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Reading This Could Save You Thousands on Remodeling Your SoCal Home

May 11, 2016

Beware of Unlicensed Contractors!

Owning a home means taking pride in it, especially here in Southern California with our amazing weather and lifestyle. Just saying that you own a home in Burbank or Pasadena or Glendale is something to envy.

Because you take pride in your home, you may want to remodel to spruce it up and keep it looking its best. When you do, examine the credentials of your contractor. Unlicensed contractors in Southern California are everywhere and they are nothing short of dangerous – to your bank account, to your resale, and to your safety.

Get your remodeling done by licensed professionals or else it’s a countdown to big problems.

Code Compliance

The entire reason for having a licensed contractor is to ensure that all remodeling/construction work complies with codes set by local housing authorities. Here in Southern California, these codes

Recording Studios in Los Angeles: Building Your Own vs. Renting

by admin

Recording Studio

February 19, 2016

Ever tried renting a recording studio in and around Los Angeles? Expensive, huh? And sometimes a major hassle.

Few industries have changed as much as the Music Industry has over recent years; and it has been an empowering change for every would-be singer, musician, rapper or producer. Advancement in technology has made home recording more attainable and affordable for everyone.

Why not do it all from home? I’m not just talking about having some equipment. How about some designing and remodeling and doing it right? Build a recording studio right here in Los Angeles! In your own home, in fact. You might think that creates a larger cost than renting a studio, but let’s look closer.

Time, Stress and Cost

Time = money. All the time in a rented studio costs plenty. That includes while you’re busy setting up your gear, talking to the engineer, using the

Easy Remodeling to Give Your SoCal Home Some Hollywood Celebrity Style

by admin

Design & Construction, Home Addition, Home Improvements

January 22, 2016

Who doesn’t want to live like their favorite celebs? They seem to have the best of everything and the terms ‘off the rack’ or ‘out of the catalogue’ don’t ever seem to apply to them. Some have grand homes while others appear to live simply. What they all have in common is that they add special touches to their homes

For your home, remodeling like a Hollywood celebrity home doesn’t have to break the bank. You don’t need a mansion, just good ideas. Here are some simple home remodeling ideas to help you keep up not only with the Joneses, but also the Pitts, DiCaprios and Depps.

Read Between the Lines – Built-In Bookshelves

Whether you’re flipping through the pages of Architectural Digest or browsing online through the homes of your favorite stars, something present in almost every celebrity home is built-in

Top Ways to Give Your Home a High Tech Makeover

by admin

Home Addition, Home Improvements, Home Remodeling

December 30, 2015

Let’s immediately put a myth to rest: high tech homes are not just for the wealthy.

An efficient and automated home is far more affordable and achievable than ever before.

Isn’t it time to spoil yourself with a high tech home remodel? Especially when upgrades can save you money while making life so much more convenient.

For Starters… Integration

Smartphones, tablets, and touch panels that are either handheld or built in can be used to operate so many things: lighting, home security systems, heating and air conditioning, home theater,

Protect your Home from Southern California’s Mudslides

by admin

Design & Construction, Home Maintenance & Repairs

December 15, 2015

A record El Niño phenomenon is likely to bring wet and potentially treacherous weather to Southern California this winter. Meteorologists are predicting record warm temperatures off the Pacific Ocean, which is a recipe for huge storms. And we have seen every time that El Nino + California = mudslides.

Mudslide protection in California is serious. It’s not too late. Get prepared. Contact home design and remodeling experts to implement some mudslide protection measures.

The Perfect Storm

Heavy downpours in SoCal are usually accompanied by dangerous mudslides. This year the experts are predicting massive mudslides as a consequence of extraordinary weather, the long drought, and a bad wildfire

Tips for Maintaining Your SoCal Short-Term Rental Investment Property

by admin

Home Improvements, Restoration projects

December 5, 2015

Joining the short-term property rental market can be highly lucrative, especially in Southern California. People flock here year round for vacations and for business, and many are sick of the impersonal nature of hotels. Therefore, renting out a property through agencies like Airbnb is big, big business.

Your place will not look after itself. To maximize your tenancies and financial returns, follow these tips for maintaining an investment property. You may even be looking at remodeling or renovating in order to boost revenue potential.

Think Beyond Esthetics and Ambience

You can add all the special touches you like for your casual renters – flowers, chocolates, fancy linen, etc – but even more important is how well you maintain your investment place. Even a slight “relaxation” in maintenance can

Ask the Experts: I Might Sell Soon – Is it a Good Time to Remodel?

by admin

Home Improvements, Home Remodeling

November 17, 2015

Owning a home is a wonderful thing. Selling it, however, can be stressful. Should you remodel to sell your home? Remodeling can either net you a decent return or it can mean cash out of your pocket.

This is your home and you want to get the most out of the sale, so the idea of remodeling is about earning a larger return. But is it a good time? Is it worth the cost?

What Are the Comps?

Before you remodel to sell your home, look into the comparative listings (sold and for sale) in your neighborhood. Compare homes of similar age and size. Study what each have in common and what’s different. From here, you’ll get your first idea of what specific home remodeling projects will produce return on investment (ROI).

Big Projects vs Small

When you remodel to sell your home, you need to think about a realistic return. At a time like this, a major remodeling

Three Tips for Creating an Indoor Outdoor Living Space in SoCal

by admin

Design & Construction

October 24, 2015

Southern California’s climate is perfect for bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out. There’s nothing better than dining outdoors surrounded by the hills, or watching a movie in the yard, or just using the patio as an outdoor living room. You need a stylish outdoor space for year-round use. So, get on it. This is one home remodeling idea that involves minimal disruption to the inside of your house and your daily life, and it’s guaranteed to add value to your home. So let’s look at a few ideas for creating your amazing indoor-outdoor living space here in SoCal.

Blend Indoor and Outdoor Kitchens – and Then Some

An outdoor kitchen can provide that perfect hosting area for dinner parties with friends. But for you to maximize the value and utility of your outdoor kitchen, you should blend that space with your

L.A. Home Improvement Rebates Through LADWP and SoCalGas

by admin

Home Addition, Home Improvements

October 14, 2015

Do you own a home in Southern California? Are you aware of the excellent rebates out there for making your home more efficient with its energy and water consumption? Because these rebates spell savings for any homeowner thinking of doing some remodeling. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and SoCalGas can make your remodeling costs lower. Check out some of the home improvement rebates in Los Angeles and across SoCal.

ENERGY STAR Windows and Cool Roof Rebates

LADWP offers homeowners rebates on installing ENERGY STAR

Copper is the ‘It’ Metal for Home Restoration in 2015

by admin

Home Remodeling, Home Restoration

October 13, 2015

Move over granite, stainless steel, tiles, aluminum, and brushed nickel. 2015’s ‘it’ material for home restoration is copper!

Copper is amazing for so many things in home remodeling and restoration. Use it to make your home look awesome and increase its value at the same time.

Remember: copper is 100% recyclable!

Durable, Low Maintenance Copper

First, copper is so durable. It’s great for areas that are exposed to the elements, like gutters, flashing and downspouts. They look incredible, won’t sag or weaken, and can handle any weather condition. On top of that, they are very low maintenance.

Over time, copper develops what’s called a patina (the green look), which even reforms

Three Things to Consider When Taking Out a Home Construction Loan

by admin

Design & Construction, Design-Build

September 22, 2015

When building a new home, or upgrading an existing one, the financial aspect is the most basic, right? Without money, nothing gets built. Unless you’re very fortunate, you’ll need a loan to finance the project. So, what kind of home construction loan do you need? What are the benefits and potential pitfalls of such a loan? The success or failure of your project can depend entirely on you getting the right kind of financial help and knowing exactly what you’re getting into.

Ensure You Have a Detailed Contract

All business transactions require comprehensive documentation, especially for long-term and expensive processes – like building your home. It’s essential that all project costs be documented, as well as

Five Ideas to Remodel Your SoCal Home to Conserve Water

by admin

Home Remodeling

September 3, 2015

We know all about the drought and water shortages that have plagued California for a long time.

It is abundantly clear that we need to make some adjustments so we use less water without necessarily impacting our glorious lifestyle.

Here are some ideas for SoCal homeowners to remodel to save water.

Ask the Experts – What’s Needed When Building a Home Recording Studio?

by admin

Recording Studio

August 21, 2015

Home recording studios have taken off in Southern California. So many music professionals, recording engineers, bands, instrumentalists, singers, and even voiceover actors have decided to eliminate hours of highway traveling to other studios and have their own studio at home. That, of course, meant they had to do some home remodeling. So, let’s talk about the requirements for a little (or large) home recording studio remodel job.

Choosing a Room

First, you need a room. Sometimes this isn’t as easy as first thought. Maybe a spare bedroom is

Remodeling Tips for Increasing the Size of Your Cozy L.A. Condo

by admin

Design & Construction

July 22, 2015

Los Angeles is where everyone wants to be and scoring a condo in this city takes patience, luck, and capital. Then there is the size. A realtor may call these condos “cozy” but let’s call a spade a spade… they’re small. We’re talking 650-800 square feet small. Nothing says small quite like sitting on the couch and being able to reach the refrigerator without moving. Here are some tips on how to remodel a condo in L.A. to make it appear much roomier.

Lose A Wall

Many cozy condos in L.A. are converted apartment buildings or hotels. This explains the small size as well as some dividing walls that were once “necessary” for aesthetic purposes but now serve

Honoring Spanish History and Authentic Design with a Home Remodel

by admin

Design & Construction

July 8, 2015

Whether it’s the roof tiles, arches, or stucco walls, there is no question that Spanish home design makes a statement. It is firmly rooted in the Mediterranean with its bold colors and distinct architectural elements. Remodeling your home with a Spanish design looks great and works well in SoCal, especially if you honor the history of that design by using authentic techniques.

The Tile Roof

The simplest Spanish design and remodel starts at the top: the roof.

Drive by a home covered with red curved clay tiles that are layered and you know immediately that it is Spanish in nature.

Once attached, the tiles should remain natural and untouched, so they can age gracefully and have that fantastic patina that ancient villas possess.

Many Spanish homes have a sort of reclaimed look to them so it is OK to mix and match tile colors.

This adds to the authenticity of your home remodel.

Red Brick Curving Walkways

A Mediterranean Spanish home often has a very distinctive red brick and curved pathway leading to the front door. To honor this style for your home, the walkway should always reflect the color and design of your roof. More walkways may also be used in the garden with

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