Archive for the ‘Team Bios’ Category
Hudson Remodeling News
Hudson crew Q&A: Susan Silva
Posted 26 December 2018 by Team Hudson
When you welcome Hudson Remodeling into your home for a renovation, you’re making a big commitment. A lot of trust and faith in our Hudson team is involved. Recognizing that, we would like to give you a chance to meet our crew members so that when we do begin working together, it’ll feel comfortable.
With that in mind, we’ve been rolling out crew bios so you can get to know each person who may work in your home.
The next person in the spotlight is designer and project manager Susan Silva.
Susan and Luna, the office dog.
Name: Susan Silva
Role: Designer and project manager
First year at Hudson: 2015, but I’ve been doing designs for Hudson Remodeling since 2003. Charlie Hudson was actually one of the first contractors who hired my company, Silva Design, to do some design work. I still do some of that on the side, too, in addition to managing remodeling projects.
Favorite power tool: The Chief Architect 3D CAD program. I’ve been using it ever since I started in design. I like that it provides an easy-to-understand visual map of the projects — both for our clients and me.
Your favorite thing to redesign: I love to design small kitchens. When every inch counts, you have to be very efficient in your design. It’s much more of a challenge to make it work, and I like that.
Susan on a recent trip to Indonesia.
One thing most people don’t know about you: I love to travel and visit places with different cultures and/or environments. It’s sometimes challenging to be in unfamiliar surroundings, but it makes me feel alive! My last trip was to Indonesia and I got a chance to revisit some places I had been to 30 years ago when I was just out of college. On the domestic side I love to hike, ski, and kayak in our local mountains and waterways. There is so much to explore in our own backyard.
If time and money were no object, what would you remodel at your own home? Gee, I have been making so many changes over the last 10 years. I think the interior is finally done, and I wouldn’t want to change anything else.
One thing you think every homeowner should know before starting a remodel project: Remodeling homes can be a process of discovery. Sometimes unexpected conditions arise that can impact the original design. Having an experienced team to help you sort out the options is important. Also, it’s going to take longer than what you see on TV. You can’t use TV shows as a guide to how long a remodeling project will take or how much it might cost.
Designing these cabinets in her home inspired Susan Silva to become a home designer.
First thing you remember designing: My own kitchen cabinets. In some ways, they were the impetus for me to go down this path of home design. I have a degree in industrial technology, and I always thought I would be a manufacturing engineer. And I was, actually, before I stopped to have kids. But then we were going through our own remodel process at home, and I was looking at all the catalogues for kitchen cabinets and didn’t really like anything I saw. I wanted the cabinets to be straight, with no curvy lines or inset panels, but not totally plain, either. So I decided to design my own. I really enjoyed that whole process. When I decided that I wanted to go back to work, my husband remembered that project and suggested I go into some sort of design work.
First car: 1974 VW Super Beetle.
Favorite candy: Baby Ruth. I love the combination of peanuts and chocolate.
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Hudson Crew Q&A: Andrey Skripachev
Posted 24 October 2018 by Team Hudson
When you welcome Hudson Remodeling into your home for a renovation, you’re making a big commitment. A lot of trust and faith in our Hudson team is involved. Recognizing that, we would like to give you a chance to meet our crew members so that when we do begin working together, it’ll feel comfy.
With that in mind, we’ve been rolling out crew bios so you can get to know each person who may work in your home.
The next person in the spotlight is Andrey Skripachev, a talented carpenter who’s been with Hudson for years.
Andrey with his wife and children.
Name: Andrey Skripachev
Role: Lead carpenter
First year at Hudson: 2006
Favorite power tool: That would have to be the chop saw. I use that tool the most – trim is mostly what I do, so I use it primarily for that, but I also use it for cutting framing and decking.
Your favorite thing to tear out during a remodel: Kitchen cabinets. They’re easy to tear down, and if they’re in good shape, you can save them. A lot of that stuff can get reused.
One thing most people don’t know about you: I speak three different languages, and often all at once. I’m Russian, but I was born in Estonia. I grew up speaking Estonian, which I learned from the kids at school, and even my mom couldn’t understand me. I don’t really speak Estonian anymore, but now I speak English, Russian and Ukrainian. When I’m talking with Russian friends, we’ll switch back and forth among languages a lot, choosing the easiest words, whichever ones make the most sense for what we’re talking about. It probably sounds kind of funny, but it works.
If time and money were no object, what would you remodel at your own home? If I had all the time and money? I’d probably tear down the whole house and rebuild it. Something with a different layout. It’s not like I don’t like the layout we have, but… I’d start with the siding, because I don’t like the current siding. I’d put in new windows, new trim, get the outside all redone. On the inside, I’d open up some walls, put in new hardwood floors, and go from there.
One thing you think every homeowner should know before starting a remodel project: Find the right company to work with. At Hudson, we run into a lot of customers who went with another company because they were cheaper, or because they’d done some work for someone they knew. My advice would be to hire the right person once and get it done right. Then you don’t have to hire someone else to come in later and do the job all over again. We pay attention to all of the little details.
First thing you remember building: I remember working with my dad, when I was maybe 10 or 11. He used to do remodeling and bricklaying, and I remember helping him on a brick barn for cows. This was back in Estonia, and for the time, this barn was really fancy.
First car: A yellow 1988 Honda CRX Si. I was working at a body shop at the time, and I bought it off a coworker. Later, I ended up selling the car back to the guy I bought it from. My favorite car, though, has probably been the 2006 Dodge Charger I owned. I’ve since sold that one, too.
Favorite candy: I would have to say Tupla, from when I was back in Estonia. You can’t get it around here. The last time I had one was in 2008. My mom had gone back to Estonia to visit, and she brought me a whole box. I don’t even remember what was in a Tupla bar, but I know it was good.
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Hudson crew Q&A: Dave James
Posted 15 August 2018 by Team Hudson
When you welcome Hudson into your home for a remodel, you’re making a big commitment. A lot of trust and faith in our team is involved. We recognize that and would like to give you a chance to meet our crew members so when we do begin working together, it’ll feel comfy.
With that in mind, we’re rolling out crew bios in the months ahead so you can get to know each person who may work in your home.
So, here we go! Let’s kick things off with Dave James, who’s been with Hudson for decades.
Dave James
Name: Dave James
Role: Lead carpenter
First year at Hudson: 1993. 2018 marks my 25th anniversary with Hudson Remodeling and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon!
Favorite power tool: That would be an oscillating multitool. It’s a hugely versatile tool for remodelers. I use it to cut tile and wood trim. It helps me get in tight spots and do a good job with detailed finish work.
Your favorite thing to tear out during a remodel: I like demo days when we get to remove built-in plywood cabinets with seven layers of lead-based paint and replace them with modern, clean, custom cabinets. I also like knocking out the vertical bar that separates the cabinet doors under kitchen sinks. That bar makes it impossible for a guy like me to get under the sink to do any work; that annoying vertical bar is the first thing I tear out in a kitchen remodel.
One thing most people don’t know about you: Ha! Most people are surprised to learn that I’m obsessed with Game of Thrones; I’m a total Game of Thrones geek. My wife and I have watched the shows together, admittedly more than once. We know all the characters and love the story. Same with Lord of the Rings. I’ve read all those books.
If time and money were no object, what would you remodel at your own home? I’d actually do many of the things we do for Hudson clients: replace siding, upgrade windows, pop out a sliding patio door and replace it with a French door. I’d remodel the kitchen and do everything on my wife’s “honey-do” list.
One thing you think every homeowner should know before starting a remodel project: Understand that you get what you pay for. Don’t just take the lowest bid. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when it comes to experience and quality standards. Not all contractors care about the little details that our crews do. We’re sticklers for the small stuff and that makes a difference in the finished product. If you want straight grout lines, tight trim joints and drywall without noticeable seams, make sure you’re hiring a contractor who can deliver that so you’re not left looking at flaws for years and years to come!
First thing you remember building: My dad was a remodeler so I started working with him early on. The first job I remember was hanging sheetrock in a hair salon that used to be in the hotel that is next to I-5 on Lakeway Drive in Bellingham – formerly The Lakeway Inn. I was about 12 years old.
First car: My first rig was a mid-’80s Dodge Ram 50 pickup truck.
Favorite candy: Gummy bears! Seriously. Haribo gummy bears are the best.
Tags: Dave James
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