Boston Globe Metro West Profiles Mariette Barsoum

A new life, kitchen by kitchen
by Susan Chaityn Lebovits
March 16, 2008

When Mariette Barsoum wanted to learn how to speak American English she took a job at Filenes; when she decided she should grasp remodeling she worked at Home Depot; and when she was set on becoming an expert in kitchen and bath design she enrolled in classes with the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

Before 1999, Barsoum had never set foot outside of Egypt. Today the 29-year-old Framingham resident creates kitchens and bathrooms throughout the suburbs west of Boston.

Over the years, she has handled requests both mainstream and obscure, like the client who had a substantial collection of ceramic roosters and wanted to incorporate ways to display them; another who labeled everything and requested enough room that every cooking spice could be placed alphabetically (extra wide drawers were built); and a client who had four children and a fifth on the way who asked for a designated space for each child's snacks.

Barsoum first began as an apprentice in Waltham, then worked as a designer in Natick before opening Divine Kitchens in Westborough. Over the years, she said, there's been quite a change in what customers are seeking.

"Now people are more interested in technology, like steam ovens that lock moisture into food, and using environmentally friendly materials," said Barsoum.

When requested, she works with suppliers who purchase wood from certified sustainable forests, meaning that for each tree that's cut down another is planted, and uses countertops that are made out of recycled glass, paper, and concrete. Low volatile organic compound paints, sealants, adhesives, and fabrics are also popular options.

Some people, she said, are installing motion sensor lights and faucets that eliminate unnecessary running water, and opting for energy-efficient dishwashers. Barsoum said the cost for going green can run an additional 10 to 35 percent for an average kitchen.

More people, she said, are now asking for additional places to store fresh food.

Sometimes, she will design a kitchen with "both a large refrigerator and a smaller one in an island for snacks and basics like milk and cheese," said Barsoum. "With the housing market the way it is now, people want to remain in their homes, so they're remodeling instead of moving."

Barsoum made her own move to the United States after marrying her husband, Magued, a native of Egypt who came Massachusetts at the age of 18 to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute. They met while he was home on school break.

"I was surprised that she wasn't reluctant to come to the United States," said Magued. "It takes a lot to pick up and go to a different place altogether."

But Barsoum said she always felt that her life would lead her to the United States, as she has always been intrigued with things American.

She recalls spending childhood afternoons in Egypt watching American movies and soap operas such as "The Bold and the Beautiful."

Barsoum said that when she was growing up, girls really didn't go outside of their homes other than to church and school, or to play at a girlfriend's home. Boys, however, were allowed to ride around on their bikes with friends and be out and about.

After high school, Barsoum went to college in Cairo, which was three hours away from her family's home.

Her mother wasn't too happy that she would be away from home and agreed to let her go as long as she lived in a church-run dormitory for women only.

"We had strict rules and had to be back by 7 p.m.," said Barsoum. "If you were five minutes late there was real trouble."

Casual dating was not allowed, and only those who were formally engaged were allowed to spend time together, she said. "Knowing a boy outside of my family - the guilt would sink in."

There were a few occasions when offers of an arranged marriage came her way, but Barsoum declined.

"I really wanted to meet someone, fall in love, and give them my heart and soul," said Barsoum.

Fortunately, it happened with Magued, who is eight years her senior. He is a software engineer and chief technical officer of Fortress Technologies in Westford. The couple has two children.

"I speak Arabic with my daughter, but like every immigrant I find it's so hard to keep the language," said Barsoum. "She understands me when I speak Arabic, but answers back in English."

Barsoum credits her husband for where she is today. After she settled into her Natick job, which she loved, he encouraged her to do more.

"I was happy and ignored him," said Barsoum, "until the day one of my clients told me I should open my own business. When I shared that with him, he gave me that 'ah-ha' look and was relentless for two months."

Barsoum said her husband began to research business plans behind her back and one day for fun (so she thought) they went out looking for retail space.

They saw someone putting up a "For Rent" sign in a spot on Lyman Street in Westborough that looked interesting, but the person had no keys to the building.

"When I came home from work a few days later he told me that he had put a deposit down," said Barsoum. "I was furious at first, but it turned out to be just right."

The clients who had suggested she launch her own business, Anne Marie and Dan Dangler of Wellesley, handed her a check for $50,000 and asked her to start even though she hadn't yet opened a showroom.

"We liked her and trusted her," said Anne Marie. "We did take a risk, but she was just so knowledgeable and we're so happy that we did."

Since opening Divine Kitchens in 2005, Barsoum has completed more than 125 projects. She also offers up her showroom for nonprofit events, free of charge.

"God has blessed me since I came here," said Barsoum. "I'm living the American dream."