When Cathy Nordlund decided to remodel one room in her Woodland Hills home to heart’s desire — the powder room — she began by looking through “millions” of decorating magazines. Eventually, she decided on a Victorian theme. But during her contemplation of fabulous Victorian bathrooms, it finally dawned on Cathy that they all shared a…
A cramped bungalow becomes a 5,000-square-foot oasis with plenty of elbow room for all. The first thing you notice about Janet Mitsui Brown’s remodeled Mar Vista home is its sense of balance, harmony and consistency. The slate on the fence posts is repeated on the chimney, the front steps and into the foyer. The red-toned…
While showing off her new kitchen/dining room addition one evening, Lily Richards explained to me why she and her husband, Arnie, never considered hiring a contractor to oversee the project. “We’re kind of conservative financially. . . ,” Lily began. “We’re cheap,” Arnie broke in. And, he added, “We’re too egocentric.” What’s more, the couple…
When Chantal Dussouchaud and Harry Dolman bought this Hollywood Hills home, they had one major objection to it: the massive driveway that dominated the entire front of the house. Part of the couple’s reaction stemmed from the fact that they had been living in Paris (they are both European natives), where the car culture is…
When Chantal Dussouchaud and Harry Dolman bought this Hollywood Hills home, they had one major objection to it: the massive driveway that dominated the entire front of the house. Part of the couple’s reaction stemmed from the fact that they had been living in Paris (they are both European natives), where the car culture is…
When Claudia Jones told her husband, Rick, that she’d like to take down the wallpaper in the kitchen of their Agoura home, he came back with a radical idea: "Why don’t we just redo the whole kitchen?" The concept was extreme because the house was not yet a decade old, hardly mature enough to need…
Reader Willie has provided a link to photos of his remodel. I understand Willie acted as his own contractor on this recently finished project, and that he plans on staying in this home as long as he can navigate the stairs. Willie, it’s a gorgeous remodel. Congratulations. I have a few questions about the kitchen…
You know why this kitchen in Dani Taylor’s Northridge house is so good-looking? That’s because she had so many years to think about it while other projects took priority. First, Dani and her husband added on a family room for their blended family. Then, when the family grew bigger, a new master suite seemed more…
I’m looking for Southern California remodeling projects to feature on this blog and in the print edition of the L.A. Times. Have you done a remodel you’re proud of? One you’d like to show off? I want to see it! What I love most: Budget-minded remodels in which the owners — that would be you…
So what do you do when your house is totally backward for your needs? Like, what if the living room and kitchen facing the street are exactly what you don’t want, and having them face the back yard is what you do want? If you’re an interior desginer and an architect — like Shaya and…