Tips for Picking Your Home's New Paint Colors

Tips for Picking Your New Paint Colors Whether you’re wanting to do a whole bathroom or kitchen remodel or you’re just wanting to freshen up the living room, picking your new paint colors can be quite overwhelming. No longer can you just say you want a blue, green, or even white in your home. There are many different shades of each color. So many shades, in fact, it can seem like you’re overrun with color options.

Having a few tips in hand to help you before you go pick a palette can help you to weed out the shades you really don’t want and assist you in making an informed decision. There’s nothing worse than finding a color you like in the store to get home and find out it’s not what you you thought it was. Here are a few tips for you to use when working with your Los Angeles remodeling contractor to pick out the perfect color palette for you.

Start With Formal Areas

If you’re trying to pick a color that goes through the home, start with the more formal areas of your home. Pick colors for your foyer area or formal living room, and then you can take a shade of that color throughout the rest of your home. For instance, if you have a shade of red in one room, take it down to a deeper burgundy or more earth tone red in another room. It ties them all together but doesn’t have the same color repeating throughout the home.

Pick a Color From Your Accents

If you have patterned upholstery on your furniture or a bright beautifully patterned rug, pick one of the shades in that piece to paint the walls. By working with colors in your home on accent pieces, you can easily blend the room seamlessly.

Use the Color Wheel as Your Friend

Colors that flow well together are beside each other on a color wheel. Take a look at the wheel to see what shades go well and use those together in the areas of your home. For instance, blues and greens are next to each other and you can easily figure out what shade of each you want to utilize.

Take a Look in Your Closet

If you think about it, the clothes you purchase are generally in colors that you love. Why not take those colors and use them in your home? Take a look inside your closet to get color ideas and use them to spread colorful accents around your residence.

Painting your home can be an exciting adventure. No matter if you’re painting the master bedroom, need new life in the family room, or you want to get a whole new design in your kitchen, picking a color doesn’t have to be that difficult. Use these ideas to help you get started and work alongside your Los Angeles remodeling company to pick the perfect palette for your location. You’re sure to fall in love with your new look!

Update Your Outdoor Look for Summer

Update Your Outdoor Look for Summer The temperatures are rising and the birds are starting to sing. It’s all signs that spring has arrived and summer is quickly behind it. Your home is your sanctuary and your outdoor areas should be as well. Adding a few updated elements to the outside of your home during spring can help you to enjoy the months to come even more. Here are a few tips you can consider to help you love the outdoors around your home and spend more time loving the nature that surrounds you.

Consider a Pool

If you do not have a pool already, you may want to consider installing one. This gives you hours of fun and excitement to have with your family without ever having to leave your home. You can work with a Los Angeles remodeling company to design a pool that is perfect for your yard. You can have a smaller pool area depending on the size of your yard, or you can go bigger and enjoy a patio and seating area with your pool itself.

The design of your pool can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be. You can choose to add waterfalls and rock designs or keep it simple and natural like any other tile or lined pool. It’s up to you how the design goes.

Update Your Landscape

Spring is the best time of year to start updating your landscaping around the home. You can add new fresh plants and shrubs, lay down fresh mulch, or simply clean up the areas and add rock walkways to the area. The options are endless when it comes to color, style, and variety you want around your home. Landscaping also helps to keep your home looking fresh and put together whenever it is kept neat.

Fresh Coat of Paint

Perhaps the outside of your home is in need of a fresh coat of paint. Just like the breath of fresh air it can add to the inside of your home, a new coat of paint can bring your home back to life. You can talk with your Los Angeles remodeling contract to see what colors are popular right now or you can try to tackle the project yourself.

Create an Oasis

Get creative with your backyard design. Consider an oasis in the backyard with a gazebo and beautiful plants adorning it. You can choose to place a small pond and waterfall in the area to sit and listen to as you relax after a long day. Add some white lights to the area so that you can enjoy the cooler summer evenings and grill out dinner in the backyard. The options are endless for creating your secret place of relaxation and ease in your own yard.

Be sure to talk with your Los Angeles remodeling contractor about your ideas to create a welcoming and relaxing environment in your own backyard. You can go as extravagant or as simple as you wish and make your yard one you truly love to spend time in.

Tile Trends for 2017: What’s New in the Industry?

Tile Trends for 2017: What’s New in the Industry? Are you considering a flooring update for your home? Perhaps you want to talk with a Los Angeles remodeling contractor to set up a whole new flooring plan for your home, or maybe just change a room or two. Whatever the reason you’re looking at flooring, tile is one option you should highly consider for your home. It’s easy to clean, looks great in every area of the home, and offers a variety of options for you to choose from. You can make the room look however you wish with the right tile choice. Here are some of the upcoming trends for tile in 2017.

Cement Tile

You may not think of a cement floor as part of your home look at first, but this is a trend that is rising in popularity. The tiles look like a cement floor and are a unique and modern way to update your flooring. It goes great in the living areas of the home to add a clean and fresh appearance.

Wood Tile

Laminate and hardwood flooring are very popular in homes across the country. When people are in the midst of doing a kitchen remodeling project, this is one of the highly popular choices. However, many people love the ease of caring for tile over the hardwood. Now you can have the best of both worlds. Tiles are now coming in a hardwood floor look so that you have the look of natural wood in your home but you can care for it very easily just as you do other tile flooring.

Brick Tile

Starting out as an accent wall trend, brick tile is now making its way to the floor. These unique tiles offer a modern look of brick without having to lay and mortar each individual piece. They were really big recently in the home remodeling industry as an accent wall in the kitchen or living areas, and now they have made it to cover the entire floor.

Classic Marble Tile

These are beautiful classic styles and offer a touch of elegance to any home. Choose from a wide variety of patterns and styles such as the granite look for any part of your home. While marble itself can be very porous and hard to clean, the marble tile look offers the same beauty without the hassle.

Colors and Patterns

How your tile is laid out is just as important as the tile you choose to place in your home. There are a variety of pattern options to choose from and working with your Los Angeles remodeling contractor can help you choose the one you love the most. Patterns can be a geometric design or they can simply be laid out in a chevron style.

Colors vary depending on the room you’re working in. One of the most popular colors of tile that seems to be around to stay is the different shades of gray that are available. One very popular design is the gray wood tiles.

Choosing your flooring can be an exciting and fun journey or it can be overwhelming. Talk with your Los Angeles remodeling contractor to see what works best in your home today.

5 Kitchen Remodel Ideas to Consider in 2017

5 Kitchen Remodel Ideas to Consider The kitchen is the hub of the home in most instances. It’s where all the meals are crafted with care, where everyone converges when guests come to dine, and where everyone passes through each day multiple times a day in search of something nourishing. Since the kitchen is such a popular place in the home, you want it to look and feel like you have in mind. Maybe you’ve moved into a home where the kitchen is dated or not quite what you were dreaming of. Whatever the situation, there are some great kitchen remodeling ideas you can use to make the hub of your home beautiful and inviting.

Below you’ll find five kitchen remodeling ideas to choose from that are popular right now.

Go Bright

Consider lightening up the kitchen with bright white cabinets and an electric blue trim around the kitchen. You can choose a bright cobalt blue to accent the area and keep away from feeling like it’s too white. When you do not add color, it can become cold and give off a feel of an unwelcoming location. Don’t be afraid to splash bold and bright colors throughout with your décor, trim on the walls or cabinets, and through your accessories.

Add an Island

If your kitchen is spacious enough, then consider adding an island in the center to help with preparing food or to eat quick meals at. These can be as small or as large as you want them to and can have power run to them to make it easy to prepare items in the kitchen. It helps to reduce the clutter on the counter space as well when you can store items in the island.

Remember Lighting Fixtures

Don’t forget that updating your lighting fixtures can also change the look and feel of the kitchen. You can add a rustic touch with industrial style light fixtures, match the color scheme of the rest of the kitchen with your fluorescent light designs, or brighten up the whole room with the right type of lighting. This also helps everyone to see the fine details you put into your kitchen with plenty of light. You may also want to consider adding skylights in the kitchen to help bring in more natural lighting.

Brass Accents

A new trend in kitchen remodeling is to add brass accents to the room instead of the traditional silver or nickel plated as of recently. These accents can come in through the lighting fixtures, drawer handles and even in the seats you choose to place in the area.

Flooring Options

Changing out the floor in your kitchen can give it a whole new look. You can choose from a variety of flooring styles such as laminate hardwood, tile, or vinyl. A lighter floor will help to brighten up the kitchen but it will also show more dirt and dust in the middle of sweeping and mopping. You can choose to add color by placing a unique checkerboard pattern in the kitchen or you can simply go more natural with a beautiful hardwood laminate in the stained oak color.

Whatever your kitchen remodeling dreams are, your Los Angeles remodeling company has you covered. Start dreaming up your kitchen today!

Upgrade your home before selling and make a HUGE Profit!

The truth behind the valuable upgrade: Flooring Los Angeles remodels can be found in all sizes and vary from different budgets, though one thing we don’t see anyone skimping on anymore is flooring. Hardwood flooring is especially popular in Los Angeles and the surrounding neighborhoods. Why is this trend seen so frequently? Whitney Coy of SheKnows.com tells us, “Home buyers are willing to spend top dollar for homes with hardwood floors.” Thus we have bigger budgets for flooring than ever before in remodeling.

Hardwood flooring not only boosts the value of your home, but there are many benefits that come along with the flooring. You can enjoy hardwood flooring even if you are not looking to sell. This amazing flooring can be added to any room – though does better in rooms with low moisture content.

What we love about hardwood flooring:

-the value that it adds to the home.

- can be used in any room, adding or changing a throw rug can make for an easy style change if you get bored.

- lowers allergens in your home, easy to clean with the use of a broom or hardwood flooring vacuum.

- the endless colors, patterns and hues is a major plus when thinking of hardwood flooring.

- these puppies can last a lifetime if cared for the right way!

For every pro, we all know there can be a con. Let’s get into why you may not like hardwood flooring as much as we do. We already mentioned how these floors are not as inexpensive as carpet – but you need to know that these floors last a heck of a lot longer than carpet. The budget for hardwood flooring can run you anywhere from $9 per square foot, and could top nearly $15 per square foot. Thus being said you will need to plan and prepare your budget for this type of remodel and install. Luckily one of the next complaints on the hardwood flooring con list doesn’t really affect us in California as much as other places. Hardwood flooring can be a little cold on your bare feet during the winter months. Did you know that they do make headed flooring systems? This could solve the problem of cold toes if this con really bothers you that much. In floor heated systems take the rigid cold feeling from your feet and actually can reduce home heating bills overall. One other main con that we have found is the noise factor. This is one of the flooring materials that can amplify noise, whereas others can reduce sound waves in your home. Older floors will tend to creak as well. No sneaking up on anyone when you live in a home with hardwood floors!

Now you have it, the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly. You decide if hardwood floors are for you and your remodel.

The truth about your small kitchen remodel

The truth about a small kitchen is that it will not be the jack of all trades. You will have to give up the idea of doing homework here, paying bills here, and recipe searching in your small kitchen. The design goal for your small kitchen must be to achieve an effective small kitchen, not multipurpose space. There is nothing wrong with a kitchen that is just that, a kitchen. The design factor is a lot tougher already when you have to fit a functioning kitchen into a small space, but small changes can make it even better than a large kitchen.  When designing a small kitchen think of: size, color, light and function.

So focus first on function, making sure you have the appliances and work areas you need. You may be able to save a bit of space by using scaled-down or innovative appliances, including refrigerator and freezer drawers and pint-sized microwaves, stoves (some with just two burners) and single sinks. The function is there, without all the square footage! If workspace is at a premium, consider a small-scale island or a counter-topped cart that can be rolled away into a closet when not in use. Now just because you need to really hone in on function of your small kitchen does not mean you have to lose any space to style. The color of walls, appliances, and counter tops, bar stools, and backsplash can change the mood of your pint sized kitchen. Going with more pale colors can help with light, but don’t be afraid to go bold and add color and mix your patterns. Using the same color and style of fixtures and cabinet knobs can unify a design when you are using different textures and patterns in your small kitchen.

Tiny kitchens can feel claustrophobic if there are upper cabinets towering over you in such a small space. Most of the time cooks can’t even reach those upper cabinets anyways, and in a small kitchen there isn’t much room for a stool or ladder. Skip the excessive cabinets and opt for a more spacious approach with open shelves. You can also use magnetic knife strips, pot racks and give your kitchen a designer way to show off your favorite dish sets and even artwork. And like any other room, your small kitchen needs great lighting that you can use for cooking and for atmosphere. Fluorescent lighting, which casts a bluish light impacting the colorization of objects in the room, including the food, is frequently found in kitchens. To counteract it, consider hanging pendant lights that bathe your eating area in a more appetizing color. Tip: Try using glass doors from the kitchen into the next room or to the outside, this will increase light in the kitchen and also give the illusion of more space.

Don’t let small spaces give you design block. No matter a small galley kitchen or small apartment kitchen – you can make your design amazing if you trim the fat and keep your design neat.

Luxurious Bathroom Makeover Ideas

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get away and treat ourselves to a spa day, like every day of the week?  Well, if that dream is a bit out of your reach for financial or practical reasons, there are a few things you can do to your current bathroom to give it that spa feel. Most Los Angeles remodeling contractors will tell you the same thing, creating a spa bathroom of your dreams are practical and more affordable than daily trips to the local spa. Modern design and technology makes getting your own spa bathroom very possible. Here are the basic must haves in order to really have the spa bathroom you desire.

1. Extra-large soaking tub.

Many tubs are made deeper than previous models for prolonged soaking and resting. If this idea catches your attention, consider adding a stylish grab bar preventing unnecessary slips when entering or exiting. Along with these separate soaking tubs comes a growing request for shelves and spaces to place candles, decorative plants and handy baskets of towels and pampering lotions. Incorporating a TV in the bathroom for viewing from the tub is another amenity that is well liked and asked for more and more.

2. Steam room and Luxury Shower.

No more quick showers with this spa-like feature in your master bath.  With added space and multiple shower heads and built in bench, this becomes the ultimate way to pamper you.  Also, adding in glass panels and doors will help create an open and more spacious feel to the space.

3. Entertainment system with TV.

With the other features of your spa-like bathroom, it is obvious that you will be spending more time in the space.  Adding flat screen TVs and stereos in bathrooms is becoming more and more popular as homeowners are creating their ultimate oasis to soak away the day.  We’ve even seen small refrigeration units installed to have cold beverages readily available!

4. The right color!

Spas use neutral shades to keep the feeling of the room peaceful and relaxing. When introducing new colors, stick to neutral and earthy tones. Try using whites and light blue shades for a modern feel and light greens and wood for an earthier vibe.

5. Heated floors and a heated towel rack.

Every spa has those warm, cozy robes and towels – why not mock the idea and have a heated towel rack installed so that you never have to endure a cold towel again. And why go through the inconvenience of stepping onto cold bathroom tile floors when you can have heated floors?  Not only do they welcome bare feet but they make it easy to step out of the shower without getting chilled after you relaxed.

HERO Financing helps homeowners become more Eco-friendly

HERO Financing helps homeowners become more Eco-friendly You are fully aware that your energy bill is too high and that your home is not water efficient, but you just can’t afford the eco-friendly remodel you need. At least not until now, we are here to introduce the HERO program.

HERO, Home Energy Renovation Opportunity, is the number one efficiency program in the U.S. Offering 100% financing on the cost and installation of all eligible products at a low fixed rate, and with flexible payment terms. Spazio LA has partnered with the HERO Program because we want to make a difference with water and energy consumption. In our efforts to protect the resources we currently have, we are now offering homeowners this great opportunity.

What does the HERO program mean to Spazio LA?

Our participation in the HERO program means homeowners will be able to afford remodels and renovations in Los Angeles and all counties active in the program. Thousands of people will be able to make a difference in the effort to save energy, water and use renewable resources. Thousands of people will be able to afford to renovate and save money every single month on utility bills. We have gone through rigorous through test and inspections to become a qualified HERO participant, just to show you how important this program is to us here at Spazio LA.

This means that more homes will be equipped with water efficient toilets, faucets, and shower heads. More homes will have the luxury of proper heating and air conditioning that will also save energy, and more homes will use the power of solar to heat their pools and water tanks. Saving money on your monthly bills is real, and we are happy to help.

How does the HERO program work?

The program offers 100% financing, also the payments are made directly through the homeowner’s property taxes, as often as you make the property tax payment – not monthly. The financing can be carried for 5-20 year terms.  Since the financing is paid into the property, 100% of the cost of the remodel is tax deductible.

HERO offers financing in over 50 product categories including, but not limited to:

1. Exterior doors and windows

2. Central Air, Mini Split Heat & Air

3. Attic insulation

4. Ventilation Fans

5. Furnace

6. Solar panels

The list goes on; there are numerous eco-friendly upgrades that are 100% covered by the HERO Program. If there isn’t a product on the list that you are interested in, you can call the HERO Program to talk to a specialist to see if the product will qualify. https://www.heroprogram.com/products

Contact Spazio LA today to see if the HERO program will work for your remodel. 1-877-624-7772

Bathroom Tile Trends you will see everywhere in 2017

Bathroom Tile Trends you will see everywhere in 2017  

These bathroom tile trends you will see everywhere this year! Let us tell you why they are a must in your bathroom remodel.

Patterned Tile

Gone are the days of tile floors blending into the background of a room. In 2017, you'll see the reemergence of patterned tiles, perhaps reflective of this year's renewed focus on artisanship and craftsmanship. This is the year when bathroom floors really steal the show.

In this bathroom remodel we used patterned tile on the floor from The Cement Tile Shop. This bold pattern really gives you a jaw dropping excitement when you walk in.

Honeycomb Tiles

If 2017 could have a shape, it might just be the honeycomb. Designers are getting geometric with their tiles, with honeycomb (aka hexagon) shapes appearing in tiled flooring and walls. Interior designs are bringing back the good old days with these awesome honeycomb tiles.

In this master bathroom remodel we used a honeycomb tile from floor to wall to create a sleek design.

Color Patterns

Patterns painted on tiles aren't the only way to excite with tile. Designers are piecing together intricate designs using a variety of colorful, geometric tiles meant to capture the eye upon first glance. This will create a statement wall or draw the eye to the area where you have used such an elaborate design.

In this bathroom from Interiorhousing.biz the designer used a variety of patterned and colored tiles to create a space that screams style and boldness.

Long, Narrow Subway Tiles

If the honeycomb tile trend is any proof, this year will be all about atypical tile shapes. Instead of the classic subway tile, this year, long and narrow tile will appear in bathrooms as a sleek alternative. Designers are using this especially in the shower enclosure to design a beautiful bathroom.

We used the narrow subway tiles in this master bathroom remodel to move away from the basic tile shapes and give this bathroom a smooth transition.

Vertical Tile

When you've tired of horizontal subway tile, the only place to go is — up! Vertical tiles can be staggered for an unexpected, modern aesthetic that can visually expand a room. When installing vertical tile, you have the major advantage to make a room appear larger.

Get in shape with your very own Workout Oasis

Get in shape with your very own Workout Oasis

Adding on a home gym can add resale value to your home in much the same way as adding any other addition would.  Just as finishing an attic space or adding on a laundry room would increase the resale value of your home a Home Gym will as well. If this is the year that you vow to get in shape before summer, but hate the packed group classes or the high membership fees, it’s the year to build your own workout oasis. It’s going to be just you and that treadmill to compete with.

If you are going to add value to your home with this addition, you will want to put more effort into this rather than transforming your garage into a sweat shop. Home buyers will pay top dollar for quality, and this means additions done the right way. Now Remember: Anything bolted down, such as exercise equipment becomes part of the home and would be included in the sale of the house unless removed before selling or including a clause in your sale agreement.

You will want a space at least 150sq ft., the bigger the better though in this case. If you can build this gym as an addition you will have more freedom to make space for equipment that you want. If you are repurposing a room you will have to make do with the existing square footage and possibly have to give up on an important workout machine. Not only will you be sacrificing space, you will need to increase ventilation in your home gym.

Gym Essentials:

1. Dumbbells

2. Kettlebell

3. Pull Up Bar

4. Rings

5. Jump Rope

6. Medicine Ball

7. Plyo-Box

8. Barbell

9. Weight Plates

10. Stereo System

Number 10 on the list is number 1 for me. Having a great stereo system and a few t.v’s is important, this way you can catch up on the news or listen to motivational tunes while working off those calories.

Tip: Rubber mats and barriers to protect your floor are good investments you will want to make with this home gym. You don’t want a dumbbell dropping through your wood floor.

Laminate or wood flooring is ok for your home gym addition if you plan only for light workouts and no heavy machines or equipment. If you are planning for more strenuous workouts and heavy duty machines you should aim for Rubber Floor Tiles or a Rubber Mat. You can purchase most gym flooring material and equipment online. Prices can vary for different machines and weights, check your local listings and reviews before you make a large investment.

When doing any home addition or remodel, having a good Remodeling Firm on your side is imperative to save you money and do the job right. Contact Spazio LA if you are thinking of adding or changing your home. We would love to help build your dreams!

Pros and Cons of Flooring Options

Pros and Cons of Flooring Options When remodeling your home you may feel overwhelmed with the many choices of Flooring Options. And there are many options! You may want to consider a few things before you lay down that floor solely because it looks good. We will help you make smart choices before your regret the floor you picked out.

Spazio LA will break down the options and factors that will help you make the right choice.

Things to consider when doing your flooring are:

1. Cleaning and Durability:

If you have pets and kids you may want to consider an option that is easy to clean. Choosing an option that will hold up to traffic and accidents is important.

2. Cost and Value:

It is important to consider the quality of the flooring and the value for your money. You don’t want to throw away money to replace a floor that you had remodeled only a few years back because you went with a cheaper option.  Also, installing quality flooring adds value to your home for years to come.

3. Location, Location, Location:

The ideal flooring can change based on where you are installing it as well. Rooms used more often will require durable flooring. Bathrooms will require flooring that is moisture and water resistant- and safe! Some flooring options and the way it is installed can make an area look larger, or smaller. You want durable flooring in a kids rooms but it needs to be safe and warm also.

Here we lay out the pros and cons of only a few different flooring options. Never the less if you are in doubt call a professional to help you with your home remodeling needs.

Pros & Cons

                       

Carpet

Pros -Carpet can act like another layer of insulation and help keep cold or warm drafts from seeping through the floor.

-It goes without saying that carpet is always going to be the softest of any type of flooring. -Carpet helps to reduce sound and noises from one floor to the next. Cons -Regular vacuuming is needed (every one to two days for high traffic areas) frequently. Spills need to be removed immediately to prevent staining and liquid to seep deep into fibers to cause mold and mildew.

Hardwood

Pros -An upgrade to hardwood floors will add a lot of value to your home. -Hardwood floors are easy to care for by sweeping or vacuuming them daily and wiping them with an approved wood cleaner. -There are many different types of woods, stains and plank sizes to choose from.

Cons

-Every step that is taken on wood floors can be heard. Not to mention, furry friends can slip and slide because their padded feet can’t grip the shiny, smooth surface.

Laminate

Pros -The protective layer on laminate helps protect it from something that would normally stain easily. -Vacuum away loose dirt and debris and mop with a damp mop.

Cons                                                                                                                                                                     -Laminate may look like hardwood, but doesn’t have the value like hardwood. -Laminate flooring is easily dented. Laminate flooring cannot be sanded or refinished. Areas with large scratches or gouges need to be replaced with new laminate flooring.

Tile – Ceramic/Stone/Porcelain

Pros -Easy, fast clean up – and great for high traffic.

-Adds a clean and elegant finish to a room.

- Nontoxic and great for those who suffer allergies as it doesn’t harbor allergens.

Cons -Not a good insulator for heat.

-Dangerous when wet!

-Tiles can crack and need to be replaced.

Make sure your home’s entrance is a grand one

Make sure your home’s entrance is a grand one When it comes to your home, it makes sense that you want to be proud of the look and feel that it gives off to your visitors. The aesthetic appearance can be very important, showing the world just how stylish you are and how much you care about your home.

This is why the entrance to the home is so important. You want to entice people to come inside your home and give the world a little taste as to what to expect from the interior as well as who you are! Curb appeal is a feature that you must focus on.

Your entrance, while being bold, should work in harmony with the interior of your home as well.

In order to get this balance right, you need to know just how to create an enchanting entrance. You won't believe how each of these examples uses a front garden, front door or decor to create an incredibly eye-catching design.

Let us take a look at these 6 design ideas to make your home’s entrance a grand one.

1. Garden Entrance

The front of your home can be as lush as you want or you can create a garden based off water saving plants. The garden entrance is a great way to show off your green thumb and add to your curb appeal.

2. Courtyard

The front courtyard is a growing trend that offers seating for your guests and a very welcoming feel to your home's entrance.

3. Dense Hedges or Eclectic Plants

Using dense hedges or eclectic plants will help create a unique front entrance as well as give you some privacy.

4. Wooden Door

Going out of your way to design or pick out a custom wooden door adds tremendous amounts of character to your home's entrance. This will give you the upper hand on curb appeal since you have a shop stopping door.

5. Steel Gate

As shown in this design by Interiors by Studio M, the use of a steel gate and plants create privacy as well as a very contemporary feel.

6. Custom Patio

The front of your home doesn't have to lack character, you can add a custom designed patio to make use of space and create a welcoming feeling for your home's entrance.

From gardens to gates and wooden doors, the ideas for adding a grand entrance to your home are endless. For design ideas and help creating your home's grand entrance, contact us today.

5 Small changes to update the look of your bathroom

Your bathroom should be an oasis of calm, providing you with a space to unwind with a bath, to refresh yourself with a shower, or to primp and preen yourself before a big date so you’re at your most confident. From the fixtures and fittings to the colors on the wall, everything can affect how luxurious your bathroom feels, so here are just a few steps towards creating an at-home hotel-standard spa. 1. Let’s start with color

You should avoid anything loud and bright in a bathroom as a main color on the walls, instead opt for something soft and calming. Going for ivory, pearl or pale grey will enhance the feeling of space within your bathroom, as well as be gentle on the eyes, instantly making you feel more relaxed.

2. Coordination is key

While you should go pale with the walls to maximize the impact of light, don’t be afraid to be bold with the highlighter color, which you’re going to use to coordinate the rest of the room. You could pick your favorite color here to make it more personal, or go for mood colors, such as purple for luxury, blue hues for calm emotions or fresh greens to reinvigorate the senses. From your plush new set of towels to the vase of flowers on the window sill or even the color of the soap, coordinate this color around the room so there is a natural flow.

3. Add some pamper products

Essential to any high-end, opulent spa experience are the products you use to de-stress at the end of the day. Pick up some lavender-scented candles that match your décor, and light them when you have a bath to help you drift off. Pick up some funky bath bombs that release glitter, fragrance and cool colors into your bath as an extra treat, and remember to keep some spa-quality facial oils, scrubs and salts to hand too.

4. Don’t forget the seating area

You’ll find no luxury hotel bathroom complete without a seating area. Not only does it give the impression that the room must be bigger than it really is, but it’s a very practical accessory to have. It could be an ornate chair at a dressing table area built into the sink unit, or just a plush, fabric stool by the window, but seating always adds a touch of class to any bathroom.

5. Get yourself organized

Finally, you won’t find clutter in a luxury bathroom, so get yourself organized and create tailored storage solutions. It could be that you make way for a better sink unit by moving the radiator, swapping it for a designer vertical piece for a neater and better bathroom space, hiding away all those bits and pieces you use every day will make space feel less hectic, and pass the effects on to you.

What You Need to Know About Starting a Bathroom Remodel

What You Need to Know About Starting a Bathroom Remodel

Remodeling your bathroom can be an exciting and stressful experience like any remodel. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could approach your project with the knowledge of the most experienced remodeling company?

Here you can get that confidence to hire great home improvement professionals, and avoid suffering a bad remodel job. Those horror stories about contractors leaving a house torn open and taking the homeowner's money...they don't have to be your story.

4 Questions you need to have answered before you jump into a remodel contract:

1. Who is the company, where is their location and what is their direct phone number? This information allows you to get a real insider look the professional once you’re off the phone. This can be done by viewing their profile on reviews pages and by searching for information on other sites like BBB and their social sites.
2. Are you and your subcontractors licensed, bonded and insured? The answer to this question should be yes! You need to know that you are in good hands, and that this isn’t a scam company that will leave you helpless after they get your money.
3. When would you be able to start a project and finish it? This is good information to see how available they are and as to how long you can expect them to have your home in remodel mode.
4. Would you be able to provide references for previous clients? If a professional cannot provide any references for clients, it is a bad sign. You want to see and hear from past clients that love their remodel and can give an honest review of the entire process working with the contractor – from consult, to design, to build. Also be sure to check their design pictured to be sure that your style could be recreated by the company. If they are not used to designing a style that matters to you, you may need to rethink whom to go with.

Now that you have the basics covered and know about your contractor, you need to know yourself.

Have you saved up money for this bathroom remodel, or are you going to need financing assistance?

Unless you are fortunate enough to be able to pay for the project out of pocket, you will now need to look into financing option. Luckily for you, Spazio LA works with the HERO program to make eco-friendly remodels affordable for everyone. Contact us to hear more about the program and other financing options!

How does your renovation project measure up as an investment?

Home improvement projects that offer the best return on your investment How does your renovation project measure up as an investment?

See where it fits in this rundown from the report — which ranks the 29 remodeling jobs by percentage of project cost that homeowners can expect to recoup when selling your home. Get the most of out your investment and remodel smart.

29. Bathroom addition (midrange): 53.9%

This midrange project envisions a 6-by-8-foot bathroom addition with a cultured marble countertop and ceramic tile floor. At a 53.9 percent return on investment, it is the least cost-effective of the 29 projects studied in Remodeling Magazine’s 2017 report.

• Cost: $43,232
• Home value increase: $23,283

28. Backup power generator (midrange): 54%

• Cost: $12,860
• Home value increase: $6,940

27. Backyard patio (midrange): 54.9%

• Cost: $51,985
• Home value increase: $28,546

26. Composite deck addition (upscale): 56.4%

Create a 16-by-20-foot deck of composite decking materials, with stairs to a second lower 10-foot-diameter platform at one corner and other custom details.

• Cost: $39,339
• Home value increase: $22,171

25. Bathroom addition (upscale): 57.1%

This project envisions adding a 100-square-foot master bathroom to an existing bedroom, with a shower in a frameless glass enclosure, a freestanding soaker tub and other amenities including electric in-floor heating.

• Cost: $81,515
• Home value increase: $46,507

24. Bathroom remodel (upscale): 59.1%

Expand a 35-square-foot bathroom to 100 square feet, relocate and upgrade fixtures, and add such amenities as in-floor heating.

• Cost: $59,979
• Home value increase: $35,456

23. Master suite addition (upscale): 59.9%

• Cost: $250,687
• Home value increase: $150,140

22. Major kitchen remodel (upscale): 61.9%

• ​Cost: $122,991
• Home value increase: $76,149

21. Master suite addition (midrange): 64.8%

• Cost: $119,533
• Home value increase: $77,506

20. Bathroom Remodel (midrange): 64.8%

• Cost: $18,546
• Home value increase: $12,024

19. Composite deck addition (midrange): 65.2%

Create a 16-by-20-foot deck of composite decking materials.

• Cost: $17,249
• Home value increase: $11,252

18. Major kitchen remodel (midrange): 65.3%

• Cost: $62,158
• Home value increase: $40,560

17. Bathroom remodel for universal access (midrange): 68.4%

As the big baby boomer generation remodels homes with aging in place in mind, the emphasis on universal design is growing. This project, for a 5-by-7-square-foot bathroom, includes widening doorways for wheelchair access, dropping the height of electrical outlets and switches, replacing the tub with a roll-in shower and adding a more-accessible toilet among other improvements.

• Cost: $15,730
• Home value increase: $10,766

16. Roofing replacement (midrange): 68.8%

• Cost: $20,664
• Home value increase: $14,214

15. Family room addition (midrange): 69.3%

• Cost: $89,566
• Home value increase: $62,055

14. Basement Remodel (midrange): 70%

• Cost: $71,115
• Home value increase: $49,768

13. Grand entrance (upscale): 70.1%

This one-day “grand entrance” project involves expanding the entry to accommodate a new, higher-end fiberglass door with surrounding sidelights.

• Cost: $8,358
• Home value increase: $5,855

12. Two-story addition (midrange): 71.1%

• Cost: $176,108
• Home value increase: $125,222

11. Wood deck addition (midrange): 71.5%

• Cost: $10,707
• Home value increase: $7,652

10. Wood window replacements (upscale): 73%

This project envisions replacing 10 existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows with insulated windows featuring interior hardwood finish and exterior aluminum cladding.

• Cost: $18,759
• Home value increase: $13,691

9. Vinyl window replacements (upscale): 73.9%

In this project, the 10 insulated replacement windows are vinyl with simulated wood-grain interior finish.

• Cost: $15,282
• Home value increase: $11,286

8. Siding replacement (midrange): 76.4%

• Cost: $14,518
• Home value increase: $11,093

7. Garage door replacement (midrange): 76.9%

• Cost: $1,749
• Home value increase: $1,345

6. Fiberglass entry door replacement (upscale): 77.8%

• Cost: $3,276
• Home value increase: $2,550

5. Minor kitchen remodel (midrange): 80.2%

• Cost: $20,830
• Home value increase: $16,699

4. Garage door replacement (upscale): 85%

• Cost: $3,304
• Home value increase: $2,810

3. Manufactured stone veneer: 89.4%

This project involves removing 300 square feet of vinyl siding along the bottom of the home’s street-facing facade and replacing it with manufactured stone veneer.

• Cost: $7,851
• Home value increase: $7,019

2. Steel entry door replacement (midrange): 90.7%

• Cost: $1,413
• Home value increase: $1,282

1. Fiberglass attic insulation (midrange): 107.7%

• Cost: $1,343

• Home value increase: $1,446

5 Simple but Life-Changing Remodeling Ideas

5 Simple but Life-Changing Remodeling Ideas

Now that we are through the holidays and the New Year, it’s finally time to stop procrastinating and start turning the house remodeling gears. That long list of improvements you created last year has been gathering dust for far too long, and with spring just around the corner there’s never a better time to get remodeling.

While that list is probably long and distinguished, it’s important to narrow your scope down to a few projects to make sure you follow through rather than drowning in the overwhelming flood of ‘must do’ items. Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it on budget. With a streamlined set of tasks laid out with a clear budget and a clear schedule, you’ll be free to complete your remodels relatively stress free. Here are 5 simple but life-changing remodeling ideas to improve your house this 2017.

1 | Exterior Siding Improvements You’ve probably been yearning to take this task on since you purchased the home and decided to ‘live with’ the pink board and batten siding with bright purple trim. Well, now’s the time to stop yearning and start doing. It’s never been more affordable to bite the bullet and re-side your home. Not only will you increase market-value and weather protection, you’ll have full creative control to give your home the curb appeal you imagined it having.

2 | Flooring Updating your flooring is a no-brainer, and should be considered to be a worthwhile improvement for anyone’s first project. It’s a great way to ease yourself into the ebb and flow of a remodel project without breaking the bank (or more importantly, your spirit). Just like with exterior siding, there are unlimited options, so it’s best to agree upon a general aesthetic first and look at specifications later. Hardwood flooring is the most ubiquitous material choice, whether solid or engineered hardwood. If you’re looking to re-floor your home on the cheap, manufacturers are working magic these days with engineered hardwoods. Bamboo is a great option too because it’s sustainable sourced, easy to install, durable, and comes in a wide range of finishes.

3 | Build a Fireplace Not too long ago adding a fireplace to your home meant ripping up some exterior walls, calling the town mason, and applying for a second mortgage to pay for the thing. Thankfully, times have changed, and adding a warm fireplace to your living room has never been easier. If your home is already stubbed out for gas, this proposition becomes a slam dunk, and there are a variety of ways you can finish the feature out – whether it be with brick, stone, or blackened steel. If you don’t have a gas hook-up, there is a growing list of wall mounted fireplace options.

4 | Make a Space for a Home Office You should look into sourcing some commercial grade hardwood floors, plenty of natural light (and ideally a view), and a desk that makes you feel like some work is about to get done. Be deliberate about every piece of furniture, and if you are creating this space by adding new walls, be sure to consider how you will be using your home office so you get things perfect the first time. You might even consider talking to an architect to make best use of your existing space.

5 | Rear Deck or Patio The backyard is the homeowner’s best friend. Host BBQs, a backyard is nothing without a proper place to flip burgers and kick up your loafers. Before you dive those loafers into the deep end, however, you might want to consider how the topography of your yard might determine going with a deck vs a patio. If your yard is sloping away from the house, a deck is going to be your best option. For flat yards, or yards that slope towards the home, a patio is the way to go.

Give us a call for help; you will be enjoying a margarita under your veranda a lot faster than the DIY way.

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How to Make Your Small Bathroom Stand Out

How to make your small bathroom stand out The one most common misconception that home owners have when remodeling a small space, is that the space will not look as good as it would if it were a lot larger. Having the right design team, such as Spazio LA, on your side can be key to making the most out of all of your square footage available.

When you are limited on space, it is even more important to make your remodel stand out.

Designing a small bathroom can be tricky, but a gorgeous remodel is not out of the question. Using our most recent bathroom as an example, we will take you through tricks and tips on how you can make your small bathroom stand out.

We were given the task to design a space that could be used as a guest house or media room, using a standard garage. The client wanted, a media/living space, bar, sleeping area AND a bathroom. We are talking jam packing all of these things usually found in a full size house, into a garage. After careful design, we were able to give them all of these items on the wish list and create one heck of a bathroom. This bathroom remodel alone gained over 1 million likes, views and comments on Houzz.com.

Let’s jump into some tricks in creating your very own beautiful, small bathroom.

Here we used a vanity from Signature Hardware to act as a statement piece in the bathroom.

Pro Tip: Choose your flooring wisely. The flooring can make or break your small bathroom remodel. In the pictured bathroom remodel we went with a cement tile from Cement Tile Shop, in a very bold pattern.

When dealing with limited space for a bathroom remodel, designing a custom shower may be the way to go. This shower was designed with a custom frame-less door and infinity drain. We kept the space flowing by using the same tile throughout the whole room. Using two different flooring materials or colors can break up a space and make you feel closed off.

The old school medicine cabinet and mirror is not the way to go when you want a small bathroom to pop. Look for a mirror that is unique and light fixtures outside of the norm.

Small bathrooms do not have to be boring or the least loved space in the house. For more ideas and the complete garage conversion remodel visit our page on Houzz.