Hi Friends! I hope you are having a wonderful week! If you have worked with Segreto you have probably met Jerry, our head wood cabinet finisher. With a gift for color, he is as talented with his craft as he is leading and training our Segreto team.

One of 12 children, Jerry grew up in the furniture refinishing business, as his father (now 95), was one of Houston’s go-to people when it came to repairing and staining woods back in the day.

It was a family business for the Bazan Brothers, and little Jerry, to the left in front of his Mom and Dad, is now the second generation, carrying on the trade he learned from his Dad so long ago. He mastered staining, restoring and finishing pieces at an early age and became genuinely passionate about the transformations these pieces took on. I was lucky to hire him 18 years ago and he has been a Segreto staple ever since.

Since the company has grown, our staff doesn’t always get to see every project Segreto works on, rather only the ones they are a part of. Thus, Jerry has taken a hand at photography to share what his team does with the rest of our crew! I love this picture he took while working at the Segreto warehouse!! Today I am going to share a bit of Jerry and some views from his week!!

Jerry is a master of taking a surface and totally transforming it!! Take this door——lovely wood and reclaimed, but………. not the finish Architectural Designer Sarah West had in mind.

The door to this pantry now looks more interesting and aged after his magic. This technique was done without stripping and bleaching the wood first, which not only is a cost-savings for the client but also less mess and smell.

The ceiling and beams were similar in process. Starting with dark stained wood, a lighter perspective was given by layering translucent glazes over the existing surface, lightening them without covering up the natural grain of the wood.

This freshly built cabinet takes on the feel of centuries-old furniture. Jerry, truly putting our clients, staff and Segreto’s mission first, patiently trains and collaborates with all of our artisans, sharing ideas and working together with our team to perfect their craft.

In fact, he will tell you one of his greatest joys, is not only to be able to do something he loves every day, and teach others, but also to learn from the many artisans which make up the Segreto team.

What does Jerry like to do when he is not bringing joy to clients by creating beauty in their homes (which for him is 6 days a week)? He loves to lift weights, work out, travel and spend time caring for his parents.

Jerry’s favorite challenge is matching new materials to an old finish where they seamlessly blend together. Like the above shutters which Designer Kara Childress purchased to become a really cool place for packages and mail to be left. Kara can find it, Goodchild Builders can build it and Segreto can finish it!

He makes it impossible to determine the old from the new, even on the MDF Panels!

Jerry is a master problem-solver and inventor, really. He creates processes to take something which is no longer aesthetically pleasing to our clients and transforms it into something of beauty.

Is it the same piece? I love the the new accessories as well!

These carved pieces are actually created from 3-D printing because the radius was impossible to weld with iron. Made from a type of plastic, it was our challenge to create a finish that married well with the brass cap.

Railings are not the only place we use gold. With metallic trending, you will see Jerry’s transformations on furniture, bead details on cabinetry and paneled walls!

If you have worked with Segreto for anything that has to do with wood, Jerry has probably had a hand in the project, whether it be creating the sample- showing the team the steps, or personally implementing the finish.

Without a doubt, he is an incredibly gifted wood cabinet finisher, but even more special is his warm heart and generous spirit! I have loved working and collaborating with Jerry at my side. He has gone on this incredible Segreto journey with me and has made such major contributions to our the trust our clients have in us.

When I asked him to text me a few pictures of his family (can you spy little Jerry) he texted this back to me. “Looking at these pictures takes me back. I love those memories. My Dad not only worked hard to give me as much as he could, having so many children, but he gave me a great foundation in my knowledge and experience in what I do today! “- Jerry

I am so thankful to have such an amazing artist and devoted wood cabinet finisher! Follow us on Instagram @segretofinishes to see more views from Jerry!! Till next week! XO Leslie