Heading into another Vermont winter, we are helping many of our clients freshen their home interiors. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work as painters - learning how people want their homes to look and feel when they entertain for the holidays, return from a vacation or even just a day of skiing. It's always nice to come home, and our job is to create and maintain that feel.

It has become second nature at Topcoat to provide a low impact experience in our customers' homes through the use of no odor, low voc paints and extremely neat, clean and organized working conditions. Out of all the places you go in your life, we want your home to be your favorite. Paint and design are the elements that we use to create that setting. Our quest for perfect products for your home has led me to direct involvement with paint manufacturers in product development, as well as a monthly column in American Painting Contractor magazine (www.paintmag.com). The pilot for my column appears in the October '08 issue and will appear in each issue in 2009.

Another significant influence on Topcoat this year has been our working relationship with designer Stephen Saint-Onge (www.stephensaintonge.com) on private projects, as well as higher profile makeovers for national publications. After so many years in the paint business, it has been refreshing to formally combine our talent with Stephen's vision and experience the changes in our clients' lives firsthand. There is no better, more cost effective way to profoundly improve your quality of life at home than to create spaces that are practical, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

I encourage you to look around on our website and send any comments or questions you may have to info@topcoatfinishes.com. We are really good at what we do, and we would love to include you in the exchange of ideas that we value. I look forward to hearing from you!