SCOUT WEST represents the intersection between contemporary southwest design, hand-crafted elements, and a respect for retro styles. The logo is inspired by a banner my father created for his student council run in the late 1960s. He was a true rags to riches story, driven to succeed by his circumstances, and inspired by all seven of his children. He was a self-made businessman who departed this solitary space rock far too early in life. He left me with a knack for craftmanship, an eye for design, a desire to grow and learn new skills.

On the word SCOUT

SCOUT has a literal interpretation of exploration. It also has personal meaning. My dad rebuilt a 1978 International Harvester Scout II. What others saw to be disposed of, he saw as potential, completely rebuilding the vehicle from a rusted husk to its current pale-yellow perfection. After his passing, the truck sat in a barn for years until I self-taught in enough basics of car mechanics to have the confidence to take it home and continue his work.

The Scout is a reminder as to what determination, vision, and effort can accomplish. It is symbolic of timeless and classic design, that given a little TLC, can absolutely shine.

In 2016, I got my first dog. A golden retriever. He is named SCOUT in honor of my dad and the truck. He is an old soul with bursts of contagious energy, an explorer at heart, and a constant inspiration to make every day your best. He is always at my side and a partner in all things.

The use of the word SCOUT is a call back to all this; a desire to explore new places and new ideas, to tap into and respect the past, and to instill bursts of character and positive energy into my work.

On the word WEST

The WEST. Big blue skies interrupted only by towering cumulus clouds. Sweeping plains of sagebrush lead to snow topped mountains. Lightning flashes in the distance, too far to hear the thunderclap. The West has always been analogous to adventure and exploring the unknown. With its wide swaths of public land, and incredible natural landscapes, there is a sense of vastness and opportunity. Defined by frontier mythology, from gilded stories of cowboys to the more complicated, immoral suffering of people. The West is characterized by a multitude of cultures and landscape, each influencing their regions in profound ways.

SCOUT WEST plays on phrases like out west, tapping into a sense of adventure and the unknown. It is intentionally reminiscent of Southwest, from which the landscapes and cultures I have grown up in influenced and inspired my design philosophy and photography.

The business, and brand, is culmination of professional skills and skilled hobbies. I aim to be a one stop shop for project management from conception to completion of your project while also offering ancillary services such as interior and landscape design, carpentry, and photography.

A BIT ABOUT ME, TAYLOR NOWAK

I have over ten years of Project Management experience from commercial office spaces to residential remodel and ground up construction. SCOUT WEST is a platform to find new inspiration and new challenges, outside of what I've come to know.

I grew up in a family of eight siblings and five parents. It's big, complicated, a little bit messy, but full of love and laughter. Instead of a family tree, we coined a more west theme - the family tumbleweed. It picks up branches and intertwines with other tumbleweeds as it sails with the wind. I owe so much to my family, and especially my identical twin. He is an inherent part of who I am. Our ability to collaborate on projects, from design to labor, is fundamental to much of the work displayed on this website. My upbringing has instilled in me patience, kindness, and empathy, of which I pride myself in bringing to my professional life.

I am inspired by the aesthetics throughout the southwest region, from the craftsman bungalows in Austin, to the high desert minimalism in far west Texas, to the contemporary rustic mountain homes in Colorado, to the cozy adobe of New Mexico. I am a big believer in retaining past character and accentuating it with contemporary design.