional yet ingenious design moves, Bush says it’s about “leaning into the people that are fabricating the house and what they’re great at and what they excel at, and exploiting that in the best possible scenario.”

Bush also believes spending time understanding the clients’ preferences and patterns of living is invaluable to the outcome. “Really spending the time with our clients was key to the success of the house. It’s not just about the aesthetics but really the functionality of how they want to live and what’s important or not to them.” As keen cooks and entertainers, Bush placed emphasis on the kitchen, designing a welcoming, dynamic space in a prominent location. In addition, the clients had a clear vision for the home’s colour palette, and Bush spent many hours working to understand their inclinations towards tone and hue. “Getting out a Pantone deck and understanding what colours resonated with them and which were forbidden was an incredible study,” he says.

Bush takes this rapport with his clients one step further, working backwards from these discussions and allowing the results to not only inform, but guide, the design response. At Montecito Residence, this applied to the clients’ art collection, which was an important early consideration. “During construction, we really had to stop and look at the art collection and understand where specific pieces could go. It wasn’t something that was added on afterwards, it was really an integral part of the architectural process.”

Time is our most valuable commodity, and though Bush admits his line of work is often at the mercy of unforgiving deadlines, he sees immense value in taking a slow approach and creating room for ideas to evolve without time constraints. “Good design truly takes an investment in time no matter how much money you have or your resources. It really is about slowing down, and I believe that the most inspired spaces and the most carefully crafted details are something that should not be rushed.”

This series is brought to you by Fisher & Paykel.

Interior design by Jamie Bush + Co.