When one hears the word Caribbean we probably all have similar visions in mind.
Vibrant colors.
Sandy beaches.
Bold flavors.
Smiling faces.
A distinct way of life that has not been lost on Trinidad native, Coleen Gokool.
There’s a teary glance and a cracking smile that takes over her demeanor when mentioning her hometown.
A place she thinks of fondly, and visits often, a world she wants her two daughters to know and appreciate as well.
“Every summer we bring the girls to spend vacation around family and our culture, usually one week in Tobago and one week in Trinidad,” she says.
And, sharing her culture, weaving her past with the present, has been an unspoken joy within her community here in Katy.
After years of living and traveling abroad, celebrating the differences, and savoring traditions, Coleen states, “Katy is home. You can never put a price on the relationships we’ve built here.”
When entertaining, she loves to gift Trinidadian curry powder, and cooks traditional dishes for guests which pull influences from all over the world.
Favorites include an iconic street food called Doubles, their soft, fried turmeric-seasoned flatbreads, in addition to their one-pot rice & chicken dish called Pelau. Most notable is the flatbread lovingly referred to as Buss Up Shut, known for its buttery and flakey, yet torn-looking appearance. And sweet lovers delight in decadent cake desserts like rum cake, sponge cake, or sugar cake.
But, when not indulging in bold flavors and nostalgic dishes with her family and friends, Coleen is hard at work running her own local remodeling and handyman business, House Doctors of South Katy.
And it’s no surprise that her hardworking and honest Caribbean roots run deep in her business as well.
Alongside her contractor Jermaine, who hails from the Bahamas, the team knows and appreciates how important it is when homeowners entrust their projects to them.
As a master carpenter, Jermaine’s expertise includes advanced woodworking, structural expertise and a keen eye for detail that he instills in every project.
“People from my hometown believe investing in your home is a lifetime commitment, you put your life’s savings into your homes because you live there into your twilight years, then pass it down to your kids,” Coleen explains.
From the biggest of remodels to everyday maintenance needs, House Doctors bring Caribbean hospitality and craftsmanship into their client’s homes, treating each home as if it was their own.
One noticeable difference between homes in the U.S. versus the Caribbean: the vibrant colors. Colors are a personal preference, and many locals feel it’s usually safer to go with grays and whites, but Coleen always supports her clients in experimenting with more colors.
Whether it's a bold accent wall that makes a statement, or colorful rooms that spark the overall essence of a vibrant life, your home should reflect the experiences, the uniqueness and the people who live in it.
Coleen says she loves the famous quote from Maya Angelou that states, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
A goal she keeps in mind for every project, every punch list, every detail. Giving her clients that feeling of colorful, Caribbean hospitality.
You can learn more about House Doctors at HouseDoctors.com/south-katy.