Spanish Bungalow Fence and Gates

We just completed this fun project building a strong redwood fence and gates that fit the style appropriate for our clients' cute little Spanish bungalow. It was painted a beautiful shade of teal that was the perfect finish to the fence.

Some before and after pictures below...

BEFORE - Front Side View of the House

AFTER - Front Side View of the House with New Fence and Gate

BEFORE - Back View of the House

AFTER - Back View of the House

BEFORE - Back Side View of the House

AFTER - Back Side View of the House

A Few More Pictures of the New Fence

To see more gates and fences we've done, click HERE to see Gates and Fences under the Project Photos section.

Old Town Tustin Home Tour This Weekend

Here's another upcoming home tour featuring the grand estates and gardens of Old Town Tustin, a quiet yet charming historic enclave right off the 5 and 55 fwys. For more details, go to http://www.tustinhistory.com.

1920's Kitchen Remodel from Our Archives

Believe it or not, these are pictures from our very first kitchen remodel. The house had been neglected for over 15 years that the kitchen was no longer functional. The cabinets were worn, many of which were torn apart, none of the applicanes worked, and the countertop, walls, and ceiling were covered in layers of grime and grease. Needless to say, it deperately needed to be rejuvenated. However, one thing was clear from the beginning, and that was to get the kitchen back to as close as possible to the 1920's look and feel, while being able to work within modern times (like having a dishwasher and microwave). After much research and design considerations, white "milk-painted" shaker style cabinets, simple nickel-finished knobs, a white-tiled countertop with black tile trim, and wood flooring were selected. Part of the renovation process also included replacing all the windows with custom-built wood double hung windows, removing the dropped ceiling and re-creating a coved ceiling in the breakfast nook, adding an archway to separate the kitchen and breakfast nook (and replicating the spanish-style archways that echoed throughout the house), and creating custom-designed wood pantry cabinet doors. The result? A bright, cheerful kitchen that blends well with the vintage style of the house.

BEFORE - South view of the kitchen (with 1950's hurricane windows)

DURING - South view of the kitchen (during demolition) - Lovely dryrot found behind the walls!!



DURING - Reconstruction of Kitchen Windows (With Vintage Weights and Ropes)

AFTER - South View of the Kitchen (with New Double-Hung Windows)

BEFORE - West view of the kitchen

DURING - West view of the kitchen (during demolition)

AFTER - West view of the kitchen

DURING - East view of the kitchen (right after demolition - note the wood template for the ceiling archway)

DURING - Reconstruction of coved ceilings in the breakfast nook

AFTER - East view of the kitchen - facing the breakfast nook

To see more kitchens we've done, click HERE to go to Kitchens under the Project Photos section.

Retro Inspiration

We had the wonderful opportunity to do some work a while back on a truly inspirational retro home. The clients had a back room that at one time or another, had a closet and makeshift bathroom added within the room. Our job was to remove the bathroom and closet, patch up the holes in the walls, and re-texture the walls. This created a blank canvas for the clients to reinvent the room as the office (see photo above). The clients recently had their home featured in this quarter's issue of Cottage Style, which fabulously showcases their unique sense of style. If you get a chance, check out this magazine at the newsstands to get inspired by their retro interior.


To see more interior work we've done, click HERE to see Interior work under the Project Photos section.

Making Preservation Work

Did you know that May is the National Preservation Month? Go to http://www.nationaltrust.org/preservationmonth for more details and information on events and ideas.

When we think back to why we got involved in the preservation and restoration of historic homes in the first place, 2 things come to mind: learning the classic building techniques that have produced the beauty and quality construction that we rarely find nowadays and connecting us to who we were, where we came from, and what we had. How often do we hear "They don't make them quite like they used to anymore." Yet, with pressure to get things done faster and cheaper, we are slowly losing our time-honored techniques and thus, losing the beauty and artistry that was evident in past living trends. We're hoping that like-minded people will continue to appreciate the time and skill it takes to preserve, as nothing beats the feeling and sense of pride that what we build will last another 100+ years and that we've been able to save our history, even if it's bit by bit.