Today we’d like to introduce you to JR Mariano.
JR, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in Los Angeles, I used to always watch my father fix things around the house and tinker with almost everything he can get his hands on; electronics, cars, etc. We as a family knew that if there was something broken, my father would most likely know how to fix it. I remembered he used to love the early 80’s sitcom Macgyver, who can basically fix and build anything with average household items. Fast forward to the present, I ended up inheriting his ‘fix it’ genes and took it to the next level by becoming a licensed California Building Contractor. My wife Catriona and I opened Jamies Kitchen and Bath showroom in 2008 and named the store after my older brother ‘Jamie’ who passed away unexpectedly in 2001. Since then, we have established a reputation as an innovative design and build firm with impeccable attention to detail and customer service. Since we opened, we have acquired a large portfolio of middle to high-end residential remodels and have been humbled and blessed to have received numerous service and design accolades throughout the years we’ve been in business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely was a struggle in the early years of our business trying to build our portfolio one client at a time and learning and building from our mistakes along the way. The great thing about construction is that things can be rebuilt again. Trust is critical when it comes to construction and our biggest challenge was earning and establishing this trust as a new contractor. Since I didn’t have the experience of seasoned contractors who have been building for the past 20-30 years, we had to constantly prove ourselves by going above and beyond in customer service to make sure our clients were getting the absolute best experience they could receive while working with us. By constantly studying the construction market, we learned that scheduling, communication and staying on a budget were the top 3 components that were the keys to becoming a successful contractor. By focusing on these 3 components, we were able to build a strong and steady reputation as one of Los Angeles’ top design-build construction firms.
JAMIE’S KITCHEN AND BATH / MARIANO DEVELOPMENT – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Jamie’s Kitchen and Bath specializes in innovative and timeless kitchen and bath remodels. The kitchen and the bathroom are such intimate and important spaces in one’s home. We really focus on giving a personal touch in designing these spaces. We are critical in making sure we remodel to match the overall design of the house, are period correct, and would work with the existing layout or remodel the layout to make it more current. For example, if you have a mid-century modern house, we will do our best to design a mid-century modern style kitchen while at the same time introducing the new innovations and technologies of the present such as state of the art appliances, wifi enabled lighting, etc. As a licensed B1 California Contractor, we are equipped to build a house from the ground up. Our credentials allow us to see your space on a grander scale and allow us to really get innovative when it comes to design and layout. What sets us apart from the other companies is our constant communication and attention to detail which we have been mastering for the past 10 years. This has allowed us great opportunities to work with our clients, their friends, family, and neighbors over and over again.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is knowing that when our 6-year-old son Maxwell James sees a house or a building under construction, he asks if that is one of our projects. The fact that he understands what I do, what I am capable of doing, and what I have done in our actual home, makes me very proud to be a positive role model for him.
Contact Info:
- Address: Jamies Kitchen and Bath
3246 San Gabriel Blvd. Ste B
Rosemead, CA 91170 - Website: www.jamiescabinets.com
- Phone: (626) 280 4112
- Email: [email protected]
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