Who would spend more money researching future trends than home developers, whose big-ticket gambles either sell quickly or sit and lose money? As a homeowner looking to remodel, you can take advantage of the developers’ research by perusing new homes and studying the colors, materials and layout. Surely, this is the future. If you’re into…
My first suspicion when a magazine publisher puts out a book is: Uh-oh, recycled magazine articles. Even the subtitle of the book — “Easy Projects to Transform Your Home Inside and Out” — made me wary. As any DIY-er can attest, projects in books are rarely as easy and painless as book authors, editors and…
Are women and men really so different? The marketers for Manhattan West, a new condo development in Las Vegas, seem to think so. As was reported on the Inman News blog, Manhattan West is offering his and hers units. The Diva series includes a jetted bathtub with temperature hold, which maintains the water temperature for…
Have you used a Southern California remodeling contractor who deserves a shout-out, someone you would recommend to your neighbors? If so, please post a comment. Tell us: — What is the name and city of the contractor who did your remodel? — What kind of job did the contractor do for you? Kitchen? Bath? Etc.…
Reader Kara Noble from Manhattan Beach wants to turn part of a large walk-in closet into a “wet room,” which is where you have a shower, sink and toilet all in one waterproof space with a floor drain. This is similar to what you’d find on a boat or in a motorhome. Kara is from…
Have we fallen out of love with granite? I would never ask this question except that an article by Liz Pulliam Weston on MSN Real Estate titled “The Hottest Remodeling Trends for 2011″ suggests that, yes, granite is old school, so 1990s. It states that people once liked the sleek hardness of granite, but now…
Here’s one of my favorite kitchens, built by Corona homeowner Rick Taylor for $7,500 during a three-week vacation. But here’s the best part: Rick’s wife Stephanie did not want her household with two small children disrupted by the remodel. To address her concerns, Rick produced a spreadsheet showing her precisely how he could get it…
Perhaps you’ve heard this quip when a spacecraft is launched: “There goes the lowest bid.” In my mind, trying to get the lowest bid for a remodeling project is just as foolish. And a lot of contractors agree with me. Gayler Construction explains very clearly how buying remodeling services is not even remotely like buying…
Several years ago, Reese Lackey’s three-part financial plan was simple: • Buy a home in what he heard was the most popular Southland style (Spanish). • Remodel it with trendy features (tile floors, granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances). • Live in the house for two years to satisfy tax laws and “flip” it for…
This room is meant to highlight the new GE Café series, but what really got my attention was the luscious look of the kitchen itself. (Click on photo for a larger view) So that got me thinking . . . how could a spectacular kitchen like this be done on a budget? Here are some…
As you can see in Sunday’s Pardon Our Dust feature, Bill and Becka Doering were extremely motivated to create a healthy, green family home. But while most of us agree with the concept of green building, our commitment fizzles when it’s time to write the check. Still, green is not necessarily out of reach. Global…
After moving to the U.S. from England several years ago, Kara Noble and her husband took on a 1940s Manhattan Beach bungalow that had been infused with way too much 1970s vibe. Part of their challenge was updating a paint-specked brick fireplace (below). How do you think they did with it? Poll – Take Our…