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10 Totally Tranquil Bathrooms

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:55:38 +0000

Our contractors never cease to amaze me. The diversity these pros bring to bathroom design is simply astonishing. From modern bathrooms to eclectic and transitional bathrooms as well, they’re keeping homeowners happy with quality remodeling. Take a look at some of their recent bathroom remodels below. You can find more in our Ideas Gallery , or get in touch with CalFinder contractors directly to talk pricing and sketch out some ideas. 10 Totally Tranquil Bathrooms #1 – Contemporary yet transitional bathroom with modern cabinets and chrome-finish hardware #2 – Modern bathroom with shower tiled in soothing natural stone #3 – Uber-contemporary remodel with rich wood panel accents and glass shower wall #4 – Eclectic bathroom f eaturing elegant furniture rather than traditional elements #5 – Stylish bathroom with chic gold accents and Asian cultural influence #6 – Excellent example of transitional bathroom #7 – A Zen-minimalist and oh-so-tranquil haven #8 – Lovely modern bathroom in white tile and stone #9 – Simple but powerful minimal bathroom #10 – Zen-luxury at its finest with a round soaking tub and ornate decor – What are your favorites from this collection? Which are you most likely to pick for your own home? Let me know in the comments!

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10 Totally Tranquil Bathrooms

Sunshiny Window Pictures and Inspiration

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:24:43 +0000

In honor of spring sunshine, longer daylight hours and the official start of remodeling season , I’d like to share a round-up of beautiful window replacement pictures and inspiration. Check them out, and if you’d like more where that came from, visit our Window Gallery . Window Replacement Pictures Replacement windows in a recently remodeled kitchen Living room sliding doors and picture windows Double Hung Window Ideas Newly installed double hung windows with white trim Arched Windows Arched top , aka “rounded top” windows Sunroom Windows New windows and doors for the sunroom To learn more about getting replacement windows, click here .

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Sunshiny Window Pictures and Inspiration

Modern Meets Medieval in This Spanish Abode

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:03 +0000

On a beautiful property in Girona, Spain, the old world meets new. Overlooking the Placa de Sant Domenec lays a dwelling brilliantly renovated by architect Anna Noguera , merging 16th-century roots with sleek modern living. Working with raw materials and sleek white throughout, Noguera has successfully blended the rough with the smooth into one unique and cohesive living space. And wait, wait: this beauty can be rented . Si. Both the El Badiu apartment above can accommodate up to six people, featuring generous living areas and even a fireplace . A smaller alternative called El Jardi can, at 100m2, still accommodate up to five people. With two double bedrooms, spacious open living areas, and a large bathroom— and a secluded garden, swimming pool, and solarium—this is ancient charm brought into 21st-century convenience. And if you can’t bear the thought of sharing this beautiful space with other renters, the entire house can be rented as a whole. No doubt creating a once in a lifetime experience.

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Modern Meets Medieval in This Spanish Abode

Stellar Contemporary Kitchen Remodel

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:00:16 +0000

We’ve mentioned how renovating the kitchen can bring the largest return on investment. Not to mention that such renovations improve this high-trafficked room and make your home more personalized in the process. Well, one couple took their renovations a step further, tightly merging highly individualized functionality with a beautiful contemporary style. Before renovation; the kitchen had remained mostly untouched since 1964 Since purchasing their outdated 1960s home around 10 years ago, the owners have been slowly remodeling—and kitchen and laundry renovations were at the top of their list. Not only was the kitchen in need of upgrading, but the laundry “room” was inconveniently tucked into a small closet off the main hallway. Laundry cabinet doors slide away for full access to washer and dryer The couple looked hard at what their desires and specific needs were. After consideration they decided to move their laundry room into the kitchen. This is a concept still popular in Europe, and the couple decided that since they spend much of their time in the kitchen, incorporating the laundry into the system would be a nice improvement. A tiled kitchen backsplash lightens up the often overcast light in Oregon Addressing specific lifestyle needs, says the couple, has paid off majorly. They love their changes. The tall counter surfaces over the washer and dryer also add needed surface space to the kitchen. The most difficult style choice for the couple was the countertop material . While loving the look of concrete, they wanted something more durable, and went with Caesarstone Raven quartz counters. They got their concrete fix with their table, and are pleased with the efforts to create a warm, cozy, and contemporary space. So what do you think? Does this kitchen inspire you in your own renovations?

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Stellar Contemporary Kitchen Remodel

Custom Open Timber House for a Custom Family

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:05 +0000

When Mark and Stephanie married and combined their families in 2005, they knew that their new dwelling would have to meet the custom needs of their new group. Including much more space. Incredibly, along with their other new challenges, they took on the task of building their own open-floor timber-framed home —from the ground up. Somehow, between his 60-hour workweek and her elaborate cake-making business, the couple finished in record time. Yes, this couple built a 4,400-square-foot house in only 10 months—while working! While their largest challenge was working with the scale, they managed to attend to even the smallest details. Mark, after breaking a leg, became an online “chandelier aficionado” and the couple searched countless flea markets, secondhand stores and salvaged goods spots to create a unique space. Obvious upon first glance of these photos is their cool blend of rustic (check out those heavy beams!), modern and vintage—plus salvage. Just as unique as their new family is the space they all inhabit. Completely custom. Completely wonderful.

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Custom Open Timber House for a Custom Family

Renovating a Vintage Airstream Trailer

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:00:52 +0000

Wanting to live without excess, Matthew Hofmann of Hofmann Architecture did something bold. He packed up, sold his stuff and renovated a vintage Airstream trailer he found on Craigslist. While friends and family may have raised a few eyebrows at his plan, the result is nothing short of amazing: a fully-loaded live-work space that Hofmann’s proud to call his own. In addition to creating a more efficient and functional space, Hoffman wanted to use sustainable materials to breathe new life into the 1978 Airstream trailer . So, after recycling or donating the old items (hardware, plastic paneling, refrigerator, toilet, you name it), Hoffman went in search of worthy replacements. The Airstream during renovation While the table posts in the dining area remain intact, the tabletop was removed and repurposed as shelving and cabinetry . Bamboo served as the replacement piece, blending seamlessly with the light wood flooring and lighter, airier feel of the space. When dining isn’t the main objective, the area is transformed into a media haven with an overhanging 27” Mac screen and printer hidden in a custom-built drawer below. Echoing Hofmann’s desire for less, the kitchen was designed to house the necessities without going overboard. He settled on a stainless steel sink , gas cooktop and refrigerator. The cabinetry is redesigned for a streamlined appearance, and the pantry has been tucked away in a unified pull-out drawer to save space. Rounding out the updated and modernized trailer is a bathroom with custom-built countertops , handcrafted shower encased in blue glass tiles , and a glass vessel sink. While the majority of people say they wouldn’t trade their extra square footage for life in an Airstream trailer, most don’t realize the possibilities that such a space holds. Clearly, Matthew Hoffman was more than comfortable thinking outside the box.

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Renovating a Vintage Airstream Trailer

As Green as it is Gorgeous-The Luxury LEED Vicino House

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:07:02 +0000

Sitting atop the bluffs of Pacific Palisades, California , like a breathtaking phoenix, the Vicino House beautifully merges sustainable living with luxurious design. Proving that eco-intelligence need not equate granola hippydom, this dwelling is as green as it is breathtaking. Originally built in the mid 1950’s, the house was gutted to add new square footage to the original structure while incorporating green products and energy-efficient features throughout. In fact, the property has earned LEED certification with the U.S. Green Building Council—something usually seen more in commercial structures than homes—and is a fantastic example for future home renovations to follow. The open entry and living room benefit beautifully from the home’s 180 degree view of the Pacific Ocean and spanning beach area. Many of the home’s green features, such as the use of natural light and recycled materials, are visible in these rooms. Other behind-the-scenes green elements include plywood flooring with radiant heating, bio-based insulation, a Cool Roof that reduces solar heat, and thermal hot water panels . Amazing thoughtfulness in construction and design. Not to mention the strong minimalist aesthetic that runs through the entire house. Take the master bedroom —with similar green features—and its simultaneous sleekness and West Coast warmth (thanks in part to the warm woods and wall color). The bedroom provides an equally breathtaking view and even opens up through French doors to a veranda. You’re bound to live longer in this space. Aside from the more earth- and people-friendly environment it creates, the Zen beauty of the space couldn’t not change your life for the better.

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As Green as it is Gorgeous-The Luxury LEED Vicino House

High-Contrast Makeover for Your Bathroom

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:43:45 +0000

While whites evoke a spa-like calm , bright colors and high contrasts can add drama to your bathroom, an opulent look at me effect for anyone walking into what is first thought of as a boring, utilitarian space. No. Not your bathroom. You’re going for functionality, but also: you’re going for drama. Bold but not bright, this is a powder room masculine enough for a man, svelte enough for a woman. Bold and bright, this aqua bathroom isn’t one that will be forgotten. If you’re ever at a loss for color coordination, choose a boldly colored clawfoot tub and striking wall pattern to match. Green is a shade known for its calming energy—the perfect backdrop to soak and unwind. This bathroom is high glam, showcasing contrasting details like a modern tub, bright white flooring and crystal chandelier. And of course, bold accent walls are great for those of us with commitment issues. Photo Credit: iVillage , JavaDrugs , & Luxury Home Interiors

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High-Contrast Makeover for Your Bathroom

Tiny Green Hideaway in the Woods

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:43:26 +0000

You hear “writer’s hut” and you think perhaps of Thoreau on Walden Pond—or Tolstoy, in the latter years. But this writer’s hut featured on Dwell is anything but antiquated. On a 0.7-square-mile island 20 miles off the coast of Maine, Bruce Porter and his architect daughter Alex Scott Porter built a green and modern haven. When the Porters first came to the area in 1971, Bruce was already harboring desires to build something . A journalist and retired professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Bruce was busy—and it wasn’t until the 1990s that he seriously considered a construction project. (“If not now, when?” Bruce asked himself.) It wasn’t until Bruce divorced, remarried, and adopted his third daughter, Hana, that he began to build. By that time, his daughter Alex had grown up and started her own architecture firm Alex Scott Porter Design —and Bruce wanted her vision. She devised a dwelling that takes in ocean views while protecting the cottage. As opposed to mainland construction projects, this home was build without power tools, and with a riding lawnmower to haul the materials back and forth. The tiny kitchen features a Sunfrost refrigerator, a cool, modern appliance that blends right into the geometry of the space. Plus, the entire home is powered by this small solar array , keeping Bruce’s footprint minimal. Talk about aesthetics. In a spot in the world where technology has seemed to regress rather than advance (pleasantly), the Porters use a personal generator, solar panels, and on-demand water heater. The rooms smell of fresh pine. Here, a rainwater catchment system collects water for the outdoor shower, but filters out the dirtier H2O. With the cabin in working condition for the first time this season, Bruce plans to go out for a month to write in solitude. In simplicity. Thoreau couldn’t have asked for more.

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Tiny Green Hideaway in the Woods

Year’s Top 10 Most Cost-Effective Home Remodels

admin — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:53:28 +0000

It’s here! Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report for 2010 just hit the web. But because the report is tough to sift through, I’ve broken down the top 10 most cost-effective projects below. Get out your pen, folks. Research starts here! 1. Deck Addition (Wood) Deck additions are mid-range projects with huge returns on investment. Spend about $10,500 on your new wooden deck , and expect to earn at least $7,500 back when you sell. 2. Minor Kitchen Remodel The economy may have dampened a lot of industry, but it hasn’t crushed the return on minor kitchen remodels . The key is not to cut corners—get the most out of your kitchen remodel with someone who knows what they’re doing: a licensed contractor . 3. Siding Replacement (Vinyl) This is another big one—homeowners across the country are rushing to fix up their siding . With winter around the corner, no one wants the structural damage and soaring energy bills that come along with neglected home exteriors. Give your siding a little winter TLC and have an expert check it out . 4. Window Replacement (Wood or Vinyl) What happens when we leave old, drafty windows in place too long? Up to two-thirds of our home’s heating and cooling floats right out the window. Wood, vinyl and fiberglass windows are the top insulators on the market today, and always make for great replacements. But act fast—the federal tax credit for 30% (up to $1,500) of your installation costs is about to expire on December 30, 2010. Get the low-down here . 5. Attic Bedroom The benefits of attic-to-bedroom conversions are many. You gain another bedroom, recreation room, or guest suite for use immediately, your home’s value takes a leap, and of course—the attic looks absolutely awesome . 6. Basement Remodel No longer the cold, creepy storage space of yesteryear, basements are being remodeled into fantastic bedrooms, game rooms and family rooms for all to enjoy. And they can be finished on a budget with the right planning. 7. Major Kitchen Remodel For homeowners ready to remodel the guts out of their kitchen, major renovations are the answer. Averages show that you can recoup nearly 70% of your investment, but with careful appliance selection and cabinet/countertop shopping with your contractor, expect to save a lot more. Compare rates for contractors here , and find out what kind of overhaul your budget allows. 8. Two-Story Addition Certainly the most life-changing renovation, two-story additions completely remodel the look of your home. Their uses are as infinite as your imagination—add a few bedrooms, master suite, home office, library, or whatever your family needs most. Homeowners that spent $165,000 on a second-story addition recouped at least $107,000, so choose the right design-builder and you’ll end up with more value than you bargained for. 9. Bathroom Remodel With an average 64.1% return, bathroom remodels are most cost-effective when major fixtures are left in place. Leave the plumbing alone if it’s working fine, and focus on the flooring, sink, vanity, and bath or shower. Get a budget-friendly contractor to replace these components, and you’re well on your way to an affordable new bathroom. 10. Master Suite Addition Finally, to the sweet stuff! Master suite additions are growing in popularity, mostly for their practicality. Couples prefer separate spaces to do their thing—and future buyers appreciate that luxury as well. Get your free price quotes here, and for help on anything remodeling, we are always a click away . Photo Credits: Houzz , William Duff Architects , SunsetMag

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Year’s Top 10 Most Cost-Effective Home Remodels