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 Carl Balton still remembers how he spent one particular Christmas Day — alone, miserable and working on his just-purchased first house, a 1928 Mar Vista fixer-upper.
On that day, the tiny, run-down house was vacant, cold and dreary. Rain puddled ankle deep outside, and winds blasted open the French doors he had just installed. Balton said he recalled staring at his 1-foot-high decorated pine tree and thinking: "So, Carl, how do you feel about the house you just paid half a million dollars for? How does it feel to be a homeowner?"
The answers to those questions would be much more upbeat by the following Valentine's Day, when he moved in — after completing a $25,000 remodel that included new paint inside and out, new landscaping, a new tiled porch and arbor, a new side porch and French doors, mended interior walls and ceilings, refinished floors, extensive moldings, new lighting fixtures, new hardware and a completely redone bathroom.
Balton had rented a unit in a Santa Monica triplex for 12 years, enjoying a garden and ocean breezes, when he decided to take the leap into homeownership. He looked at more than 100 homes during his six-month search and was outbid on several of them.
The day his real estate agent sent him to look at a 1,100-square foot, Spanish-style, two-bedroom, one-bathroom fixer, Balton wasn't optimistic. It was "caravan day," when local agents drive around to see homes recently put on the market, and he noticed the agents entering and leaving the house quickly.
At first, he thought it might have been the pink stucco that repelled them. Or the tilting front porch wall or cheesy awning. Inside, he figured it could have been the cracked ceilings or trashed bathroom.
 But when Balton reached the darkened kitchen, he understood why the agents didn't linger. There, in the breakfast nook, were 12 large aquariums, four across and three high, housing snakes. The room's windows were taped up with aluminum foil to provide the snakes the gloomy habitat they prefer.
Balton, however, didn't run from the kitchen. Instead, he pulled out his tape measure, leaned over the aquariums and measured the nook. He realized that, at 12-by-16 feet, this was a pretty good-sized kitchen. In addition, other qualities of the home appealed to him: the tile roof, wood floors hidden underneath old carpeting and the barrel ceiling in the living room.
That evening he put in an offer, and by the end of the week the deal was done. Taking advantage of his stellar credit, Balton was able to buy the house for $505,000 with 100% financing. "It's the ultimate leverage," he said.
See how the remodeling dollars were spent
Continue reading "Why does Carl Balton look so proud? Maybe it's his $25,000, 2-month remodel" »
 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: $703
French door: $1,605
Interior paint, moldings: $1,754
Fireplace repair: $1,600
Lighting: $767
Exterior paint: $812
Landscaping: $2,656
Ironwork, cabinetry : $614
Construction materials: $2,680
Total: $25,120
 Earlier this year, the so-called Solar Umbrella house — designed by owners and architects Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa and built by Above Board Construction in West Los Angeles — won a 2007 Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects.
The innovative house is hard to describe and luckily it's built in Venice where pretty much anything goes. The house started out its life in the 1920s as a 650-square-foot house on a 40-foot-by-100-foot lot, and was transformed by the couple into a two-story, 1,900-square-foot vision of light and sustainability. The house takes its name from the 90 solar panels that wrap around the south wall and roof, and which provide the home's energy needs. Even though the house sits in a sea of one-story bungalows, the couple claim that not one of the neighbors complained about the taller building, in part perhaps because it seems more air than structure.
 You can see from the architects' model on the right how the new portion of the house was built around the existing structure.
Here are comments from the AIA judges: “Successfully brings the outside in . . . Quality of light is wonderful . . . Sustainable materials are used as a design opportunity . . . It’s sustainable and beautiful . . . There is a sense of humor and experimentation to the design elements . . . Delightful – a place where you can see yourself raising your family and enjoying life . . . Multi sensory experience with the interesting use of materials – texture of the walls, water, globes – all delight the senses . . . Successful without being pretentious.”
See the pictures and read the story.
(Photos: Pugh + Scarpa)
 Visitors are flocking (at the rate of 70 per week, if that's a flock) to western Riverside County to check out the new homes built by KB Home and designed by Martha Stewart, as reported by the L.A. Times Real Estate section.
The homes reflect the East Coast vibe of Martha's homes in New York, Connecticut and Maine.
But you can create some of that same Eastern juju in your own home with paint and moldings. That's what agent and producer Richard G. Murphy did in his rather charmless North Hollywood bungalow. As an East Coast transplant, Richard pined for the look and feel of his childhood, but finds L.A. best for his career.
 Richard added some East Coast to his home thanks to a clever housewarming present from an employer — the services of the employer’s handyman for a week. For several days, Richard and the handyman cut and installed crown and baseboard moldings in the dining room, hallway, and bedrooms.
Every room also got chair rail molding, and boxed "picture frame" moldings on the lower walls. When painted a glossy bone china color from Dunn Edwards, the areas from the chair rail down give the impression of expensive wood paneling (shown in these photos).
However, “It’s all paint and molding,” Richard explains. “I just call it theater.” Though Richard takes his design cues from Ralph Lauren, Martha would still be proud of what he's done.
(Photos: KPR)
 Working with limited funds, Donna Sider was able to green up her Pasadena Craftsman bungalow, as was reported this week in the L.A. Times.
Snider's investments include:
• $6,250 — photovoltaic system (pictured, including $6,400 in rebates)
• $500 — tankless water heater
• $500 — Energy Star refrigerator (including $150 rebate)
• $770 — cotton attic insulation (including $130 rebate)
• $2,500 — replacing eight leaky louvered windows with energy-efficient, dual-pane windows
(Costs are approximate)
Greening a house makes it more comfortable and environmentally friendly, and saves money. Snider says she once paid $200 every two months for water and power, and now pays about $40 for the same period.
Check out this page for resources and rebate information.
See more green remodeling
Ideas? Thoughts? Send story ideas to podblog@aol.com.
 Not enough drama in your own remodel?
Bravo's new show, Flipping Out, will fill in the gap. The show premieres Tuesday and "follows the antics of one of Los Angeles' most colorful real estate speculators, Jeff Lewis," the website says. "It takes a special kind of personality to handle flipping six multimillion-dollar houses at one time, but Lewis, an obsessive-compulsive successful businessman, pulls it off and turns a six-figure profit on every property."
He has a wacky team to help him, including an assistant/actress/rapper who does voiceovers, his former boyfriend, and a cadre of therapists and spiritual advisors. And remember: no giggling during the house blessing! Yup, only in L.A.
To get tuned up for the new show, take the flipping IQ test. Here's the first question:
Q: You just purchased a small one-bedroom Mid-century-modern house in Malibu for $900,000. Great location, but it needs some work to transform it into a luxury home for profit. You have $500,000 to spend. Where do you start with the renovations?
Take the test and watch the first episode to see how this guy "found a business that validates and celebrates" his OCD. Warning: It's easy to get sick of this guy who states that "you either live like me or want to live like me." Uh, not. But the show is addictive. And that's an L.A. kind of thing.
Comments? Thoughts? Send your reviews on other home shows to podblog@aol.com.
 The Journal of Light Construction (one of the best contractor magazines, and one I occasionally write for) asked contractors to reveal the best and worst parts of their jobs. Their answers give clues to how they think:
From John Morrissey: The best part is the design aspect of the project, interacting with the client as to their needs and desires, and putting those into a workable design. The part I could do without is chasing money and all the excuses for non payment.
From Joe Doove: Best part of the job is the early morning before everyone starts making noise and the dust. I like to get to the jobsite before everyone else and take a walk through the jobsite. I find this time gives me a chance to clear my thought for the day ahead and see thing from a different angle. It's amazing what become simplistic that otherwise seemed complicated the day before during the congestion and grind through out the day before. The part of my job that I could do with out is the stress and daily tension I pickup from fellow colleagues and subcontractors. It's hard to stay focused when others around you are clearly at their wit's end.
From Martin J. Kennedy: Best: variety of work and work environments. Making clients happy, especially helping older home owners. Worst: cheap condescending owners who treat you like a registered sex offender.
Read more good and bad.
Past surveys: Scheduling subcontractors • • Top 10 construction defects • • Qualifying clients
 Question: I would like to know just how dangerous carpet is in terms of releasing harmful odors or formaldehyde in the air. Is it something to be concerned about? We are redoing our kids' room and want to put carpet in. What do I look for in a "environmental" carpet? — Jeff
Answer: From Karen Feeney, green resources manager, Allen Associates, Santa Barbara:
Carpeting is one of the biggest contributors to poor indoor air quality in the home. New wall-to-wall carpeting, including the backing and glues used to install it, may all release gases that can irritate the skin or promote respiratory problems, including asthma attacks and allergic reactions in some people. Over time, these toxins lose power, only to be replaced by another health hazard — the mold and dust mites that find a home in the carpeting. Molds also release chemicals into the air that can make you feel very tired or sick.
The carpeting industry is becoming more aware of these health issues. Many carpet manufacturers have reduced their formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and are making carpets with recycled content as well as less toxic materials.
Continue reading "Ask a Green Builder: What kind of carpeting is healthy for a kids' room?" »
Actually, it's not a riddle, but a true story about a guy who knows all about construction, and who has worked in building for years, who nevertheless hires a general contractor to orchestrate his own Pasadena remodel.
The following explanation of this phenomenon was sent in by John Beaty, who wrote a terrific guide to finding a general contractor for this blog. When I asked him why he, of all people, would be willing to pay for the services of a "GC" as they are called in the business, he wrote this:
Why do I look for a general contractor? Two major reasons:
1) Because if I wanted to be a GC, I'd want to get paid like one. :-) I need to earn a living, not chase after subs and materials.
2) Because a good GC has relationships with the subs who do the actual work, and I can't get the same quality without investing the same time into their relationships that the GC has. (emphasis mine)
And I have acted as my own GC (my remodel in New York was one example) but that just means I'm working two jobs. I still show up on site every day, sometimes twice, I check all electrical and plumbing before the walls are closed up, I measure wall switches, I know what sheetrock should look like, etc. But being new to Pasadena, I don't have a list of specialty contractors (subs) that I can depend on. That means I have to individually interview, etc.
Like the man said, the attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client. I'm really in agreement with that. I can get just as caught up in the minutiae of the job as any homeowner, and having a good GC can help you avoid the "feature creep" inherent in remodeling. In addition, they help set and keep budgets, they know what inspectors are looking for and in general, keep the job MOVING. I have rarely regretted paying the GC's fee. (Although there was this one guy . . . .)
Thanks for the insight, John. The reason I've elevated this comment to a full posting is that I've interviewed many homeowners who took on the role of general contractors themselves, and they had no idea how difficult and consuming it would be. I just want people to know it's a very challenging task. And when you don't have a longstanding relationship with subcontractors, you are not generally their first priority.
 Remodeling is an emotional endeavor. The very thing that keeps you safe and centered — your happy home — is turned into a dusty, chaotic, noisy jobsite. On top of that, you're asked to make decisions on colors and materials that you will have to live with for a long time. The combined stress is beyond belief.
What contractors know that most homeowners don't is that the peaks and valleys of a homeowner's emotional state are predictable. As you can see by this graph (click to enlarge), created by construction consultant David Lupberger, emotions are high during the design stage, low during the contract-signing stage, high through demolition ("We're finally getting started!") and framing, then take a long, long decline through drywall, plumbing and electrical. Happily, they start to rise again as the finish work begins.
Even when you know about this normal rollercoaster of emotions, it's not easy to live through. And it's not easy for your contractor to deal with emotional clients. And yet most remodelers say are in this business — rather than in more-profitable commercial or new construction — precisely because they enjoy the personal connection. Go figure.
Even when everything goes perfectly, and all the subs show up on time, and the materials show up without damage, and the inspections are timely, there are still ups and downs in emotions. One North Hollywood couple I interviewed started out so happy with their one-month kitchen remodel. And even though every single thing went right, they were stressed out and angry at the two-week mark. They were sick of having people in their house, they said, and sick of eating out.
Contractors know homeowners will be emotional. Lupberger gives seminars at contractor conferences called Managing the Emotional Homeowner, based on his book of the same name. I've been to these seminars and they are packed.
After the rollercoaster of a remodel, the best thing you can say to your contractor is this: "We love you, now get out of here."
Agree? Disagree? Send story ideas to podblog@aol.com.
 You know what's needed during a stressful remodel? A shower experience!
This new offering from Kohler is so over-the-top decadent that, well, it demands to be tried out.
The Kohler DTV custom showering experience combines water flow and temperature, chromatherapy (colored lights), sound, and steam mist with aromatherapy to create individual showering experiences.
Let's say you've had a horrendous day followed by a tough drive home and you want to get relaxed and rejuvenated for a dinner party. Would a few minutes in a tropical rain forest help? Set the water to fall like rain, the lights to pulse greens and blues, the speakers to play bird songs and the mist to emit the scent of tropical flowers. I feel more relaxed just thinking about it.
Or, in the morning when you want to get pumped up for a sales presentation, set the water to blast out like a torrent, the lights to pulse reds and oranges, the speakers to play Aerosmith, and the mist to emit the smell of blood. Just kidding on that last one.
It's a little hard to tell how much all this costs. Like most elements of remodeling, you have to get a price for the exact configuration you want. There's the rough plumbing, the fixtures, water ports, sound panels, controls, interfaces and goodness knows what else. I saw one at the Builder's Show costing $20,000 for a totally custom shower with swanky tile. But I assume the components could run $5,000 or $10,000.
What you've got to remember is that it's therapy, and therapy is expensive.
 Question: Over the past few years I have remodeled every square inch of my small 1921 home near Venice Beach. During that time the property value has increased significantly. I would like to continue to improve the property by adding a garage, three more bedrooms and two more bathrooms. The home is about 1,000 square feet, so an addition would double or triple the size. My concern is that a remodel might trigger a re-assessment of the property value. How does this work? Would my assessed value increase by the cost of the construction, or would my property tax after the remodel reflect the new market value including the land? How and when are property taxes raised following major remodels? — J.F.
Answer: Here is some insight from Bonnie Oliver, Assistant Assessor, for Assessor Rick Auerbach:
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify the Los Angeles County Assessor’s new construction appraisal procedures. The question posed by your reader was: Would extensive additions or remodeling increase their property tax based on the new square footage of her addition, or would it cause a reappraisal of his or her entire property, including the land?
Under Proposition 13, the entire property will only be completely reappraised in cases of the real estate transferring ownership. So that is the good news. The Assessor will add assessed value for any new building area, bathrooms, swimming pools, patios, kitchen islands, fireplaces, and additional built-in appliances. Replacement of existing windows, floors, kitchen counters, cabinets and appliances will be excluded from reappraisal.
Continue reading "Ask an Expert: Is entire property reassessed for taxes after an addition?" »
 When you buy new appliances, do you fill out the warranty registration cards? I don't. I get tired of spreading my information to marketers.
However . . . as I've been perusing the product recall website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission I realized, uh oh, those cards are how I would be contacted if my purchase is recalled for a defect.
The good news first: there have been no recalls announced by the CPSC this year for any refrigerators, espresso/cappuccino machines, clothes dryers, toaster ovens, garage door openers and many other well-made items.
But there have been recalls. Here's a small sample of the action in just the past few months:
• General Electric recalls 2.5 million dishwashers due to fire hazard (May 16)
• Asko Cylinda recalls 130,000 DW95 Series dishwashers due to fire hazard (June 14)
• Petters Consumer Brands recalls 300 Sunbeam Over-the-Range Microwaves for fire hazard (July 17)
• Fire hazard with 42,000 Thermador® Built-In Ovens leads to recall by BSH Home Appliances Corp. (June 29)
• 2000 Thermador Ceramic Cooktops recalled by BSH Home Appliances Corp. due to fire hazard (June 7)
• General Electric recalls 2,600 Gas ranges due to fire hazard (June 6)
Find more recalls according to product type or check out recent recalls.
Questions: Have you ever owned a recalled appliance? How did it work out for you?
 Relating to my previous post on warranty registration cards as a means of being informed of recalls, sometimes a recalled product had no card to fill out. So how are you going to know if something you bought for your home or remodel is unsafe?
The cool way is to check out Recent Recalls on the website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Here's an item that was posted just today:
Name of Product: TV Stands
Units: About 414,000
Manufacturer: Sauder Woodworking Co., of Archbold, Ohio
Hazard: The TV stand can collapse if the fasteners used to connect the metal legs to the lower shelf are not completely tightened during assembly, posing a risk that the TV set can fall onto children or adults.
Incidents/Injuries: Sauder has received 43 reports of TV stands collapsing. Most of the reported incidents involved stands that had recently been assembled. Three injuries required medical treatment including a broken arm, a torn rotator cuff with a concussion, and an injured finger. These injuries occurred when consumers attempted to prevent a TV from falling off the stand. In addition, a 6-year-old child received a bruised shoulder when the stand collapsed and a TV fell on her.
Continue reading "More recalls you should know about . . ." »
 When he set out to renovate the kitchen of his West Hollywood condo, Cyrus Deboo discovered more than how to paint cabinets and lay a tile floor. The do-it-yourselfer also found out some things about patience and perseverance.
"The incredible lesson I learned from that kitchen rivals anything I learned in therapy," said Deboo, a part-time actor whose day job is selling shoes.
The lesson in patience started in 1998 when Deboo bought a one-bedroom, 700-square-foot condominium for $110,000. He recalls a friend saying, "Aren't you excited you have your own place? You can do whatever you want with it."
But the purchase left the then-28-year-old so drained financially that he managed little more than a thrift-store outing for a chair and coffee table.
For the most part, life in the 1950s-era unit — with its large windows, hardwood floors, crown moldings and a bathroom floor of vintage octagonal tiles — was sweet.
The kitchen, however, was a sore spot, with its tired linoleum floor and varnished knotty pine cabinets. "It was terrible," Deboo said. He came to deride it as the "log cabin kitchen."
Over the next couple of years, Deboo obsessed over home fix-it shows on TV and dreamed of a better kitchen. Then, one day in 2000, walking through Home Depot, he stumbled on a do-it-yourself clinic on installing ceramic tile. "They made it look so easy," he recalled.
With two years of delay behind him, he began to remodel his kitchen.
Read story and see pictures of Cyrus' kitchen
See more kitchens
See more real remodels
Continue reading "For West Hollywood actor Cyrus Deboo, a DIY kitchen brings life lessons" »
 What bugs me about the unwanted stuff I have around the house is that someone, somewhere would love to have it. But who? Where? How?
I heard about The Freecycle Network on the radio, on the Clark Howard Show. Freecycle is a grassroots, entirely nonprofit movement that seeks to match the right people with the right stuff. And here's how it works:
When you want to find a new home for something — whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.
Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
You'll find separate groups (open to all) in many areas of SoCal and across the planet. You might find remodeling stuff like old windows or doors, maybe sinks or cabinets. Here are recent postings from the Brentwood-area group:
Offer: Beautiful piece of Asian furniture
Beautiful black low chest of drawers. Very Asian black lacquer feel from the '60s. Very long, 5 to 6 feet. Needs a large room. House is being sold and has to go before Friday. In Brentwood.
And another:
Wanted: Compass
I wonder if anybody has spare decent compass with degree markings? I need it for adjusting satellite dish.
Obviously, for the sake of ecology, you don't want to drive across the state to pick up some free stuff. So it's good to hook up with a local group. Find a Freecycle group near you.
Anyone tried this with any success?
Question: My husband and I moved to Las Vegas a year ago and are now buying a fixer upper in an early 1980s tract home development. We love the floor plan, but it needs to be updated for looks and energy efficiency. We're already planning to remove the popcorn ceiling and the shag carpet (replace with bamboo). But it needs storage, new windows, etc. It's a small house and we plan to do most of the work ourselves. And we'd like to "green" it up as much as we can afford. Are there any books or other blogs you would recommend? — Stephanie T.
Answer: Stephanie, you're on the right track replacing the shag carpeting with bamboo floors. You will find your indoor air quality going up immediately. However, make sure the bamboo comes from a sustainable source (ideally FSC certified) and is not processed with toxic adhesives. I realized during a recent trip to Home Depot that finding truly green products is not simple. There is not aisle where you find the good green stuff. You have to do your own research and detective work. With the Internet, that is more possible than ever before.
For a book, I'd like to suggest Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time by David Johnston and Kim Master. The two authors, especially David Johnston, are highly known and respected in the green building arena. It's not a colorful design-type book, so don't expect that. But it does give you a green perspective on all areas of your house: roof, floors, heating, insulation, windows, etc. I also suggest the Not So Big House series by Sarah Susanka. The idea is to build smaller houses of very high quality. As I heard Sarah say recently, the houses she advocates are 30 percent smaller but will cost just as much. But her books will give you great ideas to update the space you have, whereas other design books might show enormous spaces that you can't relate to. And Sarah is way into green building and green remodeling.
For a green remodeling blog, check out Get With Green, which we discovered here thanks to a eco-reader on this blog.
Any other suggestions for Stephanie?
See more green remodeling • • Got a remodeling question?
 Question: Help! We plan on remodeling our kitchen and opening it up to the family room, which will require removing a wall. My question is where do I start? Do I contact the architect, the contractor or the kitchen designer first? We are in the $90,000 to $100,000 budget range. — Karla
Answer: Good question, Karla. I’m going to answer it, and then ask readers here if they agree or disagree with my take on it.
If you asked this question of each of those these professionals, they would likely say they should be the first one contacted. And they would be right. You could do well to start with any one of these people and, if they are competent, they would bring in the other professionals, and your project would turn out well.
If it was my project, I’d start with a design/build firm who had an architect or a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) on staff. The latter are certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. In a design/build firm, you’ll find the designers and builders all in the company, and all on the same team. This will help you avoid the contentious environment that can ensue when designers and builders who don’t know each other, and may not trust each other, come together on a job.
I still recall the couple who started with an architect for a $60,000 kitchen remodel. They got a gorgeous design for about $5,000, but when they got bids on it, the bids were in the $150,000 range. And the couple were mad at the contractors! It's very painful to fall in love with a design you can't afford to build.
The truth is, while architects can be extremely gifted, they get virtually no building education in college. They can draw lines on paper without any real understanding of the financial implication to you. The best situation is to have the creativity of the architect tempered by the pragmatism of the contractor. If the two can work together from the very beginning, you will get that amazing blend of talents. So if you happened to find a contractor or architect you really like, ask them to recommend a counterpart they work with often. And let them begin the design process together.
You can also start with a high-quality kitchen shop, again looking for employees with the CKD designation, and then hire the builders they work with on a consistent basis. Either way, the services of a structural engineer will likely needed to make sure the house stays sound when the extra wall is removed.
Good luck with your project.
Any more insight for Karla? She and I would love to read your comments.
(Photo: Dave Fazio, architect)
 Reader John Beaty has a lot of experience in the building industry, working with contractors and subcontractors in many parts of the country. Now living in Pasadena (with a remodeled kitchen I hope he will share with us), John did not have a positive reaction to my recent post on Contractor Red Flags.
In fact, John suggested I stop writing immediately and go work for a remodeling company for at least six months. Gee, that sounds like an awful lot of work. And I'd probably have to get up early. So it seemed easier to invite John to submit his tips on hiring a contractor for the benefit of readers here. What we got is an insightful guide to finding a quality contractor. It's a long essay, but I encourage you to read it through.
At the end, I offer a defense of my own posting (which I remain fond of), as well as a question for John. I'm sure he will entertain all questions you care to ask.
Click here to read what John has to say on Hiring a Contractor.
Continue reading "How to find a contractor . . . tips from an industry insider" »
 Astute eco-reader David sends in this helpful missive:
"We just found a great posting on green alternatives for countertops. The list includes Richlite (used in a new green house in Claremont, pictured at left) and others. It also talks about why other materials are not so eco-friendly."
The list is at Get With Green, which says it is "the green product resource for your home remodel." The list includes the pros, cons and an eco-analysis of these counter materials: granite, engineered stone, solid surface, ceramic tile, laminates, wood or butcher block, stainless steel, soapstone, marble, concrete, glass and composite/recycled materials.
Thanks, David. This site and posting is a great find!
 Is there anything better than looking at houses? I find it exhilarating to see inside people's homes, either remodeled houses I tour for my newspaper and magazine articles, or houses for sale that people are ready to leave.
Sometimes, I see something that needs to be remodeled, fixed, altered, or otherwise made right.
I saw this beautiful 1980 house for sale last week. The dining room, which you see here, has so much going for it: That amazing wood ceiling, the hardwood floors, the light streaming in from the window wall on the right, the double French doors to the backyard.
But what's up with that fireplace? I'm not crazy about that brick hearth. It seems too big and featureless, and too close to the doorway. Maybe the owners thought so, as well, and tried to distract the eye away from it with the wood mantle. But the mantle — which is really pretty and which I think I've seen for sale at Costco — is way too small. And the mirror over it is way too big.
I've been trying to figure out how to make this scene work for me. Maybe just turning the mirror 90 degrees so it was narrower than the mantle and reached farther up toward the ceiling would work? And the bright gold-look frame would have to be either painted black or replaced with a wood frame.
What do you think? If you were buying this house, what would you do? Or does this fireplace work for you?
(Do you have a remodeling challenge? Send a photo to podblog@aol.com and maybe we can give you some ideas.)
 Why is it so hard to get subcontractors to show up?
Here's what I've observed (and feel free to tear apart my arguments):
There are two factors in this situation: The E-myth and priorities.
The E-myth (based on a book of the same name) states that it's a myth to think a tradesperson will automatically make a good entrepreneur. So you have excellent plumbers, masons, electricians, carpenters, drywallers and flooring installers who may know everything in the world about their craft, but little about being in business or managing their time. I find many of these people are overly optimistic about what they can accomplish in a given day, so they over-schedule and then fall behind. Also, because so many construction workers who are in this country illegally accept a lower wage, legitimate and licensed subcontractors have to lower their fees to stay competitive. So, it's a mess out there.
Continue reading "The trouble with subcontractors" »
 Isn't this the most hopeful, poetic thing you've come across lately? An air conditioner that runs off solar power is so right you wonder why it wasn't invented like 50 years ago. I first spotted it on the great Curbed LA blog. Of course, there are issues. The SolCool solar-powered air conditioner is far too expensive (more than $20,000) and the solar panels we use today are not as efficient as they will be one day.
But think about it: When do you need air conditioning? When the sun is shining. And when do solar panels work best? When the sun is shining. And if it's overcast, no problem. The system runs on solar and rechargeable DC current (batteries) so it can keep going.
The system can also be used to power a water purification system, lights and fans.
I often think of we humans in our maturing process. As an emerging species, we burned wood and forests to keep warm and cook food. As our species developed, we learned to burn oil and coal.
And as we're looking for the next generation in energy creation, the blazing sun sits out there trying to get our attention.
"Dude!" it seems to be saying, "I'm a giant battery! Hello!"
How many more 100-degree days do we need to figure that out?
(Click below for SoCal dealers that carry it.)
Continue reading "A poetic green solution: Solar-powered air conditioner" »
 Question: I'm somewhat of a beginning investor/builder. I'm not passionate about green since it’s my belief that it's just that much more costlier and time consuming for me. I know its better for the environment. That doesn't move me as I’m a bottom-line kind of person.
However, I want to educate myself (without having to go back to a four-year college) on reasons it’s cost effective for a builder to go green so that, if nothing else, I don't skirt my profit margins. And, as a bonus, if it works for the environment, super!
Any suggestions on where to start? People I could meet with? As an FYI, I looked into ICFs (insulated concrete forms) but when we did the case study on single family residences in average areas, they were not cost effective at all. It is cost effective for the homeowner after 20 years, but realizing the fact that 90 percent of people will not stay in their first homes more than five to 10 years, it's really not beneficial for them. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. — Saul Garcia
Answer: Saul, thanks for the question. I'm going to give you some thoughts, and then invite other bloggers here to join in on the discussion.
You bring up an important fact about people not living in their homes very long. When homeowners consider installing a solar energy system that pays for itself in seven years, and the homeowners know they will be moving in five years, well, there's no financial incentive to get up off the couch and take action.
We are at the early stages of what I believe will be a monumental change in thinking about our habits, waste, energy, and the survival of the natural world. Many have been passionate about these issues for decades, but now it seems to me the vast majority of people are concerned.
Still, as far as technology goes, perhaps only those who are passionate (and you say you are not) will see the benefits of building green at this time.
(Photo: SPENCER WEINER / Los Angeles Times)
Continue reading "Q&A: Is building green worth it?" »
 According to a tipster quoted on the Celebrity Houses Blog, the 13,000-square-foot, $22 million Beverly Hills mansion bought by uber celebrity Victoria Beckham "still needs a bit of work inside."
That bit of work could be a tax-bracket-changing gig for a SoCal remodeling contractor. Toward that goal (get it?), here are some tips:
First and foremost, be ugly. Victoria's already said she won't hire any good-looking help (you may recall a nanny issue some time ago). I assume that will extend to the male gender.
And don't let the remodel itself be too striking or attention-getting. As Victoria said, it's all about her, and you'd be wise to keep it that way.
Then, rather than trying to get Victoria to understand your lingo ("Whatcha mean, toilet? What's a toilet? Ooooh, it's a loo!!!), it would be easier for you to learn her language. Here's what you need to know:
1. Don't call it a remodel, bloke! In England, it's a renovation or a refurbishment.
2. And it's not a residential renovation. It's a domestic renovation.
3. If you ask Vickie if she wants an addition, she might look puzzled. Across the Atlantic, a new room or wing is an extension.
4. If you're asking if she wants a custom kitchen and you get a cute wrinkly nose in response, try asking if she wants a bespoke kitchen instead.
5. When Vic calls you one day and says she wants you to come over and make good, that's not an invitation for anything other than fixing something that broke.
A few more translations: Refer to the living room as the lounge. crown molding as coving, and drywalling as dry lining.
Want more? Check out Wikipedia's list of British words not widely used in the United States.
What do you think? Any more suggestions???
(Photo: MARK AVERY / Los Angeles Times)
 Question: I desperately need to replace the fascia boards on my 1950's Pasadena home as there is wood rot in about half of them. However, I am passionate about the environment, and I want a solution to replacing them that will: 1) have the least-negative environmental impact in terms of materials and hazardous chemicals, and 2) last a long time. I don't understand why fascia boards should be made of wood rather than metal or some other material that won't be subject to rot. Having to constantly replace wooden fascia boards is wasteful. Any ideas?
Answer: From Karen Feeney, Green Resources Manager, Allen Associates in Santa Barbara:
There are a number of non-wood fascia and trim board products on the market. The most popular and durable are the fiber-cement products including those made by CertainTeed, Louisiana Pacific and James Hardie, among others. These products require minimal maintenance and are nearly fire, termite and moisture proof when installed correctly. They have a wood look to them and come in a variety of widths and colors, which can be important issues in your decision-making process (as the width of fascia boards you will need depends on the design of your roof system).
There are also a number of vinyl products that offer durability, however given the fact they are petroleum based (creating a number of environmental and health issues), they are not the greenest option available.
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(Photo: Louisiana Pacific)
 What do you think happens to the trees that come down in our neighborhoods? Last year, I had three pines taken down because of the aggressive topping by the electric company under whose power lines the trees were growing. I was left with several piles of logs, which I finally persuaded a firewood seller to come and haul away.
According to a USDA Forest Service paper titled: Utilizing Municipal Trees: Ideas From Across the Country, "In the United States over 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and landscape residue are generated every year. Of this amount, 15 percent is classified as 'unchipped logs.' To put this figure in perspective, consider that if these logs were sawn into boards, they theoretically would produce 3.8 billion board feet of lumber, or nearly 30 percent of the hardwood lumber produced annually in the United States." Wow!
Trees come down for a variety of reasons: Blown down by storms, natural mortality, developments or other construction, death by utility company, and so on. Instead of those trees being ground up into mulch, they can be milled into lumber.
That's what Bill and Becka Doering figured out when their neighbors in Santa Barbara were taking down some acacia trees that had come to the end of their natural lifespan. The couple had those trees milled into lumber and kiln dried (at a facility in San Luis Obispo) for their new cabinets and the breakfast bar you see in the picture above. (Coast Woodworking in Somis built the cabinets and counter.) The total price for the cabinets — also used throughout the house in two bathrooms, the living room and laundry room — was $18,000, about the same as if they'd used wood that came from a forest. The couple got the idea from their green-minded contractor Dennis Allen, whose company's conference room table was milled from a locally downed acacia tree. Bill Doering will answer any questions you have about the process.
As for me, I know the tree people are getting ready to ask me if I'm willing let a few more of my trees come down as the trees are looking really bad from the years of topping. Eventually, when a tree suffers this assault, the top stops growing until it's just a tall stump with a few scraggly pine needles on top.
On the plus side, this could be the beginning of my beautiful new cabinets. I hear pine is back in vogue.
Read the Doering's full story • • Read more green remodeling • • See more kitchens
(Photo: SPENCER WEINER / Los Angeles Times)
Continue reading "Street tree coming down? It could be your new breakfast bar" »
 Can a kitchen be really tiny and really cool? Like it's so cool I feel envy? Designer Enid Harris accomplished that very thing when she remodeled the kitchen in her Westwood townhouse. And here's her story:
(But first, a word from me. Do you want to show off your remodel on this blog? Study what Enid did here. She provided before and after photos, then told the story of how the remodel happened — what she started with, how she made her selections, and the costs for everything. Yes! She has been reading my mind. This is what I love. Read Enid's story and then submit your own remodeling story to podblog@aol.com.)
And now, in her own words, here is the story of Enid's kitchen remodel:
 The original kitchen was typical ‘70s — florescent lights in the ceiling, shallow cabinets that didn't hold much and a small over-mount sink which is the bane of anyone who wants a clean counter. And did I mention the kitchen was also really small?
I always loved the look of those tiny galley kitchens in some New York apartments, and so those became my inspiration.
I felt the best approach would be to gut the kitchen. There was absolutely nothing worth saving and I could see that just by removing the soffit, which enabled me to raise the ceiling, it would add lots of cabinet space.
I added reed glass on the upper glass cabinets but only on either side of the sink. I love the idea of glass — as well as open — shelves. But I had to be honest about how much time I wanted to spend keeping everything neat and clean. By adding glass to just a few cabinets it opened up the kitchen.
Read the rest of the story and see more photos
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Continue reading "A tiny Westwood kitchen in a New York state of mind" »
 Over at the Casa de Solariego blog, which is chronicling the building of a straw bale home in San Luis Obispo County, blogger Mark explains how he stained his new concrete floor with ferrous sulfate, a common fertilizer, for only five bucks:
"We started out by mixing up ferrous sulfate and diluting it in water. We then strained it into a garden sprayer and just sprayed it on the slab. The ferrous sulfate (iron really) reacts with chemicals in the concrete, and turns it a multitude of colors from yellow to orange to red to brown. We got all kinds of veining and the cracks turned dark and got accentuated, so it looks like marble now.
"The pictures don’t do it justice, it’s very beautiful. Also, we did the great room a little darker (extra coats) and haven’t sealed that area yet (the sealing makes it darker still). Should look very nice.
"The stuff is very cheap. I figure it cost about $5 to do both units. Of course, the acrylic sealer was $87 for five gallons. We computed 15 gallons, but looks like we’ll use far less."
I'm not sure how you would do this to an existing floor with the walls already in place. How would you protect the walls? And for sure, you would need super-duper ventilation. Be safe!
See more pictures of the floor being stained.
New to my story? Read Part 1 • • Read Part 2 • • Read Part 3
Sean here for the final post. Here is the finished kitchen, minus the backsplash, which I'm sure will add a lot of color and interest. As with most projects, it's the last details that tend to get put off. While this is my last post on the kitchen project, I'll try to provide an update when the backsplash is decided on and then installed.
 Here you see the custom cherry cabinets with European-style pulls, green granite counters, pendant lights, recessed lights, limestone floors and all new appliances. (I remind you of the original kitchen in the photo at the bottom.)
 I realize I promised to provide a list of costs. However, I've begun to feel that my parents would not want their financial business made public. So if you want to know the prices of anything, feel free to email me for that information.
My name is Sean Soghomonian and my email address is shahen90065@yahoo.com. I apologize for not making the list of prices available, but it seems that with so many elements of remodeling, you don't really know how you will feel about something until it's right in front of you.
Someone asked me what I would do different next time, with the benefit of my experience on this remodel.
Continue reading "How I helped my parents remodel their Eagle Rock kitchen — Part 4" »
 Gew·gaw [gyoo-gaw]–noun: something gaudy and useless; trinket; bauble. (Dictionary.com)
Every now and again, we're faced with a wrenching dilemma: Do we retain the gaudy, ornate, distracting look of woodwork installed by a previous owner of our home?
Or do we paint over it, tone it down, bring it up to this decade's sensibility?
The new owners of this 1940s Sherman Oaks home were faced with this quandary when they encountered this immense fireplace (left). While I might have struggled over painting stained wood, these owners did not. "It's just plywood," one said. Not long after the paint job, they sold the house.
How about you? Have you ever struggled with the decision to paint over previously unpainted wood trim or ornamentation in your home? Did these homeowners do the right thing?
 Question: We are planning a remodel of our home which is about 1,400 sq. ft. We currently have a large living room (357 sq. ft.), a dining room (136 sq. ft.), and a kitchen (125 sq. ft.) we are planning to remodel. We are thinking of possibly opening up the walls between these rooms to have an open floor plan. In general, are open floor plans desirable for home buyers? If we decide to sell our home after the remodel, will it add more or less value to our home to have an open floor plan. Thank you, Carol.
Answer: From Prudential California Realtor David Kean:
Open floor plans are very popular with today's homeowners, from singles, to couples, to large families. Removing walls, halls, and doorways can improve the flow and light level of the home, as well as create an inviting entertaining space. One thing to take into consideration is the architectural style of the home. If you have a Craftsman cottage, for instance, it should have some separation between rooms to retain the architectural integrity. Adjust the degree of openness to suit the style and layout. You can either completely open the wall, or you create a very large opening and retain a small degree of separation. You can also add architectural elements, such as archways, corbels or columns (the latter of which is pictured here in a condo I remodeled) to give the idea of separation. Once you open up your floor plan, make sure the rooms flow gracefully and naturally into one another and, since the rooms will all be visible to each other, you'll have to be mindful of clutter.
 New to my story?
Read Part 1 here
Read Part 2 here
Sean here. The kitchen remodel I've been helping my parents with is done. Well, sort of. The backsplash tile is not installed, and it will be some time before we do that. Ironically, while I have been pushing my parents toward more-dynamic, less-bland design choices, they have selected a rather busy backsplash tile I think might "fight' with the green granite counters.
So we seemed to have switched roles here, with me pushing for a more sedate choice. I'm showing you the granite in this post, as well as the backsplash tile my parents like, which is Walker Zanger Sea Spray. While the tile is on hold, I will post photos of the otherwise finished kitchen in a few days.
Meanwhile, a reader to this blog submitted a very good question, which I will answer here:
 Question from reader Joan: Sean, what strategies would you suggest, in hindsight, to minimize or prevent the dislocation of your parents? Could the contractors have worked on a longer workday? Could your parents have stayed at a hotel or with you? Could better coordination of ordering cabinets and installation pacing have significantly reduced the time involved? Were your parents aware before the remodel was started that they would be severely inconvenienced and dislocated? Would you have put your parents through that ordeal if you knew they would be out of most of t
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