I planted lavender along the south wall because she had mentioned wanting it.
She helped me reorganize the showroom at my workshop, insisting that customers needed to see the furniture in rooms that felt like homes rather than a warehouse.
We began working together professionally.
She designed spaces.
I built the furniture.
Our first shared project was a renovation for a couple who wanted their old house to feel modern without losing its character.
Diane spent hours studying the original architectural details. I built a dining table from reclaimed oak that matched the home’s history.
When the clients saw the finished room, the wife began to cry.
Her husband stood beside her, speechless.
Diane squeezed my hand beneath the table.
For the first time, I understood what it meant to build something with someone rather than simply build something for them.
My business grew.
I opened a second shop downtown, three times the size of my first one. Diane designed the interior, and I built her a walnut desk for her office in return.
