Buying and owning your home can make a big difference in your life by bringing you joy and a sense of belonging. And with June being National Homeownership Month, it’s the perfect time to think about all the benefits homeownership provides.
Read MoreDon’t take the lowest bid! A low price is so attractive; who doesn’t want to pay less for the promise of more? Unfortunately, the same case can’t be made with most home improvement or home maintenance projects. Here are our rules for avoiding low bidders and getting the best person for the job…
Read MoreUGH. There is nothing more annoying than trying to work, sleep, eat, or do ANYTHING when there is a mosquito buzzing around you. We've recently discovered mosquitoes INSIDE our house. It's driving us batty. This crazy-making led us down a deep internet search to figure out where they are coming from and what to do about it (without poisoning ourselves, the children, and the dog).
Read MoreColor is a very important. There are a fair number of companies that like to proclaim a "color of the year". And why not? It gives us some idea about what is going to be trendy in different areas of life, including what colors you should choose for your house, whether you are buying, selling, or want to create a certain feeling. Here are the colors chosen by 8 paint companies as their 2023 Color of the Year.
Read MoreDid you buy your home because of it's specific architectural period? Are you in love with a particular design era? We have two words for you: Architectural Salvage. Whether you are restoring, renovating, or remodeling, think about using Architectural Salvage pieces in your design. Adding a salvaged piece creates interest and gives you a focal point in your home or room.
Read MoreWe love taking tips and examples from our home stagers. They are professional experts on making a house feel like a work of art and have been so kind to give us a few pointers on how to live in a home that feels like it's ready for company at any moment. The key to everything: make every nook of your home beautiful. Here's how to do this in 5 steps...
Read MoreBees are amazing pollinators and their products help us in many ways. So what do you do when you have bees making a hive in your house, garage, or fence? Don't call an exterminator, call a bee rescue company.
Read MoreBuying new furniture can be very expensive, especially if you buy quality pieces built to last. The only problem with this furniture is that when they go out of style they don't wear out, just the material covering does. Fortunately, reupholstering is much more sustainable than throwing your couch in a landfill.
Read MoreHome renovations are a pain, but in the end make us happier (and sometimes healthier). Some of the best home improvements are expensive but add value when it comes time to sell or refinance. Here's our list of major home renovation projects to consider.
Read MoreYes! A professional picture hanger not only does all of the measuring and installation of your art, but they can curate your pieces around your home by suggesting placement, height, grouping, and re-framing to match your decor. They can hang almost anything, from your kids’ preschool genius to your ukulele collection
Read MoreAccessory Dwelling Units are great. They provide homeowners with an affordable and effective way to extend their primary residence with extra square footage right on your property. So, you're thinking about building one? Here are five things you'll want to do...
Read MoreShould you renovate your home all at once or one room at a time? This is a question that cannot be answered because there is no one-size-fits-all for every home and every situation. As with all home improvement situations: it depends. We have two clients who are very different. Here are their stories that make excellent case studies….
Read MoreHoly cow. We didn't realize that so many of the plants in our house and our yard (and our neighbors' yards) were toxic for our dog! I mean, we aren't that worried...she doesn't make it a habit of eating everything in sight, but this information is good to have on hand. What do we have in our house and our yard is toxic for our pooch? Here's the list:
Read MoreA dovecote or dovecot, (or doocot in Scotland) is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be free-standing structures in a variety of shapes, or built into the end of a house or barn. Take a walk in Cheviot Hills or California Country Club Estates and you'll see a lot of them.
Read MoreWhile it's our job to keep up with real estate trends, an extraordinary number of people spent many, many hours browsing for properties during our pandemic lockdown in 2020. Zillow and Realtor.com both saw increased traffic on their websites, as did we. Zillow recently analyzed their data and reported on their blog what we were all looking for:
Read MoreWe name our kids, we name our pets, we name our boats, some of us name our cars, so why not name our houses? It shows affection to your house and adds character to the place you spend most of your time in.
Read MoreDear Ben & Zack,
We are still in love with the 1950s house in California Country Club Estates but I’m thinking about installing solar. What's that going to take and where should I start? Thanks!
-Steph R.
Read MoreBuilding electrification/decarbonization is part of California’s environmental effort that includes making new construction natural gas-free and electric-ready. But what about our appliances? We decided to educate ourselves and share our findings with you.
Read More
