With the holiday season just around the corner, many people are looking for ways to bring the festive atmosphere into their homes. Few things bring a feeling of cozy cheer like gathering around a warm fire with friends and loved ones. If you love the idea of warming up your home and heart with a cozy fireplace, but you don’t love the idea of dealing with firewood, smoke, and ash in your home, then a gas fireplace might be perfect for you.

Brighten Up Your Home

If you are improving your home by building an addition, consider including a gas fireplace in your plans to make your new space delightful and inviting. If you are not adding onto your home, but are renovating or remodeling a bedroom, study, living room, or gathering place, this is a great opportunity to check with your remodeling contractor about installing a gas stove.

An Atmosphere of Cheer

Besides helping to heat your home, a good gas fireplace can help you to create the atmosphere that you are looking for. Combined with a soft blanket, cup of cocoa, and a great movie or book, a fireplace can add warm and cozy charm. Paired with Christmas music, plates of cookies, and lots of laughter, a bright fireplace can help you host the perfect holiday party. From romantic evening to cheerful Saturday morning, a fireplace that you can turn on with the flick of a switch can be a great asset.

Clean and Efficient

Obviously, the most attractive feature of a gas fireplace over a wood burning fire place is convenience. Rather than needing to tramp outside and carry in an armload of logs and twigs, inevitably dropping bits of bark all over your floor, and then messing with paper and matches for a while, eventually getting to the stage where you blow on the immature flames, sending ash flying all over, and quickly try to close the door before too much smokes gets in the room... with a gas fire place, you put your slippered feet up on the coffee table, grab your remote, and voilà! Cozy fire with no mess or effort. A gas fire place is also quite efficient in putting out heat.

If you don’t have natural gas in your home, you could also consider an electric fireplace. Electric fireplaces are generally less expensive than gas ones. They are just as convenient as gas fireplaces, but do not look as similar to a real wood fire.

Home Remodeling in Los Angeles Area

If you are considering building an addition, remodeling a room, other home renovations, or are interested in having a gas or electric fire place installed, we would love to hear from you! Open Hand Remodeling is an honest home remodeling company. Our goal is to provide you with a great, hassle-free experience, and lasting results that you will love. If you have any questions, call us at (800) 704-4212, or click here to schedule a free estimate. We look forward to hearing from you!

One of the most popular and common home projects is bathroom remodeling. Bathrooms are a relatively small room and are used frequently, and so make a very rewarding project. Remodeling an outdated bathroom can rejuvenate the feel of your home.

Bathroom remodeling, like all home renovations, involves lots of decisions! One of the decisions that you will want to make early on in your bathroom remodeling process is what kind of shower door you want to have. While the shower door may seem like a relatively small decision, what type of door you will use on your shower may influence many aspects of your bathroom design, including the size and placement of your shower.

Opening Style: Sliding, Pivot Opening, or Folding

Shower doors come in many different designs. Sliding shower doors are generally composed of two glass panels which can slide from side to side to open. A pivoting, or hinged, shower door opens like a traditional room door, swinging on hinges. Yet another option is a folding shower door, which has a joint that folds in like a closet door. Sliding doors are the most common and popular style of shower door.

Design: Frameless or Framed

In the past, most glass shower doors were made with a metal frame around the edges to support them. While the metal framed shower doors can still be a classy choice, there has been a strong trend toward frameless shower doors. These are made of glass that is thick enough to not require metal support. Frameless shower doors have become very popular, as they have a sleek modern look, and allow beautiful tile work or other features of the shower to be clearly showcased. If you are interested in having frameless shower doors, you should discuss this early on with your bathroom remodeling contractor. Many frameless shower doors need to be custom made to fit your shower and will need to be installed by experienced, professional contractors.

Glass: Clear or Textured

Shower doors also come in many different styles of glass. The most popular is clear glass. Clear glass provides the greatest amount of light, makes your bathroom feel more spacious, and has a clean, modern look. However, clear glass is not for everyone. Shower doors also come in many textures including frosted, obscure, and rain. These textures allow for more privacy, while still allowing light to flow through.

Professional Bathroom Remodeling

Open Hand Remodeling has many years of experience in bathroom remodeling. We bring our expertise to serve our clients, helping their dreams take shape in their home. If you are considering a bathroom remodeling project, we would love to hear from you. You can reach us by phone at (800) 704-4212 or click here to schedule a free estimate. We look forward to serving you!

Remodeling your home is an exciting adventure. Unfortunately, it can also be a stressful process. One of the most important ways to make the remodeling adventure as pleasant and stress-free as possible is to choose you professional remodeling company carefully. It is worth putting a little time into researching remodeling contractors before you begin your renovation projects, as it could save you significant headaches later on.

What are Qualities of a Good Remodeling Contractor?

Here are a few important characteristics of a reliable, high quality remodeling company:

• Good Communication is one of the top indicators of an excellent professional contractor. You want to choose a company that is easy to get hold of. It is frustrating to try to work with a contractor who doesn’t answer his phone and doesn’t return calls when you leave a message. If you are looking into a potential remodeling company, try giving them a call and finding out how easy they are to get in contact with. Once you have them on the phone, it is a great time to get a feel for other aspects of their communication. Are they friendly, clear, and thorough? Did they listen well and address any questions you had? It is important to have a remodeling contractor who will let you know what to expect, and who will make a priority of ensuring they also are understanding what is important to you.
   
• Clear, thorough estimates are another important trait for a remodeling contractor to have. You want to know up front what you are agreeing to. Be clear about exactly what is included and excluded in the estimate, so there are no unpleasant surprises later.

• Another feature you want to look for is timeliness. When you are having renovations or projects done on your home, the process with much less stressful if it happens according to an agreed-upon schedule. As you look into potential remodeling companies, take note of whether they are prompt with their responses. You may also want to read reviews to find out of other customers are happy with their scheduling and ability to keep a project moving along on time.
   
• Lastly, what may be the most important aspect of what makes a remodeling contractor excellent is the quality of the work that they do. Does their work look beautiful and hold up well over time? When you are having your home renovated or remodeled, you will certainly want the final outcome to involve craftsmanship, attention to detail, experience, and high-quality materials, so that your beautiful new investment will be enjoyable for years to come. A company that does high quality work is likely to be well established in a community. Happy customers will keep returning and also recommending them to friends. Look for a remodeling contractor who is well-respected in your area, and reading testimonials from customers can help you to find a professional contractor who does quality work.

A Remodeling Contractor in the LA Area

Here at Open Hand Remodeling, we strive to be a professional remodeling company that offers only the best to our customers. We focus on excellent communication, clear estimates, careful scheduling, and quality work. Our goal is for our customers to be 100% satisfied with the process of working with us and with the end results in their homes. Open Hand Remodeling is located in Pasadena and gladly serves the greater Los Angeles area. We offer General Remodeling, Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling, Room Additions, Landscaping or Hardscaping, and many more services. If you are looking for an excellent remodeling contractor to work on your home, we would be delighted for you to call our office at (800) 704-4212, or click here to schedule a free estimate!

Would you like to spruce up your outdoor space, or give your yard a new look? There are lots of ways to make exciting changes to your landscaping, whether you are simply hoping to refresh your current appearance, or you are hoping to completely remodel your outdoor area. Here are some ideas and considerations before you design your landscaping project.

Landscaping and Hardscaping Tips

Pick a Uniting Theme

Before you start choosing individual features that you want to be included in your landscape, harscaping companies advise that you choose an overall look or style you’re happy with. If you first choose individual elements and then try to fit them together, it might turn out to be awkward, mismatched, or impractical.

Water Usage

Here in Southern California with our minimal amounts of rain, it is very important to consider the amount of water your plants will require. You should consider whether you’re going to water your flowers and plants by hand, or install a watering system, or buy plants that don’t need to be watered. This includes succulents and other cactus-like plants, as well as some grasses. Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender and Sage are all relatively low-water herbs, so they fit well in hardscaping, as well as being tasteful and tasty.  

Maintenance Required

When you are putting in plants, hardscape contractors sugest that you bear in mind the amount of maintenance they will take. Besides watering, you might need to weed your flower beds or trim your bushes. Research the amount of work the plant you’re putting in will take, because you don’t want to get more plants than you want to take care of. If this happens, your landscaping may get out of hand and your yard will not be at all improved.

Walkways and Seating

Paving stone paths in a garden are very inviting, beautiful, and practical. Why not add some to your landscape? They are not very expensive or work-intensive, and they are a lovely way to enjoy you yard! You could also include benches, arbors, or a gazebo. Consider whether your goal is a pleasant place to sit, to walk, or to entertain guests. 

Lighting

Especially if you have a gazebo or a pagoda, you might want to think about lighting. You can easily have your hardscaping company install beautiful lighting that can make a big difference to how your garden looks, particularly in the evening.  

Landscaping and Hardscaping Pros in Southern California

If you have any questions about landscaping and hardscaping, please feel free to call Open Hand Remodeling Company at 800-704-4212. We offer not only landscaping and hardscaping services, but also a wide range of services including room additions, kitchen and bath upgrades, and general remodeling. You can click here to schedule a free estimate today. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Most of us love the idea of a beautiful deck or patio. Patios and decks are wonderful places to gather with friends, eat good food, and enjoy beautiful Southern California weather. When planning or building a deck or patio, it is helpful to think through the features that you may want to include in your project.

Popular features for decks and patios

There are many features that can take your patio or deck from nice to knock-out. Here are some popular options for making your outdoors a marvelous place to hang out.

Water

Water is essential for human life. Water is also a key feature to make your deck or patio a desirable place to relax. Water can be incorporated in many ways into your plans for your patio or deck. If your space is limited, you can have the ambiance of water by building a fountain or small waterfall into your patio. Other ways that water can be incorporated into your patio plans are a small koi pond, a hot tub, or of course you can have your patio beside your pool.  If your patio or deck is integrated with a pool, it can be a gathering place that will draw your friends and family to your backyard.

Cooking

Food is another essential of life—and also certainly another essential for social gatherings and relaxation. When building a deck or patio, you will want to give some thought to the best way to prepare and serve food. Whether you’re a grill-master, interested in a stone oven for pizzas, or love hotdogs and marshmallows on a stick over the fire, ask your contractor about the best designs to make your outdoor food preparation delightful.

Seating

Nothing is more inviting than tasteful and comfortable outdoor seating. The planning stage for your patio or deck is the time to consider what kind of seating you would like, where it should go, and whether you want any of it built-in.  Tell your building contractor if you are interested in a built-in bench, hammock stand, or other creative seating ideas.

Lighting

Another important feature to consider as you are building a deck or patio is lighting. Well-planned lighting can make your patio or deck both more useful after dark and more beautiful. Whether you love tiki torches, strings of lights, or wall mounted outdoor lights, your building contractor will know how to plan for safety and electricity so that you can have gorgeous lighting where you want it.

Deck and Patio Experts in the Los Angeles Area

If you are considering building a deck or patio, Open Hand Remodeling is a professional design and build firm who is available to serve you. We are committed to being honest and affordable, and to excellent communication throughout your building project. Our experienced builders will work with you through the process of planning and building a deck or patio, focusing on your complete satisfaction. Open Hand Remodeling also offers full remodeling services, as well as complete landscaping and hardscaping. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. You can also click here to schedule a free estimate and start your deck or patio project today!

Southern California delivers some of the best year-round weather in the world. What better way to enjoy this advantage than to create a beautiful outdoor space for eating and cooking? A well-planned outdoor kitchen provides an excellent way to enjoy nature, gather family and friends, and keep your house cool in the summer. Building an outdoor kitchen is also a creative way to add value and appeal to your property.

Choosing a Contractor

The first step in planning an outdoor kitchen is to find a reliable contractor to work with. It is important to begin the project by working with a professional contracting company, as they will be able to provide you with information regarding codes, and possible limitations on your property that will set the groundwork for the rest of your project. Your contractor will be able to provide expert knowledge on necessary elements such as:

• Water drainage
• Where to run electrical and water lines
• Where to install plumbing
• The best location for your outdoor addition

Working with a general contractor or kitchen remodeling company who communicates clearly and does high quality work can make the process of designing and building an outdoor kitchen a delightful experience.

Choosing Your Features

Once the essential decisions are in place with your building contractor, the fun part begins. You can choose the features, materials, and styles that make your space uniquely suited to your tastes and lifestyle. It is helpful to begin by thinking through how you want to use your outdoor kitchen:

• Will you be primarily doing large group entertaining, or hosting intimate family gatherings?
• Are you most likely to throw meat on a grill, stone bake a gourmet pizza, serve fresh espressos, or all of the above?
• Does a built-in eating space (such as a counter-height bar or stone benches) appeal to you, or would you prefer mobile patio furniture?
• Are you a green thumb, who might want an herb garden within hand’s reach as you cook?
• What other special features would add comfort, convenience, or a unique flair to your outdoor kitchen?

As you decide on the features that would best suit your outdoor kitchen building project, you will also choose which materials you want to use. Do you love the rustic appeal of wood and stone, or the sleek elegance of stainless steel and granite? Your building contractor can help you choose materials that suit your tastes and will best withstand the outdoor elements.

Open Hand Remodeling Would Love to Help

If you love the idea of enjoying your own outdoor kitchen, give us a call! Open Hand Remodeling is located in Pasadena and serves the greater Los Angeles area. We are a full-service, professional contracting company.  As well as all remodeling and home additions, we offer full service landscaping and hardscaping, including outdoor kitchens! Our experts are committed to providing you with a clear and honest estimate, and excellent communication as we help you make the changes you desire for your home exterior. Call for free estimate to begin your project today!

If your current house doesn’t have enough rooms or space for your family or your lifestyle, you could sell your house and look for a larger one, but that’s a whole lot of work! What if instead, you just added on to the home you already own?

Adding an addition to your house can be a great option! There are two main types of additions; out additions and up additions, and there are pros and cons to both options.

There are some additions that require a specific method of addition. For example, if you want to expand your kitchen, you will need to build out, not up! Other types of home additions, such as adding a bedroom, can be more flexible.

Building a Horizontal Addition

Building out, or horizontally, will usually involve building another room at ground level. This is probably the most common way to do an addition. This would increase the footprint of your home, extending its perimeter outward, and it causes minimal disturbance to the rest of your home.

Some drawbacks to this plan, however, often include the expense of having to extend your foundation, the loss of space in your yard, and the possibility that, depending on the community where you live, you may need to get a zoning variance.

Building a Vertical Addition

If you need to expand your living space, but don’t want to increase the footprint of your house, building a vertical addition is probably what you’ll want to do. With this type of addition, you can either add a room to your second story or add another whole story to a one-floor home. You could also build a room over your garage.

Even though your contractor will not need to build a new foundation area, they may need to strengthen the existing foundation and supports throughout your house to manage the extra weight. Another potential downside is that your community may have rules about how high your house can be, so make sure to verify all relevant local codes and HOA bylaws.

Finally, before you build an up addition, you should remember and consider the fact that you’ll need to add a staircase, which will take up roughly 80 to 120 square feet. 

Open Hand Can Help

If you have any questions about putting an addition on your house, or if you are looking for a reliable remodeling contractor to do the job, Open Hand Remodeling would be happy to help you! We serve the greater Los Angeles area, and our services include General Remodeling, Kitchen and Bath Remodeling, Room Additions, Landscaping and Hardscaping.  Feel free to call or click here to schedule a free estimate today!

There is no doubt that installing white kitchen cabinets is one of the most popular design choices during kitchen remodeling these days. After all, they look so crisp, clean, modern, classy, and inviting, it's hard to resist! However, some homeowners are intimidated by the thought that white items don't always stay white, especially in a room like a kitchen where messes are frequent. The question is, are white kitchen cabinets difficult to keep clean?

Yes, and no! (How's that for a safe answer?!)

Let's start with no. Kitchen cabinets are prone to spills from cooking, fingerprints on the cabinets, and general grime from airborne food residue. These things all build up over time, so it's not as easy to keep them clean as something like a white ceiling.

What about the yes? The good news is that quality cabinets can be kept clean with a bit of prevention and a bit of smart cleaning.

Quality Kitchen Cabinets Stay Cleaner

As any kitchen remodeler will tell you, not all white cabinets are equal. Some of them have a flimsy plastic film providing the white surface, while others have a coat of white paint. Still others have a high-quality, factory finish with a stain-resistant glossy sheen. The better the quality of your kitchen cabinet surfaces, the more resistance they will have to staining, and the more durable they will be when scrubbed.

Prevention Keeps Your White Cabinets Cleaner

Don't worry, we're not about to give you unrealistic ideals about keeping your kitchen cabinets pristine by not using your kitchen! Instead, we have a few practical ideas for lessening the amount of foreign matter that contacts your surfaces, so there is less to clean:

• Install a high-quality range hood (and use it when you cook). This keeps grease and steam in check, preventing a lot of residue that would otherwise build up on the surfaces of your kitchen cabinets, trapping dust and dirt. Ask your remodeling company about a ducted range hood when it comes time to design your kitchen remodel.
• Choose attractive knobs for your cabinets and pulls for your drawers. This gives you a place to grab when opening the cupboards and drawers, reducing fingerprints and general grime. (It also helps prevent fingernails from chipping away the finish of the cabinets)
• Use a splatter screen when you simmer or fry. This helps prevent food splashes from getting on your cabinets, but it also reduces the amount of cleaning you need to do on your stovetop, countertops, and floors!

Smart Cleaning for White Kitchen Cabinets

Any time you clean your kitchen cabinets, it is important to keep a few key concepts in mind:

1. Clean sooner rather than later. This keeps stains from settling in and prevents grease and grime from building up. 
2. Use a soft sponge. Abrasive sponges like steel wool or magic erasers can scuff and mar the finish on your cabinets, so use a soft cleaning rag or sponge.
3. Wash with a gentle soap. Scouring cleansers can scratch and wear out the finish on your cabinets, so stick with a little bit of dish soap or vinegar.

Do You Have Kitchen Cabinet Questions?

If you live in the Los Angeles area and have questions about kitchen cabinets or remodeling, Open Hand Remodeling would love to help! We provide full-service renovations and construction in Burbank, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. We hope to hear from you soon!

Remodeling a kitchen is a rewarding project. A kitchen remodel takes a frequently-used, vital part of the home which has become worn out or outdated, and transforms it into something fresh and beautiful. This can bring new life and energy to your whole home and make your kitchen a joy to be in. One important part of this process is choosing the colors that will fill your beautiful new kitchen space. Choosing colors for kitchen remodeling can be loads of fun, but it can also be an intimidating prospect.

When you are doing a complete renovation or remodel in your kitchen, there are several areas for which you will be choosing colors. Usually the principal elements for colors in a kitchen are cabinets, counter tops, wall paint, appliances, and flooring. There are many other ways that colors, hues, and tones can be worked into a kitchen, including ceiling paint, back splash, and trim. As you plan your kitchen remodeling project, you will want to consider how the colors of each of these will interact and work together.

Exploring Kitchen Colors

A great way to get started with choosing colors is to look at lots of pictures to see what you love. The internet can provide you with a wealth of kitchen color scheme photos. You may be introduced to color ideas and combinations that you would never have thought of. Spend some time in home improvement stores looking at their paint cards and paint catalogs that give color groupings that go well together. Pay attention to which colors make you happy.

As you explore color options for your kitchen, you will want to keep these factors in mind. Consider what feel you would like to achieve in your kitchen.  Calm and soothing, warm and cozy, bright and exciting, organic earth tones? Do you want trendy, classic, or subdued? Also, consider the rest of your home.  What colors or tones do you have in the other areas of your home? Typically, people want to choose colors for their remodeled kitchen that will allow the new space to mesh with the feel of the rest of their home.

What Do I Pick First?

When you are choosing so many colors, it can be hard to know what order to choose in. Do I choose a cabinet first, and then a paint color, or the other way around? You may want to start with whichever idea you love the most, and match everything else to that. Are you in love with a turquoise fridge? Start with that and choose other colors that will work well with the fridge. It is helpful to keep in mind that cabinets and counter tops usually take up a majority of the prominent visible space in a kitchen, and that it is much easier to change a paint color by repainting than to change your cabinets and counter tops. You may want to select your cabinets and countertops first, and choose other colors based on those. There are many ways you can add exciting splashes of colors to your kitchen without using cabinets or walls in that color. If you adore salmon or teal, but also love the peaceful feel of a white kitchen, you can go ahead and have a white kitchen, and choose one focal point, such as a kitchen island, to be that unique color.

Kitchen Remodeling Services in the Los Angeles Area

If you are considering remodeling your kitchen, Open Hand Remodeling would be delighted to serve you. Open Hand Remodeling is a professional, full-service remodeling contractor. At Open Hand Remodeling we strive to serve you with excellence through every step of your home renovation, with attention to detail, quality craftsmanship, and excellent communication.

We serve the greater Los Angeles area, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood.

Open Hand Remodeling also offers general remodeling, additions, landscaping and hardscapes, and many other services. We would love to hear from you and discuss your home renovation project. You can call us at (800)704-4212 or click here for a free estimate.

Are there changes to your home you would love to make? Many people find that their house does not suit their taste, their specific lifestyle, or their family. Rather than moving, many choose to redesign their current home to make it a better fit. There are many options to choose from when remodeling your home. The sky is the limit as you choose from possibilities such as updating paint and furniture, kitchen and bath remodeling, building an addition, finishing a garage or basement, or moving interior walls. One popular option is to remodel an older home in such a way as to create an open-concept floor plan.

Why People Renovate for Open Floor Plans

Open floor plans have gained tremendous popularity in recent years, and there are great reasons to love them. Perhaps the most common reason is simply the spacious feel. Even if your home remodeling project does not increase the size of your house, creating a wide-open space can make your home feel significantly larger. Many people find the airy, spacious feel of an open floor plan more appealing, comfortable and inviting. Part of this feeling of airiness is that an open floor plan allows for greater natural light and window views.

The open-concept floor plan also feels friendly as it allows easy interaction between different areas of your home like the kitchen, dining room, and living room. This makes it a great choice for entertaining. For all of these reasons and more, remodeling your home to make it an open floor plan can increase the value of your home, or make it more appealing to potential buyers.

How to Create an Open Floor Plan

If you are considering a home renovation to turn your home into an open-concept home, there are several ways this can be accomplished. A remodeling contractor can help you to determine which type of home renovation would work best for you. The contractor can also let you know if the work you have planned will require permits. One way to create an open floor plan is to remove existing interior walls. Your contractor can help you determine which walls are load bearing and which can be removed or replaced with a pillar. There may be some additional factors to consider such as plumbing and electricity.

Another option to create an open space is to build an addition onto your existing house. An addition can allow you to open up a large new area in your home. Either of these options, or even a combination of the two, can be used to create a beautiful, inviting open space in your home.

Home Renovation Services in the Los Angeles Area

If you are interested in creating an open floor plan in your home, or other home remodeling projects, Open Hand Remodeling would be delighted to work with you. Open Hand Remodeling is a full-service construction company. We offer general remodeling, additions, kitchen and bath remodeling, landscaping services, window and door replacement, and much more. We gladly serve the greater Los Angeles area, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Burbank, and Pasadena. Give us a call today to discuss your home project or click here to schedule a free estimate!

Kitchens that have been built or remodeled in recent years are seeing a consistent trend toward cabinets that reach to the ceiling. For many years it was common to have a gap between the top of the upper kitchen cabinets and the ceiling. Often this was used as a space to display or store items that were not frequently used. New kitchen remodels are often closing this gap, however, and having the upper cabinets visually meet up with the ceiling.

Why the Trend Toward Tall Kitchen Cabinets?

There are many reasons for this trend in kitchen remodeling, ranging from aesthetic to practical. One of the most common reasons that those who are remodeling their kitchen choose cabinetry that reaches to the ceiling is the clean, modern look. The tops of kitchen cabinets, when left open, are famous for collecting large amounts of dust and grease over time. When the cabinets reach the ceiling, it eliminates the need for cleaning cabinet tops and the cluttered feel that this open storage space can create. The taller cabinets instead give us crisp, long lines which can feel not only cleaner, but also more simple and peaceful.

Another benefit to the taller cabinets can be additional storage space that is enclosed.  This allows less frequently-used items to be kept out of sight and away from dust.  For those who have items that they would like to display in their kitchens, there are glass-fronted cabinets and lights which can create beautiful display areas, while still enjoying the benefits of ceiling high cabinets.

Kitchen Remodeling Options for Tall Cabinets

Just like there are various reasons for choosing cabinets that reach the ceiling, there are various ways of achieving this look. If you are doing kitchen remodeling, there are many options you can consider for beautiful cabinets that reach your ceiling. Depending on the height of your ceiling, you may want to consider simply using trim and crown molding to close the gap between the tops of your upper cabinets and the ceiling. This option does not create usable storage or display space but can be cost-efficient and aesthetically pleasing. For some kitchens, installing tall cabinets that fill the full height to the ceiling can be an excellent option. 

If you are doing a kitchen remodel and your kitchen ceiling is not even, you may need to use various trim options to avoid a visibly wavy line where the cabinets and ceiling meet.  A remodeling contractor can help to talk you through various options for trim and what would work best in your kitchen. Other beautiful options include stacking another set of shorter cabinets above the upper cabinets to fill in the gap, or building custom-fit shelving into those spaces to suit your specific goals.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Services in the Los Angeles Area

If you are considering or planning a kitchen remodel, we would love to work with you. Open Hand Remodeling is a trusted full-service remodeling contractor.  We are fully licensed and insured, as well as experienced in all aspects of kitchen design and building.  Open Hand Remodeling can discuss all your cabinetry options and help you make your ideas a reality. We gladly serve Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Glendale, and the greater Los Angeles area.

Open Hand Remodeling’s other services include:

• General Remodeling
• Room Additions
• Kitchen and Bath Remodeling
• Landscaping and Hardscapes

Give us a call today at (800) 704-4212 to start your project or click here for a free estimate!

Kitchen remodeling allows you to completely rethink the heart of your home, making positive changes in both the beauty and functionality of your kitchen. If you are doing a bathroom or kitchen remodeling project, you know that there many decisions to make along the way: what color, what flooring, what countertop, which lights, and many more. All of these decisions come together to create a new space in your home that is tailored to you and your life. One of these decisions that can make a big difference is whether or not to include an island in your kitchen remodeling project. An island can make a fabulous addition to a kitchen.

Why Consider a Kitchen Island?

People choose to include an island in their kitchen remodeling for many reasons. Here are some of the kitchen island’s most common functions, though of course there are endless possibilities.

Storage: One important and obvious reason many people choose an island in their kitchen is that it can provide significant, easy-to-access storage space. If you have a lot of family dinners, or like to feed a crowd, you can always use more storage spaces in your kitchen.

Gathering place: The central location and openness of a kitchen island make it a natural social gathering place. Whether you are chatting with friends while preparing a meal, or giving hungry kids a snack, the kitchen island is a great place for people to converge and be together.

Work station: An island can a wonderful open space for food preparation.  If your counter space is limited, or tends to fill up with small appliances, an island can provide just the area you need.

Seating/eating space: Many kitchen islands come with counter or bar-height seating. This can be great for informal meals, kid’s after-school snacks while you talk, or as additional seating for when you host a party.

Space for special amenities: An island can provide just the right place to add something special to your kitchen that might not otherwise fit in well, such as a vegetable sink, wine fridge, or coffee bar.

Beautiful focal point: Along with all the practical roles that it can fill, an island is often a great aesthetic choice.  An island is an excellent place to add some creative flare or a pop of color to your kitchen.

Is a kitchen island a good fit for your kitchen?

If the idea of a kitchen island appeals to you, then the next step is to see whether an island is a good fit for your kitchen remodeling project. When remodeling or adding an addition to your home, you can change the shape, size, and layout of your kitchen.  If you would like to include an island, you will need to have a large enough open space so that the island will not constrict the flow of motion in your kitchen. If your current kitchen layout does not have adequate space for an island, but you like the idea of one, you can talk with your remodeling contractor. With experience and creative thinking, you may be able to transform your space in surprising ways with adjustments to your layout or even moving walls.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

If you are considering a kitchen or bath remodeling project, or an addition to your home, Open Hand Remodeling would be delighted to serve you.  Open Hand Remodeling offers professional full-service home renovations. We put our expertise to work for you every step of the way, with thorough and honest communication, a safe and tidy work area, attention to detail, and dedication to bringing your ideas to life.

Open Hand Remodeling serves Pasadena, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and the greater Los Angeles area. Our services include general remodeling, additions, kitchen and bath remodeling, landscaping, window and door replacement, and more.  To get your home project started, call us today at (800) 704-4212 or click here for a free estimate.  We look forward to serving you!

When designing or remodeling a kitchen, it can feel like there are endless decisions and choices: what color, what style, what features? One of the biggest of these decisions is what type of kitchen flooring to use. Often, we don’t give the floor beneath our feet a second thought, but the flooring that we put into our homes - especially heavily-used areas like the kitchen - can make a huge practical and aesthetic difference. If you are planning a kitchen remodeling project, here are some of the best and most popular choices for kitchen flooring.

Wood

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular choices for kitchens. Wood flooring gives a timeless, classic, and warm look to your kitchen. Hardwood is also one of the most durable options, sometimes lasting for generations! Although it can be a more expensive choice up front, having hardwood floors installed in your kitchen will boost the value of your home. A wood floor is also relatively soft to stand on, taking some pressure off your feet. If you are doing a larger home renovation project, keep in mind that hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for open floor plans, as it makes a wonderful continuous flooring through kitchen and living spaces.

Stone or Tile

Natural stone or porcelain tile is another classy and beautiful flooring for kitchens. Tiles are a popular choice in the Los Angeles area, where their cool feeling is a bonus. Porcelain tiles can range in appearance from high gloss modern to rustic old world. Stone or tile floors in your kitchen will enhance the value of your home. They are highly durable and require little maintenance. Porcelain tiles are very resistant to water, which can make them a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. One downside to natural stone or porcelain flooring is their relative hardness.  They can be tiring to stand on for long periods of time, and dishes dropped on this floor are more likely to shatter.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is easy to clean, easy on your feet, and easy on the budget! While vinyl flooring does not have the longevity of natural wood or stone, it is resistant to stain and water, and easy to maintain. It is a resilient flooring, less likely to cause tired, achy legs or break dishes. A great feature of vinyl is that it can mimic the look of just about any other type of flooring—from bamboo to flagstone—providing huge scope for the imagination while keeping to a tight budget. If you are doing a kitchen remodeling or home renovation project on a budget, vinyl may be a flooring you want to consider.

Remodeling Services for the Los Angeles Area

If you are planning a kitchen remodeling or home renovation project in the Los Angeles area, Open Hand Remodeling would love to serve you. Open Hand Remodeling is a trusted full-service remodeling contractor. We will walk you through every step of your home renovation, from initial planning, to choosing flooring, and the final moments of seeing it all come together.

At Open Hand Remodeling, our dedicated professionals are committed to making your home renovation a delightful success with excellent communication, attention to quality and detail in all our work, and a clean and safe work environment.

Open Hand Remodeling is located in Pasadena, California.  We gladly serve the greater Los Angeles area, including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. We offer bath and kitchen remodeling, additions, general remodeling, patios, window and door replacement, landscaping and hardscapes, as well as many other services. If you are considering any of these projects for your home, we would love to hear from you! Give us a call at (800) 704-4212 or click here for a free estimate.

If you have heard of radiant floor heating (or in-floor heating), you have probably heard of its benefits: it is comfortable on your feet, economical to operate, and it is becoming more popular in many areas of the country. However, is radiant floor heating right for your remodeling project?

The answer to that question depends on the type of remodel you are having, and on how much you want this type of heating. Let’s look first at what it is and how it works.

What Is Radiant Heat?

Most of our homes here in the Los Angeles area are heated by forced air that is blown through a furnace of some type, then ducted into our living spaces. Radiant heat, in contrast, works by warming up the floor from the inside. This is accomplished by running heated water through pipes in the floor, or by an electrical element installed inside the floor.

What Are the Advantages of Radiant Heating?

One reason that many people love radiant floor heat is the way you can heat certain areas of the home, rather than the whole thing. This means you are not spending money to heat rooms that you aren’t using as much. It also heats a whole room, unlike a duct or radiator, so that there are no hot or cold areas in the room, and people are comfortable at a lower overall temperature.

Many homeowners with radiant heat also rave about the fact that they never have cold feet in the home! Imagine the luxury of stepping out of the shower and, rather than stepping onto cold tile, feeling that comfortable warmth radiating upwards!

An additional advantage is the fact that radiant heat doesn’t lose energy by duct leakage, and it can be powered by several different sources. Finally, radiant heating reduces airborne allergen movement in the home since it does not rely on ducts, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

One caution in regard to energy efficiency is that when a room has very high ceilings or very large, open spaces, radiant heating may cost more to run than conventional. You would need to talk to an expert to know more about this specific calculation in your home.

Can I Get Radiant Heating Installed in My Home?

Because radiant floor heating is typically installed in the concrete slab, it is easiest to do during new construction, or when building an addition. That way, the heat conductors can be installed right from the start. If that is not done, there are other ways to install radiant heating over the concrete slab. These options will raise the level of your floors, requiring some other adjustments in your rooms, but if you are remodeling anyways, that’s not a problem!

Electrical or water-based radiant heating can be installed over an existing floor, with just about any type of flooring going over it, whether that be tile, carpet, wood, or laminate.

Remodeling Services in the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling is a full-service construction company, offering kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, and general remodeling services. If you would like to discuss radiant heating as a part of your home remodeling project, we would love to talk about it! Remember, it doesn’t have to be in your whole house; you could just put it in the specific rooms where it would be most appreciated.

Serving Glendale, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Burbank, and the greater Los Angeles area, Open Hand Remodeling is ready to help you craft the home of your dreams!

Our goal was never winning popularity contests, but simply to do the absolute best work we can for each customer. If our remodeling clients aren’t satisfied with our work, then neither are we! After years of this focus on excellent home remodeling and superb customer service, we were thrilled to get this recent message from Yelp.com:

“It’s official — People on Yelp love Open Hand Remodeling Co!”

It turns out, our customers have been leaving us glowing reviews on Yelp since 2009, and more than 88% of our reviews are 5 stars! You can read our Yelp reviews here.

What are our customers saying about us?

"Danny has good visions for change. It was a big leap for us to touch our home but we trusted Danny and his crew and he delivered as promised. We took time and looked around but Danny seemed the most knowledgeable and kind."   Annabelle G., Los Angeles County

"Great contractor, great quality work and great energy all around. What a great company to work with!!! Very happy. Give Danny a call today!"   Lola B., Van Nuys

"Just finished a 6 week remodeling project with open hand and I had to write this review because they were excellent. From the time Danny & Smadar came to give us the estimate, to how the work was coordinated (demo, plumbers, electricians, tile, drywall, carpenters, painters) through to the finished work, everything handled in a professional & timely manner."   Michael K., Santa Monica

"Danny is so good! He and his crew were hard working, respectful and clean. Gutted our 3/4 bath and added a tub to make it a full bath. Worked with us on design and functionality. Very personable and available for communication. Finished the job sooner than expected and it looks great! Would recommend him to anyone and will use him again in the future!"   Anika R., San Gabriel

"We had a fantastic experience working with Open Hand Remodeling. We are looking forward to working with them again in the future, and highly recommend them to anyone. While they are incredibly hard-working and waste no time getting the job done, they are also extremely thorough and cut no corners - Quality is always on their mind. They are also great to communicate with which is such an important quality in a contractor. Again, we highly recommend Open Hand Remodeling, we've recommended them to our family, and recommend them to you."   Joe L., Los Angeles

How Did We Build This Kind of Reputation?

Building a solid reputation isn’t done in a day, or in a year. It takes a whole team striving day after day, year after year, to provide exceptional service and superior quality work. As a company, we focus on giving our customers the best possible home remodeling experience.

• Considerate, helpful, low-pressure estimate and planning services
• Effective, reliable scheduling of remodeling services
• Helpful, smooth process for getting permits and inspections
• Jobsite safety and tidy work area during renovations
• Attention to detail and quality at every stage of remodeling.

Remodeling Services for the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling is based in Pasadena California. We serve the Los Angeles area, including Burbank, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, Santa Monica, and the greater metropolitan region.

Our home remodeling services include additions, bath and kitchen remodels, hardscaping, patio installation, door and window replacement, and whole-house remodeling. If you are considering any home remodeling, contact us today – we look forward to hearing from you!

If you change your curtains or a light fixture, you want to pick something you will be happy with for quite a while. However, if the charm wears off or you realize some drawbacks, it is not such a big deal to change them again. In the case of a bathtub, though, the commitment is greater. If you are going to install a new bathtub as part of a bathroom remodel, you want to make sure you’re going to like it for a very long time!

With that in mind, it is good to educate yourself on the types of bathtubs available, and what considerations go into choosing one. There may be important factors you aren’t considering, which you should take some time to educate yourself about.

General Considerations when Choosing a Bathtub

When you remodel your bathroom, it’s vital to know your budget limits and choose fixtures accordingly, so of course, the cost needs to be a central factor.

In addition to the purchase and installation costs, every bathtub has operational costs. How much water does it take to fill? Does it retain heat and stay warm, or does it lose heat and require more energy? How much energy does the pump require if you choose a jetted tub?

Did you know that you also need to think about where the drain goes? If your current tub drains at one end, and you replace it with one that drains in the middle, this could increase your plumbing costs dramatically.

Another factor is the size. You may really like a certain type of tub, but there is a chance it won’t fit in your current bathroom layout. If you aren’t prepared to have some walls moved, you will need to keep the size of the bathroom in mind. Of course, it also needs to be big enough, and comfortable to sit in. Even if it feels embarrassing to step into a showroom tub, go ahead and do it; make sure it fits! (Just keep your clothes on!).

If your bathtub sits directly on the ground-level foundation, then weight is not necessarily an important factor. However, if your tub is on a second floor (or higher), then you need to make sure the floor will hold the weight of the tub. While some tubs weigh as little as 50 pounds, others can weight up to 1,000. Add to that the weight of water and the occupant(s) of the tub, and you could end up with a disaster if you’re not careful!

Different Types of Bathtub Materials

Fiberglass and Acrylic tubs: These tubs are lightweight and well-insulated, so they retain heat and are not very loud. Additionally, they don’t break easily, and they are repairable if they do suffer damage. They are also less expensive than some other materials. On the downside, they can scratch with abrasive cleaners, and the have some weak points (stress points) that need reinforcement during the installation process.

Steel Tub with Porcelain Coating: This type of tub is often the cheapest, and it is stronger than fiberglass or acrylic structurally. However, it also has some drawbacks. These tubs are heavy, and they lose heat quickly. The porcelain coating also tends to chip when items are dropped or struck against it, which can lead to rust.

Cast Iron: Bathtubs made of cast iron are extremely heavy, making them sturdy and long-lasting. Their enamel coatings are thicker, so they are less subject to chipping. While the metal takes a while to heat up, once it does, it holds the heat very well.

Cast Polymer: Similar to engineered stone countertops, this type of tub looks elegant and can be quite affordable. They hold heat well and don’t tend to be loud, and they are also easy to clean. However, they can be brittle, sometimes leading to irreparable cracks. Also, they have a gel coat that can wear out with use.

There are also unique bathtub materials that are produced just by specific companies, boasting certain advantages or improvements. Ask your bathroom remodeling company if there are any other materials they would recommend that you look at.

Bathroom Remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

Are you considering a bathroom remodeling project? Open Hand Remodeling is a full-service company serving the Los Angeles region, including Burbank, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale, and the surrounding communities.

If you have any questions about bathroom or kitchen remodeling, or if you would like a free project estimate, please contact us today – we look forward to hearing from you!

If you are remodeling a part of your home, it’s a great time to add some extra details that increase the attractiveness and value of the house. But where should they go? Should you put crown moldings in every room? What kind of moldings should you get? Do they really increase the resale value of your house?

There are a lot of questions regarding crown moldings, so we’ll take a minute to answer them one at a time.

Should I Get Crown Moldings in Every Room?

Crown moldings are not an all-or-nothing item. It is fine to have them in some parts of the house and not in others, especially if there is a variety in the styles of your rooms.

If you want to install crown moldings, the living room is one of the best candidates in most cases. If you have a formal dining room, crown moldings are almost a must. They are also great in a foyer and main hallway. Finally, the master bedroom is an excellent place for crown moldings.

The kitchen is one of the few finished rooms of a house where crown molding is more debatable. It really depends on your cabinets and the style of the kitchen. If you have crown on the top edge of the cabinets, you probably don’t want it on the ceiling. Likewise, if your cabinets reach up to the ceiling, crown molding is not likely to work well. If you are not sure, ask a decorator or remodeling company what they would recommend for your kitchen.

Another situation where crown molding is more debatable is in rooms with a vaulted or cathedral ceiling. In most cases, designers would not elect to put crown molding in these types of rooms.

Finally, an informal space such as a laundry room or a mancave is not as likely to get crown molding, though powder rooms and bathrooms definitely could.

Will Crown Moldings Increase the Value of my House?

Crown moldings are a good option for increasing the value of your home, but you need to make sure you put in the investment of doing them well. Installing the cheapest crown you can find at the nearest big-box store will not do much to improve the look or value of the home. However, if you choose a quality molding and have it installed by a skilled professional, this will really catch the eye of a realtor and potential homebuyer.

Will Crown Moldings Work in my Home Style?

Not every style of home is ideal for crown moldings, so it would be a good idea to speak with a design expert or a remodeling company if you are in doubt. Also, you can browse photos online to look for homes similar to your own, and see how (or if) they use crown moldings to good effect. Houzz and Pinterest are great places to do this.

Remodeling Company in the Pasadena Area

If you are considering a home remodel of any kind, Open Hand Remodeling would love to serve you. We can do small jobs like a bath remodel, mid-size jobs like kitchen remodeling, or even major projects like a whole-home remodel or an addition. An integral part of our remodeling services is our design expertise. We can help you with each decision, weighing the questions like whether to use crown molding, and where to put it.

Based in Pasadena, Open Hand Remodeling serves West Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and the greater Los Angeles region. 

There is no set answer to how much a bathroom remodel costs, since each project is different in so many ways. However, we are happy to give you some average numbers, and help you understand how the costs are broken down in various categories. 

According to Homeadvisor.com, the national average cost for a bathroom remodel is $9,602. At the cheapest end, a bath remodel might cost $2,500, while in a high-end home, a complete master bathroom remodeling project might run more than $23,000.

What Are the Major Costs in Bathroom Remodeling?

One of the biggest factors in determining the cost of a bathroom remodel is whether the layout will change in any way. If you want to make the bathroom bigger with an addition or by moving a wall, this will entail a lot of carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, and the cost will rise significantly. Even if the overall size of the bathroom doesn't change, if you shift the layout of the items, some of these same costs will be incurred.

The most expensive single feature of a bathroom is typically a tub or shower. While some options for a tub and/or shower could cost as little as $500, these would not satisfy most discerning homeowners. It would be wiser to plan at least $5,000 for materials and installation of a quality shower or tub, though the prices can go even quite a bit higher than that.

Another big-ticket bathroom item is the selection of cabinets, countertops, and sinks. For a small vanity in a half-bath, this could be less than $1,000. However, a large vanity with two sinks plus some cabinets for linen storage would cost much more, again in the $5,000 range and upwards.

The bathroom flooring cost varies greatly based on the size of the room, and based on the choice of material. It could vary from $700 to $5,000 or more. Additionally, if you have tile on the walls, the cost is much higher than when you go with drywall.

Interestingly, the bathroom item that gets the most frequent use is usually the cheapest: the toilet! From $150 to $600, toilets are not expensive to purchase or install, at least compared to the other aspects of bathroom remodels.

Bathroom Remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

At Open Hand Remodeling, we offer a fully-customizable bathroom remodeling experience. We can help with any size bathroom, and with any size budget. As we work with you to plan out your bath remodel, we will help you prioritize where you want to put your money, and where you want to economize. 

Whether you just want to replace one item in your bathroom, or your want a complete remodel, or even if you want to expand the size of your bathroom, Open Hand Remodeling is ready to serve! We are based in Pasadena, CA, and we work all around the Los Angeles area, including Burbank, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, Glendale, and more. 

Does your kitchen feel small? Do you get a sense of claustrophobia when you spend time there? Or maybe it's not just that it feels small, but your kitchen actually doesn't have enough space for the kind of uses you put it to? Don't worry - you have great options! From small low-budget changes, to full scale kitchen remodeling and additions, you can make your kitchen into a space that brings you joy.

How to Make a Small Kitchen Feel Bigger

Painting - Strategic painting can make a big difference in the feel of a kitchen and help to create a feeling of openness.  Painting kitchen cabinets the same color as your walls can increase the feeling of open space.  Choosing light colors and sharp clean lines will help to make the space feel bright and open as well.

Glass - A popular choice is to use glass cabinet doors to increase visual space.  There are other creative way that glass can help to reduce visual barriers and open up a kitchen space, such as glass table tops or a reflective back splash.

Open Shelving or Recessed Shelving - Open shelving has a lower profile and can make your kitchen feel more spacious than closed-in cabinets.  They are also an excellent way to display beautiful dishes. If you are looking for a small kitchen remodeling project, adding recessed shelving is a simple and beautiful way to open up space, add interest and uniqueness to your kitchen, as well as provide great storage space!

Lighting - Replacing light fixtures can be a wonderful way to bring a fresh look to your kitchen; and brightening up a small space can make it feel larger. Recessed lighting is often a good option for small spaces.

How to Make a Small Kitchen Bigger

Of course, although there are ways to make a small kitchen feel or appear larger, there are also ways to make your kitchen actually larger! If you are considering a kitchen remodel, you may want to consider expanding your kitchen space.  They say the kitchen is the heart of a home, and a big heart is a good thing.

Moving (or Removing) Interior Walls - A remodeling company can help you to identify interior walls that could be moved or removed to create more space in your kitchen, and open up your home.

Kitchen Remodeling with an Addition - You can add to the value and beauty of your home by building an addition to expand your kitchen.  Building an addition allows you to dream up and create a whole new space for your home.

Kitchen Remodeling Services in the L.A. Area

Open Hand Remodeling would be happy to work with you to make your ideas for a bigger kitchen a reality. Open Hand is a full service design and build firm, serving Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, and the greater Los Angeles region. We offer caring experience and excellence in every stage of your home remodeling project.

All of us living here in the Los Angeles region have always known about fire danger. However, with the recent catastrophic fires that have ravaged our state, the issue now presses us much more urgently. While lanscaping alone cannot protect our homes from fire, it can reduce the danger that we would face in the event of a wildfire. Nicknamed "Firescaping," this strategic use of plants and hardscape is a wise choice for Los Angeles homeowners.

Don't Feed the Fire!

Any trees that drop organic matter can contribute to fire hazard. For example, eucalyptus trees drop peeling  bark and dried leaves, and some species of pine drop a lot of dry cones and needles. It may be wise to replace these kinds of trees with those that create less hazard. If you decide to keep them, then you'll want to get in the habit of removing the fallen materials.

The main key to reducing the risk of fire is by not providing fuel, or easily-burnable materials. Tall, dry grasses and woody shrubs can quickly spread a blaze. In contast, succulent plants (ice plant, cactus...) and irrigated lawns give fires little to work with. 

Finally, wooden decks and fences are a definite fire-inviter, especially if the deck's underside is easily-accessible. A patio of paver stones or tile, in contrast, is an effective fire barrier. Alternatively, use a less-flammable composite decking material to discourage fires. For fences, consider wire mesh or masonry.

Create a Defensible Space

One of the key components of firescaping is to create a defensible space, or a non-burnable perimeter around your home. Consider having a completely non-flammable zone of at least 6 feet around your home. This is a good place for concrete, pavers, or gravel. 

Beyond this close zone, low groundcover is best. Any shrubs should be in tight groups, widely-spaced. Taller trees should have the lower branches trimmed, and the crown of one tree should be at least 15 feet from the crown of the next. 

Take a good look at the following image. While the landscaping is beautiful, it is far too dense, and far too close to the house to create a safe fire barrier.

Advantages of Hardscaping

Hardscaping relies on natural, non-flammable materials such as gravel, stone, brick, and even bare dirt. When done well, it is very attractive, and it offers the benefits of requiring little water or maintenance. 

Landscaping, Firescaping, and Hardscaping Services in the L.A. Area

Open Hand Remodeling provides a wide range of services, including landscaping and hardscaping, for residents of the Los Angeles area. We would be happy to work with you to plan out and implement a design for your property that incorporates these firescaping principles. 

In addition to hardscaping, Open Hand offers kitchen and bath remodels, whole house renovations, and home additions. We serve Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, and the greater Los Angeles region.

For all of the floors in our homes, we want them to be attractive and durable. Bathrooms floors, however, need to be suitable for frequent wettings, which limits the types of surfaces that can be used there. So, what kind of flooring is attractive and durable, and can survive a damp environment? What type of flooring is the best choice for a bathroom?

It is generally agreed that tile is the best kind of surface for a bathroom floor. It offers a dizzying variety of colors, styles, and design options, making it a great way to achieve the attractive look you want. It is extremely durable, so you know it will hold up to wear. And finally, it is impervious to water, making it ideal for a bathroom.

In comparison, carpets are a lousy choice for bathrooms, being apt to soak up moisture, dirt and grime. Hardwood and most laminate floors are also not appropriate for use in a bathroom, as they will all absorb water, causing warping and rot.

What Kind of Tile Is Best for Bathrooms?

Porcelain tile is often cited as the best kind of tile for use in a bathroom remodel. It comes in a myriad of attractive designs, and it can mimic other types of natural stone. In addition, it is not as heavy as real stone tiles (like marble) and it is less porous than typical ceramic tiles. Porcelain tile is stain and scratch resistant, and it works well with radiant floor heating.

One concern with tiles in a damp environment is that they can be slippery. This is another area where porcelain tiles offer an advantage. Many varieties of bathroom tile have a textured surface which will resist slipping and offer greater safety. There are two more ways to keep the tile floor in your bathroom from becoming hazardous. One is to use small tiles which create more grout lines for traction. Another method is to apply an anti-slip coating to the tiles after they are installed.

Can I Use Vinyl Tile in My Bathroom?

One of the most DIY-friendly forms of flooring is vinyl tile. The peel-and-stick tiles come in many attractive patterns and can make a lovely floor. However, in a bathroom, this type of tile has many seams that water can seep into, which can lead to adhesive failure and to mold or rot. Vinyl can be a good choice for a bathroom when it is installed as a single sheet covering the whole floor, eliminating seams. However, this is tricky to do well, and if it gets damaged, you can't just replace a single tile.

Does Laminate Flooring Work in Bathrooms?

Until recently, the answer to this question was no. Because typical laminate floors use a wood composite underneath the laminated top surface, it is succeptible to absorbing water, again causing warping, rot, or mold. As a general rule, wood products and bathrooms don't mix!

However, several companies have recently released laminate floors that are virtually waterproof, and are specifically designed for kitchens, bathrooms, and other moisture-prone areas. While these types of flooring often look like a wood surface, they contain no actual wood, making them a fine choice for a bathroom remodel.

Bathroom Remodeling in the Los Angeles Region

If you are considering a bathroom remodeling project here in the L.A. area, we would be happy to talk with you. Open Hand Remodeling is a full-service remodeling contractor, and we can help you through every stage of the project. Our staff can help you select the best materials for your needs, including the best type of bathroom flooring. Our friendly personnel walk you through each step of the remodel, making it pleasant and effective.

In addition to bathroom remodels, we provide kitchen remodeling, additions, general remodeling, and landscaping services. We serve Burbank, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, and the whole Los Angeles region.

Here in the heat and bustle of the Los Angeles region, there are few things as relaxing as a pool. One great way to add to the convenience and luxury is to build a pool house, which can be as simple or ornate as you desire.

A pool house can serve many functions. At the more basic end, it is simply a storage and changing area. It might include places for towel storage, a private area for changing into and out of bathing suits, and a closet for storing pool chemicals and maintenance items.

Some homeowners want to have a bathroom in their pool house, including a place to shower. This prevents trips into the main house with dripping clothes and slippery feet. 

The most luxurious pool houses are more like outdoor entertainment areas, with elegant seating, capacity to show movies and listen to music, a firepit or barbecue, and of course, a wet bar. 

Construction Company for Pool Houses

If you are considering building a pool house, it is important to consult a quality construction company before your dreams become too specific. We can help you think through some of the essential qualities, such as size, location, features and cost. Once you have the basic parameters in mind, you can get to work imagining all the features you want your pool house to have.

Open Hand Remodeling is a customer-friendly, full-service construction and remodeling company. We provide home renovations, room additions, kitchen and bath remodeling, and pool house construction here in the Los Angeles area. If you are looking for quality work, reasonable pricing, and a hassle-free construction experience, trust your pool house to Open Hand Remodeling.

Additional Pool-Related Services

Besides our construction services, Open Hand also provides several services that are very helpful around a pool. We offer landscaping and hardscaping services, to craft the perfect outdoor environment around your pool. In addition, we provide brick pavers for pool patios, and we also build wooden or wood-composite decks.

Tastes change and styles evolve, some more quickly than others. There was a day when shag carpet was considered new and trendy, and later, a time when it’s reappearance would be unimaginable! For many years, stainless steel was the standard for style and modernity, and suddenly we’re moving away from it in several areas! So, what about ceiling fans? Designers these days seem to be avoiding them. Why? Are ceiling fans truly outdated?

It is true that ceiling fans have slipped in popularity, at least with professional designers. However, homeowners around the country are holding on to the idea, not just for nostalgia, but for their cooling benefits. An efficient ceiling fan can provide a pleasant cooling effect with less energy usage than the air conditioning, and it is only used in the rooms you are in, rather than the whole house at once.

If you, like many of our neighbors here in the Los Angeles area, love the benefits of a ceiling fan but don’t want to commit a fashion faux pas, here are some tips that can help you avoid the looks that home designers are avoiding.

How to Have a Ceiling Fan without Fashion Foibles

Avoid flaky brass and cheesy chrome. There are better choices today for the metal parts of your ceiling fans. White will blend nicely with the ceiling. Black is trendy and modern. Brushed nickel has a pleasant appearance, and stainless steel also looks good.

Rethink light kits. This seems to be one of the chief offenders to modern tastes. They make the ceiling fan much more bulky and tend to draw too much attention. Unless you find a fan with a truly attractive light kit, go with some other lighting method, and let your ceiling fan be just a fan.

Shun ugly blades. You know them when you see them! If it looks like it was designed in the 80’s, keep looking. There are wood-patterned blades that look very stylish, and also blades that look like wood carved in unique curves and patterns. There are metal blades, or white blades. Try to go with something that will either blend unobtrusively into the background (upground?), or something that looks stylish and fits with the rest of your décor.

Banish pull chains. Dangly and awkward, designers tend to object to the way pull chains draw attention to themselves and to the fans. Instead, you can get fans that are controlled by remote control, by wall switches, or over your WI-FI connection. Some fans even come with an occupancy sensor, so they turn on when people are in the room, and turn off when the room is empty.

Say Adiós to oversized fans. A small room can easily be overwhelmed by a large ceiling fan. There are charts available to help you determine the best fan size for your room. For example, in a room with walls less than 12 feet long, you should not use a fan with more than a 3-foot diameter.

Home Remodeling Design Help

If you are considering a remodeling project in your Los Angeles area home, Open Hand Remodeling would be delighted to work with you. We can help you sort through the myriad of choices available, including fan options, air conditioning systems, lighting varieties, and much more. With our expert help, your home remodeling can produce a home that is efficient, attractive, and comfortable.

Open Hand Remodeling provides kitchen and bath renovations, room additions, and whole-house remodeling. We serve the Los Angeles region, including Burbank, Hollywood, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and more.

Have you ever wished your home office was a little more isolated from the joyful noises of family life? Or that your bedroom was a bit more of an oasis from traffic sounds? Or that you could do more to block out the sound of planes from one of Los Angeles' many airports? If any of these strike a nerve, then soundproof drywall might be a great option for your home remodeling project!

Relatively new on the home improvement market, sound-reducing drywall has quickly been gaining popularity. Movie theaters have used it for blocking sounds between viewing rooms, but homeowners and business owners are also finding it to be worth the investment. Soundproof drywall is now available from numerous companies, including QuietRock, CertainTeed, Homasote, and more. 

Does Sound-Reducing (Soundproof) Drywall Work?

Yes! Various companies offer slightly different products, ranged in quality and price, so we need to begin by saying that not all soundproof drywall performs the same. However, the entry-level (in other words, cheapest) options generally block out sound equivalent to eight layers of standard drywall. Installing a higher-end soundproof drywall will produce even more dramatic results.

It is important to note that, while this product is popularly called "soundproof," it is more accurate to call it "sound-reducing" drywall. No drywall can produce 100% sound blockage, but noise can be drastically reduced by using this type of product. That's why we use both terms in this article.

How Does Soundproof Drywall Work?

In order to absorb noise, sound-reducing drywall has a layer in the center that has very high energy-absorbtion properties. Generally made of a rubber-like polymer, this layer is sandwiched between thin layers of standard drywall on the front and back of the sheet. The overall thickness of the product is still the same as normal drywall.

Soundproof drywall works just like regular drywall in terms of how it is cut and installed. It can be scored and snapped using a utility knife, installed with typical drywall screws, and then taped and mudded just like a regular wall.

An excellent side benefit to sound-reducing drywall is that it is a good insulator. The same polymer layer that absorbs sound waves and prevents their transmission also inhibits heat transfer. Soundproof drywall insulates twice as well as plywood, and nearly three times better than standard drywall. Of course, this can't replace regular insulation inside your walls, but it is a nice bonus when you install soundproof drywall.

Installing Sound-Reducing Drywall

If you are considering a home renovation or remodeling project in the Los Angeles area, talk to us about using sound-reducing drywall. Though it is more expensive than conventional drywall, it has significant benefits that may make it worthwhile to you. If you want, it could be used just in certain parts of your home, such as a bedroom or a home office.

Sound-reducing drywall is also a great option for commercial buildings, ensuring better privacy in all kinds of offices, including lawyers, doctors, and corporate settings. Additionally, soundproof drywall is excellent for recording studios of all kinds.

Open Hand Remodeling is an experienced remodeling contractor serving the Los Angeles region. We can install and finish sound-reducing drywall (and the regular kind!) in any kind of structure. Contact us today to begin discussing your renovation project!

Range hoods are no longer the simple, utilitarian vent they used to be. Coming now in a myriad of styles and materials, range vents can truly be a showcase of your kitchen design! While some of the hood vent choices are simply a matter of preference, others truly impact the basic function of your kitchen. One of those choices is whether to get a ducted or a ductless range hood. 

Ducted vs Ductless Range Hoods

Most designers and chefs would agree that a ducted range hood is superior to the ductless models in several ways:

Moisture and heat reduction: A ducted vent sends the steam and heat of your cooking through a duct and right out of the house, keeping your kitchen cooler and drier. A ductless model filters the particles out of the cooking area, but the heat and moisture stay in the room.

Odor reduction: Because a ducted hood sends all air directly outside, most of the cooking smells are sent with it. A ductless hood can filter out some of the smell, but much more of that bacon or onion smell will remain to spread through the house. Of course, if your food smells good, this may be a plus!

Grease capture: Airborne grease from cooking can tend to settle on walls and cabinets, creating a layer that needs to be cleaned fairly often. A ducted range hood does a great job blowing this greasy air outside. A ductless hood vent also captures much of that greasy air and filters out the grease, though its performance will usually be less impressive than that of a ducted model.

Maintenance: Ductless range hoods have a filter to capture airborne particles. In order to maintain their performance, you need to change or clean the filter periodically. 

Noise: A ducted range vent often makes less fan noise because it does not have to pull the air through a filter, while the ducted version needs more power to operate.

If Ducted Vents Work Better, Why Choose Ductless?

The primary advantage of a ductless hood vent is that it is much more versatile in terms of location. It can be installed nearly anywhere in the kitchen, since it does not need to be connected to a duct in the walls or ceiling. If you are remodeling your kitchen and you don't want to install or move ductwork around, then a ductless hood vent gives you more options for where and how you install it.

What's the Bottom Line?

If you are remodeling your kitchen and you already have a duct in place, then go ahead and get a ducted hood vent. However, if you want to move the location of your hood, or if you do not have a duct in place, then you have to weigh the cost and benefits. You'll get better performance from a ducted vent, but is that performance worth the cost of installing new ductwork? That's up to you to decide!

Kitchen Remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

If you are considering a kitchen remodeling project, Open Hand Remodeling would be delighted to serve you. Our design experts can answer all your questions and help you craft the kitchen you've always dreamed of! Our employees are respectful and skilled, so you can be sure your family and your home will be treated with the utmost of care and professionalism.

Serving Glendale, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Burbank and the greater Los Angeles region, Open Hand Remodeling is your SoCal kitchen remodeler.

Tile backsplashes are in, and fluorescent lights are out. White cabinets are in, and white appliances are out. Kitchen design trends keep changing, and we are often left wondering why they happen. Is it just a style preference, or is there a practical improvement? In the case of undermount sinks, there is some of both. The look is definitely a big factor, but there are some practical benefits as well. So, is it for you? Should you get an undermount sink? Let's take a look!

What Is an Undermount Sink?

For many years, the dominant sink style was the drop-in sink, which is installed from above the countertop and dropped into the hole. It has a wider rim than the hole, so that the weight of the sink is supported by this rim, and the edges of the countertop hole are hidden. 

In contrast to this, an undermount sink is installed from below, and attaches to the bottom surface of the countertop. It does not protrude up through the sink hole in the countertop at all.

What Are the Advantages of an Undermount Sink?

The main practical benefit of an undermount sink is that it makes the countertops easier to clean. When you are wiping down the surfaces, you can swipe right over the sink and the food crumbs fall directly in. With a drop-in sink, the food crumbs are stopped by the sink rim, often becoming lodged in the crack between the countertop and the rim. (If your drop-in sink is caulked well, this can be prevented).

Beyond the functionality, many people are choosing undermount sinks for the style. This type of sink is more modern-looking, with a seamless feel to it. You see more of the countertop and less of the stainless steel or porcelain. Also, the faucet fixture is installed directly in the countertop surface or even in the wall behind the sink, creating a very striking visual effect.

What Type of Countertop Can I Use with an Undermount Sink?

Undermount sinks can be installed in countertops made of a solid surface, such as stone, quartz, granite, or concrete. Because there is no upper rim or lip on the sink, the hole needs to be cut very precisely, and it needs to have an attractive finish on the edge.

You can't put undermount sinks on a traditional laminate countertop, because the sink hole will expose the wood-chip interior. Even if the sink hole edges were covered with the laminate surface, the undermount style would expose the wood-chip interior to moisture, which would quickly ruin the countertop.

That said, there are some high-pressure laminate countertops that can work with undermount sinks. In order for this to work out well, it is vital that you select the correct materials, and have them installed according to very exact specifications.

Kitchen Remodeling and Undermount Sinks in the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling is an experienced contractor working in the Los Angeles region. We provide kitchen design and remodeling services, as well as bath remodeling and whole-house renovations. If you are interested in a kitchen remodel, or if you are considering changing your countertop and sink, we would be happy to speak with you. Please don't hesitate to contact us!

We serve West Hollywood, Glendale, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood and the greater Los Angeles area. If you need a kitchen remodeler, you know who to call!

If your home is no longer meeting your needs, or if you can see that it will no longer do so in the future, you know that a change is needed. But what kind of change? Should you remodel your current home, making improvements so that you can stay where you are for longer? Or should you sell your present home and find a new one that fits all your needs. The question "Should I remodel or move?" is a common one for Los Angeles area homeowners.

The place to start is by making a clear list of what you are hoping to improve about your living situation. Do you need more space? For example, another bathroom or bedroom, or a bigger kitchen? Or are you hoping for specific features, like a walk-in closet, a patio area, or a laundry room? Or maybe you want some aesthetic upgrades, like granite countertops and hardwood floors.

Once you have a list of what you are hoping to get from your remodel or your move, you can evaluate what those items would cost, and whether you can afford to make them happen. Here are a few considerations to help you decide whether to seek those improvements by remodeling or by moving to a new home:

What Do You Think of Your Neighborhood and Home?

If your really love the area where you live, whether because of the schools, your neighbors, the view, the level of activity, or other intangible features, that may tip the scales towards remodeling. Even if moving to a new home might make more financial sense, if your family isn't as happy there, then it's not worth it.

Also, if you are very attached to your home, then even a whole-house renovation might be a better option than moving.

Will Remodeling Give You a Good Return on Investment?

The "move or remodel" debate is motivated by your family's needs and lifestyle, and not by the return on investment. However, the ROI should be considered in the equation: the majority of home remodling projects do not completely pay for themselves in resale value. If you are going to remodel, you need to consider how much of that cost you could eventually recoup by selling the home.

For a house that is already comparable to others in the neighborhood, major improvements are less likely to pay off. However, if your home is lacking features that other houses in the area have, then adding those features is more likely to increase the home's overall value. 

Is It Possible to Get What You Want from a Remodel?

In many cases, putting an addition on your home or reconfiguring the interior layout could meet the needs and goals you have listed. However, sometimes the local building codes or Homeowner's Association bylaws will not allow the type of remodel you desire. Talk to a home remodeler about how to ascertain these important facts.

What Is the Total Cost of Remodeling or Moving?

For a clear, "apples-to-apples" comparison of the financial situation, it's best to have a meeting with a remodeling contractor and a realtor. The remodeler can give you an estimate of what it would cost to remodel your house, including permits and so on. A realtor could help you find a few homes that fit your needs, and help you calculate what the net cost would be if you sell your current home and buy a new one. 

Remember that the "sticker price" of the homes is not the only thing you need to compare to the "sticker price" of a remodel. Selling your home and moving would also involve loan-closing costs, realtor's fees, and moving costs, in addition to the difference in selling price between the homes.

Remodeling Contractors in the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling is a full-service contractor in the Los Angeles area. We would be happy to talk with you about the possibilites and benefis of remodeling your current home. However, we promise NOT to push you into a remodel that is not in your best interests. Our estimators will give you an honest evaluation of your home's potential, along with the costs and benefits of various remodeling options. Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions!

We serve Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Brentwood, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Glendale, and the greater Los Angeles region.

"If I ever remodel this kitchen, I'm going to..." Have you ever finished that sentence? What ideas did you express? What frustrations were you responding to? What would your new, imaginary design allow you to do?

Maybe these dreams are about to become a reality; you have calculated the costs and benefits, and you decided to remodel your kitchen! Now comes the fun part - designing a kitchen that suits your needs and preferences! But where do you start? Are there any kitchen design rules you need to work with?

The Kitchen Work Triangle

Many studies were done in the first half of the 20th century to determine the most efficient and comfortable layout for a kitchen. The result of these studies was the idea of the kitchen work triangle. The idea is that the main points of action in a kitchen are the fridge, the stove and the sink. In order to have the most effective kitchen, these three items need to be positioned within certain perameters. 

Distance: Each of these items must be at least 4 feet from the other two, but may not be more than 9 feet from either.

Traffic flow: There should be no significant obstruction blocking movement from any of these items to another. If the corner of your kitchen island sticks a few inches into one of these paths, it's fine. But if your design requires you to walk  around the island each time you go from the fridge to the stove, you'll regret it! Also, if there is non-cooking traffic flow in the kitchen area (such as foot traffic to and from the garage), it should not pass through this triangle.

Countertop space: A stove or cooktop should have 12 to 15 inches of countertop space on both sides. The sink needs 18 to 24 inches of space on each side. The fridge needs about 16 inches of space either beside it, or directly across from it.

Other Kitchen Remodeling Considerations

The kitchen work triangle is designed with a single cook in mind. If your family regularly has multiple people working at once to prepare meals, you will want to think about how that will impact traffic flow, and how much countertop space you will need.

Another limitation to the work triangle idea is that it doesn't account for some more modern trends in cooking, such as a bake oven that is separate from the cook top, or a secondary sink for food preparation. Talk with your remodeling contractor about how extra fixtures or appliances will affect the design.

As you plan out your kitchen remodel, also remember that almost everything has a door on it, from the fridge to the oven to the cabinets to the dishwasher. All of these doors should be able to open in such a way that they won't strike each other. 

Express Your Individuality, but Trust the Experts

As you design the kitchen of your dreams, remember that the rules are there for a reason. For example, you may not think it matters that your dishwasher door and fridge door can't both open at once without hitting each other. You may be tempted to push for this layout because it suits your overall desires in other ways, maybe making room for the glass-fronted dispaly cabinet you dreamed of. You think to yourself, "I never open the dishwasher and fridge at the same time anyways. No big deal!"

While any good kitchen remodeler will bend over backwards to make your kitchen fit your dreams and goals, you need to trust their experience. If you break any of the basic design rules for kitchen layout, you are very likely to regret it. 

Kitchen Remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling is a respected kitchen remodeling company. We work in the Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks and the surrounding communities. 

For many families, there comes a time when the home needs to be remodeled to make it accessible for the elderly or disabled. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) outlines a variety of ways that homes can be retrofitted to make them more safe and accommodating for those with limited mobility. If a change in your life circumstances has created the need for ADA compliant renovations in your home, Open Hand Remodeling can help!

Installing Ramps, Lifts, and Elevators in Homes

Unless your entire home is built at street level, you may need renovations to make it wheelchair-accessible. Sometimes this just involves a simple ramp up to the front door. However, often wheelchair access requires a mechanical lift for helping with the stairs. Some homes can even be equipped with an elevator to give maximum accessibility for the elderly or disabled.

Below is a photo of an attractive wheelchair ramp designed for a wounded veteran.

Safe and Accessible Bathrooms

For those with disabilities or those at risk of falling, the bathroom can be a difficult challenge. We can help you convert your bathroom into a safe, accessible place for you and your loved ones. 

A good place to start is with a wheelchair accessible sink. This style of vanity has no cabinet underneath, allowing a wheelchair to be moved closer so the user can reach the sink.

For the tub/shower area, one trend that is gaining popularity is the walk-in tub. This style of tub has a door that opens to allow the user to step in without lifting the legs like a traditional tub. Another option is a wheelchair-accessible shower, with no threshold on the floor and a wide door. A hand-held showerhead wand or fully-adjustable mounted shower head can complete the modified shower plan.

The photo below shows an accessible pedestal sink and a no-threshold shower.

Home Renovations for the Disabled and Elderly in Los Angeles

Open Hand Remodeling is a full-service design/build company serving the Los Angeles area. If your home needs to be made wheelchair accessible, or if you need other physical accommodations for the elderly or disabled, we are ready to serve you! Our design experts can help you craft a plan for your home to give it maximum accessibility without sacrificing the value or attractiveness of your home. And our expert builders will put those plans into practice so that your home is safe, pleasant and accessible for every family member. ADA compliance in your home is only a phone call away!

If your family is feeling a squeeze and you need more living space, it is important that you give careful consideration to all options. Should you move to a bigger house? Expand the house you're in? Or is there a part of your home that you can re-purpose to become living space? One option that many families end up choosing is a garage conversion. But how do you know if remodeling a garage into living space is the best option for you?

Advantages of Converting a Garage Into Living Space

Cost: Since your garage already has a foundation, four walls and a roof, the cost of labor and materials for these essential items is greatly reduced. You are renovating an existing space, rather than creating a new one, so the cost is likely to be about half that of an addition.

Time involved: With many aspects of the project already existing, a garage conversion can be completed much faster than a room addition.

Less design and permit requirements: A garage conversion will not involve nearly as much planning and permitting as it does to create a new space.

Footprint: When you convert your garage into living space, the overall dimensions of your house do not change. This means you don't reduce your outdoor space or change the look of your home from the outside (at least, not as much).

Factors to Consider with a Garage Conversion

What will you do with your vehicles, tools, bikes, etc? You don't want to end up meeting one need while creating a new one.

What will the space be used for? A bedroom, home office, or living room can be a very cost-effective conversion. However, a bathroom or kitchen (or anything involving plumbing) will increase the price considerably.

How will you heat and/or cool it? Your existing ducts will need to be connected to this space, or you will need to install other climate control solutions.

Avoid cutting corners. If you don't make the investment of properly insulating, putting in windows, and using quality tradespeople, your garage conversion will not live up to what you hope for it. You're already saving money by converting the garage rather than creating an addition. Don't try to keep your costs down so low that the whole project is not worthwhile.

The Bottom Line

Talk to your remodeling company about all your options. Find out the benefits and costs of each idea, and try to weigh them out objectively. Sometimes the cheapest option is the best one, but often a marginally larger investment will significantly increase your satisfaction.

Open Hand Remodeling is a licensed, insured, respected remodeling company serving the greater Los Angeles region. We provide general remodeling services, room additions, garage conversions, kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovations and landscaping services in Beverly Hills, Glendale, Pasadena, Serman Oaks, Santa Monica and the surrounding areas.

One great way to save space in your bathroom is with a tankless toilet (photo above). Mounted directly to the wall, this kind of toilet cuts about 20% off the amount of space the toilet takes up. It also provides a fantastic, modern look that will really stand out. In a small bathroom, every inch saved counts!

Another unique way to make better use of space in a small bathroom is with wall-mounted taps (photos above and below). These allow you to use a lower-profile sink, which reduces the amount of space taken up by your vanity.

Speaking of vanities, do you really need cabinet space under your sink? What if you had a floating sink design (photo above)? Or how about a smaller, floating vanity? If your bathroom doesn't need the cabinet space, open up some extra real estate with one of these trendy options.

Another way to make more space in a small bathroom is by getting rounded corners on your sinks or vanities (photo below). While the actual space saved is small, it feels different since you can walk closer to the wall without banging a hip.

While they are not actually creating or saving space, mirrors are one of the most effective ways to make a small bathroom feel bigger (look at the back wall in the Studio Frank photo above). Their effect on a small space is truly surprising, making them a great use of your bathroom budget dollars.

Bathroom Remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling provides quality, elegant bathroom remodels in the Los Angeles region. We serve Burbank, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and the neighboring cities. If you would like any kind of bathroom remodel, call us and we'll be happy to help you make the most of your remodeling investment, including maximizing the space in a small bathroom. Call us to get started!

When you make the investment of a kitchen remodel in your Los Angeles home, you want to make sure you do it right. One of the details that makes the difference between "meh" and "Wow!" is your choice of lighting fixtures. With thousands of suppliers and millions of fixtures to choose from, how do you even begin to sort out what kitchen lighting options you want? One great new trend is under-cabinet lighting, which is appearing in elegant kitchens across Los Angeles County.

Under cabinet lighting

A exciting trend in kitchen design is to put lighting on the bottom surface of the upper cabinets. This has a great practical function. Since the person working at a counter typically casts a shadow over their own workplace, it can be hard to see while cooking. However, under-cabinet lighting provides illumination from the opposite direction, improving the lighting as you work. 

This type of lighting also provides several aesthetic benefits. When the under-cabinet lights are turned on, it adds brightness and unique highlights to your kitchen. It can also provide an intimate, cozy feel to the kitchen if the main lighting is turned off.

Most styles of under-cabinet lighting are designed to be out of sight for an adult of average height. The fixtures are flush-mounted under the cabinets, so that you receive the benefit of the light, without seeing the fixture. 

Styles of under-cabinet lights

A series of puck-shaped lights will provide targeted illumination at regular intervals. This has the advantage of being something you can place strategically for maximum benefit. Nowadays, these are nearly all LED fixtures, meaning you won't have to worry about replacing hard-to-find bulbs, or about a spike on your electric bill.

Another great option for under-cabinet lighting is LED strips. These provide constant illumination, so that all of your countertop space is equally lit. 

Canister-style lights are also an option under your cabinets, but these are not surface-mounted. This means the top of the fixture actually intrudes upwards into the cabinet bottom. Depending on your specific cabinets, this might not have any impact on the visual or functional aspects of your cabinets.

One of the key factors in choosing your under-cabinet lighting is the power supply. Any elegance gained by your under-cabinet lights will be immediately lost by unsightly cords travelling in conspicuous places. Be sure to look into the power supply for your specific lights, and how they can be installed inconspicuously.

Another use for these same light fixtures is on top of your cabinets. This illuminates your ceiling and provides a sense of height and openness to the room. You can even put under-cabinet lights under the front edge of your bottom cabinets, illuminating the floor!

Kitchen remodeling in the Los Angeles Area

If you are considering or planning a kitchen remodel in the Los Angeles area, we would love to talk with you. Open Hand Remodeling is an experienced, well-reputed remodeling contractor serving Beverly Hills, Glendale, Hollywood, Pasadena, Santa Monica and the surrounding communities. We are experienced in all aspects of kitchen design and building, and we can help you make great choices with your under-cabinet lighting.

As if home remodeling didn't already involve enough options to sort through, there are now soft-close options for kitchen cabinet doors and drawers. Are these new hardware options worthwhile? How will they affect the resale value of your house? Do people like having them? As a kitchen remodeling company, we are happy to address your questions about soft-close kitchen hardware.

Benefits of Soft-close Drawers and Cabinets

Peace and Quiet! For most homeowners, the biggest benefit to soft-close hardware is how quiet they are. The average person makes some noise when closing cabinets or drawers, and this hardware makes them virtually silent. Children, however, are notorious drawer-slammers and noisy cabinet-closers, making the soft-close features a great investment for the sanity of your home!

Longevity. When cabinet doors are frequently closed with excessive force, it will cause extra wear and tear on your kitchen. This is especially the case with drawers, which (even when you try to be gentle) can slam with a serious concussion. This puts stress on the drawer boxes and hardware which can lead to them coming apart. Soft-close cabinet doors and soft-close drawers will prevent this effect, prolonging the life of your kitchen remodeling investment.

Safety. There is often a pinch zone between the top of a drawer and the lower edge of a countertop, creating a safety hazard. While children do this more commonly, adults also pinch their hands or fingers on occasion. Soft-close drawers make this kind of injury very uncommon.

Resale Value. When homebuyers look at kitchens these days, soft-close hardware is considered standard in high-end kitchens. It's not that soft-close hardware makes you stand out above the rest; rather, not having soft-close hardware makes you stand out in the opposite direction.

Disadvantags of Soft-close Drawers and Cabinets

Efficiency. Some homeowners see the soft-close feature as a drawback, since they sometimes end up waiting for a cabinet to close before they can approach the countertop or open another cabinet. This is not a very common complaint. One area where you might be more likely to see this as a problem is when you have drawer slides inside of cabinets. If the slide-out item is soft-close, and you need to wait for it to slide back in before you can close the cabinet door, this may result in frequent waiting. In that case, opt for regular hardware on your interior slides, and soft-close on the cabinets themselves.

Cost. There is a price difference between regular hardware and soft-close hardware in most cases, and obviously, the soft-close is generally more expensive. The difference is smaller on cabinet doors, and greater on drawers. This is a budgeting issue where you need to set your own priorities and make a good decision. However, in the overall financial picture of a kitchen remodeling project, soft-close hardware does not make a huge difference. We would generally recommend it in most cases.

Kitchen Remodeling in the Pasadena Area

Open Hand Remodeling Company is a well-reputed kitchen remodeling company. We also provide bathroom remodeling, additions, general remodeling and landscaping/hardscaping. We serve the greater Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks and more. Please contact us if you have any questions about kitchen remodeling or soft-close hardware.

While pavers in their most basic form are just bricks, essentially similar to products that humans have used for millenia, there are some amazing new products and innovative trends that can turn outdoor pavers into a stylish, modern masterpiece! So, what are the advantages to using outdoor pavers here in the Los Angeles area?

Hand-made touch

Nothing says "industrial" like concrete. Why would you want your pool deck to look like a warehouse floor? Or your driveway to look like an interstate? Or your walkways to look like a sidewalk?

Outdoor pavers provide a hand-made appearance that gives your home a unique touch of class and originality. Laid by hand and arrayed in attractive patterns, outdoor pavers are truly a form of art and craftsmanship. They create a look that is both timeless and modern, welcoming and impressive. 

More Variety, originality

While there are some attractive options for finishing concrete, including stamps and colors, the use of outdoor pavers provides infinitely more possibilities for original designs and custom layouts. You can have curved edges to your pool decks, or winding paths through your landscaping. You can have intricate, orderly patterns and round focal points. You can have uniform colors, or coordinated patterns. In short, your possibilities with outdoor pavers are only limited by your imagination!

Repairable

When concrete cracks, or gets stained or damaged, it can be difficult and costly to repair or replace a whole section. However, with outdoor pavers, individual bricks can be removed and replaced with relatively little effort or expense, making repairs a simple proposition.

Versatile

Do you want a built-in firepit integrated with your outdoor pavers? How about permeable pavers to allow water drainage? Why not paver steps that match your patio? Before you finalize the details of your plans, spend some time daydreaming; make sure you consider the vast options available to you!

Outdoor Paver Installation in the Los Angeles Area

Open Hand Remodeling provides all kinds of renovation and construction services for homeowners in the Los Angeles area. One of our specialties is the installation of outdoor pavers and the creation of ideal outdoor spaces. Whether you are thinking of improving your driveway, pool deck, patio or walkways with outdoor pavers, we can help you solidify your ideas and bring them into reality!

As a professional remodeling contractor, Open Hand serves the communities of West Hollywood, Burbank, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas. Contact us if you have an outdoor paver project in mind!

In most homes that have existed for more than a couple of decades, the original windows are like money drains, allowing your cooling money to seep away at an alarming rate. Even in homes that are only 10 to 15 years old, the energy efficiency of the windows is less than that of new models. So, should you replace your windows in order to save energy? 

While replacing your windows is a big investment, it can pay for itself in several ways. In many cases, upgrading your windows for energy-efficient models will lower your bills and increase the value of your house, making it a great investment with a positive ROI. 

How do new windows save you money?

Newer windows are designed with improved materials that do a superior job of preventing airflow and heat transfer. This keeps the hot air outside and your cold air in, far better than windows could in previous decades.

Additionally, new "low-E" coated windows have a protective layer that prevents UV radiation from coming into the home, with two excellent benefits. First, it prevents your home from heating up like a greenhouse. Second, it slows down the fading effects the sunlight would have on furniture, carpets and walls.

Finally, new windows will make your home more attractive to potential buyers, increasing its desirablity, and thus its sales potential. No one wants to buy a home with windows that look like they will need replacing.

Another benefit of replacing older windows with new ones is the ease of opening and cleaning. If your older windows are hard (or impossible) to open, it's time for an upgrade. Many "double-hung" windows are also very easy to clean on the inside and out, simply by tipping the windowpane inwards.

Concerns with window replacement

If your home is older, you may have more to think about than worn-out windows. There may also be asbestos or lead paint in your walls. That's why it's best to speak with a licensed general contractor about the state of your home before beginning any renovations, remodels or window replacements. 

As you choose your windows and your remodeling contractor, make sure to look into the warranty details. Ask your contractor who will be responsible for the materials AND the labor costs if there is a problem with the windows. 

General Contractor and Remodeler in the L.A. Area

Open Hand Remodeling is a general contractor and remodeling company, based in Pasadena, CA. We service the greater Los Angeles region, including Burbank, Hollywood, Glendale, Santa Monica and more. We perform remodeling and renovation jobs of all sizes, from window replacement to whole-house remodling. Call us or contact us online to get started, or just to find out more information.

Let’s face it: finding a great contractor isn’t always easy.

When it comes to something as important as your home, you deserve to work with a builder or remodeler who will treat you, your property, and your goals with the utmost respect.

How can you really be sure you’ve found the right professional to manage your project? Here are a few practical tips for what to both value and look for in your search.

5 Tips for Finding a Quality Building and Remodeling Contractor

#1 Trust Your Intuition

Sure, first impressions can’t always be trusted, but in most cases you should listen to your gut. If you meet with your prospective professional and just don’t come away with a good, confident feeling, it’s likely not a good fit. This is someone you need to be able to trust and collaborate closely with.

#2 Punctuality and Organization

Before you even receive your estimate, take note of how your calls are responded to, whether or not your meetings are kept in a timely, punctual fashion, and if you can see a level of focus and organization. If your contractor seems flustered, scattered, or obviously busy, there is a good chance that your project just won’t be treated as a priority.

#3 Clear, Detailed Estimates Are Essential

Every step, process, material, and cost needs to be outlined in an orderly fashion. Don’t just take their word for it, or assume that something will or will not be included. Your estimate is your guide and agreement for the entire home improvement process to come.

#4 Are They Licensed and Insured?

If not, cross them right off your list. This is absolutely essential, as a lack of coverage could leave you liable for any potential workplace accidents or mishaps.

#5 Ask to See Examples of Their Work, References, and Reviews

This is an opportunity to check for online reviews as well. If you see a couple of negative ones in the list, look for a response and see how it was handled. Was it defensive, negative, or inflammatory? Or, was it a professional, clear explanation of what went wrong and how a resolution could be achieved?

Sometimes negative reviews can tell you just as much as positive ones about the level of professionalism and accountability you can expect.

We Are Your Hassle-Free, LA Area Building and Remodeling Company

Remember our first point above? It all starts with a conversation, and we would love to have the opportunity to talk with you. Let’s discuss your goals, ideas, and how we might work together to make them a reality.

Investing in an outdoor living space is becoming more and more commonplace, and not just because of our incredible LA area weather (that is a benefit though!). Rather than simply add a basic deck or patio, homeowners around the country are creating nothing short of an outdoor extension of their home; a stylish, fully-functional oasis that delivers long-term value.

Doesn’t that sound great?

So, what should you consider before you get started?

Ready to Design Your Outdoor Living Space? Keep These 5 Considerations in Mind!

• Technology - Remember, we’re no longer talking about a simple square of wood or stone, but a dynamic living space. Technological advancement has made outdoor media and entertainment a reality, including everything from weatherproof televisions and sound systems to customized lighting for just the right ambiance.
• Outdoor Kitchen? - It’s up to you! If entertainment and cooking is a top priority, you may want to explore your outdoor cooking options. From basic grills and cooktops to fully-functional outdoor kitchens with every bell and whistle, the possibilities are endless.
• Seating - Thinking bigger than just making sure there’s space for chairs, a professional building and home remodeling company can include creative, customized seating. This can include storage as well, perhaps by combining bench seats with enclosed areas underneath to store your essentials.
• Size/Layout - With your specific property and budget in mind, work with your remodeler to determine the right size and layout for your needs. After all, you want to be sure it will perfectly accommodate your family and guests.
• Materials - If your dream space does include a deck, talk to your builder about the best material to use. A wide range of synthetic and natural materials are available, and should be chosen to match your budget and interest in maintenance.

The common theme that courses through all of the tips we included above is to plan ahead. You know your lifestyle better than anyone, and exactly what is needed to make sure your outdoor space functions as it should.

And, we also hope you’re feeling inspired to think outside the box. Working with a professional builder ensures not only quality work, but also that customization is a possibility - you aren’t locked into the standard designs and features.

Are You Looking for a Home Remodeling and Construction Company in the LA Area?

If so, we encourage you to contact us at Open Hand Remodeling. We can handle all of your design and construction needs, and we know you’ll appreciate our hassle-free approach and style. We’re simply here to help!

First and foremost, home is home.

It’s the place where we live, laugh, love, raise our families, spend time with friends, and take refuge when life gets stormy. Home improvement and remodeling is all about helping these essential, priceless spaces offer just as much comfort and function as possible.

Home is also, however, about investing. For may of us, it’s actually the greatest long-term investment we will ever make.

Here at Open Hand Remodeling, we specialize in helping you maximize both aspects of your home: creating immediate value you’ll love every day, and long-term value through quality craftsmanship and well-chosen updates.

With that goal in mind, let’s explore the top home improvement projects that offer a phenomenal return on investment.

What Are the Most Valuable Home Improvement Projects You Can Make?

#1 Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

We’ve discussed ideas, tips, and suggestions for how to improve your bath and kitchen on numerous occasions. Offering an incredible ROI, you’ll appreciate these changes now and later.

Here are a few helpful articles to kickstart your own remodeling inspiration:

• Kitchen Trends of 2017
• Bathroom Remodeling Trends to Keep in Mind
• Should You Remodel Your LA Home Before Selling?

#2 Practical Updates

Siding, the roof, and maintaining/updating your home’s systems are extremely valued by buyers. In fact, as attractive as a glamorous kitchen or master bath may be, if the home’s basic systems are suffering the property still will be slow to move. In other words, if your roof is obviously on its last season or two, put your dollars there rather than in marble countertops and a steam shower.

#3 Energy-Efficient Upgrades

Homeowners are becoming more and more savvy about what to look for when it comes to energy-rated and approved appliances, systems, and design. Quality updates that ensure your property provides reduced utility costs is always appreciated.

#4 Should You Add an Additional Bathroom or Bedroom?

In most cases, yes!

Going from one bathroom to two, or two bedrooms to three, will leave a tremendous impact on your home’s value. A creative remodeling professional can help you maximize your space efficiently, or else turn currently unused spaces (like a basement or attic) into a functional addition to your home.

#5 Outdoor Living

Decks and patios in particular are very attractive to prospective buyers. Especially in our beautiful LA climate, these types of spaces are functional extensions of the home, and can be used and enjoyed year round.

#6 Replacing Your Doors

This includes garage doors, which yield impressive returns on investment.

What’s the appeal? Updated doors improve security, efficiency, and curb appeal. And, with newer technology and high-quality materials, their required maintenance is much lower.

Are You Looking for a Home Remodeling Company in the Greater LA Area?

If so, contact us at Open Hand Remodeling! It would be our pleasure to serve you, and help create an actionable plan to improve your home’s value, appeal, and everyday function.

The two hottest spaces in the home to remodel are undoubtedly bathrooms and kitchens. Why? Well, updates can create drastic, useful transformations that you’ll enjoy every single day.

These two spaces also boast an enviable spot among the projects that offer the highest returns on investment. There’s a lot to like about that; enjoy it now, and get paid back well later!

Much has changed in bathrooms in recent years, and exciting new options, styles, and trends are making a big splash. So, what do you need to know before your next remodel?

Making the Very Most of Your Bathroom Remodel - Here’s What’s Trending!

#1 Organic Warmth and Style

Sure, stone is a timeless addition to a bathroom, but there is a definite swing toward incorporating warmer wood touches as well. To balance the style with practicality, you can also take a look at the massive variety of tile options that mimic hardwood beautifully. Best of both worlds!

#2 Freestanding Tubs

If space allows, a soaker tub is a nice addition. Keep it separate from the shower, used just as an oasis for private relaxation after a long day...

#3 Zero-Threshold Showers

They may not be new, but they are enjoying a level of popularity that only continues to grow. Spacious, relaxing, and practical for those with age or mobility considerations too, there’s a lot to appreciate. And, with limitless potential for materials and style, well, you can absolutely find a look that fits your space.

#4 Luxury Shower Features

#5 Floating Vanities

A floating vanity is often recommended for smaller bathrooms in particular; freeing up floor space creates a more open feel. But really, this is a nice benefit for any bathroom, regardless of how large or small.

Ready To Make a Plan? Talk To Your Bathroom Remodeling Professional!

You’ll never regret investing in your bathroom, for all of the reasons above. The key now is to talk with a knowledgeable professional who can not only follow your vision, but also offer advice, ideas, and creative solutions as needed.

If you live in the LA area, contact us at Open Hand Remodeling! It would be our pleasure to serve you.

The warmth and charm of natural wood flooring makes it a welcome addition to nearly any space in your home. It can be a solid, higher-end investment as well, offering long term value that you’ll appreciate down the road.

But is it right for your bathroom?

There are differing opinions! To help you make the very best choice for your home, let’s take a look at the pros, the cons, and then a different option that you may not have considered.

What Are the Benefits of Installing Hardwood Floors in Your Bathroom?

• As we mentioned above, style is a major benefit. The organic aesthetic is tough to beat!
• There are numerous varieties and finishes to choose from; you’re sure to find something you love.
• Enduring value!
• With the proper seal and finish, it can be a durable surface for a high-traffic area.

The Risks of Natural Wood in the Bathroom

• Wood may be durable, but it also is susceptible to moisture damage. If the seal was applied incorrectly or is compromised (maybe due to wear and tear), a steamy bathroom environment can harm your flooring.
• Splashes, drips, and puddles (especially from kids) can go unnoticed as well, and that’s extremely hard on a finished wood surface.
• The other frustration that many homeowners experience is the limited number of cleaning products that can be used on natural wood. Harsh chemicals and cleaners will quickly take a toll.

Have You Considered a Wood Floor Look-alike?

Porcelain tile flooring is hugely popular, and particularly the options that are engineered to look like hardwood. The natural warmth may not feel quite the same under your feet, but the style is 100% there. The options are nearly endless too, ensuring that you can match the aesthetic vision you had.

And yes, these tile options are incredibly durable. Cleaners can be used without a second thought, and if your toddler reenacts a tsunami during bath time, well, it just won’t be a problem.

What’s not to love about that?

Discuss All of Your Options with a Professional Bathroom Remodeler

Every situation and environment is unique. To make the very best decisions during your bathroom remodeling adventure, we recommend partnering with an experienced pro. They can help guide you through the process, opening your ideas to design and material opportunities you might have missed out on otherwise.

And, if you live in the LA area, we hope you’ll contact us at Open Hand Remodeling. We specialize in offering a simple, hassle-free remodeling experience.

Photo by MN Builders

There are plenty of fantastic options when it comes to selecting a backsplash for your kitchen. Tile is a classic and timeless choice, but what if you are looking for something a little more modern and different? Or maybe the thought of cleaning all that grout makes you cringe? Glass backsplashes are a unique choice that open up a whole world of design possibilities.

Painted Glass Backsplashes 

Painting the back of glass creates a beautiful depth and glow to your chosen color. Simply painting a wall in the same color won’t achieve anywhere near the same effect. You can stick to a solid color or try experimenting with faux paints and glazes for a truly one of a kind backsplash.

Are you afraid that a glass backsplash won’t work with your more traditional kitchen? The sage green color of this backsplash softens the glass’ modern edge creating a playful twist on the classic all white kitchen.

Mixing Wallpaper and Glass

Image via Apartment Therapy

Do you love the look of wallpaper, but worry that grease and food splatters make it incompatible with your kitchen? Glass layered over wallpaper is the perfect way to get your pattern fix without the headache of trying to keep that expensive paper safe. Wallpaper has made a serious comeback in recent years, so this is a great way to experiment with this trend.

Designing Your Perfect Kitchen

Are you ready to get started designing the kitchen of your dreams? We are here to help! Contact us for your free estimate today.

Does your home currently have a perfect place for you to start the day with your morning cup of coffee? What about a place for the kids to gather to do homework while you make dinner? From Sunday morning brunch to casual visits with family and friends a breakfast nook is a great addition to your LA home.

Let’s explore some elements you might want to incorporate when designing your ideal breakfast nook.

Lighting

When you picture the perfect spot for your morning cup of coffee we are willing to bet it involves plenty of natural light. Having a bank of windows is a great way to let your eating area soak up every bit of sunlight possible. Don’t currently have room for all those extra windows? A breakfast nook is a great place to bump out the footprint of your kitchen.

While you’re planning your lighting, don’t forget to add statement lighting above your table. Whether you opt for something simpler or more decorative, a great fixture will help your breakfast nook stand out while providing plenty of light well into the evening.

Storage

One fear many homeowners adding an eat-in area to their kitchen is the loss of storage space. This concern is easily addressed by incorporating storage into built-in seating. Benches can be designed with drawers or open shelving to house books or baskets. (Houzz is a great place to see how other homeowners have added storage to their breakfast nooks in creative and beautiful ways.)

Custom Seating

And speaking of built-in benches, breakfast nooks are a great place create some fantastic, custom seating. Custom bench cushions, layered pillows, or a repurposed church pew are all ways to inject personality and visual interest into your LA kitchen.

Whether you’re looking to completely remodel your kitchen or give your existing kitchen an update, adding a breakfast nook is a smart investment in your home. For help designing and building the kitchen of your dreams contact us today.

Photo by First Lamp 

There is no one size fits all answer to how much work to put into your home before listing it, but we hope answering these questions will take a little of the guess work out of the process!

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Committing to a Remodel

How much longer will you be in your home?

Are you trying to move right away or will you be in your home for another year or two? Kitchen and bathroom remodels are a financial commitment. Having a year or two to enjoy the upgrades before you move on can allow you to enjoy the expense before you need to move on. And there is always a chance that a more functional kitchen will make you realize that your current home is everything you’re looking for

Which is more important: getting top dollar or a quick sale?

Remodeling takes time. Between waiting for cabinetry or fixtures to arrive, to building permits, to scheduling contractors, there are many factors that can slow down the selling process. However, quick sales often mean you miss out on profit that could have come from a home with newer or updated amenities. Which brings us to our final question.

How does your home compare to others in your area?

Are all of the other homes of a similar size nearby appointed with updated kitchens and bathrooms, fresh paint, and new flooring? Potential buyers are typically looking for a move-in ready home in the best shape they can afford in a particular neighborhood. To get the best price possible you might need to invest in some upgrades so that your home shows well compared to others.

Investing in Remodeling Your LA Home

If you’ve decided that a remodel is in your home’s future, the next step is to decide how extensive your home’s remodel should be. It is usually best to avoid a high end remodel as there is little chance that you will see a good return on investment. On the other hand you don’t want to replace something outdated with a new, but still poor quality, version. Mid-grade improvements that are nice enough to attract potential buyers but not so pricey that you will lose money are typically safest.

Do you live in the LA area and want help getting your home ready to put on the market? We are here to help you get the most out of your remodel. Give us a call today to schedule your free estimate!

Photo by Caruso Kitchens

Photo by Nancy Serafini Interior Design

Is a new kitchen in your home’s future? If so, then there’s probably nothing more exciting to you right now than pouring over beautifully designed kitchens on your favorite decorating sites or in magazines. Keeping up to date with the latest styles and trends is a great way to be inspired for your own remodel. That’s why we’ve rounded up the top kitchen trends you can expect to see in 2017!

Light Cabinets and Dark Floors

In years past the all white kitchen has proven to be a timeless choice. White cabinets with lighter walls will continue to be popular in 2017, but many homeowners are opting for darker floors to add a sense of coziness to these bright spaces. Looking for more ways to add warmth to a white kitchen? We’ve got plenty of ideas for you!

A More Colorful Gray Cabinet

Gray has claimed its spot as a neutral color, and we’ve seen plenty of kitchen cabinets painted in one stunning shade of gray or another. You can expect to see plenty more gray, but this year it will have a little more color to it. Gray blues, purples, and even greens on cabinets or walls is one of the top rising trends in 2017.

Statement Floors

Get ready to see floors with some serious personality! Forget the basic neutral tiled floor, because patterned tiled floors are on the rise. The best thing about this trend? No need to worry about bringing in a rug for color and pattern that will just get spilled on.

Open Shelving

Open shelving isn’t new, but it will continue to be a popular choice for new kitchens in the year ahead. Their ability to serve as practical open storage while also providing a spot for decorative elements makes it easy to understand why many homeowners are swapping out some or all of their upper cabinets in favor of shelving.

Looking to find out what other homeowners are prioritizing in their kitchen renovations? Check out Houzz’s Kitchen Study for 2017.

Incorporating Natural Materials To Your Kitchen

Because kitchens are made up primarily of hard surfaces they can easily begin to feel cold. Bringing in natural materials with wood, area rugs, or accessories are all a great ways to add some warmth to your kitchen.

The stained beadboard ceiling in this kitchen makes this neutral space feel instantly homey.

The rich, dark stain on this kitchen’s island is another great example of how homeowners take advantage of wood’s charming character to create a welcoming space to prepare food. If you’re working with an already existing kitchen or don’t wish to use wood prominently in your space, there are plenty of other ways to add warmth.

• Keep out a large, wooden cutting board
• Use a colorful bowl for displaying fruit
• Add a runner or area rug in front of the sink or where you stand to prepare food
• Create a potted herb garden in a kitchen window
• Use woven baskets on top of upper cabinets or on open shelving

You have plenty of options when you are ready for a change in your kitchen. Between painting, refacing, and a full kitchen remodel there are a range of choices that will upgrade your cabinets’ look and feel. Each option comes with its benefits and drawbacks. Today we’ll look closely at some of those to help you understand which option makes the most sense for your Pasadena kitchen.

Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets

This is the quickest and least expensive option of the three. Painting your cabinets can be a good option if you are primarily looking for a change in color but are otherwise happy with the style, condition, and layout of your kitchen cabinets. However, this choice presents very limited possibilities for change.

Refacing Your Kitchen Cabinets

When you are happy with the layout of your cabinets but the doors and drawers are ready for an upgrade, refacing is a great option. Refacing has many advantages, including:

• Less expensive than a full remodel
• Allows you to continue using your kitchen while the work is being done
• Almost unlimited choices in style and finish
• Faster with less mess than a traditional remodel

Refacing is a great option when your cabinets are in good condition. However, if they are sagging or look like they’ll need to be replaced in a few year’s time, you shouldn't consider having them refaced. Spending money on cabinets that are falling apart is never a good idea. In this case you’re better off saving your money for new cabinets when you can afford a full remodel.

Replacing Your Kitchen Cabinets

Are you currently working in a kitchen with a poor layout or cheaply-made cabinets? Replacing your kitchen cabinets, though it is typically the most expensive option, will give you the best outcome. Starting from scratch with your kitchen opens up a world of possibilities. Now is the time to dream big and really consider how you want to use your space.

Customized storage, a better work triangle, and a kitchen you will be happy with for years to come are all possibilities when you make the decision to replace your kitchen cabinets!

Designing Your Pasadena Kitchen

Are you looking to reface or remodel your kitchen? We would love to help! Give us a call today to get your free estimate.

Do you need a relaxing place to unwind after a long day of work? Or maybe you prefer a more invigorating start to your day? A well appointed walk-in shower is the perfect way to take a few moments to escape from the stress of your day.

Gone are the days of basic shower surrounds. These days homeowners are discovering the joys of designing a shower that suits their needs and design sensibilities perfectly.

Great Features for Your Dream Shower

One of the most exciting possibilities of designing a walk-in shower is the almost endless tile options. Ditching the boring white or beige shower surround gives you the opportunity to mix and match tile to create a style that is uniquely your own. You can get as simple or elaborate with the details as you wish. Recessed nooks for storing shampoo and conditioner are great places to add a special decorative tile.

Other special features you should consider are:

• A luxurious shower head. Overhead rainfall shower heads, programmable steam showers, or dual shower heads are all great possibilities.
• A zero-threshold shower. No stubbed toes, easier cleaning, and more accessible for people with mobility issues.
• A built-in bench.
• Natural light from an in-shower window or skylight.

If you live in the LA area and would like help designing a shower that you will look forward to using every day, give us a call to schedule your free estimate!

Picking the perfect backsplash for your new kitchen is one of the final steps in the remodeling process and also one of the most fun! The right backsplash will tie together all the different elements of your kitchen, and, if you’ve been more conservative with your other choices, can be a great place to splurge or have a little fun. Luckily, there are a lot of great options available these days. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones and a few backsplash materials you may not have thought of!

Tiled Backsplash Possibilities

The tiled backsplashes are one of the most commonly seen choices in kitchens. They are relatively easy to install and come in a range of materials to suit every style and budget. Ceramic tile is the most affordable option for tile. Subway tile is frequently made of ceramic and gives kitchen a timeless look. Use white in a brick pattern for a clean, classic look. Porcelain tile is another great option for a kitchen backsplash. It costs a little more than ceramic, but it’s durability and stain-resistance make it an excellent choice for messy work areas.

The variations in natural stone tile add a subtle beauty and texture to a kitchen that make this backsplash material many homeowners’ favorite material.

Some people prefer to save mosaics for a special area of their kitchen, like behind a range or sink, but there are plenty of great examples of these stunning tiled patterns being used throughout the entire backsplash.

Alternative Backsplashes

If you’re looking to make more of a statement with your backsplash, you might consider picking a solid sheet of material over tiles. There are a growing number of kitchens that prove that stepping away from tile can result in a showstopping kitchen.

Stone slab backsplashes have become increasingly popular these days. Some homeowners choose to continue their stone countertops up onto the wall, and other times they pick stone slab to contrast with the countertop. Either way, this look puts a refreshing twist on the traditional use of natural stone in the kitchen.

If you’re a fan of the Industrial style, a solid stainless steel backsplash is the perfect option for your kitchen. These backsplashes are particularly durable and easy to clean.

To give your kitchen a truly unique look consider having glass custom cut to fit between your counters and cabinets. These colorful backsplashes give any kitchen a beautiful, modern glow.

The Right Backsplash For You

Your perfect backsplash will be a balance of your personal style, budget, and what will tie together the other elements of your kitchen. It is also important to consider how much work you’re prepared to do to maintain the look of your backsplash as some options require more care than others.

Would you like guidance selecting the perfect backsplash for your kitchen? We’re happy to help! Call our office today to schedule your appointment.

Has your kitchen sink seen better days? Are you looking for something that will complement your kitchen while being both beautiful and functional? Whether you’re designing a whole new kitchen or simply updating a few fixtures, there are plenty of great options when you’re looking for a new kitchen sink.

Kitchen Sink Types

Drop-In/Self-Rimming Sink

One of the easiest types of sinks to install, this style gets mounted directly into an opening on the counter. This is an affordable options that is available in stainless steel, porcelain, or cast iron. A drawback to this type of sink is that the raised rim can be more difficult to clean than some other varieties.

Undermount Sink

The seamless look of an undermount sink allows the countertop to remain the focus and makes for easy clean-up. Installation is more involved than with a drop-in sink, so this style is typically installed by a professional. This is a very popular choice in kitchen remodels right now.

Farmhouse/Apron Sink

Another popular choice for new or remodelled kitchens these days. The farmhouse sink is exposed in the front with a deep basin that is handy for washing large pots or cookie sheets. This sink is usually undermounted, requiring a more customized fit by a professional, and will need to be mounted to a nonporous countertop.

Corner Sink

If you’re short on counter space the corner sink can be a practical, space-saving solution. It is less commonly seen in kitchens but works well with L- or U-shaped countertops. Corner sinks come in drop-in or undermount styles.

Single vs. Double Sink Bowl

Choosing between a single or double basin sink can be tricky. Both options offer some great benefits and have their drawbacks. A single basin is typically deeper and has plenty of space for washing large pots and pans. They also take up less counter space than most double basins, which is great if your kitchen is on the small side.

Double basins, however, offer the option of washing dishes in one side while using the other side as a place to dry or soak dishes. Having two basins can be especially helpful during food prep. The basins on this style of sink can either be equal in size and depth or vary the size and depth.

Your New Kitchen Sink

With so many different options in mounting styles and number of basins there is sure to be a perfect sink for all of your needs. Looking around at kitchens on sites like Houzz is a great way to hone in on the style you like best. Once you have a look in mind though, we recommend seeing sinks in person to get a feel for the size, depth, and basin layout you prefer.

Picking out finishes and fixtures for your new bathroom should be a fun process. After all, you’re designing the new space you’ve been dreaming of for months, if not years! But mixing tiles is a task that can leave even the most decisive homeowners a little uncertain. Just like with mixing patterns, combining different varieties of tile in a bathroom is more of an art than an exact science. Luckily, we’ve got some foolproof formulas to help take the guess work out of the process.

Four Easy Tricks to Mix Tile Like a Pro

Balance Tile Size

Tiles come in all shapes and sizes, and while you can certainly repeat most standard tile shapes, like squares or rectangles, it is generally a good idea to mix up the size of the tile you use. For example, if you’re installing a smaller penny tile on the walls of your shower, like in the bathroom above, you’ll be better off using a larger sized tile for the bathroom floor. Using two different tiles of the same size would have felt busy and off balance.

Utilize Neutral Patterns

Solid colored tiles are obvious neutrals in a bathroom, but did you know that the subtle variations in most natural stone tile can also serve as a neutral? Think of marble, slate, and travertine the same way you would black or white tiles, and your design possibilities will open up.

Stick to a Common Tile Color

This bathroom mixes multiple types of tile effectively, because they are all in the same color family. A combination of all white tile is the simplest way to pull off this monochromatic look, but feel free to experiment with combining different tile materials and shapes in a color other than white.

Pick a Statement Tile

It takes a lot of skill to combine two or more varieties of tile that really stand out and make them work well together. Let mosaics, patterned, brightly colored, or unusually shaped tiles take center stage by keeping the other tilework in your bathroom more subdued.

Are you getting ready to remodel your bathroom? We would love to help create the perfect space for you to relax and unwind in at the end of a long day. Contact us today to schedule your estimate!

Photo by LEIVARS

Who doesn’t love the timeless beauty of a traditional bathroom? This style seems to strike the perfect balance of form and function which must be why it’s a look that is continuously being recreated. To capture this classic style in your next bathroom remodel consider incorporating these 5 common elements.

A Freestanding Bathtub

We’re willing to bet a beautiful, white cast iron tub was one of the first things images that came to mind when you picture your traditional bathroom. Not only are these tubs perfect for unwinding in after a long day’s work, but they are sure look beautiful for years to come. Free-standing pedestal tubs come in a wide range of styles, but select a clawfoot tub for a truly classic look.

Pedestal or Console Sinks

Forget the commonplace vanity and opt for the clean lines of a pedestal or console sink. What these sinks lack in storage space they make up for in style. Baskets or an additional cabinet elsewhere in the bathroom will give you an attractive place to store toiletries.

Chrome or Nickel Hardware

Polished hardware reflect light and act like jewelry in a traditional bathroom. Select faucets with graceful, arching necks and be sure to include little details like handles inset with hot and cold porcelain labels.

A Light Color Palette

Selecting light colored fixtures, trim, and interior paint is the perfect way to capture the crisp, clean look of a classic bathroom. Keep trim painted a glossy white and walls white or a very pale color to promote that perfectly kept look that is essential to a timeless style.

Decorative Tile

Natural stone like marble or boldly contrasting black and white tile are both common flooring options in a traditional bathroom. Looking for something with a little more detail? Incorporate a decorative tile border in the floor.

Your Timeless Bathroom Design

Hopefully, this roundup of common traditional bathroom elements helps you pinpoint the most important features for your own bathroom renovation. As always, if you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and would like help with your next bathroom remodel our experienced craftsmen are here to help! Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.

Photo by Burns and Beyerl Architects

We’ve all seen pictures of those beautiful, trendy kitchens that forgo upper cabinetry for open shelving. And there’s a good chance you’ve wondered about taking the plunge in your own kitchen. Homeowners seem to be pretty divided on this kitchen trend. Below we’ll detail some of the common complaints and ways to experiment with open shelving in your home.

The 3 Big Concerns with Open Shelving

1. Dust - One of the most common responses you hear from people when they see a kitchen with open shelving is, “Don’t you have to wash everything whenever you use it?” Many of the homeowners who actually use shelves in place of cabinets to store their plates, bowls, and cups say that frequently used items rarely sit on the shelf long enough to collect dust. Lesser used items of course might stay long enough to need a rinse before use, but most of those homeowners weren’t bothered by that and claim to use those items more often since they’re out in plain sight.
2. Keeping Shelves Attractive - A lot of kitchens you see with open shelving boast perfect rows of matching dishes or an artful display of colorful or otherwise unique servingware. It the insides of your cabinets hold mostly mismatched plastic cups and chipped plates, you might be disappointed in the way open shelves look in your kitchen. Of course, if you enjoy collecting beautiful dishes or the insides of your cabinets already look pristine, you might love seeing your possessions on display every day.
3. Resale Value - Because replacing upper kitchen cabinets with open shelving is not for everyone, there is a chance that this design decision may affect a potential buyer’s decision regarding your home. For most people it probably wouldn’t prevent them from purchasing a house that they otherwise love, but be aware that your preference in this area may not be universally loved.

Ways to Try the Open Shelving Look in Your Kitchen

If you’re really curious to see how open shelving would work for you a great way to test this change out without gutting your kitchen is to remove the doors from your upper cabinets. It won’t give you an exact feel for the look and experience of true open shelving, but it will at least allow you to see how you like having your belongings visible all of the time.

A good middle of the road option is to do a combination of open shelving and upper cabinets. This gives you the best of both worlds with easy access to the items you use most, a little room for display, but the option to hide some pieces away.

Or you could take the plunge and enjoy the full experience of life without upper kitchen cabinets. Whether your taste runs towards orderly and minimal or overflowing, artful displays of your dish collection, there is nothing more satisfying than shaping your kitchen into the space of your dreams.

If you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and are considering open shelving in your kitchen remodel, our team of experienced professionals would love to turn your vision into reality. Call us today to schedule your free estimate!
 

Kitchen remodels can seem overwhelming, and at times, you may want to reach for an easy button. If you’re looking for ways to life hack your kitchen remodeling project, look no further than the suggestions below.

Illusions of Space

If you want your kitchen to look bigger than it is, the easiest trick is this: paint your walls white. Nothing will open up your kitchen and make it look brighter and bigger more than white walls.

While you’re at it, if you want to paint kitchen cabinets, throw a coat of white paint on them as well. White on white will help your space seem bigger and airier than it really is.

Add a Kitchen Island

Installing a kitchen island is a great way to save on space. At once a cutting block, an extra set of cabinets, and a way to visually tie together your kitchen, the possibilities of kitchen islands are endless. If you’re working with limited space, install a small island. They come in all sizes and materials, so the more kitchen island ideas you have, the better.

Use Drawer Inserts

If you’re limited on cabinet space, utilizing drawer inserts to organize everything from silverware to measuring spoons can lend a sense of order to a chaotic kitchen.

Custom kitchen cabinets can solve this problem. Maximize the storage space you have and add built-in organization systems to your cabinets; you’ll never feel like you have to hack your storage again!

Recessed Lighting

Installing recessed lighting is ideal for a few reasons. Having a bright source of light is vital for a kitchen: not only does it illuminate your kitchen day and night (so you can find your way around during that midnight snack run), but it also sets the mood for your space. Weak lighting or old lighting fixtures that hang low in a kitchen can get in the way and also take away from valuable storage space. (You can use the ceiling to hang a pot rack instead.) Installing recessed lighting solves both of these problems.

Create a Half-Wall

If you’re thinking of kitchen remodel ideas that will give you more space in your home, knocking down a wall (or part of a wall) is an essential hack. If you aren’t in an open floor plan, kitchen walls can make the area seem small and suffocating. If you aren’t ready for a kitchen room addition, knock down half a wall and create a breakfast bar instead. This’ll make your kitchen more open create flow while saving on your kitchen remodel cost.

Life hacks can be a cheap and easy way to make small, temporary improvements in your kitchen. But if you get tired of homemade solutions cluttering your kitchen and not completely solving the problems they’re trying to, it may be time to call the experts.

If you’re a Pasadena homeowner whose kitchen is constantly short on storage, short on space, short on functionality, or short on looks, call the experts. Open Hand Remodeling can help you create the functional kitchen of your dreams with permanent, custom, quality solutions.

What makes someone want to update his or her home with the latest tech devices? For many people, it’s notoriety: they love being known for having the house with all of the newest and coolest installations before anyone else. For some, it’s curiosity: if there’s a device or an update that everyone is talking about, they want to know why. For others, it’s practicality: they know that tech updates, both big and small, can make their lives easier and more efficient. Plus, there are some people who only think about the numbers. They know that a modern, updated home is likely to be worth more and will be more appealing to potential buyers, not to mention fetch a higher price at resell.

Maybe you fit into one of these categories, or maybe you’re a combination of several. But for whatever reason, if you’re curious about the latest gadgets to add to your home, one of the best places to start is the bathroom.

Bathroom remodel ideas that involve the latest gadgets include:

Sensor Mirrors

Does your makeup always look different in public than you thought it did when you first applied it? Have you ever been out on a date and realized that your tie doesn’t actually match your shirt the way you thought it did? One bathroom remodeling idea is to install sensor mirrors. These mirrors mimic natural sunlight so you know you’re getting an accurate view.

Hands-Free Toilets

Are you a germaphobe by nature (or maybe having kids has turned you into one)? Install a hands-free toilet and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with not having to touch your toilet to open or close the cover or to flush.

Money Savers

Any house remodel comes with a pricetag, but a smart tech install in your bathroom means that you can calculate future savings into your overall bathroom remodeling cost. Install a low-flow toilet or a smart shower (which can control water droplet size, spray and speed) to manage your water usage. You’ll see the savings on your water bill (and the planet will thank you).

High-Tech Showers

There are more ways to enjoy your shower beyond knowing that you’re cutting down on your water bill, even though that can be a great feeling in itself. Install a water-resistant speaker into your shower to enjoy hands-free tunes. To take your shower to the next level, check out chromotherapy: LED lights in your tub or shower will cycle through colors to achieve the mood you’re looking for, whether it’s energized, relaxed, thoughtful, or just plain happy. Whether you start your day with a shower or end it, make it an energizing beginning or a calming end.

If you’re in Pasadena and are looking for smart ways to add the latest gadgets to your home, or if you’re researching smart ideas for bathroom remodeling, contact Open Hand Remodeling. Open Hand’s team of expert bathroom contractors can guide you through the best ways to upgrade your bathroom and save you money, both now and in the future.

Adding a room addition to your home can do a lot for both your family and your home; space and value are just two things that come to mind. But building a home addition is also one of the bigger home improvement projects you can undertake. What are the considerations you should make when sketching out your home addition plans? The number one thing to think about is location, location, location.

Purpose

The first thing to think about is what the purpose of your room addition will be. Are you trying to create more living space? Do you want a master bedroom suite? Are you trying to fix the problem of a too-small kitchen or bathroom? Depending on what your goal is, some decisions will be made for you: if you want to expand a bathroom, you know that you’ll be working out from one of your current bathrooms. But other choices aren’t so cut and dry: if you want an extra bedroom, for example, you aren’t necessarily limited by plumbing or other extraneous factors. You might add on to a current bedroom, you might add another wing to the floor where most of the bedrooms already are, but you can also be creative. A guest bedroom that’s detached from the rest of the bedrooms, like on the main floor, may offer guests and family members some prized privacy.

Top to Bottom

You also want to consider whether your room addition will require roof or foundation work. Plenty of additions do, and it’s something that can be accomplished with the right team of general contractors. But if you don’t want to mess with the foundation or the roof, there are other options. Bump out additions, for example, conveniently build extra space off the side of your home. You’ll be limited on space for an addition like this, but if you aren’t looking to add an entire new living room to your home, this may be an option that works for you.

Making it Blend

Whether or not you expand your roof or foundation to support your room addition, you definitely want to make it blend. You want the new structure to look like it belongs with the rest of your house. Some homes use multiple types of material, such as part brick and part siding, and it’s best to consider what will be easiest to blend with your home’s current style. Consider how you’ll make your house look like one cohesive unit when choosing where your room addition will go.

Additions to homes can seem like a daunting task to a lot of homeowners. The good news is that Open Hand Remodeling is a company with home improvement contractors who are experts in the business of expanding your home, by one square foot or a thousand. If you live in Pasadena, take your home addition ideas to Open Hand: they’ll build on them.

A kitchen remodel is one of the biggest yet most exciting undertakings a homeowner can make. Putting time and money into a remodeling project, whether you are completing a kitchen remodel on a budget or doing a total, no-holds-barred renovation, is a wise choice for increasing the resale value of your home.

But the kitchen is also one of the busiest, most highly-trafficked areas of the home: aside from food preparation, it’s often where homeowners and families eat, congregate, and entertain. So when you’re planning a kitchen remodel, there are a lot of things to consider.

If you have kitchen remodel ideas, before you start, here are some quick tips for how to prepare:

Measure Twice, Cut Once

You might not be sawing lumber for your kitchen, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to do your due diligence in measurements and preparations. Make sure you know exactly what dimensions you’re working with, whether you’re looking at a new countertop, custom kitchen cabinets, or researching kitchen island ideas.

Know How Long the Project will Take

Like we mentioned before, the kitchen is often the centerpoint of your home. Even if you don’t prepare and eat meals in your kitchen every night, having a torn-up kitchen makes life a lot more complicated. You’ll want to know exactly how long your kitchen will be unavailable (or at least less functional) while upgrades and repairs are going on. Homeowners often underestimate the time a project will take, and think they’ll just be sacrificing their kitchen for a weekend. Grabbing takeout for a weekend isn’t bad, but when you’re months deep in a kitchen remodel, you’ll soon find that the cost of a kitchen renovation can extend beyond materials.

Know Your Limits

Touching up the paint on the corner of a kitchen cabinet is one thing, but be realistic with yourself about your house renovation skills. It’s smart to put money and time into your kitchen; it’s not smart to do a mediocre job because you think it will save you a little bit of money. For big projects, such as refacing or installing custom kitchen cabinets, creating an open concept kitchen layout, or building custom kitchen islands (and the list goes on), call in the pros. Calling the professionals is almost always the safest and most cost effective choice in the long run, and it ensures you get back to your kitchen a lot more quickly.

If you live in Pasadena and don’t want to risk ruining your kitchen (and not being able to access the fridge for a year), call the professionals. For Pasadena families, this means Open Hand Remodeling. Open Hand’s kitchen contractors will help you prepare, plan, and complete the kitchen remodel your house deserves.

Do you have ideas for a home remodeling project, but don’t want to end up regretting your choices? It’s easy to do, but with a little research, you can end up with a finished result you’ll want to show off to everyone. Read on for things to avoid with home remodeling.

Making All Your Choices from a Screen

When it comes to home remodeling, there are lots of useful apps and websites that can help you envision the remodeling choices you want to make, from paint colors to room layouts. And while this is a great starting point, making all of your decisions based solely on an app is not the wisest choice. There will inevitably be differences from what you see on your screen to what ends up in your living room. Feel free to use apps and websites for early phases of dreaming and scheming, but when you’re ready to draw up serious plans, call a general contractor. They can ensure that the idea in your head is what actually ends up in your living room (or bathroom or kitchen).

Going Too Trendy

If you consider yourself someone who’s always ahead of the curve in design, from your personal style to your home, and you don’t mind spending money and time on a trend or fad that may be out of style soon, then this section isn’t for you. But if you tend to have more traditional tastes (or you want to have a home that’s re-sale ready) and you’re tempted by a whacky new design you’ve seen somewhere, take some time to think about it before committing. Orange and pink striped walls or cabinets made of granite may look fun on that blog you’re reading, but consider if you’ll still like these trends one year (or five) down the road. And also think about how much work, time and money it may take to reverse those decisions if you need to sell your home. It’s fine to have fun, and important to have a home that reflects your personal style. At the same time, safe choices like white kitchen cabinets can be a relief to the eye and the budget.

Rushing

Big home remodeling projects can take a long time; often more time than you’re expecting. You may have assumed that the custom kitchen island you wanted to build would be done in a weekend, and two weeks later, you may be feeling frustrated. The biggest mistake homeowners can make when their project is taking longer than expected is to rush or cut corners to finish things out. Using a home improvement contractor from the start can help not only to give you a realistic time frame for your project, but also make sure that every step of your project -- from first cut to last coat -- is done with the highest quality.

Not Calling the Professionals

DIY is a fine choice for many projects, but when it comes to your home, it’s best to leave most things to the experts. If it’s a big project, like a room addition, a new roof or a complete bathroom remodel, it should go without saying that you need to go with the professionals from the start. On top of all of the other reasons you want a professional handling big projects: best use of time, money, lasting quality, etc., there are safety concerns involved when you’re knocking down walls or making big installs. But using a professional from the start for “smaller” projects like installing a sink in your bathroom or refacing your kitchen cabinets, guarantees that you won’t have any regrets that DIY homeowners often run into, including spending more time and money than you expected for a project that ends up requiring a professional to fix it anyway.

If you live in Pasadena, avoid all of these regrets by starting off your project with Open Hand Remodeling. From the smallest idea to the largest home remodel, our contractors specialize in regret-free home remodeling.

When you’re brainstorming and budgeting home remodeling, you want to know exactly where to put your money. An important factor to consider is if you’ll get that money back; that is, will your bathroom remodel ideas or kitchen remodel ideas increase the value of your home? The best home renovation advice, especially if you plan on re-selling your home someday, is to put your time and money into renovations that will boost the resale value of your home before you do anything else. That way, whether you’re thinking of simple ideas for kitchen remodeling on a budget or taking everything down to the studs and rebuilding, you’re making a smart investment in your home and your future.

Read on for the three best ways to boost resale value with simple remodeling.

Back to Basics

If the basics aren’t covered, buyers won’t care about the other details. Another way of saying that is if the roof is caving in, nobody will care about your new kitchen backsplash. For resale value, it’s imperative to make sure that the bones of the house are in tiptop shape before moving on to other projects. A lot of those “bones” are on the outside of the house: if your roof is dingy, dated or leaking, replace it. The same goes for your siding or outside paint job.

Curb Appeal

The basics, like the roof and the siding, obviously play major parts of your home’s overall curb appeal. Potential buyers see right them away. But there are other ways to increase your resale value through curb appeal. Adding hardscapes, such as patios, stone pathways or outdoor kitchens, immediately make your home more appealing to drive-by buyers.

Kitchen and Baths

If your roof, basement or other areas aren’t leaking, and if your home looks great from the outside, the best places to put your money inside are always the kitchen and the bathroom. If you’re actively preparing your home to sell and brainstorming kitchen or bathroom makeover ideas, think classic: combinations of wood and stone with clean, neutral colors are perfect for kitchens or bathrooms. You can be creative other ways also: whether by installing walk-in showers in the bathroom or creating a chef’s kitchen for the at-home cook, think about long-lasting improvements to the space.

Once you have the basics down, you can make additions and improvements to your home that will make life easier for you as well as for future re-sale. If you want to make sure your home improvements are done the right way the first time, contact Open Hand Remodeling. Our experts in home renovation will make your Pasadena remodel easy -- and get you that much closer to re-selling your home.

Do you like to stay up-to-date with the latest in bathroom remodel design trends? Are you known around your neighborhood (or do you hope to be known) as having the home with the newest updates and magazine-ready layouts? Perhaps you want to increase the resale value of your home. Whatever your reason, if you’re looking for the latest in simple bathroom remodel ideas, look no further.

Below are current trends in bathroom designs, layouts, and updates that are making a big statement:

Creative Tile

Including tile in the bathroom is not a new idea; the versatile material is perfect for a room that deals with a lot of moisture and humidity, and it holds up well to cleaning. But rather than allowing tile to be a passive part of the bathroom, current trends make tile a bold participant in the layout. Be bold in your patterns, colors, or locations (use tile on both walls and floor). Unusual color combinations, unusual layouts, and purposeful patterns are other ways to bring your tile up-to-date.

Eco-Friendly

Updating your bathroom to become more eco-friendly (and more budget-friendly) is a great benefit. Start with shower design: Replace your water-guzzling shower with a low-flow shower; if you want to save water (a must in California!) some new showerheads can even track your water usage. The other culprits for water usage in your bathroom -- your sink and your toilet -- can also be replaced to be more efficient and use less water.

Industrial Chic

You may have noticed this trend in restaurants: a blend of wood and metal with purposefully exposed pipes and shining surfaces. Your bathroom is the perfect place to explore this trend: mixing concrete, wooden, and metallic surfaces between your walls, floors, ceilings, and fixtures is a great way to get this mixed-material, industrial chic look.

Reclaimed and Shabby Chic

Another trend you’ve probably noticed in your friends’ home is the shabby chic look: the incorporation of vintage materials and pieces into the design of a room. A beautiful way to include this trend in your bathroom is by using wood as an accent. A wooden wall, sink pedestal, or backsplash is an unexpected yet homey feature to add to your bathroom.

Return to the Classics

White bathrooms are never going out of style. White walls, white appliances, white tiles, white flooring, white cabinets: you can’t go wrong with a bright and gleaming white bathroom. This classic look feels modern and timeless at the same time, and makes sometimes smaller bathrooms feel spacious and luxurious.

Whether you’re ahead of the trends or need help keeping up, Open Hand Remodeling has the team of bathroom contractors and design experts to give your home the updates it needs. Contact our experts in bathroom remodeling today.

The open concept design is a popular home remodeling idea for many reasons. For one, it creates the illusion of more space by clearing your line of sight. In other words, with no walls to stop your vision, you’re able to see more. Removing walls increases your space without having to add on to the room.

Open floor plans also allow you to show off your home, make entertaining easier, and are great for families: it’s much easier to keep an eye on the kids with one large living space.

Incorporating an open concept design often means making the kitchen the star of your home. So if you’re considering an open floor plan, or you’ve already implemented one and now you’re looking for ways to make your space shine, read on! We’ve got tips for the best ways to make your kitchen amenable to an open floor plan.

All About Island

If you look at pictures of open concept kitchens, there’s one thing you’ll notice in most of them: an island. These are functional as well as stylish. Eliminating walls sometimes means eliminating cabinet, counter, and/or storage space. A large island can take on all of those needs. With storage underneath and a large counter surface on top, it lends itself perfectly to the open concept design.

You can make your island go to work for you in more ways than just storage and countertop space. It’s easy to include a sink, and some homeowners even choose to include a stove top range as part of the island. It’s all up to you and what works best for your kitchen.

Breakfast Bars

The other built-in benefit of an island is that it almost automatically creates a breakfast bar on the other side. Simply add fun stools and you’ll be spending more time in the kitchen than you ever did before. Despite the name, a breakfast bar is much more than that: it does create a casual area perfect for breakfast, but it also lends itself to the open concept design. It invites others to join the chef in the kitchen by adding extra seating, and it makes the perfect spot to serve appetizers at your next party. Even if you decide not to build a full-fledged, multi-functional island in your kitchen, a breakfast bar is nearly a must.

Smart Cabinetry

As we alluded to before, utilizing an open concept design may mean sacrificing some storage space. While there are plenty of ways to solve that problem, you definitely want to be smart with the cabinet or wall space that you do have. Floor to ceiling cabinets, especially in white, create a striking backdrop to your open kitchen, and are highly functional. Using your vertical space to some degree is definitely a must, and since more eyes will be on your kitchen with an open floor plan, now may be the time to replace them with custom kitchen cabinets (or at least reface them)!

If you want to incorporate an open floor plan in your home, or if you want to make the one you have look and work better, contact Open Hand Remodeling today. From cabinets to islands, Open Hand Remodeling has the team of kitchen contractors for all of your kitchen kitchen and home remodeling needs.

Is your kitchen in need of an overhaul? Read on for our top five ways to give your kitchen a makeover!

Custom Kitchen Cabinets

It might seem like a no-brainer to say that you don’t need to stick with the kitchen cabinets that your kitchen came with. What you might not realize is that you have more options than those available to you in retail or home improvement stores. If you can’t find cabinets in the right size, shape, or style, then consider custom cabinetry. With custom cabinets, you can make your kitchen space work for you (and make all of your friends jealous, too).

Update Your Countertops

Your countertops are the most important non-appliance in your kitchen (besides your cabinets). Aside from their functionality for storage and food preparation, they also take up a lot of square footage and are one of the first places your eyes go in the kitchen. There are plenty of options when it comes to countertop materials. From less expensive options like laminate and tile, to middle ground choices like butcher block and stainless steel, to high end materials like granite and marble, there is a countertop for every budget and style. Ask us for more kitchen countertop ideas.

Make an Open Floor Plan

If you’re short on space, or if your kitchen feels claustrophobic, there are plenty of small steps you can take: putting on a lighter coat of paint or using open shelves are two popular choices. But if you’re looking for a permanent solution that will supercharge not only the openness of your kitchen, but of your entire living area, then you should consider an open floor plan. In this home remodeling idea, instead of cramped, compartmentalized rooms, opting for an open floor plan creates open living space where the kitchen, living room and dining room seamlessly flow into each other. More space, more light, more options for family time and entertaining: an open floor plan is all about more.

Install Open Shelving

Whether you want to use open shelving to supplement your cabinetry, or if you’re looking for a streamlined storage option, open shelving could be the perfect solution for you. Installing open shelves brightens your room, and if you’re design-minded, offers the perfect opportunity to show off that bold set of vintage mixing bowls.

Create a Chef’s Paradise

If you’re a serious home cook, you deserve a serious home kitchen. Building a chef’s kitchen can involve whatever you need for your style, but some centerpieces may include:

For appliances: double ovens, induction stovetops and a wine cooler are all excellent choices. Whether you’re a baker, a cook, or an amateur sommelier will depend on what you want to build your dream kitchen around.

For storage and organization, many chef’s kitchens utilize hanging appliances, open shelving or butcher block surfaces.

Whether you know exactly what your dream kitchen should look like or if you need help planning, the kitchen contractors at Open Hand Remodeling can help. No kitchen remodel is too small or too big for our professional Pasadena team, so contact them today!

Home remodels are not an all-or-nothing deal: homeowners often find themselves stuck somewhere between “This home is move-in ready!” and “We need to tear this whole thing down and start over!”

When it comes to your bathroom, there are lots of reasons you may be looking for small ways to upgrade instead of completing a full bathroom renovation. Maybe you know your bathroom needs some updates, but you’re scared off by bathroom remodeling costs. You may have bought a home with an already upgraded bathroom, but you’re looking ways to make it your own. Or perhaps you did a complete bathroom remodel a few years back, and while you aren’t ready for another full project, you still want to keep improving your space.

If you’re in any of these situations, you may be wondering what quick ways there are to give your bathroom remodel a boost. You’re in luck! We’ve listed out some of our favorite bathroom upgrades below.

Green Bathrooms

It’s not as strange as it sounds. One of the best places to put your money in the bathroom, for your water bill and for potential future buyers, is in making it an eco-friendly paradise. You can pick and choose where to put your money: installing a low-flow sink or toilet can be a weekend project, while installing a water-saving shower is a great option if you have a little more room in the budget.

Sink Your Money Here

Whether or not a low-flow sink is your style, the sink is a great place to start. Consider a pedestal sink to save space and elevate your bathroom -- literally and figuratively.

Luxuriate

Your bathroom should be a place you can relax and rejuvenate: what better way to take your bathroom remodel to the next level than by installing radiant heat flooring? By installing a radiant-heat system beneath your tile, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome to your feet when you get out of the bath or shower, no matter the weather.

Need other ways to make your bathroom feel like a spa? If you have room, add beautiful seating (try a bench with storage to save on cabinet space). If you don’t have the square footage, think about adding a seat in the shower: this added touch will inspire relaxation, and can also make your bathroom more accessible.

No matter what your bathroom remodel ideas, Open Hand has the remodeling team of bathroom contractors you need to make your bathroom makeover ideas reality. If you live in the Pasadena area and have been looking for a way to go beyond the basic bathroom remodel, contact Open Hand today.

What are the basics you need to know about refacing your kitchen cabinets? Read below to find out!

First, if you’ve never considered refacing cabinets, or you’re not sure what the pros of that decision may be, it can be a great solution to updating your kitchen without blowing your budget.

• Refacing your kitchen cabinets costs far less than replacing your cabinets entirely, while still giving your kitchen a whole new look.
• Unlike many major kitchen projects, refacing your kitchen cabinets doesn’t mean losing use of your kitchen in the process. Since this project doesn’t require you to move or remove any kitchen appliances, everything is still fully functional while the project is going on.
• It’s faster, cheaper, and easier overall than replacing your cabinets altogether.

Another major benefit of refacing your kitchen cabinets is that you have endless options when it comes to look and material. Some perennial favorites include:

Laminates

Laminates are hugely popular for their affordability and versatility. Laminates come in virtually any color or pattern you can imagine. If you haven’t gotten to the point that everything in your kitchen matches (perhaps you’re dealing with different colored appliances, or you haven’t had the time or money to fix the clashing grout and flooring combination), the endless color and style options for laminate make it easy to find that exact shade that will actually work for your kitchen.

Rigid Thermofoil (RTF) Doors

Rigid Thermofoil is the most budget-friendly option of the bunch. RTF doors don’t come in as many colors and style as plastic laminates do, but since RTF is a vinyl material, it can be worked more easily around oddly shaped cabinets and corners.

Real Wood

The most expensive option, but for a reason: a real wood veneer is the classic, beautiful, long-lasting option when refacing your cabinets. If you have high quality wood cabinets that you’re planning on keeping around, and you simply want to freshen or update your kitchen’s look, a real wood veneer is a great option.

With all of that being said, is there any reason NOT to reface kitchen cabinets instead of just replacing them? Sure. Refacing your cabinets will not fix problems like shoddy construction, sagging shelves, or inadequate space. If your kitchen cabinets are low quality, refacing them will just mask (some of) the problem instead of solving it. In this case, you might want to consider getting completely new cabinets installed.

Open Hand Remodeling is the place in Pasadena to go for all your kitchen remodeling needs; from cabinet refacing to complete remodels (and everything in between). Contact Open Hand today!

It’s not summer…yet. But with spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of those home improvement projects you want to tackle in the summer. What home renovations are best to do in the warmer months? And how should you be preparing now so that you can get the most out of your time (while staying in your house remodel cost budget)? Read below for a Top 10 list of summer renovations!

10. Install new windows

The best way to enjoy the bright, cheerful days of summer even from the inside is with a new set of windows. New windows will help you save on cooling bills in the summer, and will get you prepared to save on heating bills in the winter.

9. Restain your deck

A perfect day project, give your deck a facelift with a new stain and you’ll be ready for the next barbeque!

8. Build an outdoor kitchen

If you’re looking for a big project, this is it. No one wants to be trapped in the kitchen with a pre-heating oven when it’s 90 degrees outside. With an outdoor kitchen, you’ll be able prepare and enjoy your meals outside for several months of the year.

7. Add a firepit

For those summer nights that you don’t want to end, a firepit makes the perfect backyard addition. Keep the conversation flowing around a crackling fire, and when cooler evenings come in the fall and winter, you’ll still be able to enjoy your backyard.

6. Install a ceiling fan (or fans)

Electricity bills can spike in the summer. While you may not be able to get away from using your air conditioner altogether, you can cut back on its use (and make airflow more efficient) by installing ceiling fans.

5. Install a stone walkway

Whether you want to have it lead up to your front porch, your deck, or as a pathway through a garden, the summer is the ideal time to do some relatively easy hardscaping and make your yard really stand out.

4. Build a tree bench

By building a circular bench around one of your trees, you’ll have a great extra place to sit, read and relax. It’s especially nice for mornings when you want to be outside but the grass is a little too damp!

3. Replace your siding

Summertime is a great time to make sure that the siding on your house can handle the elements when the winter or rainy season comes. Updating your siding gives your house instant curb appeal and protects you against the elements (whenever they come).

2. Repair your gutters

The last thing you want is soggy, smelly leaves and debris wreaking havoc on your gutters. Aside from cleaning your gutters, it’s important to check them for leaks and holes -- otherwise, you may be looking at a gutter coming loose at the worst possible time. Make sure that your gutters are good to go.

1. Build a deck or porch

If you don’t have a deck or a porch, now is the time to change that! Whether you prefer a small front stoop or a sprawling, wooden masterpiece, a deck or porch gives you a place to congregate, grill, and watch the sunset with family and friends (not to mention what it does for resale value).

If you want to fully enjoy your Pasadena summer, make plans for your next strategic summer home improvement today. Open Hand’s team of general contractors and home improvement contractors are highly skilled professionals that can tackle any project, any season. Whether you’re looking for home renovation advice, home renovation estimates, or you’re ready for a complete home renovation, they can help. Contact them today!

There’s a lot of appeal to a DIY project. But when it comes to your next home remodeling project, it’s good to know when to go solo and when to call in the experts. How do you know the difference? Read on to find out when you should call in the professionals.

You’ve Never Done This Project

There are plenty of times to learn new things, and sometimes, a big home improvement project isn’t one of those times. If you’ve never replaced countertop, installed cabinetry, knocked down a wall, or built your own outdoor kitchen, your house might not be the place to practice. Trying out a home project you’ve never done before almost guarantees that you’ll run into issues you hadn’t anticipated. These issues could be minor problems, like having to make more runs to the hardware store than you expected, or having to re-do your nailgun work, or they could also be major, like running into potentially dangerous electrical or structural issues you didn’t anticipate. In these cases, you’ll definitely want a home improvement contractor.

You Have a Strict Budget

This might seem counterintuitive: usually, we go the DIY route to, at least in part, save money. The trouble with some DIY projects, though, is that the costs can mount unexpectedly, and your house remodel costs go through the roof (no pun intended). You could start off with a specific budget, but thirteen trips to the hardware store later, you’ll wonder where all your money went. Money can also slip through the cracks quickly if you make a mistake and have to re-do or touch up your work: it means (at least) twice the supplies, time, and manpower. And don’t discount the small ways money can get away from you: bribing friends or family to help out with promises of free pizza seems more economical than hiring a general contractor, but that’s only if you don’t have to call on them again and again.

You want to avoid a worst-case scenario where you’ve spent time, money, and labor on a home renovation, only to discover too late that you need professional assistance. Then that initial investment is gone, and all you’ll have to show for your initiative will be splinters and empty pizza boxes.

If you know you have a specific budget, you can go through it with a general contractor or a professional team. They can tell you what can happen realistically within that budget and you don’t have to worry about the extra expenses that come from DIY accidents.

You Don’t Have the Right Equipment

You probably have a basic handyman set, but often, the projects you’re undertaking may require more advanced tools that you’ll need to purchase or rent. If it’s one tool that you know you’ll use in the future, then it may not be a bad investment. But lots of home projects require several one-off tools that can destroy your budget with a single purchase. And even if the project you have in mind doesn’t require the purchase of a dozen major power tools, you might encounter sticker shock with the basics you need just to prep your project.

It Needs To Be Done Right

If you’re messing with something big, make sure it’s done right. Creating an open-floor plan, painting the exterior of your home, re-roofing the house, building an outdoor stone deck or adding a home addition are all major projects that will affect not only the look and feel of your home, but its resale value and (occasionally) structural integrity, too. Save the DIY for small projects: if you’re doing something big, or if it’s something that can’t afford to go wrong, you can’t afford to do it yourself.

No matter your project, big or small, indoors or outdoors, Open Hand Remodeling has the team to make it happen. For the sake of your sanity, your time, your budget, and your safety, go with the professionals from the start. Contact Open Hand Remodeling today.

Whether you’re getting ready to put your home on the market or you want to make smart home improvements, there’s one thing to remember: the right home remodel can make the difference between a home that sells and a home that sits.

Deciding where to focus your home improvements is a big decision. There are many reasons to be strategic about your home renovations: to start, chances are, you don’t have the time or resources to renovate every room in your house. And even if you do, your home may not need a room-by-room makeover.

Whether you bought a fixer-upper or a home that was move-in ready, there are always small updates you can make to help turn potential buyers into definite buyers. Below are some quick remodels to boost your home’s resale value.

Start in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the focal point of most homes, and a gathering place in many. A kitchen that appeals to one buyer often means a home that appeals to many buyers. Smart, quick, kitchen remodeling ideas include replacing the handles on all of the drawers or cabinets, updating the sink and faucet (perhaps with a farmhouse style sink), or adding a beautiful backsplash. Since the kitchen is a good place to invest your money, consider springing for bigger projects. For example: repainting or restaining the cabinets is a surefire way to brighten up your entire kitchen.

Go Neutral

If you want to sell your home, a fresh coat of paint is a must. But this isn’t the time to experiment with that lime green you’ve been eyeing: stick to neutral color schemes on the walls. Neutral colors won’t distract a potential buyer from imagining themselves in the home, and if they choose to go bold later on, neutrals are easy to paint over.

Hit the Bathroom

Besides the kitchen, the bathroom is the other place you’re sure to get back the money you invest. And just like in the kitchen, a little bit can go a long way: replacing the cabinet handles and faucet can make a room shine. Other ideas for bathroom remodeling include adding open shelving: this assures potential buyers that they’ll have plenty of storage, but it helps keep your bathroom feeling light and open. If you have more time to spend on the bathroom, a bigger project to consider is making your bathroom eco-friendly: install a low-flow sink, toilet, and shower. Beautiful new appliances will catch a potential buyer’s eye; saving money on water bills will make them remember you.

Think Curb Appeal

Think about the first things potential buyers will see as they drive past your home. Give your front door a new coat of paint so it catches someone’s eye. Add flower planters on the front porch, or install a stone pathway leading to your door. Tidying up the landscaping could be what gets a buyer inside your home.

If you want to sell your Pasadena home, trust the professionals at Open Hand with the home renovations. Open Hand has the bathroom contractors you need to install new appliances; the kitchen contractors you need to repaint or install cabinetry; and the overall home contractors who can provide the renovations you need. Big or small, indoor or outdoor; new coats of paint or entirely new rooms, Open Hand has the team that can make your house buyer-ready. Call today.

The country-style kitchen is making a big resurgence, often with a modern twist. Curious how other homeowners achieve that classic country look? Read below to learn about easy ways to give yourself the farmhouse kitchen of your dreams.

Everything, Including the Kitchen Sink

A staple of farmhouse style kitchens is the farmhouse kitchen sink. Also known as an apron sink, the farmhouse sink is a relic of the past that is making a significant comeback. The term “apron” is used for the way that the front of the sink sticks out slightly from the surrounding countertop or cabinet, making it more ergonomic and accessible. Farmhouse sinks are designed to be utilitarian; they were meant to be used for everything from bathing children to washing clothes to preparing dinner, and their spaciousness is a major selling point. The modern-day farmhouse sink is being reimagined in all styles and materials, from porcelain to copper.

Open Air

One thing that sets apart modern country kitchens is their openness. This is often achieved with an open floor plan. Floors or partitions between the home’s primary living space (kitchen, living room and dining room) are knocked down, creating one large, open-air space. Open air plans are ideal for families, for entertaining, and for achieving a spacious feel. The farmhouse kitchen highlights the kitchen as the centerpoint of the home as a place to gather, to prepare food, and to entertain.

White Painted Cabinets

White painted kitchen cabinets are a hallmark of the country style kitchen. They help make the kitchen feel open and fresh, and are easy to decorate around with your chosen accessories. For example, incorporate rustic design elements like old watering cans and mason jar decor. Many homeowners use the white of their cabinets as the guiding factor for their entire kitchen, with white walls and white accent pieces, such kitchen stools or hand-painted glass milk bottles.

Open Shelving

Are you sensing a theme here? Modern farmhouse kitchens are all about openness, and this extends to shelving. Open shelving allows you to artfully display your plates, pots, and pans. It also gives you an opportunity to have some fun with shelving material: mix it up with glass-front custom kitchen cabinets for some of your kitchen, or open-air reclaimed wood for some floating shelves above the sink.

For every detail of your kitchen, from the flooring to the cabinets, and the island to the sinks, the kitchen contractors at Open Hand Remodeling can give you the kitchen of your dreams. Whether you prefer bits and pieces of the country-style kitchen, or whether you want to explore entire kitchen remodel ideas, Open Hand has the team for you. For a free estimate, contact us today. Your Pasadena home doesn’t have to be a farmhouse for your kitchen to have the warm simplicity of a modern farmhouse kitchen.

You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen…but now what? If you’re completely overwhelmed by kitchen layout ideas, kitchen renovation costs, and ideas for custom kitchen cabinets, take a second to breathe. Below are our tips for ways to make your kitchen remodel easier.

Splurge Once

Adding up the costs for an entire new kitchen can be daunting. Between the appliances, the flooring, the counters, and the cabinetry, you can be looking at a pretty hefty kitchen remodeling price tag if you don’t plan. Don’t feel like you need to update everything at once if it’s not in the budget. Start with just one splurge: new cabinets, maybe, or that marble countertop you’ve been dreaming about. You can then center your kitchen remodel around that one piece: and fill in the rest as your budget allows.

Mix Materials

Mixing materials and textures in your kitchen remodel comes with plenty of benefits. Aesthetically, it creates a visually interesting space, one that will draw the eye from surface to surface. But it’s a practical choice, too, especially if you’ve just chosen your one splurge purchase. You can decide where you want to put your money with a mix of differently priced materials. And if you’re ready to remodel parts of your kitchen, but not all of it, using a variety of materials allows you to lean into that choice. Pattern a particular material throughout your kitchen. For example, reclaimed wood on a kitchen island, as part of your breakfast nook, and maybe as a backsplash. Your mix of materials will end up looking both deliberate and beautiful (while secretly also being economical and practical).

Don’t Overthink Color

If you’ve ever spent two hours completely frozen in the paint color aisle, you know how overwhelming the seemingly endless color options can be. If you’re tempted to be doubly stressed by the kitchen, don’t be. Keep it simple: cabinets in a clean white look good in any kitchen. For the walls, color can be fun, but if you’re stuck, you can’t go wrong with a neutral: it will complement whatever materials and textures make up your current kitchen.

Call the Experts

The best advice for making your kitchen remodel smooth and seamless? Call an expert. Open Hand Remodeling makes the kitchen remodeling process easy to dream up, easy to implement, and easy to enjoy. Decisions are hard. Kitchen remodeling doesn’t have to be. If you live in the Pasadena area, take the guesswork out of your next remodel. Call the kitchen contractors at Open Hand today.

What do caring for elderly relatives and increasing the resale value of your home have in common? One thing: both benefit from a senior-friendly bathroom remodel. While senior-friendly bathroom remodeling may not sound like the most thrilling home remodel available, making a bathroom accessible for seniors can actually involve some of the sleekest and most modern bathroom design choices available today, as well as boost your home’s value.

Whether you have older parents or grandparents living with you, or whether you need to make the bathroom more accessible for yourself or spouse, making your bathroom accessible to all ages is a remodeling choice that more and more homeowners are making. To learn about how to make your bathroom safe and stylish at the same time, read on below.

No Stairs - No Problem

Before you start making a list of bathroom makeover ideas, consider this: at least one of the bathrooms should be located on the main floor, and it should be easy to access without having to bother with stairs. If your home doesn’t have a bathroom on the main floor, it’s worth considering a bathroom addition.

No-Threshold Showers

A no-threshold shower makes for seamless entrances and exits, thus eliminating any tripping hazard. Besides safety, it’s also a crucial step in making your bathroom seem more open and modern. Whether you’re preparing your home so that you or a loved one can age in place or just looking for a modern upgrade to your bathroom that can be enjoyed at any age, a no-threshold shower is a great option.

Space

No-threshold showers help solve one of the most important aspects of a senior-friendly bathroom: the need for space. As we age, we can come with more equipment, whether that’s wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, and the more space available to accommodate these devices, the better. Even if the senior you have in mind still travels light, a more spacious bathroom is easier to navigate for everyone. Knocking down walls, expanding the space, and doing away with the tub or incorporating design choices like no-threshold showers are ways that you can add space to your bathroom.

Accessorize

Since aging can involve extra equipment, it stands to reason that a bathroom that’s amenable to seniors should come with some equipment too. Some easy additions include a seat-extender for the toilet and grab bars on the walls to help prevent slipping.

If you or someone you love in the Pasadena area needs to add or update a senior-friendly bathroom, contact Open Hand Remodeling. They’re home redesign experts that will work with you from conception to implementation, from renovating a small bathroom to a complete bathroom remodel providing the highest quality professional services to make your senior-friendly bathroom the best seat in the house.

Along with your kitchen cabinets, your countertops are the most important non-appliance in your kitchen, and one of the first considerations homeowners make when considering kitchen remodeling ideas.

Just like your cabinets, countertops take up up a sizeable amount of kitchen real estate. Just like your cabinets, the right material, color or design can make your kitchen have some serious style. And just like your cabinets, they’re not just there to look pretty: your kitchen countertops go to work for you, for everything from storage to food preparation. Because of this, you want to be sure to choose the right material when browsing kitchen countertop ideas.  But how to choose? From durability to affordability, we’ll break it down for you below, with options to fit every budget.

Budget Options:

Tile

Tile is one of the less expensive materials available, and it is easy to maintain. Just like bathroom tile, kitchen tile wipes clean easily. Depending on the style and color of tile you choose, you can pair it with almost any palette or design aesthetic. However, tile can crack or chip, and its grout has to be sealed regularly.

Laminate

Laminate is the least expensive countertop material available, but it doesn’t have to look that way. It comes in hundreds or designs and colors; you can now buy laminate that is meant to look like stone, wood, or quartz, but without the pricetag. If imitation stone isn’t for you, then lean into the retro vibe: try laminate in a funky orange or yellow (or any color you choose) is also a fun and functional option. The downside? It can scratch easily, has a tendency to fade in sunlight, and is not heat resistant (so keep those hot pots off of it!).

Middle Ground:

Butcher Block/Wood Countertops

These countertops are perfectly at home in a country-style kitchen as well as a rustic or vintage space. Sealed correctly, they’re a great choice for food preparation, and they’re heat resistant. They do require some work, though: they have to stay properly sealed and oiled to stay sanitary and long-lasting.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel gives your kitchen a professional, industrial feel. Its durability is its biggest selling point: it doesn’t stain, rust, or fade. It’s easy to clean and maintain, and besides a tendency to show fingerprints (which can be wiped away), and the possibility of being scratched, there aren’t many negatives to report.

High End

Granite

Granite is one of the most consistently popular choices for countertops. It is strong, durable, heat resistant and very difficult to damage or scratch. It does need to be sealed regularly (about once a year) to prevent stains from cleaners or food.

Marble

Marble is nearly as popular as granite, with a slightly steeper price tag. Designers love marble countertops for the same reasons as granite -- durability, strength, and heat resistance -- and it’s also a popular choice for its gorgeous swirls and high end look. Just like granite, it needs to be sealed regularly to prevent staining and to keep it bacteria-resistant.

Of course, these aren’t your only choices when it comes to countertop materials. From recycled glass and reclaimed wood to quartz and lava stone, the options are virtually endless. But for homeowners in Pasadena, there’s only one name you need to remember: Open Hand Remodeling. For kitchen counter updates and installations, no matter your style, Open Hand has the team of kitchen contractors for you. Whether you’re kitchen remodeling on a budget or whether the sky’s the limit, will provide you with a free estimate and work from there to make your kitchen your favorite room in the house. Contact us today.

With 2016 just around the corner, you might be looking to turn over a new leaf. The new year is synonymous with new beginnings and fresh starts. If your fresh start involves a fresh coat of paint on your cabinets or new room addition, you may be wondering what the hottest residential paint trends for 2016 will be. Resolutions may fall by the wayside, but with the right coat of interior paint in the trendiest new colors for your remodeling project, you’ll be ringing in the new year the right way.

Stay Fresh

No, it’s not a trick: the Benjamin Moore paint color of the year for 2016 is not technically a color at all. Benjamin Moore describes their 2016 Color of the Year, Simply White, as “Fresh as the first snowfall, this clean, crisp, multi-purpose white is a perennial favorite for trim, ceilings, and walls.”

So what’s the deal with white? It’s all about ambiance and adaptability. White can accentuate any palette, any style, any decor. Painted over a brick hearth, it adds a crisp cleanliness to a country style home or a cottage on the lake. In an open loft, it adds sharp contrast to blacks and grays, making a modern abode look clean and angular. In any space in between, it makes rooms seem bigger and brighter. White is the perfect backdrop for a splashy orange accent wall, a bold, red couch, or a bright blue throw pillow. It blends easily with earth tones and more traditional colors, and flows into any neutral palette with ease. If you’re looking to brighten things up in your kitchen or bathroom, white is consistently one of the most popular kitchen cabinet colors.

High Contrast

If you want to stand out, then the high contrast color trend is where to look for 2016. For every interior designer or homeowner who is crafting white, minimalist masterpieces, look to see equally as many bold colors blended together. Behr Paint recommends adding zest and pop to background of your next dinner parties, game nights, and other events by incorporating tropical pops of dark pink, rich emerald, and lush blue.

Excited about the white trend AND the bold color trend? Don’t feel like you need to choose: what better way to amp up the contrast than by pairing white furniture with bold walls or cabinets?  If you’ve got kids, pets, or a clumsy streak, don’t worry about white furniture: keep the walls white, and add your bold colors in with couches, rugs, throw pillows, and lamps. Of course, white cabinetry or shelving makes an obvious choice for a contrast to bold wall paint.

Whether you want to ring in the new year the white way, or make 2016 the year that you and your walls are a little bolder and a little brighter, Open Hand has the team of professionals and painting contractors you need to stay ahead of the curve - whether you’re a trendsetter, a rule follower, or a bit of both. Make this year the year you finally update those cabinets in the year’s hottest colors; or if you’ve already accomplished that and are feeling ambitious, maybe it’s time for an entire room remodel. If you live in the Pasadena area, your search for home remodeling ideas can stop here. Open Hand makes the resolution to remodel an easy one to keep.

If you’re thinking about some bathroom upgrades, it can be challenging to keep up with the new trends and updated designs available to you. As you explore bathroom remodeling ideas, check out our list of design concepts that will help you get the brag-worthy bathroom you’ve always wanted.

Store It Up

Whether you have a spacious master bathroom, or you want to renovate a small bathroom, storage doesn’t have to just be a bathroom necessity; it can also add to the aesthetic of your bathroom and is a great place to start a bathroom redesign. Going up instead of out by utilizing vertical space is a practical way to make the most of your square footage. There are dozens of ways to think “up”: traditional cabinetry, open shelving, floating shelves, or repurposing furniture originally intended for another room (bookshelves or antique dressers).

Versatile Tile

Even if you have a spacious bathroom suite (and especially if you don’t), the bathroom is typically one of the smallest rooms in the house. The more people share it with others while getting ready in the morning, the smaller it seems. A multifunctional solution is to tile your walls in white. Clean white always brightens and enlarges a room. Plus, tile is easier to clean than a painted or wallpapered wall, and if you’re busy, have kids, or are a neat freak (or all three), being able to return to sparkling walls with a quick spray clean is an upgrade you won’t regret.

Less is More

Especially when you’re talking about less waste and more money when it’s time to pay your water bill. From the bathtub to the toilet to the sink, water useage can really drain your budget. Luckily, there are now ways to reduce your water usage without forcing yourself to take a 30 second shower. Installing a low-flow toilet, a hands-free faucet, or a smart shower (which manages water droplet size, spray, and speed to save on water) allows you to kick up your feet and relax without having to worry about your carbon footprint or your bottom line.

Tear Down the Walls

Removing (or at least altering) the standard bathtub and shower combination can make your bathroom more open, accessible, and resale-friendly. A curbless or no-threshold shower is easy to clean and creates a sense of flow within your bathroom. Better yet, it creates an accessible space. This is worth considering if you plan to age in your home, have someone at home who would already benefit from a curbless shower, or having an ADA compliant bathroom to increase resale value.

For a bathroom remodeling estimate in the Pasadena area, or for more inspiration -- from quick and simple bathroom remodel ideas to scheming for your complete bathroom remodel -- contact Open Hand Remodeling.

After months of stewing over the seemingly endless options in paint colors, you may have found yourself asking, “What’s the difference between cream or off-white? Ocean or sea blue? True black or deep black?” When you finally decide exactly what shade of sage green to paint the bathroom, you may march into your local hardware or paint store feeling like all of your paint decisions are behind you. But when you walk up to the paint counter and ask for two gallons of “absolute white” (which you know you prefer to “pure white”), you find you’re faced with even more questions: Eggshell? Flat? Satin? Gloss or Semi-gloss?  

If these words sound like a foreign language, or if you feel like you can’t make one more decision, don’t worry: once you know a few basics about the different types of residential paint, you can come to the paint counter armed with the color and type of paint you want, and the confidence that comes with knowing that you’re making the right choice.

Flat (or Matte) Paint

Flat paint falls at the “no shine” end of the spectrum. If you’re over 25 and still remember printing your photos, you may have chosen between a “glossy” and a “matte” finish. Just like with photos, while a glossy finish shines and reflects, a flat or matte finish does not reflect light. This type of paint is easy to clean and is typically used for a low or no traffic area. This is the most common paint for ceilings.

Eggshell

Eggshell is a great, versatile finish. It’s used often in areas that get moderate traffic or wear, such as a living room. Eggshell doesn’t glisten, but it is softer than flat finish paint.

Satin

Satin is the other versatile middle ground option. If you want to split the difference between flatness and sheen, but you know that the walls you’re painting may encounter more wear and tear, satin is an excellent option. Recommended for kitchens due to its ability to handle a higher level of traffic (and therefore more exposure to bumps, scuffs, and messes), this paint type also provides a little more moisture than eggshell. If you’re in a stage of life where you have children drawing on walls or pets who aren’t house-trained, satin may even be a better choice for your general living spaces (like the living and dining room) than eggshell.

Semi-Gloss

You might choose a semi-gloss finish because you like the sleek, bright shine. It tends to look great when you paint kitchen cabinets, as it offsets nicely from the eggshell or satin finish of the kitchen walls. Semi-gloss can handle even more moisture than satin without peeling or bubbling, and so it’s a common choice for bathrooms. Also consider it for high-traffic areas such as entryways or children’s bedrooms: it can take cleaning upon cleaning.

High-Gloss

This is the shiniest paint you can get. It has the same benefits of semi-gloss only it deals with moisture and wear and tear even better. If you’re looking at bathroom remodel ideas, a new coat of high-gloss paint is a great start. Those who prefer a paint with the highest-brilliance finish possible (or who always chose “glossy” as their photo finish) may be drawn to high-gloss or semi-gloss.

Since the type of paint you choose is both an aesthetic and a practical decision, you want to be sure that you find the option that is going to look how you want and work how you need. If you’re in Pasadena, California, you don’t have to make that decision alone. From choosing a paint finish to applying that final coat, Open Hand Remodeling knows that interior paint is a vital part of house updates, remodels, and additions.

Open Hand specializes in home updates, additions, and remodels, and is here to make every step of that smooth, easy, and stress-free; whether you’re looking at refacing cabinets or an entire kitchen remodel, and no matter how long it takes you to choose that perfect shade of gray.

Tile is the ultimate bathroom material: whether it’s made ceramic, glass, porcelain, stone, or the myriad other material options, tile shines in its versatility and utility. One of the biggest selling points for tile is that when it comes to the bathroom, it is not limited to floors: in fact, it’s common to see tile not just on the floors and in the shower, but also on the walls and ceilings. This is because tile is durable, water resistant and easy to clean.  

When considering bathroom remodeling ideas, or looking at the average cost of a bathroom remodel, one of the first choices many homeowners will make is the type, color, and material of tile that they will use. However, whether you go with marble or granite, gray slate or blue glass for your bathroom makeover ideas, there still remains another important decision: what tile pattern to use.

There are dozens of options when it comes to floor tile or shower tile designs, but you don’t need to feel overwhelmed by choices. Use this handy guide below to help you narrow down your options, or to kick-start your creative process.

Simple Options

If you’re a no-nonsense type of person, concerned with the utility of your tile, or if you just want a clean, simple design, a straight lay or diagonal lay is a great option. Just like it sounds, in a straight lay, tiles are laid in straight, simple rows. A diagonal lay is similar, but with the tile rotated 45 degrees. Both options emphasize the look and beauty of the tile you have chosen, with the diagonal option adding a little more visual interest.

Mixing It Up

If you want to make more of a statement with the lay of your tile, but still don’t want to bother with complicated geometric designs, then a checkerboard or running bond design will serve you well. Alternating black and white tile is a classic way to implement this, but feel free to sub in any two colors. Gray and white offer a subtle but noticeable change, and shades of blue always shine in a bathroom. A running bond design mimics the placement of bricks on a brick wall; each tile is offset by half the tile width of the one above it.

Complex and Creative

If you love visually interesting floors, there are plenty of ways to make a statement with your tile design. Some of the many geometrically stunning options available include:

• Windmill: A center square tile is surrounded by rectangles to create a larger
• Modular: Tiles of all different sizes are pieced together. You can follow a pattern with your different sized tiles, or use a more hodgepodge approach to create a perfectly “mismatched on purpose” look.
• Pinwheel: Similar to windmill, this design surrounds a small inner square with four large squares, creating an angular pinwheel look.
• Basketweave: Small squares and long rectangles are combined in an effect that looks as if the floor has been woven together.

If any of these designs -- from simple straight lays to intricate mosaic designs -- have given you ideas for bathroom remodeling, or if you know you want to update your tile but are still unsure of what route to take, the professionals at Open Hand Remodeling are the experts you need. From choosing tile type and design to installation, their team is ready to make your bathroom vision a reality. In the Pasadena area, there’s no one better. Call today!

If you’re looking to put your house on the market, or just trying to find ways to add value to your home, the outside of your house can be just as important as the inside. While you may be brimming with home remodeling ideas for your kitchen, bathroom, and office, it might be a good idea to not only compare kitchen remodeling costs but also check out how you can invest in your yard.  

Adding the right hardscape or landscaping touch can be the difference between your home selling or sitting stagnant for longer than you’d like. The art of it is obvious: the outside of the home is the first thing a potential buyer sees and creates curb appeal. Perhaps this is why the American Society of Landscape Architects recommends investing at least 10% of your home’s value in the landscape. This means more than planting a few flowers and keeping up with the mowing (though those things are a good idea, too).

One thing that house plans with photos may not show you is that hardscapes can improve the look of any home, whether your home sits on several acres or you just have a small patch of lawn. A popular hardscape option that is versatile for yards of any size or style is a patio. Because these can be customized by size and function, a patio is an easy way to make the outside of your home look inviting and appealing. An easy addition to a patio is a sidewalk. By adding a hardscape that invites a potential buyer to walk into your home, you’ve defined curb appeal.

If you already have a patio, or if you’re looking for more ways to update, a general contractor at Open Hand Remodeling can provide all manner of hardscape options. If you’re an entertainer, consider an outdoor kitchen for year-round dinners, parties, and grilling under the stars. Paving stones can add a sense of order leading up to the home or through a garden; gates, railings, or fences can provide style and function, making your home more appealing to pet owners, families with small children, or anyone who appreciates privacy.

When you’re looking to add value to your home, don’t underestimate curb appeal. Whether your home is brand new, or you’re researching an old house remodel, remember that first impressions count. Strong first impressions can add up to 20% to a home’s value, meaning that investing in hardscape options that increase curb appeal is a smart place to put your money. In the Pasadena area, Open Hand Remodeling is the place to go for the highest quality landscaping and hardscaping services available. Open Hand can work with you through any installation or update you want to make to the front, side, or back of your home, and is provides the highest quality service to help your home achieve its highest value.

Older homes are often made of compartmentalized spaces: the living room is separated from the dining room, which is walled off from the kitchen, which is removed from the rest of the house.  Having distinct, separate rooms (often connected by a hallway) used to be the norm, and chances are, unless you live in a newly constructed home, this is true for you. 

Recently, however, more and more homeowners are abandoning this dated home design and falling in love with open floor plans. Creating an open floor plan involves opening up a home’s primary living space into one or more open rooms. Instead of having the dining room, living room, and kitchen walled off from each other, an open floor plan combines the best dining room, living room, and kitchen layout ideas by creating a great room where these spaces flow seamlessly into each other. This kind of layout can help your space seem bigger without requiring additions to your home.  

Consider the following advantages of this home remodeling idea:

1. More space, more light 
Open floor plans are the ultimate optical illusion: they make your space feel bigger and roomier without adding a single square foot. Removing walls clears up your line of sight: instead of seeing a wall whether you turn, you’re instead treated to views of rooms flowing into rooms flowing into rooms. This setup also creates another natural advantage: more light. Any light source -- a sliding glass door, a skylight, a bay window -- is now capable of illuminating your entire main floor instead of being restricted to a single room. A lighter space always feels bigger and less cluttered, which means that you get to enjoy a roomy living area without actually having to make your home larger (or clean up).

2. Show off your home
Perhaps you’ve just invested in an updated kitchen, and you can’t wait to show it off to guests…until the guests arrive, and you’re left in the kitchen while everyone else gathers in the living room. Or maybe everyone tries to cram into your kitchen, leaving you with no space to prepare and added stress. With an open floor plan, you can appreciate the hard work you’ve put into your home from any vantage point.

3. Make entertaining easier
An open floor plan is the ideal for entertainment, whether you like to throw sizeable house parties or you just like hosting the occasional dinner for a small group of friends. Friends can mingle in small or large groups, separate or together: a card game, a conversation, and a dance party can all happen in different parts of the great room, and with great lines of sight. No one has to miss out on any of the fun.

4. Great for families
If you want to be able to keep an eye on your children while preparing a meal, watching a television show, or sweeping the floor, then an open floor plan is for you.  Even when you’re not worried about chores or childcare, an open floor plan helps bring the family together: everyone can co-mingle in the same space without getting in each other’s way. It’s great for holidays and family gatherings, too: now the person cooking the turkey and the person watching the game don’t have to be different people.

If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in enhancing your living space with an open floor plan, then contact Open Hand Remodeling. We’ll take you through the process from answering your questions about house remodel cost to providing home renovation advice. We offer a full range of high quality, professional services available for all phases of the process, from concept to construction.  

Is your house is starting to feel smaller than it used to feel? Perhaps your family is growing, perhaps you’re entertaining more, or perhaps what you need to feel comfortable is simply different than it was when you first purchased your home. Regardless of reason, your first thought might be that you need to purchase a new home. For many families, however, this simply is not the best option. 

You may be in an ideal location for work, family, or lifestyle or you don’t want to deal with the stress and the cost of buying and selling a home. If you want to stay in a home that is starting to feel cramped or overcrowded then adding a room addition may be the perfect option. 

How do you know when it’s time to add or expand a room? Below are a few questions to ask yourself to find out:

Adding A Bathroom

• Do the number of people in your home outnumber the bathrooms? 
• Do you have a bathroom hog (or two) in the family, or find yourself running late because there’s a line to use the bathroom? 
• Are your bathroom shelves and towel racks overflowing? 
• Do you have a half-bath that desperately needs to be turned into a full bath?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then you would benefit from a bathroom addition.  If you crave more privacy, consider turning your master bedroom into a master suite by adding an adjoining bathroom. Open Hand Remodeling is the place in the Pasadena area to make your bathroom remodeling ideas turn into a reality. 

Expanding Your Kitchen

• Is your kitchen not functional because of its size?
• Are you short on storage or pantry room?
• Is there simply not enough room to cook, clean, or entertain the way that you would like to?

Building a new kitchen (or expanding your current one) is also the perfect excuse to update the look of a kitchen: with more room to enjoy it, you can finally institute the kitchen remodeling ideas of your dreams, from the appliances to those custom kitchen cabinets you’ve been eyeing. Update and modernize your space as you expand it and create the comfortable, functional kitchen of your dreams.

Building a Bedroom

• Has your family has grown since you first bought a house? 
• Are you in desperate need of more bedrooms?
• Do you love having guests stay for the weekend but don’t know where to put them?

Having a general contractor from Open Hand build you a new bedroom is an easy solution. Even if this isn’t you, a room addition can serve several purposes: as an office, a playroom, a personal gym, or a future nursery. Personalize and expand your space with a bedroom addition.

Other Additions
There are plenty of other reasons and ways you may want to expand parts of your home. Maybe you like your dining room, but wish it was bigger for when you entertain family and guests. Maybe it’s finally time to have a room dedicated to laundry instead of trekking to the basement every day. Maybe you just want a little more room to breathe. Contact Open Hand Remodeling Company. For homeowners in Southern California, they provide the service you need to start your next room addition or expansion. 

When remodeling your kitchen, choosing the right paint color can be a chore. Your ultimate goal as a homeowner is to change the look and style of the room, but you may not want to make such a drastic change that you end up needing to repaint your kitchen again in a year. Additionally, there are cabinets and appliances to consider when selecting a color scheme for your new kitchen. Luckily, the function of a room can help you decide the best paint to use to achieve your desired interior design.

Kitchens can sometimes be tricky. Does your kitchen have low lighting? How do you create a warm and homey space? Shades of white, gray, blue, yellow, and green can transform your kitchen into a bright room that also feels inviting. Since most days begin and end in the kitchen, using a fresh white or gray can bring an energizing feel to the room. The two paint colors pair well together, and they perfectly compliment each other when incorporated into your cabinets or backsplash. Both white and gray are ideal base hues that will allow you to use splashes of color throughout your kitchen with appliances, hand towels, and other home decor.

However, white and gray can be too neutral for some homeowner’s tastes. Blue is also a smart choice for kitchens. By using a lighter shade of blue, you can create a clean, crisp appearance that makes your kitchen feel brighter even if it has low lighting. If you choose to paint your kitchen a dark blue, be sure to use the shade sparingly. If used too much, it can be overwhelming to the eye and make your kitchen feel too dark or intense.

Yellow, a traditional color for kitchens, is thought to increase a person’s appetite. And while bright yellow is reminiscent of sunshine, softer shades of yellow can soothe your guests and make them feel happier. A bold pop of yellow or green can be the perfect accent in your kitchen if you decide to paint your room in bright white or gray tones.

Updating your kitchen’s look can be one of the most rewarding investments for your house, but deciding the perfect color is not always the easiest endeavor. At Open Hand Remodeling, we have the right experience to help homeowners transform their kitchens into a new, inviting space in your home.

Remodeling your home can be a stressful process, and one that you embark on in order to improve your home. The last thing you want to do is bring harmful chemicals and paints into your living space, which is why environmentally friendly paints have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Understanding why environmentally friendly paints are a better choice requires understanding what harmful chemicals are included in traditional paints.

Most paints contain volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) that evaporate at room temperature. These fumes are what cause nausea, dizziness, and respiratory tract irritation. Additionally, most paints contain biocides that prevent mildew and mold from growing; these chemicals are toxic, contaminate both indoor and outdoor air, and can be detected in the air as long as five years after their initial coat. If not disposed of properly, paints containing biocides can seep into groundwater and cause an even bigger problem. Lastly, some pigments used in coloring traditional paints can be toxic. Fortunately, there are natural paints that offer an alternative to using toxic paints for your home.

Look for paints with low VOCs, low biocides, and natural pigments. While the paint ingredients (and their levels of VOCs and biocides) should be printed on the paint can’s label, a little bit of online research can also help you determine which eco-friendly paint will best suit your needs.

Benjamin Moore offers Green Promise, an environmentally friendly paint line and a list of VOC levels for their Green Promise paints --- as well as color choices, a list of products, and their green standards --- is easily found on their website. Sherwin Williams carries paints that have achieved their GREENGUARD Gold Certification --- many of these paints have a zero-VOC level.

There are a few things to remember as you select an eco-friendly paint for the exterior or interior of your home.

For your Home’s Exterior

Unfortunately, almost all exterior paints contain fungicides, and you are not able to purchase low-biocide paints for the exterior of your home. If available, using an exterior paint that contains zinc oxide as the biocide will be better for the environment and your family. The next option is to select an exterior paint that contains zero- to very low-VOC levels or recycled water-based. Steering clear of oil-based paints is a good idea due to their high level of VOCs.

For your Home’s Interior

Natural paints are typically derived from minerals and available for commercial purchasing. While these paints are petroleum-free, they do contain terpenes. Terpenes are VOCs that come from plants. Be sure to select a natural paint with a low level of terpenes. Additionally, natural paints do not contain biocides and fungicides. Latex paint is another high-quality choice, especially if you select a latex paint with a low biocide count and low VOCs levels.

Having peace of mind about protecting your home with a fresh coat of paint is valuable, but not as valuable as the comfort you’ll have knowing that you family and the environment are safe from harmful chemicals contained in traditional paints. At Open Hand Remodeling, we are committed to high quality painting projects while keeping your family and our community safe.

Are You Ready to Make a Remarkable Change in Your Home?

Contact Open Hand Remodeling to start the conversation about your next room addition or bathroom, kitchen, or general home remodel. We love working on homes all around Los Angeles, and we're excited to take on your next project. 

Bathrooms are a key component to your home. Every resident and almost every guest will see the interior of your bathroom. From this standpoint, the decision to paint your bathroom should be carefully thought out. Paint is one of the easiest ways to renew your space, but which finishes and colors are the best for a room that is used so often? This is an ideal room in which to showcase your interior design skills, but it also must withstand exposure to moisture on a daily basis. The key is to find a paint color that highlights your home’s decor and that’s also incredibly durable.

Bathroom Paint Considerations

Your bathroom paint needs to last. Over the course of its lifetime, it will most likely be scrubbed, cleaned, and dried. If your family is tough on your bathroom (this includes pets), avoiding flat or matte finish paints will be in your best interest. If you are remodeling a full bath, it might be best to purchase a mildew- and mold-resistant paint. This small step will save you from future frustrations.

Bathroom Style

There are several different approaches for designing your dream bathroom. An easy first step is to decide if you would like your wall color to be a backdrop or to seamlessly blend with your fixtures. Choosing a dark color for your bathroom wall paint will allow you to add extra splashes of color (and contrast) with wall art, hand towels, knobs, and drawer pulls. Dark blues lend themselves especially well to bathrooms, as many bathroom accessories are typically neutral, lighter tones.

If the bathroom in question is the place where makeup will be applied, choosing a wall color that compliments your skin tone is ideal. Pink shades, including peach and terra cotta, create a very flattering effect on all skin colors. Grays, yellows, or greens might might make you look more washed out in the mirror.

Some bathrooms can be very small, especially half bathrooms. There is no reason to hide this fact, but instead, play to it. Painting all walls and the ceiling with a bright color can revolutionize your small space. The effect will instantly erase any impressions of a small, drab half-bath.

It’s time to embrace such a practical room and show it a little love. Open Hand Remodeling has the experience and dedication needed to make your next home project a success.

Your home only has one chance to make a first impression, and if you’re trying to sell your home, this impression can be crucial. In today’s real estate market, many people are turning up to view a house with a preemptively drawn up contract. Those few moments when a potential buyer enters your home could seal the deal to sell your home. In order to maximize this potential (and minimize the amount of time that your house is on the market), it is essential that your home decor and color palette is fresh.

The colors of your home create a backdrop against which potential home buyers imagine their belongings, furniture, and family. However, this does not mean that you should paint your walls in various shades of beige and white; neutral colors aren’t limited to shades of these two colors. Paint is an impactful change, and choosing the wrong color — or too much of the wrong color — can discourage a potential buyer.

If your home decor is outdated, applying a new coat of paint is a quick way to achieve a more current, updated look. Benjamin Moore offers Carrington Beige and Nantucket Gray as two colors that compliment one another and will instantly update the appearance of any room. These two colors are timeless and fuse traditional hues and contemporary trends.

Perhaps your home is a little too small for your family, but it would be just right for a couple’s first home. If you still live in your house (and it’s getting full!), your focus should be on creating spaces that look light, clean, and organized — this makes your dwelling seem larger. Additionally, painting the crown moldings the same color as the wall makes your walls seem taller than they truly are and brightens a room immensely. Monroe Bisque and Camouflage, also by Benjamin Moore, are light colors that remain warm and bring a touch of elegance to any space.

If your aim to create a more dramatic appearance in a room, Sherwin Williams’ Caviar is a muted black that has an almost chalk-like finish. When paired with a white-gray such as Manhattan Mist by Behr, you can create luscious accent walls and focal points while still using neutral colors.

As one of Southern California’s finest professional remodeling services, we at Open Hand Remodeling can help you identify the best paint colors for your unique home. Please contact us for a free estimate, and let us help you with you next home project!

As you may recall, we have touched on this project in past articles a few times. While we take a great deal of pride in our remodeling skills and services (and often feature them), this particular property is unique in that it was built from the ground up.

We’re thrilled that it’s now complete, and ready to simply be lived in and enjoyed.

Quality New Construction

When we build a home, we apply the same principles that guide our work during remodeling projects:

• A focus on quality
• Hassle-free - Building a home may be a busy and exciting experience, but headaches don’t need to be in the equation!
• Complete service - We are a design/build firm, so we can handle every detail personally
• Honesty - Transparency and free-flowing communication help to keep the objective clearly in focus while also eliminating potential sources of stress along the way

Can We Help with Your Next Building or Remodeling Project?

If you have any questions about our services or the experience you can expect to have when you choose Open Hand Remodeling, why not give us a call today? It would be our pleasure to talk with you!

Today’s bathrooms are often remodeled with not only beauty and updated style in mind, but also efficiency. This can include extra storage, cleverly-located drawers and cubbies, and layouts that maximize your specific space.

Regardless of how much storage you have, however, in a home with only one bathroom there still is only one shower. And, on those mornings when you and your significant other both need to get ready and out the door at the same time, this can pose a bit of an issue.

So, how can you boost the efficiency of your shower time and space?

Two Heads Are Better than One!

Take a look at the interesting shower design in the photo below. Not only is the style beautiful and modern, but you’ll notice that there also are two shower heads. This allows for two people to shower at the same time without squabbling over the spray.

This is a wonderful way to make the most of a one-bathroom home. It’s efficient, comfortable, and eliminates the need for rushing through your own morning shower while your spouse watches the clock.

And, yes… There are separate controls so you can adjust the temperature exactly the way you like it!

Are You Looking for a Quality Home Remodeling Company?

The Open Hand Remodeling team specializes in high-quality, hassle-free remodeling and construction. If you have any questions about your next project, why not give us a call? We would love to help!

When remodeling a kitchen, the goal is always to include a seamless, flowing design. Every component should work together and complement each other, whether your mission is to create a warm and rustic style or add the cold steel of an industrial motif.

This is often done through carefully chosen colors and materials that work well together and fit your theme. Some homeowners, however, decide to take it a step further by covering their appliances with appliance panels.

Why Use Appliance Panels?

Well, it certainly does achieve that seamless look that we mentioned before! As a real-life example, take a look at the project photo below.

The panels create the illusion of a slimmer refrigerator and freezer, blending it in beautifully with the surrounding cabinetry.

What Should You Be Aware of Before Installing Appliance Panels?

Including these panels in your kitchen’s design needs to be a carefully researched and planned decision. Because of potential ventilation issues, not every refrigerator or dishwasher can be simply covered. It’s best to select a panel-ready appliance that is specifically built for the purpose.

To explore all your options, be sure to talk to a kitchen remodeling professional near you.

Are You Looking for a Home Remodeler in the Greater LA Area?

Why not give us a call at Open Hand Remodeling? It would truly be our pleasure to answer any remodeling or building questions that you might have.

Two huge factors for any remodeling project are, of course, time and money. We all have limited amounts of both that we are willing to spend, so it makes sense that you would want to know exactly how much of each a task will require.

Let’s start with a look at time.

It might surprise you to hear this, but a quality bathroom remodel can actually be accomplished in as little as two weeks. How? Take a look!

Remodeled vs. Reconfigured - What’s the Difference?

Reconfiguring your bathroom means that the actual structure and layout will change. This involves more in-depth work, adapting the systems of the room to your new design. In turn, this increases the investment of time and expense.

Remodeling, however, doesn’t necessarily include reconfiguring. It instead involves changing the existing materials and style, but not always shuffling the features of the space. The shower is still where the original shower was located, the vanity/sink is in the same place, the toilet hasn’t moved, etc.

The benefit of not needing to redirect and modify the major systems is that it allows the cost and time to be kept to a minimum.

Be Sure to Choose an Experienced, Reputable Bathroom Remodeler

Another key component in a smooth, efficient bathroom remodeling process is choosing a professional who has the infrastructure to meet your needs. Quality should never be sacrificed since your remodel is a direct investment in your home, but a skilled team should be able to quickly transform your bathroom to meet your exact specifications and design goals.

If you live in Southern California, we hope that you will reach out to us at Open Hand Remodeling! It would truly be our pleasure to serve you, and provide you with a hassle-free, enjoyable experience.

Do you have the itch to do something related to home improvement this spring? Maybe you’re just feeling your inner DIYer come out, or you might be looking for an actual building and remodeling professional who can help you transform your property.

Whether you’re prepping your home for a sale or are simply making it your own (and a bit more beautiful), we’ve put together a few home improvement ideas to serve as a starting point.

Take a look!

Property Updates That You'll Be Glad You Made

• Curb appeal - Do you drive up to your home and like what you see? If so, that’s curb appeal. Your property could have a little or a lot, but you can always boost the “wow” factor by investing in exterior improvements. Take a look at the bottom of this list for ideas!
• Quality interior paint - Few things make a bigger difference for your home than modern, fresh, inviting interior paint. If you’re considering selling your home, try sticking with a more neutral color palette. If you’re making changes for yourself, have fun with it! Why not try brighter, bold colors?
• Bathrooms and kitchens - If you have a limited budget for updates, focus heavily on bathrooms and kitchens. These add tremendous, long-term value to your property, and are primary selling points if you are putting your home on the market.
• Think bigger than exterior paint alone - Exterior paint is hugely important. But, in addition to paint, wood repairs, general landscaping, and a fresh power washing can go a long way to boost the attractiveness of your space.

Are You Looking for a Home Building Professional in Greater LA?

If so, we hope you might contact us at Open Hand Remodeling! From strategic, hassle-free remodeling to new construction, our team provides reputable, quality service. Take a moment to get to know us, then be sure to call with your questions!

When it comes to designing and remodeling a kitchen, the trick is to find the ideal blend of style and function. And, whenever possible, try and include elements in your kitchen that combine both!

A perfect example of this can be found in a well-designed kitchen island.

Why Can a Kitchen Island Do for You?

A lot of homeowners like the idea of including a dining table, or pub table, in their kitchen. This does, after all, create a place to eat, another useful surface, and certainly can add aesthetic value too.

An island, however, can do all of the above while also creating that all-important component of any great kitchen: extra storage.

Take a look at the photo we’ve included on the right. This beautiful island is made of a natural stone called Quartzite. It adds a sleek, modern look to the space, and provides a surface that can be used for everything from cooking to crafting. And, did you notice all that drawer space underneath?

Talk to a Kitchen Remodeling Professional!

We know that there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind when you’re designing your dream kitchen. Part of what we enjoy doing here at Open Hand Remodeling is really thinking through our clients’ needs, and making sure that every aspect of their project supports and meets those needs.

Do you have a kitchen remodeling question? Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Thanks to the climate we enjoy here in the Greater LA area, seasonal considerations like snow and ice aren’t a factor when it comes to choosing the very best time of year for your home remodeling or building project. We certainly have that going for us! We do have the summer sun to contend with, however, as discussed recently in regard to choosing the right time for roofing (you can take a look at that post here).

So, that still leaves us with the question: when is a good time to schedule your building project?

Spring - The Perfect Time for Your Project

Getting in touch with your professional builder right now and scheduling your project is a wise decision. This is because many homeowners tend to book their work to be done in the summer, accidentally creating a sort of construction traffic jam.

This time of year, pre-summer, is a wonderful opportunity to get ahead of the traffic of competitive scheduling and instead enjoy a wide open road to project completion.

Consider it an insider tip!

Can We Help With Your Next Remodeling or Building Project?

Large or small, remodeling or new construction, the Open Hand Remodeling team would love to help you with the project you have in mind. We are experienced, honest, hassle-free, and dedicated to both the completion of your dream and the betterment of our community as a whole. Please take a moment to browse our services and portfolio, and then feel free to reach out to us with any questions you might have.

There is no denying that kitchens have become one of the most popular outlets for creativity in the world of home customization. No longer just the place where dinner is made, your kitchen can be a true showplace, regardless of the size of the space or your budget. This is partly due to the fact that there are so many different popular looks right now, ranging from wild and eclectic to the crisp modern style of dark colors and stainless steel.

The kitchen backsplash has also enjoyed fresh popularity these days. Home builders and remodelers are asked to customize, create, and install a wide variety of designs with an equally broad range of materials. While the look may vary, the goal is the same: to add an extra pop of texture, color, and beauty to your kitchen.

With that in mind, the question is often asked: what kind of backsplash should I choose?

What Kind of Backsplashes Are There?

Here is a brief breakdown of some of the options you have to choose from:

• Stone – The most popular kinds of stone include marble and granite, and for good reason! This material can make a beautiful, unique backsplash because of the individual colors and patterns that stone offers.
• Glass – Because of how it loves to play with light, glass creates an attractive, sparkly appearance. This choice is also very easy to keep clean! And, for an even more custom look, you can try a glass mosaic pattern.
• Metal – This is a true workhorse, creating an industrial, high-power look. Aside from just a stainless steel option, however, there also are a variety of patterned materials available, as well as custom patinas.
• Ceramic tile – Resistant to stain and with a wide spectrum of colors and styles to choose from, ceramic tile is a wonderful, customizable option. As we’ve discussed before (check that blog out here), the famous “subway tile” is one of the most popular, providing a rugged, timeless, glazed surface.
• Porcelain tile – Because it is made from compressed porcelain dust, porcelain tile is tough, stands up to scrubbing, and can be purchased in a variety of finishes.
• Wood – While typically the backsplash creates a point of stylish contrast with cabinetry, a wood backsplash can be very attractive. This is especially popular for classic country styling.
• Plastic – If you are thinking about tackling a DIY kitchen update, there are many options for plastic backsplashes with an adhesive backing that can be simple cut to size and applied. This can be a fun, budget-friendly project!

Talk to Your Home Building and Remodeling Professional!

The best way to make sure that you make a knowledgeable choice of backsplash is to discuss your goals, relating to both budget and style, with your home professional. If you are located in the Greater LA area, I hope you might contact us at Open Hand Remodeling! We would love to discuss your project, and to help make every step of the process as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

Roofing is one of those repair and improvement projects that is very weather-dependent, for obvious reasons. The work needs to be done quickly, efficiently, and always with one eye pointed at the sky (or, in today’s terms, “with one eye on your phone’s weather app”).

This often raises the question: what is the best time of year for roofing?

Roofing - Not Just a Fall Activity!

A lot of folks prefer to roof in the fall, after the worst of the summer heat is behind us. Right now, however, is also a great time to complete your project! The weather is still agreeable and, in addition, the blazing summer sun hasn’t been able to begin its destructive work quite yet.

Like any home remodeling or improvement task, roof damage or decay should never be postponed, but simply taken care of before the problem grows worse. Why not take advantage of these last weeks of winter?

Do You Need a Building and Remodeling Company in Greater LA?

The team here at Open Hand Remodeling would love the opportunity to discuss your project with you. We not only offer building and remodeling services, but also a simple, no-hassle approach. Our mission is to make the goals you have for your home a reality in as convenient and efficient a way as possible.

They say that you should never grocery shop when you’re hungry. Why? Because suddenly all of the food options seem just a bit more enticing, and you’re almost guaranteed to leave with a cart that is more full, and a wallet that is a little emptier, than you intended.

The same can be true for car shopping. Especially if you have a weakness for all things that go zoom, stopping by a dealership and perusing the latest models can be a dangerous move. Suddenly the trusty sedan is traded in, you’re comfortably cruising in a sports car, and you might have a lot of explaining to do with your significant other.

The moral of the story is, every purchasing decision, especially when it’s a large one, should be done in a calculated, well-planned way. And, this is rarely more true than when it comes to building a house. Jumping into new construction is a fun adventure, and few things are more rewarding than working with a home building professional to create a beautiful, customized space. But before you do, we’ve put together a few things to keep in mind.

5 Suggestions for How to Make the Most of Your New Home's Design 

• Plan - This may seem simplistic, but hitting the brakes and truly thinking about what you need in a home is crucial. Talk with your home building professional as well! Discuss the feasibility of your ideas, and line up your “needs” and “wants” list with your working budget. In the long run this will help the process to be much more enjoyable.
• Think Long-Term - Beyond just planning for right now, think about what needs your home may have to meet down the road. This will help to dictate its size and layout as well!
• “Extra” Rooms - Having a multipurpose room can be great, but that also can sometimes be code for “I don’t know what to use this for.” Talk with your building designer, and make sure that each space is carefully accounted for. It can be very frustrating to reach the end of your project and then suddenly think of what you wish you had done!
• Lighting - The power and beauty of adequate lighting can’t be overstated. Be sure to include plenty of outlets, and think through the strategic placement (and size) of your windows to maximize that warm, natural light.
• Room Placement - It’s funny how things that don’t seem like a big deal when you’re looking at a blueprint suddenly can become aggravating when you’re living inside your new walls. For example, a kitchen that is far from the main entrance can look fine on paper, but what about when you’re struggling through the length of your house with an armload of groceries? Or, having your master bedroom near the living room might seem convenient at first, but what about when your family party runs late and you have to work early in the morning?

Work with a Home Building Professional That You Can Trust!

Take the time to research and find the very best builder you can. After all, you’ll be working closely with them, piloting through decisions and sustaining a valuable dialogue about how to design and create the spaces that will meet your needs perfectly.

If you live in the Southern California area, I hope you will reach out to us at Open Hand Remodeling. Yes, we provide home remodeling services, but we also offer ground-up construction, and an upbeat, hassle-free attitude while we do! It would be our pleasure to work, talk, and plan with you.

Normally our acknowledgement for work well done comes in the form of happy clients, positive reviews, and seeing a quality project unfold. And, we love all of the above! After all, creating a positive, hassle-free experience for customers and the satisfaction that comes from our remodeling and building work are what fuels us every day.

But, with that said, we are very proud of a couple of other recent accomplishments: winning the Angie’s List Super Service Award and Best of Houzz in Customer Satisfaction.

What Is the Angie’s List Super Service Award?

As you probably know, Angie’s List provides the valuable service of helping consumers to connect with reputable businesses and service-providers, including remodeling contractors. To win this award (offered to only the top 5%), you must maintain an A rating from client feedback and be in good standing with Angie’s List overall. We are honored!

What Is the “Best of Houzz” Award?

Houzz.com, one of the premier platforms for home remodeling and design, chooses the best contributing builders and designers in multiple categories. We received the Customer Satisfaction award because of continuously positive feedback from our clients.

Thank You!

It is very exciting and gratifying to be honored in these ways. Thank you for your positive reviews, referrals, and for continuously helping to spread the Open Hand Remodeling story. And, if you have any questions about our remodeling and building services, or about your particular project idea, we are here and looking forward to connecting with you. Let’s get started!

As we step into a freshly-minted new year, you might find yourself generating one of those infamous lists of New Year’s resolutions. This can be a good and helpful step as you strategize and prioritize your goals for 2015. I know I am too!

Sometimes this list of resolutions extends beyond personal goals, though, and reaches into the wish-list you have for your home. New bathrooms, fresh, bright kitchens, and more space are just a few of the directions you might take.

Or, maybe you are thinking of wiping the slate clean and building a new home this year.

An Honest, Communicative Home Building Strategy

With all of the above in mind, I want to remind you that we don’t only offer home remodeling services, but also can handle ground-up construction for new properties as well. We apply our same positive attitude and focus on communication, this time paired with comprehensive building services. We can take it on; every stage and every step.

If you live in the Southern California area, I truly hope you will reach out to us at Open Hand Remodeling. Take a moment to get to know us, peruse our portfolio to get a feel for our craftsmanship, and then let’s get to work!

When it comes to your kitchen, every inch matters. This is largely because the kitchen is the one room in particular that acts like an intersection for your home; it collects everything from backpacks to briefcases, and seems to attract papers, mail, decorations, and those odds ends that feel like they magically appear out of nowhere.

And then, on top of this, there are the essentials that call out for square footage: appliances large and small, counters, cabinets, sink, furniture, and the list goes on…

With all of this in mind, it becomes critical that before you remodel your kitchen you give some serious thought to your storage needs. The beauty of working with a remodeling company is that they can tailor the details to meet your specific requirements, rather than forcing you into a cookie-cutter arrangement.  

Small Storage Additions That Make a Big Difference

• Corner Drawer - Corner cabinets are tricky to work with. One door bangs into the adjacent door, and lots of valuable space is lost at this perpendicular juncture. The spinning shelving units that were made popular not long ago are certainly an option, but still can be a pain at times. Drawers built into the corner, however, offer a much larger amount of space, absorbing the entire corner rather than having to work around it.
• Drawer for Utensils - Rather than keep a large jar on your counter to hold your spatulas, tongs, and ladles, why not use a recessed drawer built into your cabinetry? One designed for the purpose can keep your utensils neat and organized, and also out of sight.
• Appliance Garage - Even the name is cool! Often located at the end of your counter and built into the wall, an appliance garage is a closed off section (it looks much like just another cabinet) that holds your coffee pot, blender, mixer, or whatever else is normally sitting out and eating up counter space.
• Mail Station - We all can relate to how kitchens can become a catch-all for mail, letters, and documents. It is very smart (and popular) to add even a small nook in your kitchen design that includes a slots for envelopes, a couple of drawers, and maybe a chair. Think of it as a miniature office spot where everything can have a place.
• Pet Bowls - Here’s another very practical storage idea: why not build a spot into the side of your island where your pet’s food and water bowls can sit? This gives them a designated place to find their essentials, and it also keeps you from tripping over a water bowl when you come down for a midnight snack. Everybody wins!

Ask Your Remodeling Company

The list of creative ideas like these goes on and on. The links above lead you to one website where you can browse ideas and build some inspiration, but there is no substitute for sitting down with a professional remodeler and brainstorming. If you live in the Greater LA area, I hope you’ll reach out to us at Open Hand Remodeling! We would love to help with your project, from the imagination stage right through to opening and closing your appliance garage for the first time.

When you remodel your bathroom, it’s easy to focus only on the larger elements: sink, vanity, tub, flooring, and maybe shower style (should you go with the walk-in or not?). After all, that's the really fun stuff! But when it comes to the colors you wrap the space with, there are some important considerations to keep in mind that will help your paint stay looking as fresh and new as when it was, well, fresh and new!

How Do You Preserve and Protect Your Bathroom Paint?

Take a look at these tips and ideas:

• Choose the right gloss for the job – It’s too easy to simply grab a can of something that’s the right color and head for the door. Because your bathroom paint needs to withstand scrubbing, and occasionally being towel-dried, use a semi-gloss paint. High-gloss is even more durable, but it also will show any and all imperfections in the wall.
• What kind of paint does your bathroom need? – If your bathroom is a half-bath (no tub or shower), then there is most likely no need for using a specialized paint. If it’s a full bath, on the other hand, and you like your showers steamy, it can be very worthwhile to invest in a mold and mildew-resistant formula.
• Ventilation – Your bathroom needs to be able to breathe. If you don’t have a window, make sure that you have a high-quality, powerful ventilation fan. If you don’t, all of the steam becomes trapped and can lead to mold and mildew issues, as well as compromise your paint’s good looks and longevity.
• Lighting – There are so many fixtures and elements at work in your bathroom, creating shadows and dark corners. Bright lights will not only help you to floss more efficiently in the morning, but it also will make your new paint look smooth and bright.

A Final Tip - Ask a Remodeling Company for Help!

Your remodeling expert should help you navigate the questions related to design and aesthetics that come up during your bathroom remodeling experience. In preparation, think through the needs that your bathroom will need to meet, as well as your wish-list for the final product.

If you live in the Southern California area, we hope you might reach out to us at Open Hand Remodeling. It would be our pleasure to help you with whatever project you have in mind!

This is undeniably the season for buying stuff. Lines are stretched out the door at retail centers, people are scrambling online to land just the right deal, and “special incentives” are flying thick and fast into the waiting hands of consumers.

Wow. It all makes you kind of want to stop and catch your breath.

Let’s switch gears and talk about home remodeling for a second. Now, before you think this is yet another offer to print and redeem, you should know that this is simply a talk about strategy.

What’s Your Remodeling Plan?

If you have a remodeling project in mind, large or small, this is an ideal time to develop a post-holidays plan. As people rush and scramble, use this time to research the style and design that you would like to see in your home, as well as find the right remodeling company for you.

In addition, if you dare venture out into the world of retail, take advantage of the sales and discounts to stock up on the materials you might need. Whether your project will include flooring, fixtures, a certain paint, or something else entirely, there is no harm in having it set aside.

This isn’t only a busy time for retailers, but also for professional painting, design and construction companies. There is a huge push right now as folks get their homes ready for guests! Waiting until after this busy month or so can find you dealing with more flexible schedules and sometimes more affordable pricing.

Are You Looking for a Reputable Remodeling Company?

If so, why not consider contacting us at Open Hand Remodeling? We are proud to be an honest, hassle-free company here in the Southern California area. Take a look at our services, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out!

During the bathroom remodeling process, most homeowners enjoy the finishing touches most; you know, the customization that takes the space from being “a bathroom” to being “YOUR bathroom.”

After all, that’s one of the ultimate reasons behind the process of home remodeling: updating, transforming, maximizing space, and letting your personal taste and style shine through.

Why Not Think Outside the Box for Your Bathroom Tile?

One fun way to do all of the above is to include a bold tile in your shower design. Too often people choose a subdued, traditional color scheme. If that’s the way you want to go, however, that's okay! The remodeling process should leave you with exactly what you want.

But, when it lines up with your goals, a slightly more daring decision pays some large stylistic dividends. Take a look at the before and after pictures included above, taken during a recent remodel in Silver Lake, LA. These vibrant, beautiful colors are a Spanish, mosaic tile.

Are You Looking for a Quality Remodeling Company?

If the spaces that are important to you could use a refreshing, update, addition, complete  transformation, or possibly a combination of these, why not reach out to us at Open Hand Remodeling? It would be our pleasure to help however we can!

Back in June we shared a photo of a house we’re remodeling in West LA. The purpose behind sharing the picture and information was to remind you that we don’t only take on smaller jobs specific to a certain area in your house, but are also equipped to transform an entire home as part of our home remodeling and General Contractor services.

As progress is continuing and we recently covered the patio, I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss your patio cover options.

Which Patio Cover is Right for You?

When you think of a patio cover, your mind probably jumps automatically to a solid roof. As you can see in the above pictures, however, this particular homeowner went with an attractive, Pergola style roof with open slats.

The downside to this style is that it is not as readily wired with such amenities as an overhead fan or light, for example. Also, it won't keep you dry in a rainstorm! On the other hand, you can enjoy these benefits:

• When the weather is nice, it provides some shade without letting in the sun at full strength
• Creates more of an open atmosphere, eliminating trapped heat and any feeling of stuffiness
• A useful design to choose if you have outdoor plants that need some sunlight, but would dry out quickly in direct light

No matter which style you ultimately decide to make your own, the important thing to remember is that you have options! Your project should reflect not only your practical needs, but also contribute to the overall look you have in mind. 

Do You Need a Remodeling Company?

If so, I hope you might consider contacting us at Open Hand Remodeling! As mentioned before, we can help with projects both large and small, and would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

When you get into the thick of all the excitement that goes along with home remodeling and renovating, it’s easy to slip into having a one-track mind. All of the focus goes into the work being done, as well as the choices of design, styling, fixtures, paint, and materials.

There is, however, one question that often gets overlooked as you prepare for your project.

Simply put: what do you do with your belongings?

We’ve Got a Space for You

Depending on the scope of your project, there is only so much shuffling of items in your home that you can do. With that in mind, we wanted to share with you a benefit that we offer as part of our home remodeling services.  Should you need one, we offer an 800 square-foot storage space that will keep your belongings dry and protected while we work.

Our goal is to offer a hassle-free experience, and moving things from room to room and packing and unpacking is certainly, in our book at least, a hassle. We can help you protect it all in one place, ready to be simply moved back in when your project is finished.

Do you have any questions for us, either about our procedures or services? If so, I hope you’ll contact us at Open Hand Remodeling! We would love to hear from you and to help in any way we can.

Multi-family homes are growing in popularity now across the country. This is partly due to the ever-climbing cost of living; why not share expenses any way you can? These separate living areas can be in the form of traditional duplexes, loft apartments, finished basements, etc…

But what if you don’t have an existing, designated space to put an apartment, but still would like one for either a rental income or as a place for a family member to move in (without needing to share your bathroom)?

Do You Have a Garage?

If you can spare the storage and, of course, can park your car elsewhere, why not consider converting your garage into an apartment? Take a look at the photos of this project we finished recently in Culver City.

Thanks to efficient usage of space, this garage was transformed into a fully functioning, stylish apartment, complete with kitchen and bathroom. It doesn’t feel like a garage either! This is due in large part to the cathedral ceiling and the skylights’ supply of natural, bright light.

Do You Need a Professional Remodeling Company?

If so, we hope you will contact us at Open Hand Remodeling! Whether your project is relatively small or large-scale, we would love to put our remodeling services to work for you.