About

My brother and I immigrated from Cuba to the United States as children during Fidel Castro’s revolution, shortly after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. I learned the value of hard work from a young age, and I have always loved working with my hands and being creative. Along with that passion, my hobbies include music, dancing, traveling, singing, and sports. I am an artist and I have many artists in my family. Wallpaper is art, which is why I enjoy my profession so much. Transforming spaces has been such an exciting and joyous career.

At age 25 I began working in construction and home remodeling, learning many of the trades for the next seven years. Continuing down my career path, I found a passion for aesthetics and design work. Because I have always loved art, the design aspect of home remodeling came naturally to me.  As my talents grew higher in demand, I shifted away from general remodeling to focus solely on wallpaper and painting. Hanging wallpaper is an extremely detail-oriented task, yet I enjoyed the challenges it bring to my artistic abilities.

I started my own contract decorating business in 1983 after a four-year apprenticeship, achieving journeyman status with a large, union painting and wallpapering contractor in Chicago. During that time, I grew my company to include seven employees. I collaborated with interior designers on both residential and commercial jobs.

At the same time, the wall covering trend of the 1980s exploded. We were practically installing everything. Silks, suedes, poly suedes, rice papers, mylars, vinyls, foils, flocks, grass cloth, fabrics, linens, bamboo, hand-screen prints and more. Most all expensive papers with untrimmed edges. We were customizing and creating murals and boarders with 27″ wall paper and 54″ vinyls. Also creating butcher block and diamonds out of grass cloth wallpaper and mismatching colors and textures. We were installing wallpaper on vertical blinds of sliding patio doors to match the wall patterns. Yes! Each 4″ inch blind needed to be covered, one by one. In addition, we were covering and matching electrical wall plates, as well as heat registers and air returns.  I installed wallpaper that came in a box, in pieces (stained edges and treated), the same texture as grocery paper bags and installed them as a collage.  I installed wallpaper made out of real oak leaves!  The list goes on… We were constantly challenged by the flow of new ideas. It was the wild, wild west of wallpaper, and it was great fun.

Working in conjunction with designers and wallpaper manufacturers, the professional wallpaper installers–through dedication, creativity, and love of craftsmanship–changed the wallpaper industry and helped to form it into what we have today.

I spent most of my career in Chicago and surrounding areas. Later, I moved to Arizona and then to Tampa while continuing my decorating career. For most of my career, I specialized in high-end homes and secondary residences. I also worked on commercial jobs such as hotels, law offices, medical offices, and other spaces. Today, I take the same pride in every job, big or small. I have worked on small projects like powder rooms to large commercial jobs, and I treat each one with the same pride and precision.

I recently retired to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to be closer to my family. However, the desire to work and create is still burning. It is with great honor that I now reinvigorate my career. Moreover, I aim to become one of the leading wallpaper installers in Knoxville and East Tennessee.

I have been hanging wallpaper for decades and it is rare to find anyone with my level of experience. My work is fun because I enjoy being creative and social, and I love making people happy. If you’re looking for a wallpaper hanger in Knoxville and surrounding areas, then contact me for an estimate to start transforming your space. Your home is the most special place. I truly look forward to meeting new clients and making your visions come to life.