Who redid your house?

A rock star.

Seriously.

Meet Michael Sauri. A native of the Baltimore/Annapolis/DC area, Michael runs TriVistaUSA which specializes in Design/Build Remodeling and Construction in DC, MD and VA (www.trivistausa.com). In his free time, Michael rocks.  He’s with several different bands, but mostly, you’ll find him onstage with his former bandmate from Fighting Gravity (Mercury), Schiavone McGee.  (www.schiavonemcgee.com)  They rocked a packed IOTA Saturday night.

Luckily for us, he agreed to answer five questions.

1. What defines TriVistaUSA?

Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness (or hip-ness).  Our remodeling designs put all three of these under one roof.  Yours.

2. How did you end up in Washington, DC?

It would have been a waste of talent to keep me on Planet Gliese, so God banished me to DC.  And then, there was this girl…..

3. President Obama calls and asks to hang on a Saturday night. Where are y’all going?

Eighteenth Street Lounge.  Hardwood floors, real furniture, fireplaces, live jazz and downtempo.  Where else can we solve the energy problem and then sip a G&T on the rocks while listening to downtempo?  Any place that remodels a house into a lounge gets my vote.

4. How does rock & roll translate into home remodeling?

The ability to listen in real time is critical in making great music.  Knowing what to play, when to play, how much to play…  those decisions are made in real time.  First I listen, and then I contribute in a way that makes the song greater than just my individual part.  I apply that same process and instinct to remodeling.  I listen to my clients, listen to the room, the home, the budget…  listen to all of the moving parts that have to play together, and then I add value/inspiration/coordination in real time.  The rest is copyrighted.  You only get access if you’re my client.

5. We know that Rick Rubin thinks you rock. Besides that, what is your best rock star story?

You mean, besides opening for Ace Frehley in a pizza joint, and using his monitor stack as my mains?  I would have to say it was playing the Kennedy Center with Placido Domingo.  I brought a rubber bat with me and asked him to bite its head off on stage after his solo at the Kennedy Center.  He politely declined.

Michael Sauri, contracting for TriVistaUSA by day and rocking out by night.