The Carpenter, while on a job recently, was solicited for advice by the Homeowner. This is such a common occurrence that we decided to start this blog.

Each homeowner has a pain point when it comes to their house, and at the root of that pain point is always the indecision of how a certain issue in their home should 1) Be Handled or 2) Be Designed.

Now – I am not going to give you design ideas. I am exceedingly poor in that department. The Carpenter is MUCH better at design and art than this poor IT lady.

Here is a story:

The Carpenter, at my request, removed a door from one of the rooms in our house. Its an older house, and there were two doors going from our living-room into an adjoining room. I required, only one, door. He did a beautiful job! The result was a living-room with a wall that was covered in spackle.

One year later, my mother was visiting and asked when we would paint the living-room.

The Carpenter: “When she picks a color.”

Oh lawd.

The second year was peppered by The Carpenter showing me paint chips from Home Depot (no, they’re not paying me to say this – we just live there and they’re nice enough to not kick us out). It started with an entire book of colors.

I couldn’t decide, thanked him, and set it to the side. Then a few months later I was presented with another selection of colors. A smaller selection this time. This went on as part of our monthly routine, until… The Carpenter came up holding 3 paint chips that were all the same color of varying shades and said: “You like purple.”

I said: “Yes! Yes, I DO like purple.” and I pointed to the color that is now covering the wall of my living-room.

So, The Carpenter is exceedingly good at giving people a nudge in the direction that they want to be going.

At this recent job, the Homeowner hired The Carpenter to do a number of jobs. During the course of one unrelated job, the Homeowner started talking to him about the carport cover. She was undecided as to what should be used to cover the ceiling rafters. The Carpenter suggested she leave it open, since she had expressed a fondness for older-styled string lights and the juxtaposition of wood and industrial.

Decision made.

Instead of spending the extra money to enclose the ceiling of the carport, she went with something that was less expensive and more pleasing to her eye than the original concept. The Carpenter and his trusty pressure-washer did quick work of the carport, and the Homeowner and her friend proceeded to white-wash the carport ceiling. The result was exactly what she wanted.

It just took a little nudge.