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1. What was the white countertops you used in the Valley Oak 1 kitchen?
I used Calcutta marble for the countertops in the Valley Oak kitchen. I have also used Crema Marfil and Carrera marble in the past. I like marble because it is versatile. It can be used in both traditional and modern applications.
2. What color paint did you use in the Valley Oak 1 living room?
I used Dunn Edwards Egyptian Sand in the Valley Oak living room. The # is DE6207. If you decide to use this color, make sure you mock up a sample before painting the entire room. Colors can look completely different from room to room depending on the light.
3. Where...]]>
1. What brand of appliances to you use in your homes?
The appliance brands I use in my kitchens depends on the price point of the home. In my higher end projects, I use Viking, Bosch, Miele, Fisher-Paykel, and Subzero. These are the brands that my higher end buyers expect when they are spending $2 million plus on a home. On my less expensive projects, I will often purchase appliances made by Whirlpool or Frigidaire. In my mid level projects I like to use GE Monogram. I always use stainless steel. I find it is what most buyers want which makes it a prudent investment for resale.
2. Where can I buy the trough sink used in the master bath of the Nottingham house?
Every week, Jeff Lewis will be answering viewers' questions about real estate, design, and "Flipping Out". If you have questions for Jeff, submit them in the "comments" section!
1. So what is in for bathroom showers?
People today are looking for spacious spa-like showers with multiple water sources such as double shower heads, body and hand sprayers. Rain shower heads are also very popular, Ryan & I use them often. I have installed steam machines in previous properties and I was surprised to see how reasonable the actual units are ($800 to $1500 dollars, not including installation). Mr. Steam is a brand I like to use. If you have the room, I like to see benches installed. To make a smaller shower seem larger, take the tile to the ceiling and use a frameless glass shower enclosure. Please do not use a fiberglass prefab shower pan. It can...]]>
What drew me to Valley Oak Two was the architecture. The 1950's post and beam homes are extremely popular in Los Angeles but very hard to come by. Even when I do find them, I’m usually bidding against several different people. I usually can’t compete with the owner/users who can pay retail with the intention of holding the property long term. I'm passionate about modern homes and feel lucky when I am able to secure one in escrow. This was a great find. A victory in a way.
The major challenge at Valley Oak two was the weak floor plan. We’re now working towards creating a new space with a better flow. We chose to open the cramped galley kitchen to the living room. This created a considerable amount of natural light that previously did not exist. It also will enable someone to work in the kitchen while...]]>
What first attracted me to Valley Oak One was the amount of potential in the house. When I walked in the door, I immediately knew what to do.
The most important change for me was the kitchen. It had previously been four separate rooms; a kitchen, a laundry room, a maid’s bedroom, and a maid’s bath. Unfortunately, with these older homes, it’s very hard to create a "great room", which is one large family room kitchen combination. Nowadays, it's what most buyers are looking for.
I also loved the property. The front yard was not being properly utilized, so by grading, fencing, and gating it, I made it useable. Sometimes I make two or three visits to the house to understand what improvements need to be implemented. But with this particular house, I knew immediately what I should do.
