Meet Ellie McKenzie and Gary Bannister of Farmhouse Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie McKenzie and Gary Bannister.

Ellie and Gary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Farmhouse is our third child, born in 2003. Our son was 4 and our daughter had just turned 1. We were both working as designers at the time, but decided to join forces. We needed a space to be uninhibited, be our own advocates, and had a deep desire to be available for our children. We wanted to realize the energy and creativity that we put into our craft, and be in control of the outcome. Who in their right mind leaves secure jobs with two small children to work with their spouse? We did. We were so passionate about design, we probably made the decision without thinking it through – but that excitement and drive is the momentum that propelled us forward. That, and a lot of luck.

Now our son is about to graduate high school and our daughter is 15. They’ve been here beside us as we’ve grown Farmhouse over the past decade and a half – they’ve served as both incentive and inspiration. We are still passionate about what we do, maybe now even more so. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but believe solid design can make a difference with its power to transform the world around us. It’s an honor and privilege to craft brands and solutions for clients that we’ve built relationships with over the years. These are the folks that push us to be better designers, better listeners, better storytellers.

Our website header has a quote by Rumi, “Let the beauty we love be what we do”. Simply said, but it’s what we live by.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Yes and no. Having your own business comes with many obstacles, but also many choices. Maintaining balance in work and life is not easy – overcommitting seems to come with the territory. Like with any type of work, there are inevitably those days that really challenge you. Accepting failures and struggles have only made us stronger and more aware of our boundaries and desires. The dance is hard, yet incredibly rewarding. Generosity, integrity, and honesty in business and in life has rewarded us with grace and success. Laughter, getting outside, and getting out of your own head go a long way. We have always told our children to do what they love because they are in charge of their own happiness–the rest will follow. It requires a huge leap of faith, but we are a testament to that mantra. It is incredibly humbling.

Farmhouse Design – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Farmhouse is a full-service design and branding studio. With a unique voice, we craft solutions with a desire for an uncommon outcome, and are a part of the process from inception to completion. Our branding, print, and packaging work is what sets us apart, but we enjoy the challenge offered with any creative opportunity or imaginative idea. We respect collaboration. Our relationships with our clients motivate us to effectively communicate their brand, inspire emotion, and give them the tools to achieve success. We recently came across a poster that read “Design is a journey. Find your own path. Work hard, be nice and stay humble”. That about sums it up.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Raising 2 children, while running a business doing what we love. Hands down.