Meet Tom Podhrazsky | Designer

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

Hi Tom, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
Yes, I often say, “If you want something better than average you have to do things that aren’t normal.” People like to have nice things, but very often aren’t willing to do the things that are necessary to have them.

As a designer, I’m often the first step of the process when people want to start actualizing their dreams. Compared to the cost of construction drawings are cheap, so what often happens is that clients start asking for things that they can’t afford, or they fall in love with the idea of having something special but aren’t willing to put in the extra effort that’s required to make it happen. It takes discipline to make something beautiful and to see a project through to the end, so I remind people in the beginning that nothing comes for free, and feel out my clients before putting pencil to paper.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Tom Henry Design Company is a design firm that specializes in custom residential and historic preservation. We aim to design buildings and rooms that simultaneously cultivate comfort and beauty for those who dwell within them. We provide the vision for what is possible and the road map for how to get there.

Getting to this point took 15 years of trials, tribulations, false starts, and blind leaps. I took a lot of risks chasing naive ideas, and thankfully most of those risks have paid off. I never formally went to architecture school, so I often felt that I was behind the curve. I read a lot about the great architects of the past and worked hard to learn the skills I deemed necessary to catch up with the standards they set. In the end, I have found that the profession of architecture isn’t much like the idea I had built up from reading all those books – but in my naiveite I had developed a unique skill set that makes me very good at my job. I am an artist, a craftsman, and a designer. That combination means that I can design a beautiful thing, communicate how to make the beautiful thing, and build the thing myself. My clients find this very useful.

I’ve learned that you should never let other people dictate to you the standards of your work, and that there are no shortcuts to success. The fastest way is the slow way. Carefully build a good foundation – step by step. If you don’t have to keep going back and fixing your own mistakes you will end up further in the same time than if you keep rushing ahead of yourself.

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?
A week!?

Oh man, personally I would probably visit all of the historic sites and houses, wander randomly down the small streets and alleys of the historic district, and then run off to Sullivan’s island for a beach day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had the great privilege of getting encouragement from a lot of amazing mentors and friends but you know honestly, if I were to dedicate this to anyone it would be my mother. Over the course of my life there has not been anyone more supportive and encouraging. Aside from her I am very grateful for the time I spent working under Andrew Gould, and for the encouragement I received from my friend Brad Collins. Institutionally, I owe a lot to my alma mater, the American College of the Building Arts. I wouldn’t be where I am today without having gone through that program.

Website: https://www.tomhenrydesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomhenrydesign/

Image Credits
Blake Shorter, Tom Podhrazsky, Andrew Gould