Oh, the places we'll go. Throw a dart at a map of the greater Puget Sound region and you'll likely snag a bit of topography encompassing a Master Builders Association member-built home. It happens with an association as influential and widespread as the MBA. Today the dart has pierced a cozy little neighborhood on the Seattle side of Lake Washington.

Bullseye.

The home, dubbed Bookhouse (you'll soon find out why), was built—or I should say rebuilt—by Prestige Residential Construction, with design done by DeForest Architects, and it is absolutely breathtaking. The entire narrative of this home is understated elegance; no gaudiness, no look-at-me features or unwieldy excess.

Here, lakeside charms blow in with the onshore winds, light and refreshing with a strong hint of history. This spot of land and its brick Tudor house in different forms has been around for a while—87 years, I learn. I wonder what the original owners would think of the estate as it stands now. From what little I see so far, I think they'd approve.

"The renovation," continues Jeff Santerre, founder and principal of Prestige, "was done so as to keep the home's original soul intact, creating a seamless juxtaposition between old and new."

Preserving Seattle's rich architectural past is key and Prestige is leading the charge to keep our city looking as emerald as ever. Within the mix includes a few personalized "Oh would you look at that" features, both big and small. It's important that there's a "word wall" (a big feature) just past the de-emphasized front entrance inside the home, where the owners were able to stencil in words and phrases close to their heart. Some are book passages; others look to be more personal, family names and the like. Out by the front sidewalk, the entry gate has a horizontal slit cut in about a foot off the ground that acts as a lookout for the dogs that roam the grounds (small feature).

One Book, Two Books, Three Books, More…

About the name Bookhouse—inside I find many floor-to-ceiling shelves containing works like Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, a book on the history of Asia, and many other titles I don't pretend to know anything about. It's safe to say the homeowners love to read. Touring Bookhouse is like opening an unknown book, with each page, or each corner of the home, offering something new and exciting to experience. This place allows you to dream, and so I do.

Like the most vivid dreams, a signature Prestige project contains significant parts you just can't shake—bold, well-crafted details like a wall made of retractable steel windows, an exposed brick exterior, and minimal interior trim. Some of these features you notice right away, some are pointed out and then become instantly recognizable, but all help to define the home in their own way.

The home is perfect for the people it was built for; of that, Jeff and the talented team at Prestige make certain. Before any project begins, a thorough discussion takes place, involving what is wanted, what is expected, and what is best for the property, the home, and the homeowners. Neighbors are thrown into the mix, too, because Prestige wants to "play nice in the neighborhood," as Jeff puts it. He and his team are careful not to infringe on "zip code violations," or anything that wouldn't fly within a particular neighborhood, plus their unrelenting commitment to keeping their sites clean and tidy or as Jeff says "protect and respect." After all, they "build communities, not (individual) projects." It's important to note that these preliminary conversations are called negotiations and that they form the foundation for building an estimate.

The best part of a build or renovation project, of course, comes at the end when Jeff can "toss the keys" to the owners. Before the team leaves, high-fives are exchanged and many thanks are given. Sounds like a good gig. What makes the gig groove is a focus on excellent communication, superior craftsmanship, and high-quality execution, the core values of Prestige.

Hop on Top

The phrase "some folks just have it all" is thrown around in and out of context and it could easily be said about Prestige today. Mostly it conveys some sort of supernatural luck, which diminishes the hard work behind the achievement. Jeff and his company weren't always blessed with everything. He and his crew worked hard over 35 years to get where they are. And it didn't happen overnight. In movies, when the young, yet-to-be-famous person is shown not being famous, the wait is short. A few frames about how hard it was to get to the top, and suddenly they're there.

Reality says differently.

There are days, weeks, months, years where nothing happens. Success isn't a few scenes in a two-hour biopic; it's sometimes a decade or more in the making. This isn't fun or exciting, and it's not something people would likely pay to see, but it's reality. And 99.99% of the time there's no way around it.

Prestige wasn't one of the .01%. Jeff Santerre worked hard, and smart, to get to where he is today. He grew his small 20-person crew slowly and deliberately, ensuring that each candidate first learns how to do things "the Prestige way" before becoming an official team member. Maybe this cohesive philosophy has something to do with his past as tenor sax player in an R&B band, I suggest. He doesn't seem to think so.

When he traded his band gigs for ones in the residential homebuilding arena, he admittedly carried with him a fair amount of naivety. Helped in part by a strong sense of getting things done right and a natural ability to connect with people on a personal level, he eventually found success playing a new tune.

Of course, a steady backbeat in the form of the MBA helped keep the groove going strong. In the 90s, Jeff found mentorship and friendship as part of the Remodelers Council and proudly acknowledges his winning entries in the Remodeling Excellence (REX) Awards over the years. He continues his partnership with the Association today, frequently participating in volunteer efforts like Rampathon and Painting a Better Tomorrow. In fact, his wife Teresa worked on the very first Rampathon in 1993. Not to put him on the spot, but Jeff seems like the ideal mentor for someone up and coming in the industry; someone who is where he once was.

You're Only Boss Once

For all his accomplishments—Prestige just celebrated 35 years in business—Jeff isn't ready to give it all up tomorrow. He's energetic, obviously loves his clients and his job, and is very good at taking care of both.

When asked about retirement, he brushes off the question. It's obviously not something he has put a lot of thought into. For now, Jeff and crew are happy to continue the journey begun 35 years ago—a journey, Jeff says, that is shared by "great clients" and what sounds like a lot of great moments.

When done right, like Bookhouse, a project becomes a "piece of art that's priceless," says Alex Steele, director of marketing and business development at Prestige. She has the "Prestige way" down. Doing things right also means avoiding projects that are treated simply as "transactions." There's no build and bail; these homes are as much a home for Prestige as they are for the owners, only the team doesn't get to live there.

You get the feeling, however, that most clients-turned-family would welcome any member of Prestige into their home. Don't believe me? Take it from a real-life client, who, in the cadence of casual conversation, warmly stated, "I would do anything for Jeff!"

To a general contractor, that's like winning an Oscar.

Somewhere not far away, the Prestige team is at work building or remodeling another dream home for someone. The first time this someone experiences the transformative environment that has been created for them, it will be amazing. When they realize this transformation is theirs, it will be defining. After that, who knows? The steel-made windows, personalized wall art, and other unique intricacies that make the home home will take its owners wherever they please.

Doesn't that excite you? It should.

By MBAKS Content Strategist James Slone

A home is not truly complete until its unique details are set in place. Crystalline shower doors, eye-popping accent walls, and ornate tile floors transform mere rooms into showpieces offering a lifetime of delights.

It’s not easy putting on the finishing touches. Tile, glass, and paint may be surfaces, but the work they require is anything but skin-deep. I spoke to three trades professionals to find out how they make functional spaces extraordinary.

Bath project showing off the painstaking work, masterful skill, and artisanal creativity that goes into Mohler Design’s vividly eye-catching tile creations. Photo credit: Cindy Apple Photography

Mohler Design—Striving for Happy Customers

There is nothing like a glimmering backsplash beckoning from the kitchen or intricately patterned entryway tiles inviting you home. Since 2001, Mohler Design has offered exquisitely detailed tiling services throughout the Seattle area that make everyday spaces stand out.

Founder Bill Mohler tells me that when he started the company in 2001, “It was just me and two other installers.” But skill, talent, and ambition quickly attracted a highly skilled team of craftspeople united by a passion for creating inspiring designs for kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, and an array of other surfaces.

“We pride ourselves on education and training and making sure all our [tile] setters are updated on current installation methods,” says Mohler. “We work with all types of tiles from classic to modern to genuinely unique designs.”

Custom work is a pleasure for Mohler Design and the company never lacks for exciting new projects. “We typically complete over 100 a year,” Bill explains. A project can require as few as one installer, or several if it’s a large custom build. Either way, “It is essential that we work together with other contractors to ensure that projects run smoothly and on time.”

For Bill, there’s never a dull moment working with individual homeowners or designers and builders on a diverse spectrum of projects. “Our projects can vary greatly in size and detail from a small backsplash to a large custom home build with tiling in multiple rooms.”

With two decades of experience and a reputation for excellence, Mohler Design has established strong working relations with the finest tile and stone distributors in the industry and have collaborated with top designers, builders, and general construction firms in the area.

Bill takes great pride in the company’s long-standing relationships throughout the community. “We have been honored,” he says, “to work on some very cool projects over these past 20 years.” Quite a few have netted significant accolades, including several Trades Excellence in Remodeling Awards from MBAKS.

Awards are great, says Bill, but they’re not the biggest motivator. “When all is said and done, we strive to ensure our clients are happy.”

Distinctive Glass—A Legacy in Glass

“We ask a lot of questions, listen carefully, and do our best to help the client get what they envision. It’s so fun to see [a client’s] dream bathroom completed with a really nice shower door or mirror. It puts that finishing touch on their home.” The effort involved is worth it but takes time.

“An average shower door takes about four to five weeks to fabricate, but some custom showers can take as long as eight. With sales, estimating, production, and installation, it takes seven to nine different people to finish an install. We complete about 15 per day.”

The company has a sixth sense for what the customer wants, and experience means they can deliver. “We have 10 employees who’ve been with us for 20 years,” says Brian. “What makes the company is the quality of people we have working with us.”

Brian’s passion for glass is a family legacy. “I’m a third-generation glass guy,” he says. “My father and grandfather were lifelong glass guys. Both of my boys are now in the industry and love it. My co-founder and business partner Dennis Vogt started in the 1970s.

“Dennis and I had a vision of being known for the highest-quality glass work in the state. We try very hard for that.” Now, says Brian, they’re doing it in more than one state.

A longtime Distinctive Glass employee Matt Dunston recently opened a new location in Arizona to bring the shop’s high-quality work to the Grand Canyon state. “It is doing very well, and we are excited about what the future will bring.”

Hedlund Painting put the finishing touches on this stunning Kirkland update with gorgeous interior and exterior paint that makes the home seem lighter than air.

Hedlund Painting—Picture-Perfect Finishes

A house is just a structure before you add paint. With vivid colors and tactile textures, Lynnwood-based Hedlund Painting transforms mere collections of floors, walls, beams, and ceilings into homes brimming with vibrancy and life.

Their luminous work has won numerous awards, including several Best of Houzz Awards and Angi Super Service Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Hedlund Painting doesn’t just paint. They offer a full range of services, including interior and exterior staining, cabinetry refinishing, millwork, drywall repair, and wall texturing—and they do it all on point. But the power of their work is about more than mere craft and artistry. It’s also a matter of pride.

The company’s success, says owner Christopher Whitman, lies in their dedication to customer service and quality results. With years of experience painting thousands of households, the company has developed highly efficient work processes that keep projects on-time and on-budget.

Their website declares, “We are not looking for a single job; we build relationships that last.” This is accomplished by “showing up when we say we will, respecting the job site and everyone we interact with, and by being honest and ethical.”

To ensure that the end result meets or exceeds client expectations, Hedlund maintains strong lines of communication with clients, emphasizing punctuality, cost-effective technique, and perfect finishes.

Whitman says that Hedlund’s team, both office and field staff, work closely together. “Office Manager Carmen oversees internal operations while Charlie, Rigo, and Zak provide estimates and other customer-facing services. Vince and Erika handle day-to-day field tasks such as scheduling the crews, material orders, and onsite customer relations. All in all, it’s a team effort and we strive to emphasize that to each other and our clients.”

From the moment they contact the client, Hedlund initiates a “very friendly and informative” process. “When conducting the walk-through, we provide the client a detailed and organized list of their requests and our tasks.” The client agrees to the work to be completed before a single brush is dipped.

“Upon agreement, the task list is given to the project managers who execute all the details and tasks discussed during the initial walk-through.” The work is always aligned with the customer’s wishes. What they dream up is what they get.

Christopher loves the process. “I have a lot of fun helping clients achieve the changes they’re looking for. Painting as a whole is a reasonably cost-effective way to make huge aesthetic changes in your home. I personally find making that connection on a personal basis very rewarding.”

For Hedlund Painting, that human connection is the real finishing touch.

The MBA held its annual Hill Day in Olympia last Wednesday, February 8, providing an opportunity for members to advocate for our top-priority housing issues. Twenty-five members and Government Affairs staff met with over 30 King and Snohomish county-based legislators throughout the day.

Members discussed our core issues with senators and representatives, including the need to restore vested development rights, improve the process for measuring buildable land supply, find a path forward for permit-exempt wells in the wake of the Supreme Court's Hirst decision, and support workforce development.

MBA members also shared with legislators our new housing attainability piece, describing steps needed to bring housing supply more in line with our region's strong demand.

During the lunch break, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (34th District) met with the MBA to provide a legislative update. Fitzgibbon is sponsoring a bill, HB 1862, backed by the MBA, that would allow final subdivision plat approvals to be conducted administratively.

Thanks to all our members who participated and helped make sure our association's voice is heard in Olympia!