When Derek Bernard bought a 90-year-old log cabin in northern Minnesota, the restoration work seemed overwhelming. Mr. Mole's Painting spent what Derek estimates were "hundreds of man hours" hand-sanding and preparing the logs for new stain. The cabin, he says, "looks awesome." That willingness to take on labor-intensive projects defines how owner Christopher Mole runs this Bemidji-based company.
Chris founded Mr. Mole's Painting in 2017, building a team that handles everything from whole-home interior repaints to commercial school projects, cabinet refinishing, epoxy flooring, and log home restorations. Katie Mole manages color consultation and scheduling, while crew members Jarrod, Justin, Gilbert, and others handle job sites across the region.
The fully insured team serves Bemidji, Bagley, Blackduck, Park Rapids, Walker, and surrounding communities throughout Beltrami County and north-central Minnesota. The company offers free estimates for all projects.
Log home projects require extensive hand preparation that sets this crew apart. Bill Scheela praised "their work ethic, quality of work and professionalism" on his log home staining, while Derek Bernard watched them "scaped and sanded like crazy" on his 90-year-old cabin. Victoria Huenecke describes the log home results as "stunning" even through adverse weather and power outages. These projects involve chinking, sealing, and multi-coat staining far beyond typical exterior work.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Joy Hoffman's review reveals that Chris and Katie "understand leadership and what it takes to create a family work environment." She observed crew members "in positive spirits, listening to music, laughing and talking" while completing her entire house in one week. RON SEELEY confirms Chris and Katie "obviously hire quality people" and were easy to work with. Named crew members Jarrod, Justin, and Gilbert appear across multiple reviews, suggesting consistent teams rather than rotating workers.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
One Facebook reviewer had old, worn-out cupboards and priced full replacement before choosing Mr. Mole's crew, calling it "FAR better to go the route we did." The reviewer also had epoxy countertops done, noting the design options were "truly limitless." Andy Oman describes an "excellent service and fantastic transformation" of his kitchen cabinets, while Sandy Hennum loved the "beautiful work on our Birch kitchen cabinets." Chris personally oversees cabinet projects to ensure results meet his standard of quality.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
Cleanup stands out as one of the most consistent themes across reviews. Celadon was pleased "from the minute they taped and prepped until they cleaned up every bit of evidence that they had even been here." Jan Loisel specifically praised "the clean up after the project was completed," and Michaelene L returned from being away to find "everything in perfect order and clean." One Facebook reviewer noted they left the property "cleaner than they found it."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
Several customers mention getting competitive value. James Garrigan called his interior repaint and wallpaper removal a "great job at reasonable price," while Jason Braunhausen described "fair price quality work." However, Sandra Hilliard and Jeannine both note that estimates were above their budgets, suggesting Mr. Mole's Painting positions itself as a quality-focused contractor rather than the lowest bidder. Both gave positive reviews despite not hiring, praising the company's professionalism.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Repeat business appears frequently in reviews. Mike Karvakko hired them for a "second project" and again praised "excellent service, great communication and high quality work." Victoria Huenecke returned after her log home project to have her garage painted, writing she "wouldn't work with anyone but you." Amy Pillsbury has had "two painting jobs" done and plans to call again. Kenneth Paulson states they "will certainly be who we call for painting in the future."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
One Facebook reviewer left a 1-star review stating the work was subpar. This stands in contrast to 53 other Facebook recommendations (98% positive) and 55 five-star Google reviews. The review lacks project details or specifics. Sandra Hilliard's 3-star Google review about pricing received a professional response, and Russ Smith's 4-star review about dust received an understanding reply with "we will continue to improve our services." The overall pattern shows professional accountability when concerns are raised directly.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
Minnesota requires a Residential Building Contractor or Remodeler license only for projects exceeding $15,000, administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. No state-level painting-specific license is required below that threshold. Mr. Mole's Painting, L.L.C. is registered as a Domestic Limited Liability Company with the Minnesota Secretary of State, File No. 1126479500029, with a status of Active / In Good Standing. The company was filed on 12/18/2019 with Christopher Mole listed as Registered Agent and Manager. The registered office address is 17749 Oak LMN, Bagley, MN 56621-5662.
-Verification Sources: Minnesota Secretary of State Business Search, Minnesota Dept. of Labor & Industry