The first thing that jumps at you when you see Susie “Sooz” Mansueto’s tiny wood dwellings is the whimsy — bright, lovely designs that instantly put a smile on your face. But pause to study them, and you realize there’s something much deeper going on — poignant even, as you start reading a phrase painted […]
craftsmanship
Posted inPeople & Places
Living and Loving Art Fully
Entering the home of Darrol and Judy Gover, one is struck immediately with the sense that this is where creativity lives, energy thrives, and not a moment of time is to be lost. Darrol, at 82, has a dozen projects going at once. And when he isn’t working in his garden, carving and painting a […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Art in Public Places — Indian Chief at Lisa Stirrett’s Gallery
“The Chief,” which stands outside of the Lisa Stirrett Glass Art Studio in Silverdale, greets Silverdale Way passers-by. Gallery owner and artist Lisa Stirrett designed the piece and hired Bainbridge Island metalworker Dick Strom of Bapatom’s Metalworks to weld it. At about 11 feet tall, the whimsical sculpture is made largely of repurposed metal — […]
Posted inAt Home
When You Should — and Should Not — Hire a Handyman
When you need a few things done around the house, a handyman, handywoman or handyperson sounds like a great idea. Small jobs, done fairly quickly, don’t really require a general contractor, you may think. Or do they? The handyman field is largely unregulated, meaning no license or bond is required. There are many great handymen […]
Posted inHome
Little Touches Lead to Big Changes in Gig Harbor Home with a View
“If you give a mouse a cookie…” started to say the homeowner of a Gig Harbor home remodel, quoting from the popular children’s book by Laura Numeroff. She was referring to her and her husband’s recent makeover of their home atop a hill overlooking the harbor. The remodel started with the intent of making over […]
Posted inFeatured
Home Wasn’t Built in a Day
If Jerry and Mary Richards of Indianola were to have a clan motto emblazoned above their hearth, it would read, simply: “For Home and Family.” While not actually carved in concrete, the sentiment is obvious in nearly every aspect of the couple’s story, which revolves around their home of 27 years. In 1989, Mary and […]
Posted inAt Home
Remodeling with Timeless Designs Vs. Trends
Starting the process of a remodeling project is exhilarating, and also daunting. The excitement of having a space (or spaces) that will function for you and your family makes you daydream of many pages out of trendy magazines. The reality is, you eventually have to pick one design that will work for your functionality, but […]
Posted inHome
How to Hire the Best Professionals for Your Project
The winter holidays often have a way of highlighting the need for a remodel. Cramped kitchens with failing appliances, bathrooms with leaky taps and no storage for guests’ toiletry bags, front entries with no room for guests’ cast-off shoes — the list goes on and on. With spring and summer just around the corner, many […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog, Featured
Bathroom in a Day: Can it really be true?
You have seen ads for companies that specialize in a brand new bathroom — in “just one day!” It sounds like a dream come true. Have you ever wondered if it can really be done? Well yes, it can. However, there are a lot of limitations. The companies that specialize in this can do a […]