Dear Friends and Associates,

I am celebrating the fourth anniversary of my design practice this month with great satisfaction. A lot has happened since I first started and I feel truly blessed because I love this job! I earned my Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer designation; I have worked on a great variety of projects with some truly wonderful clients; I have developed a strong knowledge base of environmentally friendly design practices and recycled/sustainable building products; and I have expanded my design services to include bathrooms, laundry rooms and custom entertainment centers.

I am currently on the organization committee of the newly founded Olympic West Sound chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. It is our goal to facilitate the expansion of building and design products and services offered on the Peninsula so that homeowners no longer feel they need to go to Seattle to see the latest looks in tile or test out the newest cooking technology. This is a win-win with jobs and sale tax receipts staying in the county and reducing the time/stress associated with traveling to Seattle.

We commence the re-construction of our own house (I am excited at the opportunity to showcase my design work) this week with much of the work being done by my husband and me. This will be my fifth and largest remodel of my own dwelling to date. I am looking forward to breaking a few finger nails because it helps me to be more empathetic to the position of both my allied professionals and to my clients when I work on a hands-on basis on a building project.

Even though I will be overseeing our building project, I am currently taking on new clients. If you know anyone who is currently considering a remodel or new construction, a referral would be greatly appreciated. References and folio pictures are available upon request.

If you are looking for a little summer time reading, pick up the latest copy of West Sound Home and Garden magazine – I wrote an article for this issue about all that was hot (or unusual) at the 2006 National Kitchen & Bath Show. In you are traveling on Bainbridge, stop by Suyematsu’s strawberry stand on East Day Rd. and pick up some delectable fresh local strawberries (go east on Day Rd from highway 305, it will be on your right hand side).

Wishing you all a great summer!