Kathy's Remodeling Blog

Famous folks at home quiz

Whose room is this?

A. Suri, daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

B. Max and Emme, son and daughter of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

C. Max, son of Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

ANSWER

(Photo: People magazine)

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What's your least favorite DIY task?

When I visited Arnie and Lily Richards at home in Downey, California, they were naturally proud of the new dining room they added, and the adjacent kitchen they remodeled. You can see it here and it's nice, isn't it?

And the couple did every single thing themselves, with their own hands — demolition (friends helped at the demolition party), foundation, framing, flooring, electrical, plumbing, drywall, cabinets, moldings, paint. Everything. It was a marathon.

There was only one thing Arnie really, really hated, and that was the plumbing. "I detest plumbing," he said. Beneath the counter, trying to install this or that pipe or fixture, he cursed so much that Lily threatened to call in a plumber. But no. Arnie declared he was not going this get the best of him. He finally finished the plumbing part of the job, though with anguish.

But over at Kristina and Dave's DIY remodeled kitchen, it was the cabinet painting that got to them, and if they had it to do over again, they would hire it out.

And that got me thinking about how most of us really detest some part of the DIY process. Does it make sense to power through it? Or does it make more sense to hire a professional and save ourselves the trauma?

How about you? 

435-square-foot apartment feels airy and spacious

I'm enthralled with this 435-square-foot apartment in Greenwich Village, N.Y. It has only one window, in the living room, yet the space feels light and open. What you see here is the living room from each end, with the kitchen on one side, and the bedroom on the other side through glass doors. (Click photo to enlarge.)

The story in the New York Times says the couple — husband Suchitra Van is from India and wife Nette Gaastra is from Holland — bought the apartment for $296,000 and remodeled it with $26,000 they got from wedding gifts, along with $15,000 of their own savings. That's $41,000 to remodel a space just a bit larger than a two-car garage.

How did they spend the money? Some prices were revealed: a DeLonghi stove for $1,762, a G.E. dishwasher for $622 and a Hansgrohe shower faucet for (wow!) $670. The steel-framed doors into the bedroom cost $986 and were shipped from India and fitted with glass in Manhattan. And yet, the four Ikea cabinets cost only $141. The floor looks expensive, and the husband designed the porcelain enamel backsplash and countertop.

This place makes me want to declutter and lighten up.

See the full story and more pictures.

(Photos: New York Times)

Hot or Not Hot? Giant wall stencils

The New York Times had a pretty good concept for a series: Remake five rooms around the city for $300 each. In these times of job losses and declining prosperity, $300 is still a lot of money but not too much.

In a living room on Long Island, $250 of the budget was eaten up when a set designer stenciled an oversized pattern on the wall "to give the room personality," the story said.

Is it just me, or do these stenciled patterns look a little startling? A little jarring? Or is this look trendy?

We saw similar stencils on this blog previously, in David Kean's Los Angeles loft. I thought that project was much more subtle and elegant with metallic painted walls and burnt umber accents. See it here.

(Photo: New York Times)

Famous folks at home: quiz

Now this is a movie star bedroom. Do you wonder who sleeps here?

Here are some things to ponder:

• This lavish bedroom is in a Manhattan apartment.

• This oversized bedroom was the apartment's original living room.

• Alabaster lamps from David Duncan Antiques flank the early-20th-century Italian bed.

• The famous person who lives here once considered a career in interior design.

• The famous person who lives here suffered some hard times, but is back on top now.

So whose bedroom is this:

Paris Hilton?

Mickey Rourke?

Robert Downey Jr.?

ANSWER

(Photo: Architectural Digest)

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Facebook members petition 'Extreme Makeover' to rebuild Buffalo plane crash house

From USA Today:

More than 60,000 people have signed a Facebook petition pleading with ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to restore the home of a grieving mother and daughter whose Buffalo, N.Y., house was flattened by the Continental Airlines commuter plane that crashed on Feb. 14, leaving 49 dead.

Karen Wielinski and her daughter Jill fled the house after Flight 3407 hit, but her husband, Douglas, was among those killed in the disaster. Jayne O'Connor, 17, a senior at Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, started a Facebook group to publicize the petition and it has received much support. An executive producer of Extreme Makeover would say only that the petition was being considered.

I'd say this goes in the category of "Duh." Of course, yes, EM should jump at this opportunity. Go here to see the Facebook page. See the story on ABC News.

What do you think?

(Photo: The Buffalo News)

Famous folks at home: quiz

This kitchen works for me. I could definitely cook next to a fireplace, couldn't you? So who lives here?

Here are some facts:

• The house, in the rolling hills of Montana, was built to look old.

• The stone around the fireplace and doorway is from Montana.

• Some flooring planks were salvaged from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

• The fireplace is doubled sided and also opens to a great room.

• The owner keeps horses on the 500-acre property.

Give it your best shot, then click HERE for the answer.

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Hot or Not Hot? The blue-green tile kitchen

Me? I LOVE this kitchen. I can feel it in my bones. Maybe it's the $10,000 (or more) worth of earthy tile that gets my attention. The stove is freakishly small for the space, and I don't see why it couldn't be as wide as the blue tile section.

I found this kitchen and several others at The Kitchen Designer Blog. You should head over there and see which of the kitchens displayed by kitchen designer Susan Serra you like.

In the meantime, is this kitchen HOT or NOT HOT? (Or should I say COOL or NOT COOL?)

Famous folks at home: quiz

Can you imagine yourself cooking here? I'm not sure if the famous former athlete whose home contains this kitchen actually cooks here. That's what hired help is for, right? (Not that I have personal experience with having a professional cook in the house, but I've heard that it's done.)

Here's what you should notice to take the quiz:

Kohler sink
Viking stove
Swaim barstools
Photograph by Danny Lyon
Osborne & Little banquette vinyl

Take your best guess, then click here for the answer.

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Finally, the 'Design Star' final challenge

God, I love this show! This could be an Olympic sport, don’t you think? Imagine a design challenge with “athletes” from all over the world — China, Korea, Australia, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, and so on. They would each get some wood and paint and tools and have at it.

Or, it could be like the Super Bowl. I’d love to have a party with my gal friends to follow the action.

Anyway, Matt and Jennifer had their final design challenge on HGTV's "Design Star," helping two families in New Orleans (a city that has grabbed my heart).

Each family has waited three years since Katrina and the levee failure, which flooded their homes. It looked to me like the shell of each home had been cleaned up and restored. Matt and Jennifer were each charged with installing a kitchen into a gutted room, and decorating a living room and dining room. They had 36 hours, $20,000, free appliances and free flooring, and help from carpenters and two past contestants.

As I write this, I’m waiting for the reveals. I favor Jennifer, so of course I want her rooms to be amazing. But I know there are plenty of Matt fans, and they must be feeling the same hope for his spaces.

How will it turn out? After this commercial break, I’ll be right back at ya . . .

OK, I’m back.

Well, I’d say Matt’s rooms are more beautiful, stylish, classy. The kitchen was really nice, with the built-in appliances and the dining room rocked with the big crystal light fixture. The mod living room is at the right.

However, I’m not sure about that giant dining room table with eight chairs when there are only three people in the family. He did the same thing in the last challenge, putting four gigantic leather chairs in what was supposed to be a combination craft/game room.

Jennifer’s rooms were not much more than OK. But the red kitchen cabinets were delicious! You can see them at left.

And even though she had some trouble with the placement of the couch, the point was to make space for the family. And I think she did better with the accessories.

One thing we know for sure: design and construction really shouldn't be rushed like this. But oh well.

In my opinion, Jennifer is more tuned into people and their needs, and this touches me, while Matt has the better design talent (although his family was thrilled with his work). What do you think?

Who will win 'Design Star'?

Last night, on HGTV's "Design Star," the three judges agreed this was the strongest group of finalists they'd seen yet.

I agree. And I wondered if they might just give all three finalists — Matt, Trish and Jennifer (seen here) — each their own show and be done with it. But the competition must continue, and last night Trish got the ax.

In case you're not a "Design Star" fan, the show is based on designers competing with each other on various design challenges. Each week, one or two contenders are eliminated and then there is one, and that one gets his or her own show.

Past Design Star winners include Kim Myles, whose show is "Myles of Style," and David Bromstad, whose show is "Color Splash."

From what I've seen, Jennifer should win. She's the real deal, both a talented designer and engaging personality. She's got the sparkling personality of Season 2 winner Kim Myles, and the design talent of Season 1 winner David Bromstad.

Matt is also a good presenter, but I'm not sold on his design talents or experience.

Next week will be the final contest. How do you think it will turn out?

Insulation and moisture issues in New Orleans

Watch SoCal contractor Bill Robinson discuss insulation and moisture issues in New Orleans with homeowner Ariane Wiltse and NOLA contractor Julie Groth.

Then, take the test:

Click here for the answer.

Design challenge: A bigger laundry room or a new bathroom?

Andrew C., a reader from Crofton, Md., needs our advice on whether to add a bathroom to some extra space on his ground floor, or to enlarge his cramped laundry room. (See the miserable laundry room here and here.)

A little background: Andrew bought his three-story townhouse a year ago and plans to live there another five years. The second story has an eat-in kitchen, living room, dining room and half bath. The top floor has the master bedroom, two more bedrooms and two full baths. So far, so good.

But Andrew feels the space on the ground floor could be better used. There are two rooms down there that Andrew uses as a media room and an office. There is also a utility room with the washer and dryer and all the home’s mechanicals, and an adjacent storage room. Both spaces together are 6 feet by 12 feet.

Andrew wants a larger laundry room, but he also would like a bathroom on that floor. He considered a half bath, but it would require a walk through the laundry room to get to it. And he wonders: Is that too weird? A real estate agent told him that a full bath would bring most resale value in case the two existing rooms are used as bedrooms.

But it makes me sick to think of Andrew doing his laundry in that pitiful space for the next five years. That can't be right. I wonder if there is some compromise or another idea we're not considering.

My new shower curtain: Should I toss it out?

I was so excited about this new shower curtain, which was a gift for my husband.

It was at about 35,000 feet, breathing airliner air, when I saw in a magazine this really neat shower curtain. The clear vinyl on the top would allow our dark and narrow shower stall some needed daylight. And the curtain is treated with "the world's strongest industrial antimicrobial and germicidal inhibitor."

And maybe that's why, when it arrived in my mailbox, it had such a chemically odor that I had to leave it outside overnight.

Then I read today that a report released by the Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment & Justice found that vinyl shower curtains "sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, among other major retailers, contained high concentrations of chemicals that are linked to liver damage as well as damage to the central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems." Yikes! And I'm so fond of my central nervous system. Heck, I like all my systems. (Read about the study in the L.A. Times.)

So what do I now? I want to be an eco-consumer and I want to retain my good health. And I'm not even sure if this item is an offender. And our bathroom window is open all the time for natural ventilation. But If I suspected this item was not healthy, how would tossing it, and all its embodied carbon load, into the trash square with my green goals?

In other words, if you discovered you'd made a bad, unhealthy purchase, which do you think would be the greener action: keep it and make use of it, or get it out of your house, dump it in the landfill for future generations to deal with and try again?

Perhaps I shouldn't have bought it. That might be the answer. But what do I do now? What would you do?

(Photo: Sky Mall)

Rate This Remodel: Carrie's 'Sex and the City' apartment

I guess the apartment where Carrie Bradshaw researched and wrote her columns in the "Sex and the City" television show probably did need a makeover.

Several years had passed from Carrie's life on the small screen to her promotion to the big screen, and we all need to evolve. Carrie's guests needed to stop sitting on the floor around her coffee table, right?

But I'm not sure the new apartment (see "after" photo above) is quite right for her. The apartment is attractive, no doubt about that. But it seems too streamlined for Carrie, too coordinated, too balanced. That's not our Carrie! And it doesn't look comfortable. And that big TV. What's that all about?

(Photos: Apartment Therapy, Chicago Tribune)

Famous folks at home: quiz

This is a nice bedroom. Do you wonder who sleeps here?

What to notice:

Walnut writing table.
Albert Bierstadt paintings.
George Catlin print.
John Rosselli bench.
Schumacher lamp.
Stark carpet.

Give it your best guess then click here for the answer.

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(Photo: Architectural Digest)

Rate This Remodel: $20,000 Northridge kitchen

First, here are the facts:

• The kitchen remodel in this 1971 Northridge tract house cost $20,000 and was done in three weeks. (Click on the photos to get a larger view)
• Homeowner Dani Taylor did none of the work herself, but hired a contractor well known in the neighborhood.
• Dani had many years to imagine how she would improve her kitchen as other remodeling projects and additions to the house took priority.
• Rather than investing in new cabinets, Dani had her cabinet boxes refaced and got new doors and drawer fronts.
• She added an amazing amount of extra counter space by designing the new, angled cabinet section you see on the right of the remodel photos.
• While most of the appliances are new, she opted to keep her dishwasher, which worked fine, and got a new panel for the front.
• A few concessions were made to keep within budget, including keeping the existing tile floor and not pushing the kitchen into an adjacent breakfast area.
• But Dani did not have to give up her dream of granite counters, which were fit into the budget.

Here's a chance to offer some feedback:

Famous folks at home: quiz

Which TV design star owns this Los Angeles kitchen?

What to notice:

Ikea cabinets.
Carrera marble counters.
Subway tile backsplash.
Cork flooring.
Vintage stool.
Really cool stove.

Give it your best guess, then click here for the answer.

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Poll: Is contemporary style on the way out?

As shocking as it may seem to fans of young, hip, cool, midcentury contemporary design, this style will not be popular forever.

Stick around on the planet for a few decades, and you'll understand all too well that today's "modern" is tomorrow's "hopelessly dated."

Whenever I find homeowners denigrating Mexican tiles or avocado green appliances from the 1970s, I caution: Think about your karma. Thirty years from now, in a kitchen remodeled today, a young person may gaze upon the stainless steel appliances, glass tile backsplash and sleek cabinets and declare them "totally gross."

I started thinking about the end of our contemporary era when I studied this photo from Architectural Digest. I'm using this luminescent white kitchen (which is in a New York penthouse) as inspiration for my own kitchen update.

Notice how the living room furniture and the railing on that staircase in the background are very contemporary. But look at the kitchen itself. The beadboard on the cabinet doors, the white-washed table and floor, and those metal, farm-style chairs look suspiciously country in flavor.

In another magazine, I read that poofy drapes are coming back into style. And another article asked if it's not time to reconsider growing herbs.

This is all starting to sound like Mother Earth News to me. And if we are headed for a transition from contemporary to earthy, this kitchen says it all.

Hot or not hot? Tin can wall covering

This wall covering made from tin can tops, as seen in the New York Times, has a certain appeal. But there's something a little creepy about it, as well. Or is it just me?

(Photo: New York Times)

Kim Myles: Do you like her show now?

Yesterday we saw another segment of Kim Myles' new HGTV show "Myles of Style" and I'm wondering: Do you like it now?

So far here, we've had more negative than positive comments.

Carmen wrote: "I think the show stunk with lack of know-how and class." (Read full comment)

Keri wrote about the first episode: "Off white, silver, red, mint green, teal blue. Blech! I hope the next episode is a little better or perhaps I'm just too conservative." (Read full comment)

RLS wrote: "Maybe she 'choked' the first time out. The final product was really bizarre. I wish her better luck next time." (Read full comment)

And today, Jennifer wrote: "If I see another tacky color scheme with cheap-looking painting stripes I may just have to read several design magazines to get that bad taste out of my mouth!" (Read full comment)

So now I'm wondering what's wrong with me. I missed the first show, but since then, I like what I've seen and wish I had the courage and creativity to do what Kim does. Did you see the portable side table made from a luggage rack and a spray-painted cookie sheet? Sweet!

What do you think?

DIY paintings: Hot or not hot?

For a cool contemporary home, these DIY paintings might be fun and flexible.

These look so sophisticated. But actually, they're simply canvases stretched on wood frames covered liberally with gesso-thickened paint. And where in the world would artists be without the miracle of gesso?

Just moving one colored canvas in or out of a scene makes a big difference.

Other advantages: These canvases are:

• Easy to hang
• Easy to store
• Easy to move

These paintings were included in "Kitty Bartholomew's Decorating Style," a book that I co-authored.

They were photographed in the Westwood condo of a cool young couple.

(Photos: Sharon Cavanagh)

The Human Footprint: Take the survey

The Human Footprint will be on the National Geographic Channel on Sunday at 9 p.m.

The subtitle is: Everything you eat. Everything you drink. Everything you use. Your entire life's consumption in one place at one time.

The website includes these 10 ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Here's my status and my goals. Post your own report below:

1. Make your home energy efficient

My status: We use nearly all compact fluorescent lights and LEDs. Our refrigerator is Energy Star. Our home is less than 2,000 square feet. But our insulation sucks.
My goals: We need new windows and will get the most energy-efficient windows we can afford.

2. Drive less.

My status: I drive about 10,000 miles a year and work mostly from home.
My goals: To run more errands in one outing.

3. Buy the highest gas mileage car for your needs.

My status: My 2007 Rabbit only gets about 25 mph. I shoulda got a Prius.
My goals: When it's time to replace this car, I'll get something radically energy-efficient.

4. Buy energy-efficient appliances.

My status: We have an Energy Star refrigerator, but we could have gotten one even more efficient. Our washer and dryer are not Energy Star. At the time we bought them, we were thinking only of price.
My goals: Anytime I buy an appliance in the future, my goal is to buy the most efficient appliance possible. I want a tankless water heater, but my husband wants a tank water heater. He will probably win this one.

5. Recycle.

My status: We recycle all paper, aluminum and plastic.
My goals: To reject goods I might buy, on account of the excess packaging, like vegetables at Trader Joes.

6. Replace your light bulbs with CFLs.

My status: Done
My goals: Get more LED lights.

7. Buy local food.

My status: Not doing so good on this one.
My goals: To get to the local organic garden each Friday to buy vegetables.

8. Eat less red meat.

My status: Done. Been vegetarian for many years.
My goals: Keep eating like I'm eating. Awesome.

9. Lower your water heater temperature from 140 degrees F to 120 degrees F.

My status: Have to look into this.
My goals: To get a solar water heater system.

10. Buy carbon offsets for the rest and make yourself “carbon neutral.”

My status: I'm not convinced this is legitimate.
My goals: To find out more about this.

Click below to take the survey and let us know your own status and goals.

Famous folks at home: quiz

Whose shoe closet is this?

Here are some hints:

• This person has more than 1,000 pairs of shoes, many of them in storage.

• This shoe lover's closet is in a 12,000-square-foot home.

• Renowned decorator Mario Buatta helped design this closet.

• The floor is bleached wood and gold leaf and was designed by the same person whose feet fit into these shoes.

And it's not Cinderella.

ANSWER

(Photo: InStyle)

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Famous folks at home quiz

Whose living room is this?

ANSWER

(Photo: Architectural Digest)

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Poll: Should green building be mandated?

Home builders tend to be pro choice when it comes to green building. And who can blame them? I know I don't like to be told what to do, especially if it's going to cost me time, effort and/or money.

Still, what would our housing be like if current building codes were voluntary? What if structural safety and fire resistance were optional? There was a time when houses were advertised as being built according to code. Those days are long past, and code compliance is now required by law.

So what about water- and energy-efficiency, and the impact that resource-wasting homes have on our pocketbooks, economy, environment and even national security?

What about nontoxic interiors? While each product or material in a home may be regulated by the government for toxicity, laws do not generally require the cumulative outgassing in a new home to be tested and mitigated. Do you care about that? Is it a case of buyer beware? Should you pay to have the air tested for formaldehyde before you buy a new home?

So what do you think? Should building green (which means homes that are water- and energy-efficient, with good indoor air quality and that are resource-efficient) be an option or a requirement?

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(Photo: Los Angeles Times)

Poll: Should homeowners be required to repair sidewalks?

If the L.A. City Council goes forward with a money-saving proposal, homeowners under its jurisdiction will be required to repair broken sidewalks in front of homes upon resale, according to an article in today's Los Angeles Times.

Requiring home-improvement action upon the sale of a home is not unheard of. City of L.A. homeowners are already required to put in low-flow toilets and gas shut-off valves when they sell, but this latest idea could cost homeowners thousands of dollars.

Here are the numbers:

$15: the cost to the average homeowner per square foot of sidewalk to repair
$9 million: what the city of L.A. spends each year to replace about 50 miles of sidewalks
$3 million: what the city of L.A. spends each year on lawsuits over broken sidewalks
$1.2 billion: what the city needs to replace or repair 4,600 miles of broken sidewalks (6,000 miles of sidewalks in the city considered to be in good shape)

So, this is quite the dilemma. Many of us want to see smaller government and more personal responsibility. But a sidewalk is not something over which you have any control. Can you chop down a tree whose roots will damage the sidewalk? Can you forbid the public to use your sidewalk? What do you think?

SoCal remodeling trivia: down payment to a contractor

I've called this trivia, but it's not trivial. Here's the question:

What is the most a California contractor can collect up front for home improvement work?

A. The down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less.

B. The down payment cannot be more than $5,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less.

C. The down payment cannot be more than $10,000 or 20% of the contract price, whichever is less.

D. The down payment cannot be more than $2,500, plus the cost of materials that must be special-ordered.

Give it your best shot, then click here for the answer, which you'll find by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

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Need a taller fence? Poll says most of us have a nosy neighbor

Here's the chilling opening to a press release I got recently:

Quick — exactly what time did you leave for work this morning? Not sure? Well, maybe your neighbor knows. A new ServiceMagic.com poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents claim to have (or have had) a nosy neighbor living nearby.

Of the 1,100 people surveyed nationwide, 64% said their neighbors follow their lives a little too closely. The same number of people reported that they’ve actually caught someone in the act.

However, when it comes to admitting to being a snoop, only 9% confessed to spying on their neighbor, and only 2% said they “see everything” that goes on around their block.

“Let’s face it . . . it’s a bit creepy,” said David Lupberger, ServiceMagic.com’s Home Improvement Expert. “It's disconcerting to know that every time you’re in the yard that you might have someone watching your every move.”

Yeah, it's a lot creepy!

And I have one thing to say about this: Co-Dependents Anonymous. Did you know there is a 12-Step program specifically designed for those who are obsessed with other people's actions?

OK, so if your nosy neighbor isn't looking for change and spiritual growth, what can you do?

See the complete results of the ServiceMagic poll on snoopy neighbors.

(Photo: This is a nice privacy solution at the home of Austin architect Michael Antenora. The tall gate creates an enclosed courtyard, while the translucent panels allow light. Photos courtesy of the architect.)

Subway tile: On the way out? Or still in?

The real reason I'm so dismissive of trends is that I'm lousy at spotting them until they're nearly over.

Those in the know have been using subway tile for a few years, and I wonder: Is it still trendy or over? Should I make this economical choice for my own remodel?

In the top left photo, you see subway tile used in designer Enid Harris' Westwood kitchen, which was featured on these pages awhile back.

In the top right photo, you see subway tile in a bathroom in the West Adams-area home of young designers Apurva Pande and Chinmaya Misra. I know these two are very hip (see the story of their hip house). But this remodel was done a couple of years ago, so who knows if the tile is still hip?

And finally, at the bottom, you see an actual subway with actual subway tile. Yep, that's how it got its name. There are lots of websites that talk about the history of subway tile, including Wikipedia and the website of Susan Jablon Mosaics.

But now, let's determine if it's even worth considering for a current remodel.