A “significant other” is not usually on the list of must-have ingredients for most room recipes, and most of us certainly don’t expect to find one when we call for bids on our home renovation projects–well, ok, maybe some do after watching Mike the plumber on Desperate Housewives.

Homeowner Natasha Madison of Los Angeles, California, certainly wasn’t looking for companionship when she sought to have the main staircase in her home rebuilt.  “It was surprising,” she says.

It all started when Natasha’s dad took it upon himself to get the project going by demolishing the staircase himself.  Then began the rush to find a good contractor to fix it, and the search was led by Natasha’s mother.  It was a bit like a game of Password–she called a friend who was having some work done, and that friend’s contractor knew a good contractor.  And before you could say “cost estimate,” contractor Rick Mizuno was on the scene.

For Rick it was strictly business, and add to that, “I assumed she was married.”  You may recall a previous blog post where Rick shared his no-nonsense list of the top five ingredients for a smooth renovation from his point of view as a contractor.  Well, this job was no exception. So when the job got a little bumpy, he went into management mode. “My contract stated that the job would include disassembly, recutting and resizing of the stairs–there was nothing about painting the risers and spinners,” says Rick.  But not one to leave a job unfinished, he good-naturedly painted them himself.

Then the height of the railing was not quite to Natasha’s preference.  Again, Rick stepped up, promising to “do whatever it took to make her happy,” which he feels was part of what brought them together.  But it wasn’t until they were able to spend time conversing with each other on topics other than the project that things got interesting, although Natasha did say that her mother noticed Rick’s potential for the heart as well as for the house, early on.

Their first date on Natasha’s birthday was doomed when Rick’s car broke down on the way to her house.  Undaunted, they rescheduled, and talked for hours over dinner by the ocean. And the rest, as they say, is history.  “It’s been wonderful,” says Natasha.  “Yeah, and she doesn’t pay for carpentry,” Rick jokes.

So look out, ladies.  If you need your shower retiled, or your hardwood floors refinished, you may get more than you contracted for.

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Author: Kelly Thacher

Kelly has been a writer since she was in grade school where she received early recognition for her Young Author's project. Magazines like Home Entertainment, Luxury Consumer Electronics, Vertical Living, Luxury Home and the Robb Report were happy to have Kelly's editing talents on various projects. A series of career twists and turns has offered her invaluable experience in journalism, magazine and book publishing, and fiction writing.

Kelly Thacher has written 30 articles for us.