I feel compelled to write a review because it was reading other people's that got me into the shop to check it out. I was in the market for a new shop and had been looking in the lacey and olympia area and nothing was cutting it for me yet. I was super impressed with the portfolios at House of Tattoos. I was mainly in search of clean lines and after checking out just 3 of the books I was clueless who to pick for my tattoo. They all looked so great, I was not used to that after checking out shops more south.
To keep it short, I had a great experience in the shop when I made my appt and when I came back in to get the work done. Jeff took on my piece and he was great! He was so easy to collaborate with. Im so happy I found this shop, I have nothing but good things to say.
The first time I got a tattoo I was lucky enough to end up at the House of Tattoo. Â My girlfriend had done her research and went to see Katie Williams because of her reputation and on recommendations from friends. Â My friend had selected an image and when Katie looked at it she quickly made changes. Â She explained why the changes made a difference and we agreed that the changes looked much better than the original image. Â I was so impressed by Katie's work that I decided to get my own tattoo. Â I had never before even considered a tattoo. Â
Katie creates works of art. Â After giving great thought and looking at images about what I might want, I presented Katie with images that interested me. Â Katie then created her own drawing based on what I had shown her. Â Her rendition of what was in my mind was so much better than I ever imagined, I had to say YES to the tattoo. Â
When my sweet decided he wanted a tattoo I told him he had to go see Katie. Â My sweet is also a researcher and informed me that Katie had an art degree. Â I believe that Katie's appreciation of beauty, her commitment to creating quality, artistic pieces and her skill and training have made her an expert tattoo artist. Â
My sweet and I are both now two tattoos in. Â I will be getting a third tattoo near the end of the year. Â If you have decided that tattoos are for you, consider visiting Katie Williams at House of Tattoo. Â At the very least consider seeing a reputable artist as you will have this artwork on your body for the rest of your life. Â I look in the mirror every morning and love my ink.
I came to house of tattoo because my roommates get all their tattoos here, and now I know why. Â Stellar experience beginning to end. Â I wanted an octopus and some flowers done in a watercolor style. Â I originally had my appointment with Katie (my roommates' artist) but when the shop discovered that I was hoping to do watercolor, they recommended Mike. Â It's very comforting to know that the person scheduling appointments (go Mindy!) is familiar enough with the artists' work to match you with the appropriate person for your needs. Â Anyhow, Mike drew up something for me that was far from what I'd imagined but in the best way possible. Â It was way better than I had imagined and could have come up with on my own. Â Love.this.shit. Â If you want a tattoo done in a watercolor style, Mike is the way to go, no doubt about it.
Review Source:I am impressed, to say the least! I wandered into the House of Tattoo in my quest to find someone knowledgeable and friendly - which in my experience with tattoo shops, is hard to find. I had an idea for a tattoo, but had questions about the feasibility of some of it's parts.
I was greeted by Katie when I walked in. She was very nice and willing to listen to my idea. She suggested I speak with Jeff, since she was about to start tattooing. Jeff approached me and was very easy to talk to. He listened to my idea and questions and took the time to answer them and even give me more information. Â He even spent more time with me looking at 'styles' online so as to better understand what I was looking for. After talking with Jeff for about 45 minutes, I knew I wanted to schedule my appointment with him.
A week later, and I have my tattoo! I'm thrilled with Jeff's work and his vision. He took my idea, made it better and then exceeded my expectations with the end result.
I will definitely be back for future tattoos!
To say that Katie at House of Tattoo is an artist, just doesn't cut it. She is a magician. She has transformed many of my old dated, tired tattoo's to works of art. I got the bug to cover a tattoo on my neck and when I asked around about who would be good for the job her name was mentioned over and over. I took it as a sign. Her peacock feather on my neck was my first one with Katie. Since then she has done 3 more pieces (4 total). I will continue to give her ideas to add to my canvas. All of the artist there are wonderful, but I chose Katie because of her fun, colorful, attention to detail, creative approach to her work. To top it off, she is a hell of a wonderful person! Go check this place out bursting with talent!
~Mindy Spencer
Definitely the best tattoo parlor in Tacoma. I looked ALL around the area in search of the best artist and shop I could find to start my half sleeve journey and Josh at the House won out over all others.
His artwork immediately impressed me and after chatting with him about my ideas I made an appt for 2wks out. He outlined a quick stencil of my arm and told me to email him various pictures/drawings of what I was looking for, however, I never heard back from him regarding my emails. This being my first big piece (I know, I know - it was my responsibility to check up on my masterpiece Josh was fabricating), worry set in as I walked to the House wondering what I might find (very convenient living just around the block). Doubt flew out the window the moment I saw Josh's drawing; it was absolutely perfect. Honestly, I didn't change a thing about his artwork he drew up for me. His artwork only took two sessions, no bullshitting around and wasting time; outline was completed in an afternoon and he finished up with my shading and coloring a couple weeks later. My tattoo is only 4 months old but I've already received countless compliments and am incredibly thankful for Josh and his steady hand for creating it.
Overall, the House is hands down at the top of the list. It's an impressively clean shop, the staff are great people, and any of the friends I've referred have also left satisfied. Thanks again!
- The Girl with the Birdcage Tattoo
If I could say more fantastic things about House of Tattoo (or HOT, as I like to refer to it ;-) I would! I guess past having an internationally recognized crew of artists and hands down the absolute best captain at the helm, they give every person who comes in for tats a unicorn!! Â (See...I told you I would have to make stuff up to say anything past just they're just plane old the best in town!)
GO HERE FOR LIFE and you won't be disappointed!
It doesn't say "BEST IN TACOMA" on the window for no reason.
But then again, I will admit now that I am quite possibly the absolutely most biased person in the world to review this place :D
I'm like a walking billboard for this shop. The only two tattoos I haven't gotten there were done in California, before I moved to wonderful sunny Tacoma. And trust me, there's a lot left. They definitely have a more modern approach to "tattoo shop"--love the color scheme and open airy waiting area [also a good place to find out about upcoming shows!]. I guarantee you this place is the cleanest shop around. All of the artists are experienced professionals who care about your art and their reputation.
To this day, one of my biggest pet peeves is someone bragging that they "only" paid $50 for such and such huge [aka UGLY] tattoo... people, really, you get what you pay for. Sure, you can probably get it cheaper at another shop, or in your buddy's garage, but why would you want to? The only spots on my work are from MY bright idea to get tattooed three weeks in a row--oops, my bad.
PS, I owe you guys a visit soon... still got one naked shoulder that needs love!
So I finally checked this place out after hearing everyone talk about it.  I was very impressed. I had an appointment with an artist named Mike, who took the idea of what I wanted and turned it into something SO much better. He was super patient with my whining  about the pain, and took breaks when I needed them. I could not be happier with the work I got done. This place is clean, professional, and everyone who works there is friendly. Thanks for the beautiful piece Mike!
Review Source:My personal experience has been that Tattoo shops are not the most welcoming places, which seemed to blow my mind at the time, seeing that you are wanting a service which comes along with a pretty hefty fee! Overtime, I have experienced that some people are complete idiots when it comes to the art of tattoos and all it encompasses.
Not the case at this joint.......I will try not to be biased as I am now a FOREVER customer of House of Tattoo but that saying goes, 1st impression is everything! I was welcomed within seconds, along with my daughter (I have walked into establishments that have stopped me immediately to tell me she cannot enter since she is under 18 yrs old) WTH??? Â and/or cruised the shop for minutes before being acknowledged by anyone?? Hello???
Aside from my 1st impression, I did do some research on my artist this time and I was super duper impressed with Katie, who happens to be the owner as well. Owner, mother, wife and highly educated at that!! You can google her if you want all the details!
My 1st tattoos with Katie was a cover-up that has now expanded to a partial sleeve:) The work she does is fabulous!! The entertainment it self in the shop is RIDICULOUS and that's not even a additional fee, LMAO!!!
Atom, is the piercer and he runs hand in hand with the establishment:)
5 stars, totally, for the House of Tattoo!!! Love you ALL!!!!!
I have gotten all but one tattoo here! And I love it and will never go any place again!
My mom got here first tattoo here 14 years ago from the owner Katie. And it still to this day looks fresh! It's the first tattoo shop that I have walked into and the artist don't come off as douche bags and that I am bugging them for coming in and wanting some work done.
Just got my foot work done about 3 weeks ago from the new guy Chris. My work was drawn up from someone in Kauai  at their shop, but Chris is the one to make it come alive on me foot!
I am bummed that Andre has moved on. But other then that the artists are awesome!
Do you like cats? Do you like tattoos? If you answered yes to either of those questions then you should come to House of Tattoo! I've gotten 6 cat tattoos here and they are all amazing! Katie is the best!
Don't think I'm crazy! House of Tattoo is really awesome. The artists are good, and the shop is in a great location.
Come here!
This is a slightly strange review to write, as I personally have never had a tattoo done here (or anywhere for that matter), but I have become increasingly impressed with their work as I've watched my friend's entire torso and arms become a tapestry of excellence. Â I haven't had much experience with the tattoo artist's themselves, but the work speaks for itself, and coming from someone who isn't all that big of a fan of tattoo work, I confess that they have begun to sway me.
Review Source:Fantastic shop with great artists. Â I've had two pieces done by Katie and am 100% thrilled with both. Â I am not a visual artist so I really appreciate being able to verbally describe something in vague detail while knowing that she will be able to translate it into a visual masterpiece. Â For example, she rushed me in today and when I said I wanted the piece to have a sense of hope she freehanded a glowing aura around it. Â AMAZING!! Â Both pieces are custom and captured something special. Â I'd like to start work on a sleeve and am confident it will be fantastic. Â I agree with Tony D.'s comment. Â A tattoo really is forever so take your time and don't let price decide the quality of a permanent addition to your body!
Review Source:My sister and I wanted matching tattoos so after doing some research we decided on House of Tattoo and so glad we did! Â Mike did an excellent job. Â He took his time getting the design and size just right for us. Â I would definately go back for another tattoo with Mike. Â
This house rocks!
At the recommendation of many friends, I got my first tattoo here at the ripe age of 18 : ten years ago as of this review. My artist was Katie, and she was great. I brought in artwork that I'd done myself, and she fixed up the badly drawn knots that I didn't know how to draw. I've asked Katie to work on my fairly weird tattoo and she was super cool about it, gave me no attitude whatsoever (so all these complainers...??? I was an 18 year old novice and they were STILL super nice to me!) Â Then she proceeded to give me an excellent piece of work that has held up quite crisply for 10 years (OK, I have been good about staying out of the sun most of the time, and I haven't had any major weight gains or anything that would stretch it around, but I do feel it's unusually crisp compared to my friends' decade-old tattoos. My friends who didn't go to Katie, that is.) Â Everything about the experience was professional, friendly, sterile, and overall great.
I've gone back a couple of times over the past decade to have my tattoo touched up. She's still there, still friendly and awesome, still great to work with! I had such a great experience here that I am still very loyal to my artist. I've seen a couple of others in the meantime, but ONLY because Katie was out of town or unavailable during my visits from the East Coast, and I couldn't wait another year for my next visit.
I've been going to House of Tattoo a few years now. Ever since I turned 18 and I am 22 now. They have always been clean and friendly. Anytime I have had a question they've had an answer.
Everyone does wonderful work there. I tend to go to Katie though. She always knows what I want. Her work is always great and clean! When I take my friends in I take them to Katie. They are always more than satisfied.
Im going to keep this short and sweet. My twin and I went in, Unprofessional greeting at best, followed by snide remarks and methinks I'm better then you attitudes. The piercer was the only reason why I would set foot in there again. He was the only sweet part to that sour shop. A FATTY NO!
Review Source:House of Tattoo is so clean and professional, it's almost hard to believe. I've had tattoos and piercings done here and have been thoroughly satisfied by them across the board.
Their piercer is very knowledgeable and professional. He's pierced my ears, belly button and tongue (tacky teenage angst move); he also stretched my belly button piercing. Everything healed very well and was never more painful than it needed to be.
I had a consultation before my tattoo and felt like the artist was listening to and understood everything I wanted. He made sure to tell me to take breaks when I needed and did a beautiful job.
Big ups to House of Tattoo!
I was massively intrigued while watching the first half of LA Ink's first season. Â I spent a lot of time hanging out at House of Tattoo when I used to live in Tacoma, and I was hoping to recapture some of the raw life and conversation that happened there. Â And there's a hint of it on the television show, but you couldn't show a quarter of the good stuff that happened at the House of Tattoo, so I imagine that they have to edit out what I would consider the really good stuff. Â
I've always considered the House of Tattoo as the romper room of tattoo parlors. Â Ever since it's opened it's been well-lit, clean, and friendly. Â That's not to say that Katie (the owner) and her artists don't get snarky (which is a delight to behold), but they're always willing to work with a client who wants to work with them. Â
Everyone who works at the House is an amazing artist and each has their own flair for the different styles of tattoo art, but regardless of who works on you, you'll be amazed and definitely satisfied with their work. Â
The work you'll have done at House of Tattoo is pricey, but like the man said: Â "Good tattoos ain't cheap. Â And cheap tattoos ain't good." Â I've had my half-sleeve since '96 and the lines are still crisp and the black work is still dark and even.
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