When it comes to tiling, Sandy Briggs is fearless.

Since she did her first tile work on a bathroom countertop in 2002, she’s tackled major projects in the new home she shares with her husband, Mike, along the Columbia River north of Orondo.

“You’d never know I’m a bookkeeper,” she said. “With that job, everything has to be exact, but it’s not like that with tile. You have these stacks of tile and you start pulling things together. I love the creativity of it.”

Since the couple, who acted as general contractors on their new home, began building it in 2003, Sandy has tiled:

• The master bathroom, including a large walk-in shower, the area around a spa tub and a large wall surface behind an open sink area.

• 1,500 square feet of surface that covers a large common area that acts as kitchen, dining room and family room.

• Entrance areas at four access points to the home.

“I’ve learned a lot,” said Briggs, 54. “And one thing I’ve learned is that I’ll never do a floor again. I’m too old for that — my knees and my hips are too old for that.”

Sandy and Mike own and operate Northwest Investigative Services. Mike, a former Washington State Patrol trooper, handles the accident investigation end of the business and Sandy handles the financial end.

The couple lived in Kent for 20 years before deciding to relocate east of the Cascades in the early 2000s.

With the Internet, they said, they can live and work anywhere they want. And the Chelan area was their choice after frequent vacations there.

The couple, married 35 years, explored property near Chelan before deciding on their lot north of Orondo. Property along Lake Chelan was too expensive and available lots were too steep for the quick access the couple wanted to the water.

Sandy also noted that the best water skiing is actually on the Columbia River; Lake Chelan gets too choppy, she said.

Sandy got her interest in tiling from watching a home improvement show on TV. She said she wasn’t nervous about the first tiling project, which came out fine. And Mike said he had complete trust that his wife could take on any tiling project she set her mind to doing.

“She doesn’t have a fear of the unknown like I do,” he said.

He also said his wife is “very talented” when it comes to picking out colors and he notes that friends often seek her advice on decorating projects.

There seems to be no end of tiling projects for Sandy. She’s thinking of tiling a wall in an upstairs bathroom, then she might take her skills outside.

“You’re never done,” she said. “This summer, I think I’ll do a built-in tiled bench with a propane fire pit in it.”

Dee Riggs: 664-7147

deeriggs@wenatcheeworld.com