Have you ever been turned down by a remodeling company or a tradesperson? You may have been rejected, but a savvy contractor’s manner of turning down clients may be so artful that you don’t even realize it happened. All you know is that you’re calling other companies. First, why would a potential client be rejected…
These days, it seems everyone's got a case of the budget blues. Not surprisingly, turbulent economic times also tend to sideline home renovation projects, at least for the short term. But if you have the savings or financing available for your remodeling adventure, the timing for some improvements couldn't be better. Why? Well, for starters,…
Where the money went (selected items): Hutch: $800 Ceiling lights: $400 each Light over sink: $99 Stove: $5,000 Stools: $325 each Teak column: $800 Cabinets, stove vent, sink, faucet: $4,100 Drinking water filter and faucet: $270 Marble countertop: $850 Marble fabrication and installation: $1,500 Cork flooring and installation: $1,800 Subway tile: $350 Tile installation: $600…
How Don and Gigi Maurizio spent the money on their Rosarito Beach remodel: Construction Demolition: $3,000 Scraping textured plaster walls: $500 (labor) Staining beams: $500 (labor) Cabinets: $7,200 (materials) Tankless hot-water system and connections: $1,800 (materials) Tile for floor, patio, shower and bath countertop, including grout: $7,700 (materials) Granite countertop in kitchen: $2,000 (materials and…
How did Don Maurizio puzzle out the cabinet installation in his Rosarito Beach kitchen? Click here to read the whole story.
If you’ve ever wondered how a school administrator and college professor from Claremont would remodel a condo in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, I’ve got a story for you. It will be in Sunday’s Real Estate section. Above, you see the view from the front porch. Referring to wages earned in academia, the husband of the couple…
I guess I’m not a competent matchmaker, as I seem to have violated a major principle in the art form: timing. (Or, as comedian Steve Martin pronounced it in one of his routines, ti-MING.) My gaffe was in telling the story about bachelor Aaron Raymond, seen here showing off the travertine backsplash he had installed…
Want to read about a really nice man who wants a family? Here’s the story. Click below to see more photos of Aaron Raymond’s home. (After photos: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times; before photo: Aaron Raymond)
The new kitchen? It’s ’100% us’ A Glassell Park couple get personal in their latest redo — down to the cat-feeding station. As Kristina Johnson and David Franke discovered while remodeling their Glassell Park kitchen, taking charge of the job — drawing the plans, buying materials, supervising contractors for some work and doing a portion…
Here’s where the money went for Carl Balton’s Mar Vista remodel, featured in a previous post: Electrician: $1,060 Plumber: $550 (plus one snake aquarium) Wood floor refinishing: $1,300 Trash hauling: $270 Friends’ labor: $3,734 Bathroom fixtures, vanity: $2,000 Tile and countertop: $1,260 Tile setter: $660 Bathroom counter: $800 Shower curtain and track: $295 Bathroom materials:…