Simply Annapolis Sept/Oct 2023

PUBLISHER

Veronica Fountain

veronica @simplymagazines.net

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Luke Thompson

Joey Costa

06. Letter from the Publisher

07. Magazine Designers Corner

10. Bold Color in the House

Learn how to Mix, Match, and Re-Color with Bold Intention

14. Black Anchor Roofing

As they leave a mark on the construction industry, Black Anchor Roofing looks ahead with plans for expansion

18. Spire Architecture

Spire Architecture stands out as a beacon of creativity and innovation.

22. Simply Stronger

Yoga, Fitness and Massage Studio

24. Cooking with Color

Decorate your Plate with Colorful Recipes.

28. Fall Fashion with Color

Tis the season to be Bold & Colorful. Hot & Bold Fashion tips from Wrabyn Boutique

30. Real Estate

Divorced couples are Keeping, and Staying in the house.

32. Most Valuable Painters

The Value of Insured Painters

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lauren Forbes

Sarah Dimarco

Aya Furin-Campbell

Nicole Friedman

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Tracey M. Connor

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Veronica Fountain

veronica @simplymagazines.net

As we bask in the warmth of the summer season, often accompanied by a change of pace or perhaps a well-deserved vacation, it’s an ideal moment to cultivate a discipline of reflection. It might appear unconventional to spend your moments of respite in solitude, mulling over your thoughts. You might even think of it as a nonproductive use of your vacation time. However, from my experience, I’ve learned that the habit of reflection empowers us to grow from our past experiences and readies us to more effectively tackle the unforeseen challenges of tomorrow.

To truly flourish and serve as an impactful leader, it’s crucial to allocate time for self-reflection, assessment, and insightful contemplation. Consider the instance of Winston Churchill, who, during his strenuous tenure as Britain’s prime minister throughout World War II, often sought solace in quiet moments—accompanied merely by his trusted cigar.

For numerous years now, my personal routine has encompassed early-morning awakenings—moments of solitude to sit, pray, and ponder. I’ve found that unless I prioritize these reflective moments early in the day, they are likely to be engulfed by the day’s busyness.

The individuals I admire, who’ve made significant impacts in their fields, universally make a point to withdraw from the constant hustle to deliberate with their thoughts. They appreciate the importance of revisiting their experiences, of assessing, and of the quietude. One unanimous

understanding amongst them is that the practice of reflection should not be hurried.

In the flurry of today’s fast-paced world, where we are constantly beckoned by some form of technology, it can be tempting to always be on the move. But I encourage you to resist this impulse. Reflective moments might seem to contradict the summer’s call for activity and social engagement, but they bring their own reward. The key is to sideline distractions.

During my tenure in the corporate world, I noticed that as I climbed the ranks, there was increasing pressure to make swift decisions—decisions that had profound implications. I developed a practice I term as the “pre-decision pause.” Whenever I felt compelled to make an immediate

decision, instead of hurriedly voicing a yes or no, I would calmly state, “I need more time to make a decision.” I’d take the time I thought necessary—be it an additional hour, day, or even a week—to arrive at a confident decision and propose a future meet-up.

At times, I’ve felt an intense urge to respond just because someone was anticipating my reply promptly. Over time, I’ve learned to allow myself the time I need to make a thoughtful decision. During this period, I seek guidance. I reflect. I contemplate. I pray. As you enjoy this summer, I encourage you to do the same. It’s an investment in your future leadership, after all.

Enjoy, Publisher Veronica Fountain Simply Annapolis September Issue

The Designers Spot

Happy Autumn to the beautiful city of Annapolis & it’s surrounding areas!

What an awesome opportunity to set off this fall season as the designer for Simply Annapolis Magazine. This issue is bursting with a Bold Colors Theme that speaks to being different! Mixing bold colors in your food, in your home and in your wardrobe, “OK, I won’t spill the beans!”

Thanks for the beautiful works submitted by the creatives on the magazine team who may have written the article, or captured photos for the feature stories. A special thank you to Natthaphon Foithong, my predecessor, for your prior design works. Nice work team! Nice teamwork.

As I read each article, the photos and the narrative may have influenced how I placed a photo or created a color palette. As you read the articles, and the advertisements, I hope you too will see how incorporating Bold Colors to put a different spin on things can be applicable to life’s journey. And, how the passion and commitment found in the cover story reveals the Bold & Colorful progression of Architecture & Home Improvement right here in Annapolis!

I welcome you to join me in lifting up what we do, what we love and who we are!

Happy Autumn!

Tracey M. Connor

Simply Annapolis Magazine Designer

Simply

Bowie Magazine Photographer

Some people love to read, some love to hike. Some prefer to listen, some prefer to write! Be Your Best Kind of Different!

~TM Connor

House Bold Color In the

How to Successfully Mix Bold Colors in Your Home Like an Interior Designer

By Sarah Dimarco

Designers say that color has the ability to transform a house into a home. And yet, so many people still feel a bit hesitant to use vivacious shades in their interiors, fearing it will make the space feel overwhelming. However, this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach showed us just how vibrant colors can instantly lift the mood of any room and inspire others to think more boldly. “The impact that color can have in a room is pretty exponential,” says Noz Nozawa, whose

brilliant transformation of the Show House’s sitting room left many stunned. “It is really powerful to be able to utilize color in a way that changes your mood or changes the purpose of the room.”

Luckily, the San Francisco-based designer is sharing exactly how anyone can decorate with bold colors in their own home. Consider this your colorful playbook for your home refresh!

How to Mix Bold Colors in Your Home

When it comes to figuring out the color palette of an interior, the first inclination may be to start holding up color swatches to the walls of a living room or dining room. However, Nozawa encourages people to get out of the house and start observing what shades tend to draw them in naturally when they are out and about. “Take the time to go walk around your neighborhood and observe what colors you notice first and how they make you feel,” says Nozawa. “Understanding what hues you naturally gravitate to—or don’t gravitate to—gives a great starting for designers to work with.” Nozawa further explains that reaching out to a deco-

rator, even just for color consultation, can help anyone better understand how to translate those shades seen in nature into usable colors in interiors. Once a primary shade is selected, you can then begin to think about how much space that color should occupy and what other hues it should mingle with in the room.

Use The Color Wheel

Nozawa advises people to rely on a little bit of color theory to find the perfect complementary shade. For example, if the designer is working with a vibrant, full color on the warmer side of the spectrum, she tends to look at the opposite side of the color wheel to pin down a just-as-bold cool shade that can balance out the room. Using the color wheel as a decorating tool can help easily inform the palette while introducing you to new shades.

However, Nozawa is also quick to note that sometimes the most thrilling color schemes come from experimenting and trusting your gut. The designer knew she wanted to use a lavender hue in her design of the sitting room at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, but the thought to pair it with delicious olive greens and tomato reds came after she stumbled across a vivacious Soane Britain textile. “I think a lot of our most unexpected combinations truly have come by way of simple experimentation—taking physical swatches of fabrics and paint chips and laying them together to see how they feel,” says Nozawa. “It’s one of my favorite processes in the design, is just a purely curiosity-driven casual tabletop experiment.”

Stick to Solids

For those ready to play with bright colors, consider toning down the number of patterns used within the room. Sticking to solids is oftentimes an easier way for our brain to process what color is, instead of multiple patterns which can feel overwhelming. The goal is to find the

Push Boundaries

Some designers may recommend starting small with a few bold accent pillows or a multicolored rug, but Nozawa is a proponent of diving in headfirst with those bold shades. “If you are itching for change or for your space to feel more vibrant, I think there’s something in your gut that’s telling you to go full out.” Go ahead and lacquer those walls a delicious raspberry shade or cover the sofa in teal velvet. If you find yourself unhappy with the change,

perfect balance so guests never feel too stimulated in a colorful home. On the opposite side, if you find yourself drawn to prints more, Nozawa recommends finding a pattern with a limited color story which can then inform the palette in the rest of the room.

there’s always a way to make the room feel and look as you pictured it. “At the end of the day, even if you decide you don’t love it, you can influence one color’s mood by layering another color or pattern,” says Nozawa. “No color is static or immutable. You always shift the mood of what one color presents itself as being—it just takes some experimenting.”

TWR:

Article by: Lauryn Forbes

Photographer: Luke Thompson

Black Anchor Roofing

Black Anchor Roofing, a construction company born in 2018, emerged from the ambitious vision of its founder Ricky Cassidy, driven by an unwavering passion for the transformative power of construction. As a Project Manager for a large General Contractor in DC, the seeds of entrepreneurship were sown, and the journey towards building a unique and customer-centric roofing and renovation company began.

Inspired by the expertise of his uncle, who himself was a skilled contractor, the founder witnessed firsthand how construction could turn houses into dream homes. Thus, the foundation of Black Anchor Roofing was laid, with a mission to provide top-notch exterior renovations and deliver a five-star experience to every client.

“ We have assembled a skilled and passionate team of professionals who share a commitment to quality craftsmanship...”

“We are committed to providing our customers with a 5-star experience from start to finish,” Cassidy says. This commitment stems from their desire to ensure that each project, be it roofing, gutters, siding, windows, or doors, is undertaken with precision and dedication to quality craftsmanship. “ We have assembled a skilled and passionate team of professionals who share a commitment to quality craftsmanship. With their expertise and experience, we tackle projects of various scales and complexities, always striving to deliver exceptional results,” Cassidy says. Regardless of the project, their expertise allows them to tackle each endeavor with confidence, leaving a lasting impression on their clients.

Inspired by the expertise of his uncle, who himself was a skilled contractor, the founder witnessed firsthand how construction could turn houses into dream homes. Thus, the foundation of Black Anchor Roofing was laid, with a mission to provide top-notch exterior renovations and deliver a five-star experience to every client.

Black Anchor Roofing looks ahead with their sights set on venturing into the realm of Solar Shingles...

For homeowners who may be apprehensive about undertaking exterior renovation projects, Black Anchor Roofing eases the process by walking them through every step. “Exterior Renovation projects don’t have to be scary; we will walk you through the entire process from start to finish, making sure all of your questions are answered before beginning the project,” Cassidy says.

As they continue to leave a mark on the construction industry, Black Anchor Roofing looks ahead with plans for expansion. Their sights are set on venturing into the realm of Solar Shingles, embracing innovative technologies to make homes not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly.

Additionally, Black Anchor Roofing extends a helping hand to homeowners affected by storms, offering complimentary roof inspections with full damage reports.

Black Anchor Roofing

Their team is well-versed in the Insurance Restoration process, making very simple for clients to navigate the intricacies of claim settlements.

As Black Anchor Roofing continues to elevate the exteriors of homes with passion and craftsmanship, their dedication to customer satisfaction remains unwavering. With each project, they not only build structures but also foster lasting relationships with clients, leaving a legacy of trust and excellence in their wake.

Article by: Lauryn Forbes Photographer: Luke Thompson

Spire Architecture

Spire Architecture takes pride in its ability to create seamless transitions between architecture and interior design, ensuring that each space tells a story.

When it comes to designing spaces to reflect the unique personalities and needs of their clients, Spire Architecture stands out as a beacon of creativity and innovation. The Annapolis-based architectural and renovation firm, founded in 2013 by business partners Kurt Shepard, AIA and Craig Martin, AIA, LEED AP, has been transforming homes and businesses with their attention to detail and commitment to client satisfaction. With a strong focus on residential design, their business has become synonymous with creating personalized spaces that truly feel like home.

Their journey began over a decade ago when Kurt and Craig, both teachers at a local community college, found themselves facing the challenges of the late 2000s recession. As they independently navigated their respective paths, they discovered their shared passion for this industry. Collaborating on projects and providing consulting services for each other, they soon realized their complementary skill sets and decided to join forces. In 2013, Spire Architecture was born, marking the beginning of their partnership.

Spire Architecture takes pride in its ability to create seamless transitions between architecture and interior design, ensuring that each space tells a story. They approach every project holistically, considering not only the physical aspects of the design but also the emotional impact it will have on the people who inhabit the space. “Each family is different, and if a different family lived in the same house we were working on, it may be a completely different renovation,” they said. The result is a blend of aesthetics and functionality, where every room becomes a testament to the unique stories and lives of its occupants.

“We become part of the family on some level. We’re literally in their closets and their bathrooms and their basements,” Martin explains, highlighting the intimate connection they develop with their clients.

Spire Architecture also encourages clients to embrace the power of color in their spaces. They recognize that color is not just a superficial element but an essential component that can transform a home. By working closely with their clients and encouraging them to explore their preferences as well as design inspiration, they help to infuse hues that reflect the personality and style of the occupants. “I think that finding images of things that you like helps, like using Houzz or Pinterest to gather inspiration.

Being intentional visually about the things that help someone feel good is important,” says Shepard.

Beyond their dedication to design, Spire Architecture also values their role as community stewards. Their commitment

to the Annapolis area runs deep, as some of their projects have involved communityoriented endeavors, such as overhauling fellowship buildings for churches or renovating spaces for transitional housing. Their work goes beyond the physical, striving to make a positive impact on the lives of those they serve.

With Spire Architecture, the process of transforming a home becomes an exciting journey of self-expression and discovery. By skillfully incorporating color and crafting personalized spaces, Spire Architecture continues to redefine the possibilities of residential design, leaving an memorable mark on the Annapolis architectural landscape.

We strive to collaborate with dedicated clients, professional builders, talented consultants, and budget mindfulness…to navigate the vision of a project, the design and documentation process, the completion of permitting, and the process of construction…to create a project that embodies that vision.

Simply Stronger

Simply Stronger is a Yoga, Fitness, and Massage studio located in Annapolis, MD, founded in 2002 by personal trainer Debi McKibben, who is passionate about her work to establish, maintain, and improve the health and well-being of her clients. What makes Simply Stronger stand out is McKibben’s motivation to create an experience different from the ones found in many traditional health clubs or gyms, that sometimes can be more focused on bringing in income through establishing a high volume of members as opposed to fostering deeper relationships. “I have always been a proponent of independence and strength and power,” McKibben said, “And I always want to instill that in my clients.”

Simply Stronger was created on the foundation of client empowerment and forming strong and long-lasting relationships with those clients as a component of the fitness programs. After working as an aerobics coordinator and finding that she did not like the ways in which members were being treated by health clubs, McKibben decided to take matters into her own hands and open up her own studio, where she was able to utilize her skills as a massage therapist, personal trainer, yoga instructor, and aerobics instructor while prioritizing her values in her own space, which resonates with her clients and maintains member retention. “People have been coming to

Written By: Aya Furin-Campbell

me for as many years as I have been in business,” McKibben said.

Over the years, Simply Stronger has grown with members of all ages and backgrounds. McKibben works to secure positive and successful relationships with her clients by ensuring that she is completely focused on them and dedicated to them as individuals. These personalized workouts are better for clients because they address the fitness level of each individual, as opposed to a pre-set plan.

Photographer: Joey Costa

This is especially important for new clients who may not have as much experience or comfort with fitness programs. “I want everybody to feel successful and like they can manage it, like this is something that they can do,” McKibben said, in speaking on the importance of the attention that goes into determining each level of activity for each client, “Most people when they start with me really don’t have an exercise regime. So this is all very new to them and very foreign and so they’re going to be a little apprehensive and they’re going to be a little scared. They don’t know what to expect and they have no idea how they’re gonna feel the next day. They don’t want to be hurt, to wake up tomorrow and not be able to walk. All of those things I have to make sure don’t happen to them.”

A first-time client at Simply Stronger can expect no exercise whatsoever on the first visit, just a one-hour conversation with McKibben about their health history, current lifestyle, exercise goals, and anything else that could give McKibben insight into what they are capable of as they start their fitness journey. This way, McKibben can perfect routines that will benefit her clients and not have any adverse effects on their bodies or their way of life. In speaking on the importance of her care for her clients, McKibben said, “They have entrusted their life to me, they have entrusted their health to me, and in return, I have to help them be the best that they can be.”

McKibben strives to go above and beyond in care for her clients, not just in terms of exercise and training, but in every way she can. She works flexibly with her client’s busy schedules, is open to changing schedules and adjusting routines when necessary, and offers her services to two people for the price of one if that is easier for them. In speaking on the strong relationships with her clients, McKibben said, “I care about them. I care about their families. I care about what happens to them. I am committed to them and they know that they come first in my life.”

Simply Stronger serves as a manifestation of McKibben’s love for building people up through fitness and health. She believes that clients are bettering themselves by exercising, that it is a choice to take care of themselves, and that she is simply the person that helps to make that happen. “I want to boost your ego, I want you to feel like you’ve really accomplished something,” McKibben said. For those who do not enjoy

working out but still want to, McKibben overcomes this by focusing on conversation and relationship building during the sessions, and ensuring that the client walks away feeling confident and accomplished. “I’ve kept you so distracted that you have no idea what you’ve done,” McKibben said, “And so you now tend to like exercise.”

Simply Stronger may be the perfect fit for anyone who wants to improve their physical health through exercise and values one on one personalized care and expertise. “The most rewarding thing about what I do is the fact that I get to empower people every day to be as strong and independent as they can,” McKibben said.

Cooking with Color

A Better Choice For Freshness

Boost your health by eating a diet with colours of the rainbow. Fruit and vegetables are filled with nutrient goodness that your body needs, and a great way to ensure you are getting this, is to cook with a variety of foods that differ in colour.

Red, Orange, Yellow

Starting off with the warm colours, it’s easy to pop some colour into each meal with these three beautiful colours.

Capsicums are fantastic and come in a variety of colours! Particularly red capsicums, as they are filled with antioxidants and have that great sweetness and crunch. Capsicums can make for a great snack with dip or try it in our Capsicum & Basil Frittata. Carrots are an easy and accessible vegetable we all have in our fridge! If you want to enjoy carrots in a new way, try our Loaded Carrot Fries with Chilli Cheese Beef – you won’t want to have carrots any other way after this!

How to Cook with Bold Color

See how many colours of the rainbow you can consume this week and be inspired by some delicious recipes below!

Green Load up on your greens! Especially leafy greens like kale, spinach, and silver beet, as these are easy ingredients you can wilt into any meal or enjoy as part of a salad.

Salads are an easy and tasty way to enjoy greens at their best! Consuming raw greens like kale ensures your body can absorb the best nutrients from it. Our Heart Smart Kale Salad has all you need to enjoy a delicious healthy meal.

Cooking withColor

Purple

While not many fruits and vegetables are purple, they can add a delightful finishing touch to a meal! Experiment with vegetables like beetroot, radish, and cabbage to enhance your meal colours this week. We recommend trying our Salmon with Cabbage, Pecans and Bacon or ourRoasted Beetroot & Mandarin Salad

Brown & White

You’ll find it easy to include a white element of food each day. Think potatoes, bananas, garlic, and cauliflower. Get creative with your ingredients and enjoy cauliflower in a different way such as our Cauliflower Fried Rice. For potatoes we recommend trying our Potato Corn Chowder for a delicious winter meal.

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- Maintenance

- Hedge & Tree Pruning

- Tree Removal

- Lawn Mowing

- Aerate/Over Seeding

- Fall & Spring Cleanups

- Sod Installation

- Mulching

- Stone - Topsoil, etc.

If you need the best professional landscaping services, please contact us at (443) 758-5704

Weight

Behavioral

Substance

Minor Illnesses

Welcome to Capital Multi Health Group

Medical

Would you like to access healthcare services without going to a hospital or major healthcare facility? At our medical clinic in Maryland, you can receive the care you need. We offer services that cater to the assessment, treatment, and maintenance of your physical and mental health.

Physicals

What We Can Do

We offer general behavioral health services, including assessments and follow-up care. Psychological assessments are also offered for patients undergoing bariatric surgery and other forms of surgical operations.

Our services cater to people with the following conditions:

Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluations

Psychotherapy

Medication Management

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Dementia/Delirium

PTSD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Asperger’s Syndrome

Grief and Loss

Mental Retardation

Substance Abuse

Eating Disorders

Factitious Disorders

Sleeping Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Panic Disorders

Boutique

Fall Fashion with Color Wrabyn

MORE THAN A BOUTIQUE...

Wrabyn Boutique was founded to solve every woman’s daily dilemma: ‘What am I going to wear today?’ The concept of “fashion” leaves most women feeling overwhelmed. We believe personal style should be personal — and keeping up with trends is exhausting. Our team of personal stylists at Wrabyn focus on helping clients explore, discover and curate a closet that feels uniquely theirs. We help women embrace who they truly are by offering guidance and support to build a lasting wardrobe that makes getting dressed everyday empowering — and fun.

Fall Fashion inBold

Fashion inBoldColors dColors

Real Estate

It’s a Tough Time for Divorcing Couples Who Jointly Own A Home

Higher mortgages rates can make refinancing for one spouse more expensive, making negotiations tougher.

By Nicole Friedman

When Ashley Worsham was getting a divorce last year, she wanted to continue living in the Sarasota, Fla., home she purchased in 2020 with her then-husband, Luke Giaccone.

But refinancing their current mortgage to take Mr. Giaccone off the loan would have raised her monthly payments by about $500 a month. “I noped out of that really fast,” she said.

Instead, the pair agreed to an arrangement in which Mr. Giaccone stayed on the mortgage, allowing Ms. Worsham to keep the 3% rate. Ms. Worsham is repaying Mr. Giaccone’s portion of the equity over 10 years. She rents out a room in the house on Airbnb to increase her income.

“It is a very nontraditional

situation,” Ms. Worsham said.

In past years, the most common way for divorcing couples to resolve the issue of a jointly owned home if one spouse wanted to continue living there was straightforward. One person could remove the other from the loan by refinancing the mortgage. Since borrowing rates had been low for years, getting a new loan was a relatively uncomplicated way to settle the matter.

The rapid increase in mortgage-interest rates over the past year has upended that approach. Today, the typical resolutions for joint homeownership are usually less appealing for at least one and sometimes both spouses, posing a new source of contention.

A divorcing couple could sell the home, but prices have been falling throughout much of the U.S. The couple could continue owning the property together, even after dissolving their marriage.

Or one spouse could take over full control. But transferring homeownership to a single person can require a refinance at the current interest rate. That means the spouse staying in the home could be stuck with significantly higher monthly mortgage payments.

“A lot of the homes I’m seeing right now have mortgages on them from a time when mortgage rates were a lot lower,” said Elena Karabatos, a divorce lawyer in New York. “There’s no question that this is an issue that’s making negotiations tougher.”

Most homeowners with mortgages have a current interest rate below 4%, according to mortgage-data firm Black Knight Inc. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.28% in the week ended April 6, according to Freddie Mac.

Some couples have opted to take turns living in the house with the children until a refinancing or sale becomes more attractive, said Lisa Zeiderman, a divorce lawyer in New York.

“Especially if there’s kids involved, they’re just saying, ‘We’ve got to keep this loan, it doesn’t make any sense to refinance. We’ve got to wait until the rates come back down again,’” said Nicole

Rueth, a senior vice president at Movement Mortgage LLC based in Denver.

Selling the home can offer a clean break. But in many parts of the country, unloading a house due to a divorce could mean booking a loss if the couple bought the home recently. Home prices in some Western markets, such as San Francisco and Seattle, were down 10% or more in February from a year earlier, according to Black Knight.

Terry McLoughlin chose to remain in his house so his daughters could stay in the same schools.

Mortgageassumption, a process for transferring an existing mortgage to new ownership, has gotten renewed attention due to the increase in mortgage rates. Assumptions are typically not allowed for loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but there are some exceptions including in cases of divorce, if the remaining spouse meets underwriting guidelines.

Some divorcing couples are trying to avoid these difficult choices by waiting out the market. In some cases, a divorce agreement could give the spouse who is staying in the home a year or longer to refinance, instead of requiring it shortly after the divorce is final, said Nancy Kaye, a certified divorce financial analyst.

In other cases, the departing spouse agrees to stay on the mortgage to avoid a refinance in exchange for other concessions.

But that approach can have downsides, too. A spouse who stays on a shared mortgage after a divorce might not be able to immediately qualify for another mortgage to buy a home somewhere else, said Gisela Juengling Brandt, a mortgage loan originator with U.S. Bank in Evanston, Ill. If the person who is responsible for the mortgage payment fails to pay, both people’s credit scores could be affected. Terry McLoughlin opted to remain in his house after his separation to enable his daughters to stay in the same schools. “It became really obvious that it was going to be really difficult to do so if I had to refinance,” he said.

Mr. McLoughlin’s ex agreed to stay on the mortgage to preserve their mortgage rate, which is less than 3%. When he eventually sells the house in Sterling, Va., he will repay his ex’s portion of the equity, plus appreciation.

“It’s a risk for both of us, obviously, because we’re kind of tied together financially,” Mr. McLoughlin said. But “it’s definitely a good thing, keeping the girls in the house.”

“It’s a risk for both of us, obviously, because we’re kind of tied together financially,”

Most Valuable Painters

WHY CHOOSE US AS PAINTING CONTRACTORS?

LICENSED PAINTING CONTRACTORS

Maryland requires painting contractors to take a test and fulfill several conditions to be licensed as we are. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission regulates Home Improvement Contractors and investigates complaints by home owners ONLY against licensed contractors. Therefore it is very important to make sure your contractor is licensed.

VERY VALUABLE PAINTING CONTRACTORS

Our crew is formed of only professional painters that have verifiable experience on high end jobs. They have also shown to be meticulous and caring while working. These are painters who take pride in what they do. You will be happy to encounter a very

personable crew that can efficiently communicate with you throughout the entire project. We do Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, Power Washing, and Commercial & Residential Painting.

DISCOUNTED PRICES ON PAINTS

We give you full discounted prices on all paints. Most companies will discount only a portion of the prices on paints. This is so they can earn also from the discount offered by stores. We DON’T do this this, you have our word!

FULLY INSURED PAINTING CONTRACTORS

The state of Maryland requires painting contractors to carry at least $50,000 in general liability insurance. They need this in order to apply for a Maryland home improvement contractor license. Many companies work with “borrowed” licenses or without insurance. MVP takes pride in having a business established in all the proper ways without taking any shortcuts. Our company is fully insured, and we will be happy to provide a certificate of insurance upon request.

IN SHORT

We know there is plenty of competition, and we are not always the cheaper option. Even so, customers engage us because of the trust and the reputation we bring to all our projects. No one can put a price on piece of mind after all. Home owners will always be in need of painters. But our promise of high end quality paint jobs done by trustworthy people is what separates us from the rest.

• Legally established, solid, ethical, responsible professional company

• Take pride in making your home look fantastic, every time!

• Have excellent reviews on Houzz, Google, Yelp!, and Facebook.

OPEN COMMUNICATION

Every call, text, or email is a priority for use and we answer all of your questions promptly. MVP values your time and will try to accommodate our schedule to yours! Whether you need us there earlier or later, we will come and complete your project from beginning to end.

WE ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This is what some of our customers are saying: “Most Valuable Painters is a terrific company! I have known the owner Scott Smith, for at least six years and I would say that he does great work as do his employees. Prices are very reasonable, too!

Scott and his team did a fabulous job for me. They came recommended by my neighborhood forum and I am so glad that I hired him. He power washed my house first (wood siding), he carefully documents areas of rot that need to be taken care of before he could start painting (he set me up with a handyman who completed that work, too. Then he and his team worked diligently in very hot weather. I am thrilled with how the job turned out. When one area needed retouching, he promptly came back and fixed the problem, no questions asked. I am hoping that he took before and after photos of my house. I have no hesitation in recommending him. Professional. Polite. Reliable. Great value AND his team cleaned up perfectly every day.

MOST VALUABLE PAINTERS

410-440-0979

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, MD