Search
Close this search box.
Search

Portola Paints & Glazes Sets the Tone in the Paint World

Brothers Jamie and Casey Davis, co-founders of the family-owned Portola Paints & Glazes are something rare in the paint world—present. Since launching in 1998, they still man their own store and answer the phone.

By

Share

Jamie Davis & Casey Davis continue to set the tone for LA and borders beyond with the homegrown Portola Paints & Glazes

Rather than follow the lead of behemoth brands that have homogenized paint, Portola has personalized it, creating a vast catalog of hand-blended color with narrative and nuance.

The Davises have creativity in their DNA. Their father, Jim Davis, is a contractor of high-end residential homes whose explorations of Old World painting techniques helped kindle the brothers’ own interest in paint. Eventually, all roads led to Portola and its painstakingly produced paint, much of it custom-created and all meticulously accounted for with a name, number and formula.

“We initially relied mainly on specialty finishes,” says Jamie Davis. “We weren’t really sure where our place was in the regular paint world. Now that we’ve been at this every day for almost 15 years, we’ve taken our experience of working with designers, architects and homeowners, and are able to really see what people want.”

Beyond that, there’s the brothers’ gut-level belief in trial and error—sometimes years-long experimentations are necessary to root out exactly what makes a color work, combining pigments to achieve a certain depth and saturation. “So that a color feels a certain way,” Jamie Davis explains, “so that there’s an attitude on the wall.”

In Los Angeles, the vibe is still mostly monochromatic, though the city itself has been a breeding ground for bold artistic cross-pollination. “There are a lot of trendsetters in LA, and I think we’re fortunate to be in a place where people are pushing the envelope and trying new things,” says Jamie Davis, with one caveat.

“The downside is that it can be a little difficult to stand out. For us, it’s a matter of absorbing what’s around us, but also working on our own vision and forecasting what we think is going to be next.”

Next is Portola’s new collection “Fade to Black,” a rich palette of muted undertones with robust complementary accents—soft against strong. Still, there’s always Portola’s pull toward the intangible.

“Our goal is not to smack you in the face with color,” Jamie Davis says. “When you walk into a room with our colors,  we want you to think, wow, I’m not exactly sure why, but I really want to be in here.

There’s a certain romance we try to create.” And so they have. Not only does Portola do a brisk business, it’s hyper-local too. “Community is a big part of what we do,” Jamie Davis says.

“The family-owned business, the eco-friendly aspects of our products and manufacturing process; we source materials and make everything locally in Los Angeles. It’s an important part of our business.”

As collaborators, each Davis has their domain—Jamie Davis spearheads creative, Casey Davis handles operations—but there’s a crossover, the occasional move toward a middle ground.

“We’re connected in a way that nobody else is,” says Jamie Davis of the innateness between brothers. “We’re both after the same goal.” An assuredness that stems as much from the intimacy that a ground-up operation cultivates as it does bloodlines.

If you stop by the brothers’ Hollywood flagship store, you’ll be certain to meet them both. “Right now, you can call or come into the store and actually brainstorm with us,” Jamie Davis continues.

“We create the colors, we mix the colors… It’s not some clerk pulling pre-made paint off the shelf. We’ve been working with these products for years and years—you can’t fake experience.”

Portola Paints and Glazes
8213 W 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048
323.655.2211 | www.PortolaPaints.com

Photos Courtesy of Portola Paints & Glazes

RELATED TAGS

Enhance Your Outdoor Space with VERGOLA’s Smart Louvre Roof

Elevate your outdoor living experience with VERGOLA—a cutting-edge, automated roof system meticulously crafted to harmonize with California's coastal lifestyle. Designed to seamlessly blend light, shade, and air, VERGOLA offers unparalleled versatility and sophistication.
  • March 20, 2024
  • DIGS

Exploring Corinne Mathern Studio’s Tranquil Spaces at La Tarantella

Nestled amidst picturesque vineyards and olive trees in the Santa Ynez Valley, La Tarantella, a stunning villa, has been transformed into an enchanting space for private events. Spearheaded by Corinne Mathern Studio, the renovation beautifully balances old-world charm with modern elegance.
  • February 7, 2024
  • Karine Monié

The Witkoff Group Unveils The Park Santa Monica: A Seven-Story Oasis of Luxury

Beyond a mere residence, The Park Santa Monica is a dynamic seven-story building, designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture for The Witkoff Group, redefines luxury living by seamlessly blending beauty, wellness, and community. With 249 thoughtfully crafted apartments featuring top-tier amenities, from white oak flooring to solar panels, The Park Santa Monica sets itself apart.
  • January 10, 2024
  • Abigail Stone

Timeless Fusion: The Cotswolds Home by Architect Richard Found

Architect Richard Found's contextual country home in the Cotswolds encapsulates the essence of minimalist design within an 18th-century edifice. Located in the picturesque Cotswolds, this project by Found Associates breathes new life into a derelict gamekeeper's cottage, blending modernist architecture with the vernacular stone construction of the region.
  • January 10, 2024
  • Jenn Thornton

Weave House by The BAD Studio: An Ode to Indian Ikat Patterns

Weave House by The BAD Studio seamlessly blends contemporary design with traditional Indian craftsmanship, creating a harmonious living space inspired by the region's rich textile heritage, the house features an embossed brick and diamond façade reminiscent of Indian ikat patterns. The architecture coexists with the surrounding landscape, offering an organic lifestyle and smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • November 1, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters