I've noticed that many of our blog entries are about customer service--what WE can do to better the experience of having YOUR house painted--and it made me think of those times that a customer has gone out of his or her way to make my job less stressful and more fun.

On that note, I am reminded of a recent project in Brookline, an interior job for a customer whose work I was happy to do every day.  Our customer had just remodeled her kitchen and the company who supplied the new appliances sent a chef out to the house to give a crash course on how to use the new ovens.  Unbeknownst to our customer, the chef planned to teach by cooking entire meals.  I was certainly in for a treat the next day when our customer offered to heat me up some leftover roasted chicken and vegetables for my lunch.

I felt so welcomed--not just for the hot food but for our customer's willingness to share her time and hospitality.  It was great to sit and chat with her over the meal and get to know a customer a little bit beyond the owner/painter level.  Later on that afternoon, I was warmed even more--figuratively and literally--by some hot tea and homemade chocolate chip cookies.  (Editor's note: I am salivating as I edit this paragraph.)

Even further, after starting this career only seven months prior, I didn't know if I was ready to act as an unofficial design consultant when the customer asked me for my opinion on item placement, but I was thrilled to be asked just the same.  I'm still the new kid in town, but I'm willing to open up where I see the opportunity, and I'm glad this particular customer gave me the chance; in turn, this experience has encouraged me to initiate some conversations with customers on newer projects--which I now know can add a little bit of unexpected fun to the jobsite.

-Kate Brozek, Catchlight Inc.