Iris Marcus Discusses Finishing

Iris Marcus, expert finisher and leader in the industry, stopped by the Boiler Room to talk shop and music. We’ve been fortunate to have worked with Iris over the years on numerous projects, with most recently, a preservation job salvaging painted treads original to a Beacon Hill brownstone, what we call the FLATS. The clients wanted stained wood matching their floors. We brought Iris in for woodgraining (“faux boix”) the treads, making them look like stained walnut. Iris also shared with us her origin story involving having to petition to study the trades in high school because “girls weren’t allowed to study the trades,” carving her own path to her career, close encounters with celebrities, as well as leaders in the industry, and so much more.Of course, she also shared her boombox story, which was very much a story of music on job sites, the first time we actually covered music on sites!