Finding a reliable plumber — or a contractor, a designer, a painter or a store owner with a treasure trove of chic home accessories — is never easy. So we asked for your suggestions in our annual Readers' Favorites survey: Whom do you turn to when it's time to update your home or fix something that's gone wrong? We discovered that you have to dream big in this unstable economy if you want your business to succeed; new ideas and old ideas re-imagined give a store or a service the edge that makes it a winner.
Vendors
Antiques
West End Antiques Mall
Before he became a manager at West End Antiques Mall, Steve Hedrick shopped there as a designer. "I could always find something out of the realm of the ordinary at prices that kept my clients happy," he says. With more than 250 vendors selling furniture, art, jewelry and decorative objects from just about every era, it's no wonder this maze-like, 53,000-square-foot space has become known as a resource center for mid-Atlantic designers and is a favorite with local antiques hunters. "If we don't have it, you don't need it," Hedrick jokes. 2004 Staples Mill Road, 359-1600, westendantiquemall.com
2nd Sheppard Street Antiques
3rd Caravati's Inc.
Appliances
Appliance Solutions
You won't find anything but appliances at Appliance Solutions, with lines that range from Wolf and Sub Zero to GE and Whirlpool. "What really sets us apart is our ability to resolve so many challenging situations customers have with regard to the fit of an appliance in their home," says Tammy Kelley, owner of the store's Lakeside Avenue location. Need to replace an odd-sized 40-year-old oven installed in a brick wall? "We can handle that," she says. 5418 Lakeside Ave., 266-7621; 2611 Buford Road, 272-3276, appliancesolutionsva.com
2nd Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
3rd Reico Kitchen & Bath
Bed linens
Williams & Sherrill
Customers can't find bed-in-a-bag sheets at Williams & Sherrill, says creative director Jamie Coffey, but they will love the selection of linens ranging from everyday purveyor Pine Cone Hill to super-sumptuous Ankasa. "It's all very personalized," Coffey says. "We can make an individualized look by mixing and matching the lines we carry and come up with a very, very luxurious bed for you or your child." 2003 Huguenot Road, 320-1730, williamsandsherrill.com
2nd Yves Delorme
Art Gallery
Chasen For the past 12 years, this Carytown gallery has built a loyal following among local art lovers who snap up works by nationally and internationally known artists like Trisha Adams, Jillian Rafferty and Stephen Casun, among many others. Owner Andrew Chasen says he is willing to "bend over backwards to accommodate our clients." He will happily deliver a fragile work of art to a client's home so they can view it there before they purchase. 3554 W. Cary St., 204-1048, chasengalleries.com
2nd Crossroads Art Center
3rd Quirk Gallery
Bargain Finds
Goodwill
"We rotate things through pretty quickly," says Ellen Thornhill, Goodwill's communications manager. "We have to — people expect to see something new every time they shop." Unsold merchandise lands at Goodwill's outlet on Midlothian Turnpike, where you can find a sofa for $5 to $10. And check out Second Debut in Carytown for designer finds. Goodwill Outlet, 6301 Midlothian Turnpike, 745-6300; Second Debut, 3114 W. Cary St., 254-7623; various other locations, goodwillvirginia.org
2nd Diversity Thrift
3rd Class and Trash
Cabinets
Reico Kitchen & Bath
Whatever your kitchen redesign budget might be, Reico Kitchen & Bath's Deborah Tomlin says, she's got the right cabinets for you. She's been around long enough to have witnessed the capital city's evolving — but always classic — style go from tried-and-true dark cherry finishes to its current flirtation with modern looks that still retain that flair for the traditional. "We're comfortable with anything from a contemporary urban loft to the more traditional styles to the larger gourmet kitchens," says Tomlin. 2132 Tomlynn St., 262-8389, reico.com
2nd Kitchens ETC LLC
3rd Old River Cabinets
Consignment Furniture
Impulse
"This year has been our best year yet for furniture … We have it coming in and [then] going out as fast as it came in," says Jane Fenstermacher, co-owner of the nearly 9-year-old Impulse. "You really have to come in every day because things change so quickly." For customers looking to fill a gap or a whole house, there's strong appeal in being able to buy like-new furnishings at a big savings. 419 N. Ridge Road, 288-7300
2nd Consignment Connection
3rd Susan's Selections
Countertops
Charles Luck Stone Center
Studio manager Shannon Dugan calls the Charles Luck Stone Center "an amazing facility filled with really knowledgeable people. We focus on bringing in materials that you can't find everywhere else." Their procurement team travels the world in search of unusual products for countertops and other stone projects. It's worth the drive to Manakin-Sabot to check out. 343 River Road West, 708-5700, charlesluck.com
2nd Brazilian Best Granite
3rd Artisan Concrete Décor
Exotic Furniture
La Différence
What, exactly, is exotic furniture? "I think it's furniture that tells a story that's not of our own culture," says Sarah Paxton, co-owner of La Diff, Richmond's downtown bastion of international home furnishings. Exotic could be the giant teak stump orbs from Indonesia that currently grace the store's entry or, for some, it could be an aqua-lacquered wine cabinet from China that many a customer has coveted. "The way people truly live is eclectically," Paxton says, and La Diff fills that bill for Richmonders who like to mix their grandmother's wing chairs with Danish modern for their own brand of exotic. 125 S. 14th St., 648-6210, ladiff.com
2nd Ruth & Ollie
3rd Green Front Furniture
Fabric
Williams & Sherrill
Yes, Williams & Sherrill has thousands of yards of fabric on hand, plus design, fabrication and installation expertise, but what both homeowners and pros love is the access to high-end lines like Designers Guild, Brunschwig & Fils, and Scalamandre. And you don't have to be a designer or architect to see and order the good stuff. "We have customers who are covering dining room chairs, and we have others doing an entire house," says owner Patrick Williams. "You can buy yardage off the bolt for $14.99 per yard, but we've also got fabric to order that runs up to $500 per yard." 2003 Huguenot Road, 320-1730, williamsandsherrill.com
2nd U-Fab
3rd Calico Corners
Flooring
Costen Floors
Variety is Costen's ace in the hole when homeowners and contractors go looking for "anything you can walk on," says owner Tripp Costen. "We‘ve got ceramic, vinyl, laminate, rubber, cork, bamboo, carpet and wood materials." Customers count on Costen's for the latest like the popular hand-scraped wood that looks foot-worn, as well as the unusual (by order) like reclaimed lumber from old Guinness beer barrels or wood dredged from the bottom of Maine lakes. 9840 Mayland Dr., 527-2929, costen.flooring-professionals.com
2nd (TIE) Carpet Cuts; Carpet America; Evans Carpet Corp.; Morris Tile Distributors Inc.; The Tile Shop
3rd (TIE) Old Dominion Flooring; Richmond Decorating Center
Gardening Tools & Supplies
Strange's
Since the 1930s, when postal worker Gideon Strange opened a small shop on Dill Avenue to earn extra money, Strange's has been a go-to source for Richmond gardeners. "We have hard-to-find plants like Venus flytraps and lucky bamboo and seeds for heirloom vegetables," says Sunnie Caldwell, greenhouse manager. "And we have the state's largest selection of pots ... thousands of them." Ecologically minded customers love Strange's containers made of recycled wood chips, plastics, crushed concrete and slate from the wilds of Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Italy. Plus, miniaturists know Strange's is the source for bonsai tools and plants. 3313 Mechanicsville Pike, 321-2200; 12111 W. Broad St., 360-2800; 6710 Hull St., 321-0470, stranges.com
2nd Southern States
3rd Pleasants Hardware
Hardware
Pleasants Hardware
Their tagline, "most anything since 1915," pretty much sums up the reason for the longstanding loyalty of the Pleasants fan base; they've been around so long the company probably knew your great-grandfather. "We've been a part of our customers' lives and experience for a long time, and there's a comfort that comes with that familiarity," says CEO James Hatcher III. "Times have changed, but we haven't changed the way we do business." Various locations, pleasantshardware.com
2nd ACE Hardware
3rd R.C. Goodwyn and Sons
Lighting fixtures
Shades of Light
Known throughout the country via its catalog and website, Richmonders can inspect Shades of Light's on-trend offerings at its Broad Street store in person. "Our sales people are not only technically trained but are style experts," says Ashton Harrison, who founded the company in 1986 and is today its head of product development. With more than 300 proprietary designs, and a selection of rugs and furnishings, Shades of Light offers a total design experience. 4924 W. Broad St., 288-6515, shadesoflight.com
2nd Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
3rd Ruth & Ollie
Modern furniture
La Différence
With its vast three-floor showroom, La Différence offers shoppers the chance to "see and touch and feel," the best in contemporary furniture, says Sarah Paxton, who owns the company with husband Andy Thornton. Richmonders also appreciate La Diff's commitment to the community, Paxton says. Though the company closed its West End store in February, it is dedicated to making downtown's Shockoe Design District a shopping destination, where La Diff has established itself as an East Coast mecca for contemporary and modern design. 125 S. 14th St., 648-6210, ladiff.com
2nd Ruth & Ollie
3rd Metro Modern
Outdoor furniture
JoPa Company
Owned by brothers Mark and Farrar Pace, sons of the founder, JoPa has been a top choice for outdoor furniture since it opened in 1959. Easy-care, rustproof cast-aluminum patio furniture is a top seller, Mark says, and is available in styles from traditional to contemporary. 8711 W. Broad St., 747-9700, jopa.com
2nd Summer Classics
3rd (TIE) Bon Air Better Living; Green Front Furniture; La Différence; Plow & Hearth
Home Accessories
Ruth & Ollie
To help customers visualize an interior design scheme, the staff at Ruth & Ollie are not above undoing a display and redoing it with other furniture — and maybe a few of the 400 pillows that they have on hand; that's the kind of dedication that they offer. Their mix of modern and traditional appeals to Richmonders. "We don't take ourselves too seriously," says owner Mike Liebschwager, who with wife Kat, an interior designer, scours U.S. markets for items both stylish and fresh. 3445 W. Cary St., 288-3360, ruthandollie.com
Outlet Merchandise
Williamsburg Premium Outlets
With 135 stores spread over 50 acres, Williamsburg Premium Outlets offers a great opportunity for bargain hunting and exercise, jokes Donna Standish, general manager. Richmonders love the thrill of the hunt and head one hour east to snag deals on cookware and china at stores like Le Creuset, The Kitchen Collection, Calphalon, Waterford, Wedgewood and Royal Doulton. Check the website before you leave home for the inside scoop on sales. 5715-62A Richmond Road, Williamsburg, (757) 565-0702, premiumoutlets.com
2nd Ollie's Bargain Outlet
Paint
Virginia Paint and Decorating centers
Richmond's source for Benjamin Moore paints, Virginia Paint's six stylish area stores are Richmonders' top pick for paint. The Innsbrook and Harbor Pointe locations each employ a full-time interior designer. "Paint is certainly the cheapest and easiest way to make a change in your house," says Operations Manager Stan Gasiorowski, "but if you want to make a more substantial change, we can help you with that, too." Various locations, virginiapaintcompany.com
2nd Sherwin-Williams
3rd Duron Paints & Wallcoverings
Plants
Sneed's Nursery and Landscaping
What makes Sneed's Nursery & Garden Center a favorite with Richmonders? "Our focus on unique and unusual plants and our awesome staff of plant geeks," says manager Jenny Rash. Sneed's has helped Richmond's gardens grow since 1975, and in 2008, it stopped selling most chemicals to focus on organic gardening. In addition to unusual plants and expert growing advice, look for rain barrels, bat houses and Mason bee kits. 8756 Huguenot Road, Richmond, 320-7798, sneedsnursery.com
2nd Great Big Greenhouse
3rd Southern States
Rugs
Capel Rugs
From made-in-America braided rugs to hand-knotted carpets from Afghanistan, Capel Rugs offers a wide range of options in its 14,000-square-foot West End showroom. Customers appreciate the store's loaner policy, says Manager Marie Hayden. "You can take and try out as many rugs as you like." Many custom options, a staff of design experts (bring your fabrics and other design inspirations with you), and a 30-day money-back policy ensure you will find the right rug for your space. 3995 Deep Rock Road, 290-8800, capelrugs.com
2nd Green Front Furniture
3rd Carey Burke Carpets and Rugs
Tile
Morris Tile Distributors Inc.
With a huge selection of tile in stock, Morris Tile Distributors Inc. can supply materials to a job site quickly, says Vice President Bob Shelly. That means the glass mosaic tile that you select for your kitchen is available as soon as you choose it. Though Morris Tile does not offer installation services, "We know what needs to be done and can walk do-it-yourselfers though the process completely," Shelly says. 2280 Dabney Road, 353-4427, morristile.net
2nd Best Tile
3rd Mosaic Tile Co.
Traditional furniture
Leo Burke
Since opening 54 years ago in the same Carytown location, generations of Richmonders have returned to Leo Burke for traditional furniture, says owner Jack Burke. "Traditional doesn't mean quite the same thing that it did 30 years ago," he explains. "Thirty years ago, ‘traditional' meant period furniture. Today, it is tasteful but comfortable. Traditional has evolved." 3108 W. Cary St., 358-5773, leoburke.com
2nd Ethan Allen
3rd Virginia Wayside Furniture
Wallpaper
Williams & Sherrill
With the largest library of wallpaper books in the state (15,000 and counting) Williams and Sherrill is the top choice for wallpaper. Its experienced staff guides you through the design process at no extra charge, ordering samples or allowing you to take home books for 48 hours. "Wallpaper has become extremely popular in the last few years," says design center manager Candace Drake. "It gives a room texture and color and dimension that flat paint doesn't provide." 2003 Huguenot Road, 320-1730, williamsandsherrill.com
2nd Richmond Decorating Center
3rd (TIE) The Wallpaper Place; Virginia Paint & Decorating Centers
Windows and Doors
Siewers Lumber & Millwork
For more than 125 years, Siewer's Lumber & Millwork has specialized in custom millwork, doors and windows. Today, the company is run by the fourth generation of the family, Richie, Freddy and Michael Siewers. Its staff and unparalleled selection make it the Richmond destination for custom and reproduction windows and doors, says Michael. He compares shopping for windows to shopping for a car — an involved process with many choices, and one at which he says Siewers excels. 1901 Ellen Road, 358-2103, siewers.com
2nd Pella Windows & Doors
3rd Elite Window Solutions
Services
Appliance repair
Little Appliance
Locally owned since 1951, the company was purchased by native Virginians Mark and Linda Reynolds in 1983. Mark credits extremely qualified technicians for making them one of the best. "They amaze me in their depth of knowledge," he says. "To them, it's not just a 9-to-5 job, it's a profession, and they take it seriously." 3706 Williamsburg Road, 222-3871, littleappliancerichmondva.com
2nd Tri-Co Appliance
3rd (TIE) J. Dan Clay Appliance and Refrigeration; Justis Appliances Inc.; Residential Appliance Specialist LLC
Basement waterproofing
B-Dry Systems of Richmond
Jeff Oliver, general manager, trains his employees "The Smarter Way." This corporate training program of procedures and mandatory morning meetings ensures everyone is on the same page each day. All the work they do comes with a lifetime warranty that transfers with a house. And several employees have been with this 50-year-old company for 15 to 20 years. "They take pride in what they do," says Oliver. 10453 Design Road, Ashland, 353-3116, bdry.com
2nd JES Basement Systems
Cabinetry installer
Reico Kitchen & Bath
Deborah Tomlin, branch manager, says Reico focuses on customer service so that every client recommends them to someone else. "The key thing that makes the difference is having quality people who respect that they are working in someone's home," she says. "When they go in to a client's home, they should treat it as if it was their mother's home." 2132 Tomlynn St., 262-8389, reico.com
2nd Miller Restoration and Construction
3rd Old River Cabinets and Kitchens ETC
Carpet and rug cleaner (TIE)
Chem-Dry of Richmond
Chem-Dry uses an advanced green carbonation solution called "The Natural" instead of harsh chemicals, so it's safe for kids and pets. They also have green solutions for upholstery, mattresses and even car interiors. "If it's fabric, we clean it," says Terry Martin, general manager. The company also offers free rug pick-up and delivery for cleaning and repairs. 2361-B Greystone Court, Rockville, 620-3050,
Mercer Rug Cleansing
A mainstay among Richmond's textile-cleaning services, the company was purchased by Hadeed Carpet Cleaning, an Alexandria company, in late 2011 and will continue to operate under the new ownership. 3116 W. Moore St., 358-3811, mercerrugcleansing.com
2nd Stanley Steemer Carpet Cleaner
3rd SERVPRO of Richmond
General contractor
R.A. Praught Construction Inc.
Specializing in additions, kitchens and baths, Ray Praught says his small company ensures that their subcontractors will be courteous, polite and professional. "Honesty and integrity are two words I use in my business all the time," he says. "This is a blue collar job, but we consider ourselves professionals." 9524 Downing St., 335-1595, rapraughtconstruction.com
2nd Mr. Handyman of Richmond
3rd Lane Homes & Remodeling
Clock repair
The Clock Shop of Richmond Ltd.
Clockmaker Aaron Southworth maintains and repairs the clocks in the Executive Mansion and also worked on the marble clocks during the State Capitol's renovation. "We do everything from brand-new clocks to clocks that are more than 200 years old," he says. "I love it when someone brings in something that I've never seen before." 6000 W. Broad St., 282-0331, theclockshopofrichmond.com
Closet Installer
Closet Factory
While doing a kitchen desk for a wheelchair-bound client, Closet Factory realized their client didn't have a kitchen table that would accommodate her either, so they designed and built one. From small coat closets to complete shelving for attics, the scope is vast for this small company. "Our customers know who we are, who they are talking to on the phone and who will be out in their house," says co-owner Theresa Mueller. 8162-C Elm Drive, Mechanicsville, 559-0001, closetfactory.com
2nd California Closets
3rd Method ORG
Countertop supplier/installer
Charles Luck Studios
Marble, granite, limestone, quartzite and travertine from across the world makes Charles Luck stand above the rest. "Our campus features a flagship studio, contractor yard and workshop with unparalleled expertise from our craftsmen, stone experts and studio consultants," says Shannon Dugan, manager of the Charles Luck Richmond Studio. 343 River Road West, Manakin, 708-5700, charlesluck.com
2nd Brazilian Best Tile
3rd Artisan Concrete Decor
Decorative painter
Melanie Palma Designs
From murals to trompe l'oeil, Melanie Palma loves to be creative. But it was creating the aged Venetian plaster walls in the master bedroom of the 2010 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House for designer David Allen Ballas that rocketed her business. "I have been working on that momentum ever since," says Palma, who is on the board of the International Furnishing and Design Association. (757) 227-1688, melaniepalmadesigns.com
2nd Art to Di For
3rd (TIE) Sunny Goode; Barden's Decorating; Two Sisters Painting
Driveway repair
Sam & Janice Your Personal Pavers
New Yorker Sam Stanley installs what he calls a New York-style driveway — paved, repaired and cleaned up in one day. He even uses a power sweeper and sweeps the street. "That keeps your neighbors happy," says Sam, who works with his wife, Janice. "If we pave in a cul-de-sac and there's sand left over from the winter, we sweep that up, too." 11193 Holly Berry Road, Ashland, 796-1707
Architect
Dan Ensminger
Dan Ensminger's two most challenging design projects literally took his breath away. Both houses on steep slopes have living rooms that float out in the tree canopy like a kid's tree fort. "In both cases, the proximity to collapsing over the cliff was determined not by some geotechnical science, but by how close to the edge the track hoe operator could dig without falling off the cliff," he says. 503 Ridge Top Road, 323-6299, ensmingerarchitecture.com
2nd (TIE) BAM Architects; Mark White Residential Design; 3North
Drywall contractor
Mr. Handyman of Richmond
Once, Gina Chapman, president of Mr. Handyman of Richmond, received a call from students who had a hole in their apartment wall that went all the way through to the hallway. Another time, two rough housing siblings punched a hole in the wall, and their mother wanted it fixed before her husband came home the next day. "We do many different things, but drywall repair is one of our most commonly requested services," Chapman says. 3307 Church Road, Suite 215, 270-7272, mrhandyman.com
2nd Lark D Drywall LLC
Electrician
Genesis Electrical
If Craig Ellwanger serves as any example, there's no better time to start a business than on the precipice of the worst international economic crisis in 100 years. "We started in 2007, just before the crash," says Ellwanger, owner of Genesis Electrical, who relied not only on his 28 years in electrical work to get him by but also on something he considers just as important: customer service. "We just do the basics in business, and that puts us head and shoulders above the competition." 9601 Gayton Road, Suite 205, 912-3665,
2nd John Marshall Electric
3rd Kelleher
Exterminator
Loyal Pest Control
Household pests like termites and ants really stink — no, really. They stink. In fact, Nick Lupini, owner of Loyal Pest Control, relies on that smell to offer his customers a service truly unique in Richmond. "We're the only ones in central Virginia with a termite-detection dog," says Lupini. "It's something that differentiates us from the others." And Lupini goes beyond detecting pests or spraying chemicals to keep them out. He favors the proactive approach by installing gutter guards, automatic foundation vents and house dehumidifier systems that make your home less hospitable to the creepy-crawlies. 2610 East Parham Road, 737-7777, loyalpest.com
2nd Hickman's Termite & Pest Control
3rd Dodson Bros. Exterminating Co.
Plumber
Carroll Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Since 1968, Carroll Plumbing & Heating Inc. has focused on plumbing repairs for many of Richmond's old homes in the Fan and Windsor Farms. "We specialize in trying to repair what they have, instead of telling them that they need to replace it," says Courtney Gregory, CFO. 2512 W. Main St., 358-6322, carrollplumbing.net
2nd (TIE) Kelleher; Gundlach
Plumbing and Heating Co.
Fence builder
Minor's Fences
"The biggest thing is finding the right people to work for you," says Hairfield, owner of Minor's Fences. He puts a premium on his employees, but also on the community that produces them. "My guys were raised right — I really thank their parents." He also thanks his own parents. In 1991, Hairfield borrowed $2,000 from his dad to start the business that he's since grown from "two guys and a pickup truck" to a multimillion-dollar company based on a strong work ethic and a commitment to a good-neighbor approach to business. "In business, the customer doesn't judge you by your mistakes. They judge you by how you fix them." 12152 Washington Highway, Ashland, 752-0096, minorsfences.com
2nd Fencing Unlimited Inc.
Flooring installer
Costen Floors
Even though many big retailers sell flooring these days, some may not specialize in the same level of service or quality as dedicated flooring companies, says Ralph "Tripp" L. Costen III, the third generation of Costens in the family's flooring business. "You can get product anywhere — but trying to get it installed is one of those things we concentrate on and where we differentiate ourselves." He says Costen Floors also works hard to make sure customers get the exact quality of product that suits their needs. "What we try to do is sell what we know is tried and true." 9840 Mayland Drive, 527-2929, costenfloors.com
2nd (TIE) Evans Carpet Corp.;
Old Dominion Floor Co. Inc.
Flooring refinisher
Costen Floors
To the trained eye of Tripp Costen, floor refinishing is more than a job. "Refinishing is technique — almost an art," he says. Floor refinishing is an improvement, Costen says, that gives maximum bang for the buck: "It's like a facelift for the house." 9840 Mayland Drive, 527-2929, costenfloors.com
2nd Jet Services Hardwood
Floors Inc. (closed)
Framer
Ben Franklin Crafts
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a good frame job is worth a good dozen or so exclamation points. Ben Franklin Crafts — with its six area locations — has been adding punctuation to pictures for the past 70 years, says Michael Porada, manager of the chain's flagship location at Three Chopt and Patterson in the near West End. The craft and frame shop recently was bought by A.C. Moore, an out-of-state firm, but while the name may eventually change, the commitment to service won't, Porada says. "It's how we run things that we brought to the table." Various locations, bf-crafts.com
2nd Frame Nation
3rd Frame of Mind
Furniture repair and/or refinishing
Tinker and Co.
Whether restoring an 18th-century sideboard for one of Virginia's governors or repairing an invaluable family keepsake for one of its less privileged clients, Tinker and Company considers only that the finished product should look like a million bucks. Much of Tinker and Co.'s business is in restoring precious heirlooms damaged by fire or disaster, an area of specialization that sometimes presents some pretty tough cases. "We work on things that have been scorched, burned and dropped off trucks," owner Tony Coleman says. "We guarantee that if we take it in, when we return it, it will be restored back to its original condition." 2409 Westwood Ave., 359-3301
Glass projects
Binswanger Glass
Anyone who's ever gotten stuck on the highway behind a dump truck that's dropping bits of gravel probably knows Binswanger Glass. But this Richmond-based, full-service glass company with more than 70 stores across the Southeast knows more than fixing star-cracks in windshields. "We're one of the few glass companies left in the country that's what they call a ‘full-spectrum' shop — we do everything," says Chuck Downs, manager of Binswanger's Broad Street location. "We replace windshields, we do windows in houses, we do custom mirrors, we do custom showers and doors. And we've been doing it for a long time — since 1872." Various locations, binswangerglass.com
2nd Ace Glass Inc.
3rd (TIE) Glen Allen Glass & Mirror LLC; Mr. Handyman of Richmond
Gutter cleaning
Mr. Handyman of Richmond
There are plenty of reasons to call in the professionals at least once a year for a good gutter cleaning, says Gina Chapman, owner of Richmond's Mr. Handyman franchise. "I think a lot of homeowners don't do it as often as they should," says Chapman, but "it's really important because not doing it can cost you a lot of money down the road." Especially in a tree-loving town like Richmond. Chapman says, she suspects her guys' attention to detail — like looking for wood rot in walls and soffits — is part of what makes her service so popular. "When our guys are up there doing the gutter cleaning, they're not just cleaning gutters," she says. 3307 Church Road, Suite 215, 419-6747, mrhandyman.com
2nd (TIE) Mind in the Gutter; Window Genie
Handyman
Mr. Handyman of Richmond
"It's actually ‘Mrs.' Handyman," corrects Gina Chapman, who opened the Richmond franchise more than a decade ago, partly out of her own frustration after trying to find an easy solution to getting some small repair work done around her own home. "It was a business that definitely was needed," says Chapman, who tries to keep that initial inspiration as a daily driver in how she does business. "If it's something small, often nobody wants to come out and do it. We don't confuse ‘smaller jobs' with less skilled jobs. The opposite is often true." 3307 Church Road, Suite 215, 419-6747, mrhandyman.com
2nd HomeMasons Inc.
3rd The Remodeling Company LLC
Home media sales and installation
Livewire
It's been a big year for home electronics retailer and installer Livewire. "Last year we acquired three companies," says Livewire's Henry Clifford. But growing a business alone doesn't break records, says Clifford, who says maintaining a focus on little details is the only way to get big and stay big. "On the customer service side, it's really important for us to go out and do it right the first time," he says. "We never want to forget our business is built on happiness." 4900 W. Clay St., 937-9001, getlivewire.com
2nd (TIE) Sound & Image Design; Structured Cable of Virginia; TheaterXtreme
Home organizer
Closet Factory
Home sales are down. That's a bad thing if you're a real estate agent, but it's a good thing if you're Kathy Turner, manager of Closet Factory. "Everybody is trying to get more organized: You know, less is more," says Turner, whose client base is becoming increasingly "people who have decided not to move, but are upgrading their current home." That means taking once-forgotten corners of the house, guest rooms and bonus rooms long used as junk dumping grounds, and converting them to multipurpose, usable spaces. "We can do any project in any room in the house," says Turner. "We have never done just closets." 8162-C Elm Drive, Mechanicsville, 559-0001, closetfactoryva.com
2nd Method ORG
Housecleaning service
Molly Maid
After more than a decade in business, both Mark Stagg and Clint Graviet have both grown accustomed to their pastel-heavy work wardrobes. "I'm totally comfortable with pink now," says Graviet, who owns Molly Maid of Greater Richmond. "I wear it every day." Same is true for Stagg, owner of Molly Maid of Surrounding Richmond. In fact, pink has been very good to both Graviet and Stagg — and they like to think it's been great to their customers, too. "What they're really buying, the most important thing, is trust," says Stagg. Graviet agrees. Though his business is a separate franchise, his approach is the same: "We like to call it the ‘pink glove' treatment." 8132 Forest Hill Ave., 327-3878; 10991 Leadbetter Road, Ashland, 550-7766, mollymaid.com
2nd Merry Maids
3rd First Class Cleaning Services Inc.
HVAC contractor
James River Air Conditioning Company
Hugh Joyce's passion to make every customer experience a great one has paid off. He says that comes from an understanding of how personal it is to have someone go into a home and work with the family. "We want it to be like a Starbucks experience," says Joyce. "You get a great cup of coffee, leave happy and look forward to coming back." 1905 Westmoreland St., 441-9257, jamesriverair.com
2nd Woodfin Heating & Cooling
3rd (TIE) Gundlach Plumbing & Heating Co.; Kelleher
Welder/ironwork (TIE)
Spartan Studios
From wrought-iron railings and garden trellises to wine racks and custom coffee tables in metal and wood, Spartan Studios focuses its talents on custom projects. "Everything is made to order," says owner Nicholai Jerome. "I love being able to solve a problem or give a client something they just can't find anywhere else." 1702 Belleville St., 986-9440 (by appointment only)
Virginia Railing and Gates LLC
With four generations of experience rooted in traditional metal crafting, Virginia Railings and Gates offers everything from traditional blacksmithing and ornamental ironwork to sleek aluminum railings with stainless cables. "Hand forging is getting more popular in Richmond," says manager Bill Mayers. 11042 Air Park Road, Ashland, 798-8777, virginiarailingandgates.com
Insulation contractor
Layman Brothers
Joe and Mike Layman launched their insulation contracting business in 2004. "We've managed to grow through the whole process," says Joe Layman. "We've got more employees now than we've ever had." Joe credits that growth to a keep-it-simple approach that transcends dips and blips in
the economy. "We're a small family-owned business and we pretty much do everything," he says. "We get our work through word of mouth." 598-8640
Interior designer
Merry Powell Interiors
In an industry where having a signature look is almost a résumé requirement, Merry Powell says she likes to think the only important signature look is the one that suits the client. "I feel much of my job is making my clients' house look like them," says Powell, who has chalked up decades in the industry. She says she prefers her varied approach to design, working from different angles to her clients' lifestyles rather than pigeonholing them to a trend or particular style. "I take them around their home and I ask them, ‘Show me what you can't look at for five more minutes and what you can't live without.' " merrypowell.com
2nd Kat Liebschwager Interiors
3rd (TIE) Carol Pipes Interior Design; Jennifer Stoner Interiors
Lamp/fixture repair
Shades of Light
There are many different shades of light, as Angela Trevvett well knows. As store manager of Shades of Light, Trevvett has seen just about the full spectrum travel through her store's lamp and fixture repair department over the years. "I had a woman one time [who] brought me a British World War II pith helmet, and there was a trumpet, and another guy brought in a snowshoe," Trevvett says, recounting just a few of the oddball items customers wanted to have converted into lamps. "One time we had an elephant's trunk. A real, stuffed elephant's trunk. That can make people cringe. But that one was already a lamp — it just needed rewiring." 4924 W. Broad St., 288-6515, shadesoflight.com
2nd Bill Toombs Ltd.
3rd Lamp Emporium
Landscape Services (TIE)
Walter Cornett Landscaping
Walter Cornett wasn't one to sit around watching the grass grow after he and his wife were both laid off on the same day from the same company back in March 2009. "Getting laid off at a time when they were predicting the whole world was going to end, we just got out there and did it," says Cornett, who offers up a success story built on the idea of taking a common service and building a slightly better mousetrap. Focusing almost exclusively on residential contracts, Cornett describes a business model that sounds more like a lawn concierge service than a dude on a John Deere. "We get to know each client and how they want each plant pruned, where they want the leaves blown," he says. "There's a lot that goes into this when you're doing it at the level we're doing." 986-7792, waltercornettlandscaping.com
Virginia Green
Lots of lawn-care companies try to be everything to everybody by designing, installing and maintaining landscapes and picking up any odd-job yardwork they can along the way. That's not the primrose path Gill Grattan, president of Virginia Green, ever intends to go down. "Green and healthy, that's our goal," says Grattan. "We make our decisions based on what's here." Grattan and Virginia Green stress the importance of knowing Richmond's temperamental climate in determining when it might be best to lay down lawn treatments or weed applications. 285-6200, virginiagreenlawncare.com
Sneed's Nursery
When Bob Sneed got his start in the local landscaping business 35 years ago with just his brother and a pickup truck, he had one key competitive advantage over the other guys. "It was actually a pretty new truck — that was what catapulted us into the big leagues," says Sneed, laughing at the simpler time that was 1975, a time before big-box home-improvement stores and the proliferation of area nurseries and landscape services. His grandmother owned the same Huguenot Road property that Sneed's Nursery has called home for three decades. "She was a gardener herself, and she had a desire to have nothing else on here," says Sneed, chuckling at the idea that she might have been a pioneer in the idea of maintaining green space. 8756 W. Huguenot Road, 320-7798, sneedsnursery.com
2nd Snider Bros. LLC
3rd Hawthorne Landscaping Inc.
Masonry
Masonry Craddock Masonry Inc.
As reclaimed bricks from old buildings become scarcer, Craddock Masonry has built its reputation on being able to match product and technique to existing brick so that the results are virtually invisible, says owner Cayce Craddock. 2501 Hermitage Road, 359-4101, craddockmasonry.com
Mover
Hilldrup Moving & Storage
The 7-foot high, 350-pound armoire on the second floor would not fit down the stairs. So Wesley Austin, general manager of Hilldrup Moving & Storage, says his crew rigged up a pulley system, hoisted the armoire over the banister and carefully lowered it down to the foyer. Austin is proud to say, "We were able to move it out and into our customer's new home without a scratch on it." 2314-A Dabney Road, 359-5959, hilldrup.com
2nd Two Guys and a Truck
3rd (TIE) Starving Students Movers Inc.; More Than Moving; Commonwealth Movers Inc.
Painter
Barden's Decorating
In its 24th year of business, owner Tommy Barden says his company's focus is on professionalism and quality for interior and exterior painting and wallpapering. A customer can take a cell-phone picture of another house's paint color, bring it in and Barden will match it. 598-4802, bardensdecorating.com
2nd 89 Paint
3rd River City Painters
Roofer
Hardesty Roofing
When you work three stories up, you definitely get a different perspective. "We used to do a lot of cedar roofing. During one job," Sam Hardesty says, "I think I got a lot of other jobs in the neighborhood because I could really see the damage to other people's roofs while I was up there." 14430 Sommerville Court, Suite B, Midlothian, 378-9163, hardestyroofing.com
2nd Nathan's Roofing, Windows & Siding
3rd Hermitage Roofing, Windows & Siding Inc.
Swimming pool/spa installation/maintenance
JoPa
Mark Pace and his brother run this pool design/build and maintenance company that their father started in 1959. Most of their business is repeat and referral. "We have built pools for people, and now we are building pools for their children." 8711 W. Broad St., 747-9700, jopa.com
2nd Ultimate Pools
Tree care
True Timber Tree Services Inc.
Arborist Scott Turner does more than just trim and remove trees. His full-service company also focuses on keeping trees healthy and, if need be, treating illnesses. "I'm like a marriage counselor between people and trees because they don't understand each other," he says. "We're trying to build a relationship." 6834 Old Westham Road, 218-8733, truetimber.net
2nd Bartlett Tree Experts
3rd The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Upholstery services shop (on-site upholsterer)
U-Fab
Owner Travis Hamilton says he has the expertise to handle anything at his one-stop fabric and upholstery shop. "We do all types of furniture, from antiques to mid-century to modern," he says. "People can come in and show us a picture on their phone, and we can offer a quote for the work." 106 S. Robinson St., 888-8322, ufabstore.com
2nd Whetstone Upholstery & Interiors
3rd Dover Interiors
Wallpaper hanger
Barden's Decorating
Tommy Barden of Barden's Decorating has been in the wallpaper and painting business for 24 years. A member of the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, Barden is a favorite of local decorators. He has been especially busy during the past few years, as wallpaper has come back into vogue. 598-4802, bardensdecorating.com
2nd (TIE) Bud Williamson; Palmer Decorating
Window washer
Virginia Window Cleaners of Richmond
Never underestimate the power of a clean window. "Clean windows can really lift your spirits, especially during the winter when it's too cold to go outside," says Pam Cox, who owns Virginia Window Cleaners of Richmond with Mark Walach. Gutter cleaning and power washing services are available, too. (Just be sure to do those before you have the windows cleaned.) 288-0000, vawindow.com
2nd Spotless Window Cleaning Co.
3rd Window Genie
Window treatment fabricator
Gotcha Covered Upholstery
From Roman shades to simple swags, Gotcha Covered Upholstery is the top choice for custom-made window treatments in Richmond. Seamstress Pam Daggett has spent the past 12 years fulfilling orders from the region's top designers and working one-on-one with clients in their homes. "If we know they have an event coming up," she says, "we can work to make sure their project is ready on time." 328-6555
2nd Moxie Interiors
Woodworking and Trim
Mr. Handyman
From cabinets and molding to shelving and railing, Class A Contractor Mr. Handyman can handle it. "Our technicians are all multiskilled. Bring them in for woodworkng and cross other small jobs off your to-do list," owner Gina Chapman says. 3307 Church Road, Suite 215, 419-6747, mrhandyman.com
2nd Mr. Handyman of Richmond
3rd Miller Restoration and Construction
