Peter Davis knows the right way to build a house. From small remodels to large developments, he has some 200 construction projects around the Seattle area to prove it. And now that he has landed on the list of the Puget Sound region’s top 100 fastest-growing private companies, he has proven that he knows how to build a business, too.
Last month, Davis’ Mercer Island-based construction business, Peter Davis Builders, landed the number 99 spot of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual list, reporting the required yearly revenue of $200,000 or more over the last three years.
Davis said that the key to building a business well is “not growth just for growth’s sake.”
“You have to grow the right way,” he said.
For the past 25 years that he has been operating Peter Davis Builders, he has made progress little by little, keeping a low profile, letting word of mouth do its job of spreading a good reputation.
In the 12 years he has been in business on Mercer Island, the 55-year-old Island resident, whose grandparents first moved here from Spokane, Wash. in the 1920s, has been quietly responsible for a share of the Island’s growth as well.
Davis’ focus is on home remodels and new home construction. At any given moment, he has four or five projects underway on Mercer Island, which makes up about 60 percent of his business. Many of his clients are families who move to the Island for the good schools and safe community. They buy run-down properties and come to him wanting to make them more modern, more sophisticated.
Acknowledging the controversial nature of the Island’s recent development, Davis talks about its growth much in the same way he does his business - it’s a good thing, as long as it’s done right.
“If projects are well executed, taking into account the neighborhood and the community in terms of scale - that it’s not overbearing - then it’s OK,” he said.
When planning a remodel, Davis regards the home as a strong reflection of its owner. “We like to help them achieve their own voice,” he said. He keeps up with trends and offers suggestions when needed, but he recognizes that one of the biggest trends in home design is to be unique. He also notices that glitz is out. Green, on the other hand, is in.
Homeowners want to respect their home’s sense of history while modernizing its space. They want to make use of salvaged or recycled materials while supporting local producers. This Davis sees as a positive reflection of Islanders in general.
Davis simultaneously moved his family and business from Seattle to Mercer Island 12 years ago. He completed a philosophy major at Colorado College and took up work as a carpenter after graduating. Following a brief stint teaching at the Busch School in Seattle, he decided to focus full time on construction. Having been brought up in Bellevue by a father trained in architecture and a mother who photographed for Sunset Magazine, hands-on, domestic projects were natural.
Despite his soft-spoken demeanor, Davis’ own Mercer Island home reflects an owner who loves company and is passionate about the arts. Performances for groups of up to 50 friends and family are not uncommon in the Davis household. He has hosted an opera performance; a concert by his brother-in-law, who is a professional cellist; a belly dancing troupe from Bellingham and a reputed Hungarian pianist who needed a venue.
“It’s so fun to do these things on such an intimate scale,” Davis said. “That’s the fun about any home and what it can represent.”
To continue to grow his company, Davis is thinking about scaling down. He can’t seem to keep up with the smaller projects, such as deck replacements and bathroom upgrades, that his clients would like to hire him for. The answer might be a “lighter division.”
“We want to be able to handle these things. We just can’t,” Davis said.
Maybe next year he will again make the list, and maybe improve to number 98th of the fastest-growing or better. If that happens, Davis thinks it’s a nice thing to be recognized for - but only if he has done it right.
OTHER ISLAND CONTRACTORS
Beckes Homes
Custom new construction and remodels
236-0371
www.beckeshomes.com
Bledsoe Construction
General contractor
4355 92nd Ave. S.E.
232-1689
Booth Construction
Design, build and remodel
232-0868
www.boothdesignbuild.com
Jason Whistler Custom Carpentry & Construction
Contractor, carpentry and remodeling
604-1883
King Construction
Custom homes and remodels
2240 72nd Ave S.E.
275-0904
www.mkingconstruction.com
March-MacDonald
Custom homes, residential remodels and commercial tenant improvements
9725 S.E. 36th St. #110
232-8464
www.march-macdonald.com
NW Deck Construction
Kitchens, baths and
additions
4114 83rd Ave. S.E.
232-0132
Redman/C.J. Design & Construction Company
Remodeling and custom building
7525 S.E. 24th St. #300
232-3022
www.redmancj.com
Richard A. Bersos Construction
Finish carpentry, remodeling and consulting
7820 S.E. 24th St.
232-8632
RJ Smulski Homes
Custom homes and remodels
2856 80th Ave. S.E.
236-7544
www.rjsmulskihomes.com
RKK Construction
Custom homes and remodels
3056 70th Ave. S.E.
236-2920
www.rkkconstruction.com
R L Walker Construction
3019 61st Ave. S.E.
236-2633
SJ Construction
PO Box 600
232-9825
Smersh Construction
Custom homes and remodels
PO Box 1246
236-2020
