A homeowner in Bellingham told me my clean-up was 'too clean'

I finished a sweep on a 1920s house last Tuesday and left the hearth spotless, but the owner said it looked 'wrong' without a little soot dust left behind for 'character'. Now I ask about their preference before I start the final wipe-down. Do you ever get requests to leave a bit of a mess?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_miller846d ago

Had a client ask me to leave some sawdust on a new floor for that "lived-in" look...

grantw326d ago

Yeah had a client ask for the same thing last year. I ended up mixing a tiny bit of fine grit sanding dust with some mineral oil and wiping it into the grain, just in the walk paths. Gave it a subtle worn look without leaving actual debris they'd have to clean up later. They loved how it turned out, said it looked broken in but still clean.

young.kim6d ago

I did something like that on a reclaimed wood table. Mixed fine sawdust from the final sanding with a bit of clear paste wax. Rubbed it into the pores and joints, then buffed it off. It settled into the low spots and gave a nice, soft patina that looked like years of polish, not like a mess. Client was thrilled with the result.

-1