We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Van Der Veen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.
Alright, Lauren thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back at the decisions you made early in your career, particularly whether to join a firm or start your own, do you feel you made the right choice for that stage of your career?
When I first got in the architecture and building industry I started a small construction firm with my former partner. Our first company was called Form and Space. We did a lot of carpentry and paint jobs in the beginning. Mainly framing out additions and interior painting because I have always been obsessed with color. As a child I saw colors and shapes instead of words which is how the name of our practice was born. As I spent time working on job sites I began to expand my knowledge as I studied the phases of construction. Through that process I began doing construction drawings such as plumbing locations for bathrooms, lighting plans, simple elevations for tile layouts, etc. I believe that working for myself early on allowed me to explore my interest in design from a very organic place. Once I realized that I was a natural at design I decided to further myself by attending the Art Institute. That’s sort of when things took a turn.
As I studied, I felt a sense of indoctrination. Design school was so intense that I couldn’t run my own business and keep up with my studies. For years I would fluctuate between working in design and going to school for it. I went from studying interior design to studying architecture at Woodbury University. One day and a job offer I couldn’t refuse, I just swore on a rock that I graduated. Well, this day came after I cried so hard at Agape Spiritual Center about my decision to drop out for the 5th time or so. Rev. Michael Beckwith walked up to me one day when I was crying in the sanctuary. With an inner knowing of why I was sad, he put his hand on my shoulder and said, you already graduated! Just like that my soul was free and I began pursuing a full time career in design. This coincided with the year my brother Michael died. The first architecture firm I worked for was also named Mike Holz Architects. I know a lot of Michaels in my story. I also worked for two Richards’. Richard Draut and then for the majority of my career before Launching Zen Ren Inc. I worked under Richard Holz who was a licensed architect who graduated from USC in the 70’s. So he was an OG and he thrusted me into the industry which allowed me to figure out what I was good at. I was slow at drafting. I could do it but I was never going to be a Cad Monkey. I was too artistic and I loved to work outside amongst nature.
When I worked at my first archi firm it felt so repetitive. That repetitive nature at times was meditative. I enjoyed it when I was practicing Ramadan or other fasting techniques because I could just jam out on the computer and let everything else melt away. For a time I needed that. To just jam out and avoid it all. All the parts of my past that I wanted to leave behind. So I worked and I had an endless amount of work and racked up all my architectural hours. I began pulling permits which later lead me to produce my own drawings sets that were good enough to make it through Malibu Coastal Commission. I studied architectural details, drew as built drawings which is the record of what actually got built verses the original intent of the architect. Then I even started designing millwork. I mean I designed so many banquette seats and kitchen cabinets you could nickname me woody. I also began freelancing and did furniture design for sought after Malibu designers who wanted me to draw knock off Italian designers like Casamilano and Giopanti.
I say all of this to say, that I definitely understudied in my own unorthodox way. For me Design is a love story. It’s my longest relationship. It’s my calling, my purpose, it gets me up in the morning and it keeps me awake at night. It’s all I dream about and I am devoted to design. Like relationships, design is always changing and you have to evolve with it. So it was only natural that after 15 years working in Residential design in one capacity or another, I would found my own architectural firm Zen Ren Inc. I am naturally bossy so being employed only worked when I was at Richard Holz Inc because I was able to manage my own projects and pursue some of my own interests. It worked also because I was Lorena, a queen. I was definitely one of the only woman in construction project management back then. And through that career path I studied homes and had my hands in some pretty prolific projects that can be seen in Architectural Digest.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Lauren Van Der Veen and I would consider myself to be an architectural doula. I am someone who assists others in giving birth to their own designs. Whether that is in the form of providing construction documents, or empowering folks to zen-renovate their homes or consulting for clients who may need someone to come along side them as they rebuild their lives. I consider what I do to be sacred. The home is a sanctuary and I am a high priestess of interiors. I care about my clients deeply and know that building a home is a life long investment, it is legacy.
The products and services that we offer at Zen Ren Inc are architecture, interior design, project management and art curation. We simple, design, build and curate for our clients. This is called “turn key” in my industry. I am blessed to spend significant time with my clients which allows me to channel their ancestral needs. It allows me to capture their essence and mirror it into design that is for them and their community. It is my greatest honor to be a steward in this way. To weave architectural design and spiritual practices into our firm is what sets us apart from our competitors.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Not all clients are good clients and not all money is good money. I’ve taken a lot of abuse from clients and colleagues over the years. I’d like to leave it there honestly. It hurts to think about how much I have endured in order to obtain this knowledge. There is a power dynamic when you work on “high stake” projects. Knowing when to be authoritative and when to let the person paying have the room. The very room you just built for them. I’ve had to unlearn quite a lot like anxiety and overachievement. I had to unlearn my position at there table. That there is more to life than proving my worth at someone else’s client meeting. I had to unlearn what I googled about people because when I did, it would make me repulsed to be designing for folks who come from a very different walk in life than myself and my kinfolk. I watched people get sued. Two former colleagues, one whom I was very close to committed suicide and this came after working for the Kardashians. Publications are glamorous but the work itself can be intense. I had to learn not to take my work home with me and that my bosses clients were not my clients. The work is not worth my mental health. I had to unlearn unrealistic deadlines that were set by those not doing the work themselves but upper management overpromising to clients because of there own people pleasing and lack of self worth. I had to unlearn being a house slave and become an architect.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
I started from the bottom and now I’m here or perhaps I am the lotus emerging from the mud. Ren actually means lotus. It’s obviously short for Lauren but it also comes from Nichiren buddhism. I started my business with zero capital. To be honest the only money I have ever made comes from selling designs. I have always wanted to be an interior designer and so I got into this work professionally at 19 years of age. Steely Dan made me feel like I was a vibe at 19 and so I began selling construction jobs. What’s great about this industry is that it can pay well. I’ve always made decent money and I was a saver of that money. When I worked for others I went from making $20 an hour to being six figures. I worked so damn hard that I never spent it. For a long time I would work 16 – 20 hours a day. I was so hungry to make something of myself and I worked with people I loved so it never felt like work in the beginning. It wasn’t until much later when I eventually had burn out that I began to pace myself. The industry didn’t support that pace. So during the pandemic I quit my job and was given a pretty amazing severance package. I took that money and founded Zen Ren Inc. Each job I just invested the money back into the business.
The truth is my business could still use working capital but I continue forward and know that God will continue to bless my business because I am in it for all the right reasons. The design work that I have put forth has created thousands of jobs and helps so many families eat. It is a purely collaborative process that brings so many subcontractors, vendors and designers together. I know that what I seek is seeking me and that investors and working capital is on the way.
In the meantime, in between time, I just keep selling design projects to keep my team busy. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon not to say that I don’t envy those who did. I just have always had a strong work ethic and believe life is an energy exchange. The more energy I pour into my business, the more it continues to flourish. The projects just keep coming. Most of them have largely been word of mouth or through being so boisterously passionate about what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zenrendesign.com
- Instagram: @rennsworld @zenreninc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-van-der-veen-2191b1139/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MgNlaToXro
Image Credits
Juliane Gulla