The doorbell rings on Monday morning and it’s two guys in white t-shirts standing next to an unmarked van. You’ve never seen them before; you met with a different person entirely when you got your painting estimate. Sound familiar?

This scenario plays out in homes across the Main Line every day. It’s exactly what Jon Dyer and Mike Lieber set out to change when they founded Artisan Painting in 2014. 

Artisan Painting: Service + Hospitality

After nearly 20 years each in restaurant management, they brought something unusual to the contracting world: a hospitality mindset that treats every client interaction as an opportunity to exceed expectations.

“There’s a huge difference between service and hospitality,” said Mike. “Service is how well we execute our product — the actual painting. Hospitality is how our clients feel about receiving that product.”

That difference shows up in unexpected ways. Their crews bring in newspapers from driveways, help with trash cans, and will even walk your dog if needed. 

It might sound like small stuff, but when strangers are working in your home for two weeks, these gestures transform the entire experience.

The Hospitality-Driven Contractor Experience

Artisan Painting’s hospitality philosophy stems from their restaurant backgrounds, where anticipating customer needs was second nature. 

Mike puts it simply: “We’re at your service when we’re there. Why would you walk past a newspaper ten times without bringing it in?” 

For busy families juggling school schedules, work commitments, and daily life, this approach removes much of the anxiety around home improvement projects.

 “We’re in your house, around your family and your pets,” Jon said. “If you’re going to have people in your house, it should be us.”

The team has been deliberate about hiring for culture fit over pure painting experience. “It took us 10 years to hire 10 people,” Jon said. “I’d almost rather hire someone with a hospitality background and teach them to paint our way, than hire a painter who doesn’t know how to make clients comfortable.”

Helping Clients Make Informed Decisions 

Walk into most painting consultations and you’ll get a price. Walk into an Artisan consultation and you’ll get an education first.

“Who’s doing the work? Are they employees or subs? What’s in the paint and why does it matter?” Mike said. “Those are questions people don’t always think to ask, but they really should.”

“The biggest mistake we see is homeowners rushing into projects without understanding what they’re getting,” Jon said. “There’s a misconception that painting is easy because most people have done it. You paint your first apartment, then your next house gets a little harder, and then you realize you don’t like to paint.”

Instead of just handing over estimates, Jon and Mike arm clients with the right questions to ask any contractor: Who’s actually doing the work? Are they employees or subcontractors? What products are being used, and why do prices vary so dramatically between estimates?

“Paint is made up of pigments and solids,” Mike said. “Higher quality paints have higher levels of prime pigments, which give you better application, durability, and gloss retention. Lower quality paints use more extender pigments, which are just low-cost additives.”

By helping clients understand what goes into a job, Artisan empowers them to make confident, informed decisions rather than just choosing the lowest price.

Cabinet Painting: A Smart Alternative to Full Renovation

For many Main Line families, cabinet painting has become a smart alternative to a full kitchen renovation. 

“Cabinet painting could be a third or less than the cost of replacement,” Jon said. “It’s a great way to give yourself a whole new look for a fraction of the cost.”

But many homeowners worry the finish won’t hold up — a concern Artisan addresses head-on with education and a bold guarantee. 

“If it’s done right and prepped properly with high-quality products, it will last,” Mike emphasizes. “That’s why we offer a lifetime guarantee: as long as you own the house, we’ll come back and fix any issues.”

The Artisan process also solves another major concern: kitchen downtime. Instead of painting everything on-site like many competitors, they remove cabinet doors and take them to their shop for a cleaner, more controlled finish.

“It’s about two weeks from start to finish, but you’re only without full kitchen functionality for about five days,” Jon said. “You still have access to your fridge and stove. Compare that to a full renovation where you don’t have an oven in your house for months.”

Working with Main Line’s Historic Character

The Artisan team’s roots run deep — literally. Having grown up working on Victorian homes in Ridley Park, the Artisan team developed expertise that’s especially valuable for the Main Line’s many historic properties. 

“When you’re working on a house that hasn’t been touched in 30, 50, or 100 years, there’s a lot to consider,” Jon said.

From proper lead paint removal to sourcing the right materials, they know the ins and outs of true restoration.

 “If you need to repair trim on a 100-year-old home, you can’t just go to Home Depot and buy what’s on the rack,” he said. “We know where to get the right species of wood and materials for a true restoration.”

That same level of care extends beyond paint. Artisan’s carpentry skills allow them to take on wood rot replacement, plaster repair, and the inevitable electrical holes that come with updating old homes. 

“We’re looking at everything with a finisher’s eye,” Mike said. “When you hire separate contractors, the carpenter does rough work without thinking about the finish. We install with the final result in mind.”

The Power of Community Trust

Artisan’s six consecutive LOVE Awards and Family Favorite Honors from the Main Line Parent Community reflect more than quality work — they represent genuine community trust. 

“What’s so special about Main Line Parent and the LOVE Awards is it’s not a popularity contest… you’re reading real submissions from clients,” Mike explains. “People were moved by their experiences enough to write about them without being asked.”

This recognition matters especially in a field where horror stories are common. “We mostly work with the woman of the house as the decision maker,” Jon said. “The word of mouth from moms is probably the most powerful referral you can get.”

That trust has created a network effect. “We plan to visit other Main Line Parent winners and highlight them,” Jon said. “As a fellow winner with a small platform, I love being able to support other local businesses.”

Strategies for Planning Your Next Project

For families considering painting projects, timing can make a big difference. 

“The best time to schedule painting is actually January and February,” Jon said. “We have time to focus on your project without being pulled in different directions. You get our full attention.”

That’s especially true for cabinet painting, which Artisan can do year-round. They also offer financing options, making it easier for families to spread out the investment. 

“We might be more expensive than other estimates, but we offer a lifetime guarantee,” Mike notes. “If you want it done right, efficiently, and in the least invasive way for your family, it might make sense to do this monthly over a short period rather than one big payment.”

For Main Line families tired of contractor horror stories, Artisan Painting brings something rare: predictability, quality, and genuine care for the client experience. 

As Jon puts it, “We don’t just want to get the job done — we want to earn your trust and build a lasting relationship.” 

“It’s not just about the paint getting opened and put on the wall,” Mike says, “It’s about the first phone call to the last phone call, and everything that happens in between.”

Ready to experience the hospitality-driven difference? Contact Artisan Painting at (484) 841-1291 or visit artisanpaintingllc.com. Financing options available for cabinet painting projects.

---

Photos courtesy of Artisan Painting
This story supports the Main Line Parent Community. Collaborate with us.