Last year after my daughter, in her frank (but appreciated) honesty, blurted that my house looked like it was still 1992, it was time to give it a facelift. At first I thought just a fresh coat of paint, new floors, and faucets would suffice but had no idea where to begin. (Hey, I'm a biology teacher, not a a member of Team Property Brothers!) What I needed was the equivalent of a wedding planner, someone to bounce ideas off, hire the best contractors, and coordinate the work--all within a reasonable amount of time and staying close to budget. I needed someone who could help me turn my dated home into something fresh--rooms of my own, a fortress of solitude, a California coastal paradise. Luckily, I found Mary through a simple Google search. With her years of experience, artistic eye, and attention to detail, she made me see the possibilities before they became realities. (Who knew that there are at least 60 shades of grey?) Her cadre of contractors salvaged what they could and replaced what needed to be replaced and/or updated, down to new hinges on the doors. Yes, the place was a mess for a few weeks, and for the brief time it was basically unlivable, we visited family in New Mexico. Mary had organized the project so well and seemingly effortlessly, checking on its progress on a daily basis. When Jason and his painters left, the kitchen tile and countertop folks came in; after Dennis installed new faucets and toilets, Steve replaced the hideous wall-to-wall carpeting with engineered hardwood. Quartz replaced ceramic, brushed nickle traded for 90s gold trim. I can't count the number of times I arrived home from work to find Mary with screwdriver in hand, tweaking something that wasn't quite right. When the renovations were 95% complete, I literally cried when I walked through the front door. My 1992 home was breathtaking--and so 2018. My daughter was flabbergasted. Mary had thought of everything--the tiniest little details--and had worked late into the evening hanging pictures, assembling furniture, breaking down boxes for recycling, and laying down a 9" x 12" living room carpet (a task harder than it sounds). During our journey together I learned so much because she was with me every step of the way. I'm so appreciative that Mary advised based on her expertise and artistic eye while allowing me me to tap into my creativity and vision. She's a genius at what she does. And now she's a great friend, too. read more