Kitchen Design: Third Contractor

Today we met with a contractor who was highly recommended by our banker. She met him through seminars he presented to homeowners under the aegis of the Cleveland Restoration Society, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the old housing stock in the historic neighborhoods of Cleveland and the inner ring suburbs.

She told my Sweetie that the contractor introduces himself with the line, “I love the smell of freshly cut wood.” Since I do too, this may be a match made in woodworking heaven.

He is the antithesis of the two contractors we have met with before. He runs a small operation. In fact, he is on the job everyday. He also loves working on old houses and lives in one that is 200 years old. I think he will understand our 93 year old.

We have also been getting estimates to rebuild our front porch. He is the first one who offered a different solution. He thinks that his mason can jack up the sagging side which means not tearing out all the brick and stone work. Then only the front steps would need to be re-built. Besides being a much less expensive solution, it also would preserve the original 1917 brick.

We hope that by the middle of July we will have signed a contract and be one step closer to a new kitchen and a sound front porch.