We are Mira and Mathew.

We began Black Cat at the beginning of 2022 with the goal of helping homeowners make their house into their dream home.

Since meeting, we have always dreamed of starting our own business. Having both worked in and out of the home services field, we knew that’s where our passion was. After making the move to St Thomas at the end of 2021, we decided it was the purr-fect time to get it going. Our cats Olive & Charlotte inspired the name and we couldn’t be more excited to build from there!

  • My passion for making and problem solving started when I was young. I would spend hours folding complex origami, building my own furniture and assembling 3D puzzles — yes, I am a nerd! That passion led me to the Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto, to study architecture and interior design. While earning my degree, I worked as a furniture assembler at IKEA (where I met Mat), did a stint building architectural models, and spent summers painting in Toronto’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. In 2019, I took the leap and ran my own summer painting business: I had found my calling! Next: a position with a home services company, managing painting crews across the GTA and Muskoka. I also worked with their handyman team whenever I could, gaining experience in house repairs and deck building.

    I was raised in St. Thomas (you might even know me as the girl in the Longboarding: A Day in St. Thomas video) and was very happy to move back in 2021. Leaving behind the big city, and coming back to clean air and country roads was just what I needed. Now I can pursue my passion with my own business: doing the hands-on work myself, getting to know my clients, and producing work I am proud of.

  • Yes, with one ‘T’ — that’s not a typo!

    I was born and raised in the west end of Toronto. In 2021, I moved to St. Thomas with Mira. I have to say, we made the right choice; I love it here. The people are great, and the lack of traffic is A-plus.

    I grew up in a family that never stopped renovating. With my dad being a contractor and my mom a designer, I was basically raised in an HGTV episode. So, my passion for upgrading spaces really solidified early on.

    I studied business at Ryerson and wore a couple of hats after that. I worked at IKEA (where I met Mira), then tried several corporate positions and even drove a streetcar for a bit. (Yes, that was pretty awesome, actually.) But I kept coming back to what I loved … fixing and building. I worked as a house framer before moving into residential renovations. So now I can build my own house from the ground up — and yours too!

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What are people saying about us?

  • “Mira was awesome…professional, quality of workmanship, reliable, trustworthy. I highly recommend her services."

    Darlene N.

  • “The quality of the work and materials was excellent and she completed the work on time and on budget. I recommend her work highly."

    Matt J.

  • “Mira is friendly, hard working and reliable. She is knowledgeable and offered great advice when picking out our colours. Highly recommended!"

    Mark B.

  • “I was impressed by the attention to detail. Lots of surface prep -- scraping and sanding, one coat of primer, and two coats of colour. No cutting corners. Highly recommended."

    Serge L.

  • "Mira and her team did a fantastic job painting the main floor of our home. Professional, personable and quality work."

    Dean M.