Two of the highest honors in this line of work are referrals and repeat clients. And when someone appreciates your work so much that they tell their friends or leave a review online, and then ask you back into their home to do more work and art, it’s beyond words how grateful I am.
One client, L, had me remodel his kitchen. We gutted it and replaced the cabinets, countertop, flooring, lights, and more. It was wonderful to be around his loving family who would be coming and going in their large house in a nice suburb of Portland.
An aspect of the project that made me particularly proud was the lighting. They had a massive 4 foot by 8 foot section of their ceiling raised to house a few fluorescent fixtures that were covered up by wood trim and plexiglass to diffuse the light, and they hated it, but they didn’t know exactly what they wanted. Just, not that! I suggested we take down the trim and plastic, and of course the fluorescents, but leave the raised area, then install crown moulding with an uplighting LED strip for indirect light. This cascaded an ambient warm glow over the kitchen, and didn’t cast shadows over the working areas.
From this point, L and his family were hooked. They loved my ideas, work, and craftsmanship, so after I finished their kitchen they wrote a 5 star review on Yelp!
And soon after that, they asked me back to help with another project, a guest bathroom remodel.
Before, hall bathroom
After, replaced tiled shower, tiled floor, and removed walls and louvered doors
And soon after that, they asked me back to help with another project, a laundry and hall bathroom remodel.
And soon after that, they asked me back to help with another project, a ceiling refinish and painting remodel. During this project I fell off my 10 foot ladder and fractured 4 bones in my feet. I recommended that L find a new contractor to finish what I started, but he insisted that he would wait the 6 months it took me to literally get back on my feet.
During all these projects, I got to interact with the family more and more including playing ping-pong with L in their rec room, and being invited to a 4th of July pool party.
Finally, they asked me back to help with another project, a big master suite and bathroom remodel!
All of my projects with them felt special and unique, but this last bathroom took the prize for design, effort, and implementation. The tile work was creative and expressive, and included radiant heating on the floor and bench. The shower was curbless with a line drain and niche, separated from the bathroom by a gorgeous glass panel. They loved it.
Before: carpet, dated look and feel
During: waterproofed floor and shower walls using Schluter products and radiant heat on floor and bench
After: finished tile bathroom with new vanity and double sink
While doing that project, they also asked me to extend the flooring I did in the kitchen 7 years prior through the dining room, foyer, and hallway, plus address some drywall patches and replace all the baseboard trim.
After: hallway and foyer flooring extended from kitchen, with a flourish swapping directions of the planks by the front door to go down the hall.
It’s an honor to work in your home, and it’s beyond words to be invited back as family. Every day, every project, I’ll keep working to deserve that.
