- Story by Sean McIntyre Photography by Don Denton
Andi Hook grabs a sparkling water from the fridge ahead of our interview. The kitchen香蕉视频直播檚 white cupboards and shimmering appliances surround a sprawling central island, lending the space an air of elegant spaciousness.
There香蕉视频直播檚 even room for young River to play on the floor while Andi香蕉视频直播檚 mother, Jude, takes a phone call across the room.
It香蕉视频直播檚 unsurprising that Andi and her spouse Larry have created such a great kitchen for themselves. What is shocking is that we aren香蕉视频直播檛 anywhere near the couple香蕉视频直播檚 home. We香蕉视频直播檙e at their office.
Granted, the warehouse setting along Sidney香蕉视频直播檚 Mills Road and the sound of power tools from Larry香蕉视频直播檚 workshop in the adjacent room betray the room香蕉视频直播檚 true location, but business at Hook & Hook Renovations and Design has been hopping since the husband-and-wife team set up shop three years ago, making the office somewhat of a second home.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e lived in seven or eight places since leaving California in 2008, and we香蕉视频直播檝e felt totally accepted since we arrived here,香蕉视频直播� says Larry.
Displaying her eye for detail and knack for precision, Andi notes it hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been quite that many places, but she concedes the young family definitely has a healthy wandering streak.
Andi moved to California, where her mother began a home-design business, soon after graduating from high school in the Lower Mainland. She fell into the business naturally and soon found herself studying interior design in New York. Soon after she returned to the West Coast to work in the family business, she ran into Larry on one of her projects.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 hired him to do the cabinetry, and he never went away,香蕉视频直播� she says.
The connection was instant, and the pair artfully combined Andi香蕉视频直播檚 penchant for design with Larry香蕉视频直播檚 skills in carpentry and cabinetry to start a business that has since seen them renovate homes across the continent.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e kind of like a one-stop shop,香蕉视频直播� he says.
Larry, clad in work clothes and obscured by several layers of sawdust, stands in stark contrast to Andi, who is elegant, gracious and impeccably dressed. The advantage of covering the extremes is that clients instinctively know who to turn to when they have questions to ask.
香蕉视频直播淭hey seek her out for design, and they automatically know I香蕉视频直播檓 the contractor,香蕉视频直播� Larry says. 香蕉视频直播淚t makes people feel comfortable because they realize they香蕉视频直播檝e got all these tools and knowledge at their disposal.香蕉视频直播�
The couple opened Hook & Hook Renovations more than a decade ago on Prince Edward Island, where they began to specialize in the remodelling of historic homes as well as kitchen and bathroom renovations. With a newborn son in tow, the couple eventually decided to relocate closer to Andi香蕉视频直播檚 mom, who had since moved north to the Saanich Peninsula. If that wasn香蕉视频直播檛 enough of a reason, there was the alluring prospect of less snow, milder winters and fewer mosquitoes. The deciding factor, at least in Larry香蕉视频直播檚 mind, was living a ferry ride from Seattle, home to his beloved Seattle Seahawks, a team his family has supported with religious-like zeal for generations.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 decided early on that we weren香蕉视频直播檛 going to settle easily, but I think we both now agree that Sidney is the spot for us,香蕉视频直播� Larry says.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 like our son to grow up in the same spot and have some roots here,香蕉视频直播� Andi adds.
The couple has started renovating their own home in Sidney and a welcomed surge in business means the Hook family spends a lot of time at the office. Larry has crafted a ping-pong table and dart board in the workshop and young River already has his own little workbench set up near his dad.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 got his own set of tools, and he can probably use a drill better than some of the guys I香蕉视频直播檝e hired,香蕉视频直播� Larry jokes. 香蕉视频直播淚 feel fortunate that he likes that kind of stuff, because I work a lot.香蕉视频直播�
In spite of the long workweeks, Andi and Larry appreciate the importance of setting aside time for the family. The Hooks enjoy hiking at Goldstream Park, Mt. Doug or nearby Horth Hill. If time is tight, they香蕉视频直播檒l pop out of the office to spend some time climbing on the rocks down at the seashore or a nearby park. Swimming lessons are every Wednesday, and the family tries to head out camping whenever the opportunity arises.
香蕉视频直播淚 always find a way to incorporate myself into family life so they香蕉视频直播檙e not left wondering where Larry is all the time,香蕉视频直播� he says.
Carving out that family time has been essential to maintaining a healthy and productive work life. As any spouses can imagine, working alongside one another in a stressful and emotion-filled sector like home renovations offers valuable lessons for married life.
香蕉视频直播淐ommunication is huge,香蕉视频直播� Andi says.
Talking things through with one another or with clients is also a large part of the business. Clients have varying levels of anxiety surrounding the building process and it香蕉视频直播檚 crucial that elements on the design side correlate with the building phase. Having an idea of what香蕉视频直播檚 ahead, talking things through and offering reassurances are important whether you香蕉视频直播檙e talking to apprehensive homeowners or a tired partner.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e able to blow things off super fast,香蕉视频直播� Larry says. 香蕉视频直播淲e are both stubborn and strong minded, but we香蕉视频直播檙e both flexible. There hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been an issue that we haven香蕉视频直播檛 been able to iron out together.
香蕉视频直播淲hen I香蕉视频直播檓 wrong, I香蕉视频直播檓 wrong. She香蕉视频直播檚 never wrong, so that香蕉视频直播檚 all good.香蕉视频直播�
You can find .
