Nancy Hartt called on H.J. Holtz & Son when she opened her fashion boutique eight years ago for painting and wallpapering. It was only logical that she would call on the Holtz team again for a recent refresh.
“They’re the most trustworthy people of all time,” she says. “They are accommodating, and if something goes wrong, Rick Holtz has someone here within 24 hours.”
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
That was the approach James Wright took when his first application to H.J. Holtz & Son was turned down.
Wright began his career working with a general contractor, but left that position to focus on painting. By the time he approached Holtz & Son, he had four years of painting experience under his belt. Following the initial “no,” Wright bided his time.
Laura Strickler admits that she enjoys being a do-it-yourselfer.
“I’m confident in my own decorating skills, and I like to paint,” she says. “But I knew I couldn’t do all this.”
“All this” refers to the improvements Strickler wanted to complete before April 26, 2022, when her house will be open to the public during Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week.
Strickler says her needs were varied: a refresh on interior walls, repainted kitchen cabinets, and a full exterior paint job – plus accumulated carpentry fixes. Because she had worked with H.J. Holtz & Son on a smaller job years ago, she felt comfortable calling the company again.
Sometimes, a small request leads to big opportunities.
In February, a Richmond designer who often partners with H.J. Holtz & Son asked Carpentry Division Manager Jeff Nonnemacker if someone at the company could build, from scratch, an open end table with shelves, using a photo for guidance.
The designer’s client had a specific need, and the table the client had found was on back order – with a delivery date months in the future. Knowing of the Holtz carpentry team’s ability to repair and replace interior woodwork, the designer wondered if the table could be made in-house.
H.J. Holtz & Son Production Manager Kelly Kutchey recalls a recent project in which the Holtz team was hired to correct painting problems in a brand-new house.
“The builder hired a painter for cost-efficiency, and we were called later to fix all sorts of issues,” he said. “The painter hadn’t properly prepared the trim for painting by filling in nail holes and caulking; some areas also clearly weren’t primed. Trim work should always be [painted] using a nice brush; this house trim was painted with a thick roller … it looked like it had 40 coats of paint. The homeowner wasn’t happy.”
When Sarah and her husband first visited the Goochland property they now call home, they were drawn to the expansive views of the James River. The view of the nearly 100-year-old Tudor house – vacant for five years – wasn’t as striking.
“The house felt dingy and dated – every wall was a pinky peach – and the rooms were intimidating, with high, curved ceilings and dark wood trim,” Sarah says. “Plus, we went into this project with historical easements in place. We couldn’t do structural changes without a deep dive into a historical process.”
The solution: Accept the structure and update the interior through paint and wallpaper.
The old adage about how a little effort at the start of a project can prevent problems down the line holds true when it comes to painting and wallpapering your home.
H.J. Holtz & Son Production Manager Kelly Kutchey says the preparation process that goes into every job is designed to create a seamless execution and a happy outcome for everyone –especially the client.
Local interior designer Janie Molster – a frequent partner with H.J. Holtz & Son on residential projects – says Holtz work is on display throughout her new book “House Dressing,” even if the company name is nowhere to be found.
“My editor advised me not to name vendors and business partners, because I was sure to forget someone,” she laughs. “But Holtz is basically the star of the book.”
It was a great way to finish out a work week.
On Friday, Sept. 3 Rick Holtz read a direct message in the company’s Instagram account from an unexpected source: Jennifer Gracie, creative director of Gracie Studio, a company whose hand-painted wallpapers are world-renowned for their craftsmanship, detail, and beauty.
The message was simple: “You obviously do a great job with our wallpaper. Thank you,” she said, adding she had placed H.J. Holtz & Son on the list of recommended paper installers that designers and showrooms provide to customers.
