Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Sentell.
Jamie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It started early in my life. I used to draw out floor plans for my bedroom when I was going to rearrange the furniture. I have also loved drawing, painting, and creating for as long as I can remember. I was an art major in high school. I also love numbers and calculations. I went to college for engineering and graduated with an Architectural Engineering degree. I worked in an engineering position for almost 7 years before deciding to start my own business. In 2014, my late husband and I started a house-flipping business. He died in early 2015, and I was devastated. I couldn’t get out of bed for a long time. About 2 years later, I bought and renovated the first house. After that, I did one condo and realized I didn’t love all of the aspects of buying, renovating, and selling a house. What I did love was working with my hands and making things beautiful, so decided to start The Helpful HandyWoman in 2019. Since then, I’ve been repairing people’s homes, hanging pictures/art/mirrors, assembling furniture, etc. About a year ago, I felt my artistic side yearning to come out in my work, and began designing and building feature walls, hidden doors, and secret passages. This type of work blends my artistic and engineering sides perfectly. I still feel like a kid at heart, amazed by the wonder, beauty, and excitement of life, and I want to bring that out in others.
Alright, 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 has not been a smooth road. Losing my husband was devastating. It took about a year and a half before I could even think about getting back out into the world.
Businesswise, it’s been an evolution, balancing the types of jobs that are easier to get (repairs, etc.) and the more creative projects that really resonate with my heart.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love getting super creative, both in the artistic aspect of projects and the problem-solving aspect. I love to get to know my clients, what brings joy to their hearts, and create a design that reflects that. I want my clients to feel as giddy as a little kid walking into a toy store every time they see the design. I specialize in feature walls, hidden doors, secret passages, and hidden storage. That alone sets me apart. Not many people are creating secret passages for people.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to be a good fit for everyone. If I’m not the right person for the project, I will happily refer a client to the person who is.
Pricing:
- 20-Minute Discovery Session: Free
- In-Depth Design Consultation: $150–$300
- Feature Wall Design: $1,500–$5,000
- Feature Wall Installation: about $26/SF
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TheHelpfulHandyWoman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_helpful_handywoman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064700898981
- Other: https://www.alignable.com/largo-fl/the-helpful-handywoman
Image Credits
B&E Photography
