Who is Matt?

Want to learn how I turned this...

into this?

It's sort of a long story but one you'll want to hear, especially since you'll be seeing a lot of me around these parts.

My name is Matt, I'm the Home Renovations and Product Expert for BULX.com,
and this is my story...

Education

I went to school at the University of Cincinnati for a degree in Industrial Design through their college of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.  UC has one of the strongest design schools in the nation thanks in large part to their internship program.  While earning my degree, I spent six quarters gaining real-world design experience working for companies in Columbus, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Boston.  I learned how to design everything from cars to shoes to toys to medical devices to housewares.

I also took the opportunity to travel through 13 countries over a 10-week period with two classmates to observe and compare various forms of art, design and architecture in an effort to expand my international design sense.

But as graduation neared, I could sense that I would not be happy in that profession for the rest of my life.  I felt like I was designing things that people didn't need and couldn't afford.  The high-end design that I was good at and that I loved rarely made it out to the masses (mainly because it was too expensive), and the cheaper products that did end up on the shelves would most likely end up in a landfill within a year.

Facing this difficult ethical dilemma, I took the next year to explore a more permanent expression of what I had learned in school...

Real Estate

Architecture and urban planning had always interested me in school, but it wasn't until I learned more about the business side of real estate that I decided to take it more seriously. Over the next few years, I purchased, rehabbed, and sold a handful of properties across central Ohio - learning how to do most of the work myself.

I also put some of my design skills to use when I was contracted to help conceptualize and implement a number of large-scale entertainment environments.

It seemed the more experience I gained, the more anxious I became to bring all of my skills together and create something that I could call my own.

My Home

My house sits in a traditional neighborhood within the city limits of Columbus, Ohio and was built in 1919.  I learned about the property through a friend, and it was exactly what I was looking for:

• affordable,
• cozy,
• historical,
• and located in a great neighborhood.

I knew it was going to take a lot of work, but once I saw it in person, I knew I had to have it.

Because the previous owner had lived there for nearly 40 years, many of the rooms were covered in three layers of vintage wallpaper (and two layers on the ceilings!).  Structurally, the home was solid but most of the systems and all of the decor needed some serious updating.

Enter "a little elbow grease"...

As I moved from room to room, I was faced with the same question many do-it-yourselfers face: "Do I want to do it cheap, or do I want to do it right?"

It was the same dilemma I experienced when I was in school. Many of the sinks and faucets that I liked were so far out of my price range that I had to look for cheaper alternatives, which often meant sacrificing quality.

The other option (which I took) was to wait, save up a bit more money, and buy exactly what I wanted.

The result is a home that I absolutely love.  It is a place to entertain and to relax.  And while the style may not suit everyone's taste, it is something that I will come home to and enjoy for years to come.

BULX.com

Today, as the Home Renovations & Product Expert for BULX.com, it is my mission to bring good design and high-quality products to homes across the country at incredible prices.  I'm here to show people that with the right tools and a little will-power, anyone can create a home they truly love - without sacrificing quality or taste.

Here's to loving your home,

P.S. - Need some home-improvement advice or have a random question about a product?
Connect with me and the rest of the BULX team.

P.P.S. - Still haven't signed up for a BULX account?  (Here's your last chance!)