I recently interviewed Nicolas P. Retsinas, the director of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and lecturer at Harvard Business School. Nicholas noted a possible upside in the current real estate market in that houses may be viewed once again as places to anchor and raise families rather than primarily as profit centers. He…
When the housing bust started and home prices began their slide, some homeowners thought the cost of remodels might slide proportionately. That did not happen because the cost of remodeling was never temporarily and artificially inflated, as were some home prices. For instance, a $50,000 oak and granite kitchen remodel done in a Long Beach…
After countless vain attempts to locate a solar-powered fountain similar to the one I stumbled upon at my local Home Depot, I’ve decided the better way is to find the components and assemble one myself. The elements are shown above: fountain + pump/solar panel = solar-powered fountain. Fountain: The fountains come from places like OSH,…
Perhaps you’ve heard that fable about how "but for a nail, a kingdom was lost." It goes like this: But for a nail, a shoe was lost. But for a shoe, a horse was lost. But for a horse, a battle was lost. But for a battle, a war was lost. But for a war,…
Project: Kitchen remodel in an Eagle Rock bungalow Designer: Bethany Orlemann Contractor: Norm Peters, H&S Cabinets & Construction, Glendale, www.handshomecenter.com, (818) 249-1156 Windows and doors: Taylor Bros. Architectural Products, Los Angeles, www.taybros.com, (323) 805-0200 Countertops: Expo Design Center, Monrovia, (626) 599-3400 Countertop installation: Pacific Stone Designs, Commerce, www.pacificstonedesigns.com, (323) 869-9764 Interior painting: Brothers Painting, Raffi…
Where the money went: Eagle Rock kitchen gets a fresh look Construction (covered by general contractor: plumbing, electric and cabinetry): $43,000 Includes: demolition gut to studs, remove interior walls, framing new doorway and windows, drywall, rough and finish electrical (includes replacing old knob and tube wiring, relocate and upgrade new service panel), rough and finish…
Perhaps you’ve heard this ditty about the choices we make in life: We choose based on emotion, and then rationalize our choices with logic. It’s like that with me and claw-foot-style tubs and pedestal sinks. The logic says: bad choice. And a previous posting on this blog brought many well-thought-out comments from readers on why…
If you have an equity line of credit that you plan to use for home improvements, there is a chance the lender could cancel that line, according to an article in today’s Washington Post. With home values dropping, the article states, lenders are canceling equity lines of credit so that there is not more debt…
When penciling out costs for a remodel, factoring in flooring, tile, cabinets and other big-ticket items is a no-brainer. But the hidden, not-so-glamorous costs can make your budget jump. I asked SoCal contractor Matt Plaskoff, CEO and founder of Plaskoff Construction and One Week Bath, to compile a list of items that get included in…
Where the money went (for the Glassell Park kitchen remodel): Appliances: $3,750 (including front-loading washer and dryer, refrigerator and stove, minus several rebates from utility companies) Cabinets and hardware: $4,000 (note: half the cabinets were original, half were custom made to match) General contractor: $14,700 (included: demolition, raising the sunken floor, all the plumbing and…