My wife and I recently downsized from an older home with lots of charm in NE Portland to a newer home in SW Portland with more creature comforts but less charm. We knew we would eventually want to make the place our own by remodeling the first floor and installing a new kitchen. After several months of searching for the right designer, my wife attended a Neil Kelly seminar and came home raving about the presenter, Joel Fraley. So we invited him over, walked him through the house and began hashing out ideas. He had some great suggestions, like replacing our kitchen island with a peninsula to open up working space. No detail was too big or too small. We talked everything from counter tops and cabinets to light fixtures to hardwood floors. So we hired him and never looked back. After settling on the design, Joel introduced us to Paul Louis, our Project Manager. We had a meeting where they explained the logistics of demolition and construction. We went over the contract in detail so there were no surprises. And Paul drafted a ten-week project schedule so we would know what to expect and when. This was a pretty big job involving all the trades: plumbing, mechanical, electrical, tile, paint and carpentry. Every day we had someone show up at the house ready to go to work. I was amazed at how well they were able to stick to the schedule, even after my wife decided three weeks into the project that she wanted the powder room remodeled as well. The tradesmen and women were always polite and fun to talk to. They did a great job cleaning up after themselves. Ten weeks to the day, the job was finished. Living through a remodel wasn't particularly pleasant, but in the end it was more than worth it. Our first floor has been done to our taste and we finally have our gourmet kitchen. We could not be more pleased, and I highly recommend Neil Kelly in general and Joel Fraley and Paul Louis in particular if you're considering a home remodel.
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