Today we’d like to introduce you to Carl Tillmanns.
Carl, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Connecticut. My father worked in New York City. I was a suburban, commuter kid. During high school, I worked backstage on theater productions building and painting sets and also painted my parent’s friend’s houses to earn college money. In college, I became interested in dance, then went for an MFA in dance at Sarah Lawrence College, and another MFA from NYU in their musical theater program. I lived the artist’s life, danced and choreographed professionally in NYC for several years before moving to LA, following my girlfriend who became my wife. There wasn’t a serious dance scene in LA at the time, so to keep financially afloat, I began painting the homes of our friends and family with actors, dancers, musicians and artists as my crew. Of course now my crew of Rigo, Mauricio, Jaime, Carlos, and Armando are highly skilled painters who have worked with me for over two decades. I’ve seen their babies graduate from highschool.
Little by little, by word of mouth alone, I found myself with a unique and thriving painting business. I consider myself an artisan. Certainly, the application of paint is the primary aspect of what I do, but the aesthetics of color choice, design, and service are what drives me and keeps me in business. Every new home I work on is my next show and I hope when my crew and I leave, my clients feel like it’s opening night.
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?
Running a small “mom and pop” business is never easy, and the free-lance nature of lining up the next job can make for anxious times. In LA, we have a few rainy months when clients don’t want workers in their homes, and now with COVID, certainly we have many other variables to consider. Despite these factors however, I love what I do. My work is to make things beautiful, to work with my hands and body, to make people happy – and those are all elements that bring me joy. I’m lucky that my clients range from celebrities and moguls to neighbors and friends, and that my clientele has grown organically from person to person. I remember thinking when I was young that I couldn’t see myself wearing a suit and sitting in an office every day like my dad did. Times may sometimes be tough, but I have figured out a way to have a hand-made life, working hard but also having the time to fully participate in raising two amazing children who are now remarkable, successful adults.
Please tell us about Housepainting LA.
I’m a California C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor but, unlike most other painting companies that do commercial and industrial work as well, my business is exclusively residential and my clientele are all homeowners. I’m a “one crew – one job at a time” operation, specializing in personal attention and service. I’ve had the great pleasure to be a part of many of my client’s lives, watching their kids grow up, helping them move to bigger homes, and then down-sizing as life moves on.
Part of what makes my business unique is that I come from an art and design background. For many clients, I provide color consultation, helping to choose color palettes for individual rooms, as well as architectural and historical references as an overview. Most people are nervous about color selection and many homeowners need professional advice to coordinate the design elements of their home without the need of an “interior designer.” I also specialize in texture and faux finishes. I’m proud of the “art walls” I’ve created for many clients.
The thing that makes me the most proud are the great friends I’ve made from so many loyal clients.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was lucky to have had the extreme privilege of attending an amazing summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains where I learned how to swim, sail, and canoe, as well as the invaluable gift of self-reliance. After being a camper, I then became the sailing instructor. My life revolved around camp for 15 important years. This place truly touched my heart and soul in profound ways. In a sweet cycle of life, I recently returned to camp to teach a dance course while our son was able to attend as a camper, and my daughter experienced this special place as a counselor. Even though we live in LA, the Adirondacks are a very important place to me and my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.housepaintingla.com
- Phone: 323-965-8518
- Email: [email protected]
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