Artist and local businessman, Steve Derminer of Stephen W. Derminer Painting and Wood Care poses in his backyard studio with one of his smaller ”house painting” projects – an original painting. GINI DAVIS – THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
”House painting” is simply in the blood of Steve Derminer of Stephen W. Derminer Painting and Wood Care in Creswell. When he’s not repainting someone’s home, he can often be found in his family’s backyard art studio, doing acrylic and watercolor paintings of houses – and other subjects. One of his pieces is currently on display in the Community Art Show at Creswell Library.
”I just feel uncomfortable without a paint brush in my hand,” Derminer said.
But these days, as the real estate market ramps up for spring and summer and new sunshine turns homeowners’ minds toward sprucing up their houses, Derminer’s days are filling up with a different kind of house painting – both interior and exterior.
”I’ve got about 10 houses booked for outside now,” Derminer said.
On the exterior, peeling paint, he said, is usually a sign of sun damage. ”We pressure wash everything for a nice, clean look, scrape the dead paint, primer, and let the homeowner choose the new color,” Derminer said.
Natural shades of green are current favorites, while grays are favored for home interiors. ”Medium gray with white trim is the hot color,” he said.
And if you’re sprucing up your home, don’t forget about outdoor lights. ”People sometimes forget that the lights outside their garage or front door can get a bit dated,” he said. ”We’re going to take them off anyway to paint, so why not spend another $100 for new lights? It changes the whole look, modernizes and updates it.”
Derminer said he sometimes also gifts homeowners with new ”floating” address numbers, which come in silver, bronze and antique black. ”Little things can go a long way,” he said. ”Just three things – painting, front door and garage door lights and new house numbers – change the whole look of a house.”
Stephen W. Derminer Painting and Wood Care also provides sealing for wooden fences and decks and power washing of sidewalks and driveways.
Whether you’re looking to spruce up your home for yourself, to put it on the market or just to make a new home your ”own,” consider your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, too. ”I work with a lot of realtors who appreciate that I’m known for giving ‘facelifts’ to houses,” Derminer said.
When interior wooden cabinets start showing water damage and scuffs, Derminer can remove and relacquer them for a like-new look at an inexpensive price. He can also paint accent walls in rooms that may not need to be completely repainted.
With such cost-saving measures, ”I’m thinking of the customers,” he said, adding that homeowners needn’t worry about moving furniture out of the way when he repaints interiors: ”That’s included in the price.”
He also purchases as many of his supplies locally as possible. ”It’s important to keep things local; it’s important to sustain our little community,” said Derminer, who willingly lends his skills to his community. He was named Creswell Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 2015 for his work with the Creswell Beautification Project, repainting downtown storefronts.
Derminer has been in business since 1994 and has lived in Creswell for 13 years. He and his wife Erin have two sons.
Stephen W. Derminer Painting and Wood Care is licensed, bonded and insured. To schedule your own spring home improvement project or for more information, call 541-556-0374.
