We were lucky to catch up with Tim Stanton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tim, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Reclamation was born out of shared hunger… for more meaning, more beauty, and more courage in the built environment. We looked around and saw a world full of spaces that looked polished but felt hollow. So we started asking: What would it look like to design spaces with souls?
Our mission is to reclaim what’s been lost in design: not just craft, but conviction. Not just aesthetics, but atmosphere. We believe every environment, whether a home, an office, a hospitality space, or even a garage has the power to stir something deeper in people. And we’re here to design for that depth.
Our backgrounds are as multidisciplinary as our projects: fashion, interiors, hospitality, branding. That fusion is deliberate. Reclamation is a design studio, yes, but it’s also a storytelling house. We blend hard design (architecture direction, plans, materials) with soft design (furnishings, art, décor), brand identity, and hospitality strategy. Because we don’t believe in fragmented experiences. We believe every corner, every color, every touchpoint should sing in harmony.
This mission is personal. We’re people of faith. Of conviction. We started this studio not just to build beautiful things, but to create work that serves people, even restores them, inspires them, leaves them changed. Whether we’re designing a 6,000 sq ft Spanish Revival home in Houston, branding a boutique vacation rental inspired by John & Jackie Kennedy, or quietly reimagining a counseling office to feel like a sacred refuge, we carry the same vision into every space: beauty that speaks before words do.
We’re not here to move fast. We’re here to move meaningfully. In a city like Austin, where culture is shifting by the hour, we feel called to create anchors… spaces with identity, not just influence. And that starts by listening. Listening to the buildings themselves, to their bones and stories. We’re not asking what can we do to this space? We’re asking what is it already trying to say?
What began as a discontent has become a design rebellion. A commitment to doing things the slow, thoughtful, almost spiritual way. Because we believe the most magnetic spaces aren’t the ones that follow trends. They’re the ones that carry truth.
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’m a creator and storyteller at heart, driven by a deep belief that spaces can do more than just look good, they can move people, shape culture, and create legacy. I got into this work because I noticed a gap. There were plenty of pretty interiors out there, but very few that told a meaningful story or sparked genuine connection. I started flipping houses and designing Airbnbs that didn’t just blend in with the scroll, but stopped people mid-swipe. That turned into a design studio dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind hospitality experiences, places where design, narrative, and branding come together to create emotional resonance and financial return.
Our studio’s sweet spot is designing boutique hotels, intimate commercial spaces, and creative environments that feel like they were made for a specific time, place, and people. I approach every project like a cultural artifact in the making. That means no copy-paste formulas, no generic Pinterest boards, no chasing trends. Every space is grounded in story, shaped by strategy, and elevated by emotion-provoking design.
We’re especially passionate about helping clients stand out in oversaturated markets. Whether it’s a host struggling to break past occupancy barriers, or a founder trying to build buzz around a new company, we help our clients win by turning their space into an experience, something with soul, edge, and staying power.
I don’t actually consider myself a designer, but rather a brand architect, researcher, and cultural observer. I think like a strategist, but execute like an artist. My work is informed by editorial storytelling, luxury fashion, faith, and a relentless commitment to hospitality. We’re proud of the ways our projects consistently outperform market benchmarks, but even more than that, we’re proud of how they make people feel.
More than anything, I want people to know that our work is about reclaiming design as a force for good. Not just a surface-level luxury, but a powerful tool for telling the truth, building community, and leaving something lasting behind. If you’re building something meaningful… something bold, beautiful, and full of heart… we’re probably already interested.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
My entire career has been a series of pivots… not out of confusion, but out of curiosity and calling. I started with a degree in architectural engineering and began my career designing solar power plants, which taught me how to think at scale and design with intention. But even then, I felt pulled toward more creative expressions. So, on the side, I started a boutique modeling agency, a seemingly left-field move that eventually took me to New York City, where I spent nearly a decade immersed in the fashion and tech world.
In NYC, I worked with GQ, launched a line of fashion accessories, and made my way into branding and advertising in tech and AI. Every shift gave me new tools, from understanding the mechanics of influence to mastering the art of visual storytelling. At the same time, I was investing in real estate, renovating my first property in Brooklyn. That project was the spark that ignited my love for space-making, but this time, through a completely new lens.
That renovation wasn’t just about tile and layout, it was about transformation. I saw how space could unlock value, tell a story, and shape someone’s daily experience. It felt like all the threads, engineering, fashion, brand, storytelling, real estate were converging. So I followed that momentum and co-founded an interior design studio with two of my best friends. Together, we’ve built something that draws on each of our past lives to create work that’s soulful, strategic, and unforgettable.
So yes, I’ve pivoted, often. But every pivot has added a layer. It’s made me multi-faceted and deeply empathetic to the many kinds of people we design for. It’s also given me a point of view that doesn’t fit the traditional mold and that’s exactly what makes our work so distinct. I’m not trying to do what everyone else is doing, just better. I’m here to do something fundamentally different.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
Last winter, our business was on the brink. We flew to New York City to pursue two potential projects, but in reality, we were reeling. We were deep in build mode, still shaping our brand story, refining our aesthetic, trying to find product-market fit, and honestly just trying to prove to ourselves that this thing had legs. We didn’t have clients lined up, we were emotionally stretched thin, and financially speaking, we were pushing past the edge.
That’s when my cofounder Devin pitched the idea to bring a videographer and shoot a pilot episode for our YouTube channel. It felt insane. We barely had money to cover the trip, let alone film and edit something. But Devin was adamant: “We’re going to look back on this and cherish it. This is the beginning.” And somehow, even in the mess and uncertainty, we knew he was right.
That trip became a defining moment. All three of us had the same realization, and even said it out loud at the time, this was either the beginning of the business, or the end of it. That’s how fragile it felt. And yet, we chose to bet on the vision God gave us. We spent money we didn’t have, captured it all on camera, and walked headfirst into the unknown.
Now, looking back, that was the beginning. And I’m so grateful we had the foresight and the faith to document it. That footage holds our hunger, our doubt, and our resilience. It reminds me that near-death moments are often disguised beginnings. You just have to decide whether you’re going to flinch… or film.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reclamationatx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorsreclamation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatorsreclamation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tailoredtim/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ5E14qUsv0
