Lunada's Favorites!

Lunada has recently installed El Dorado Stone Veneer at a job site and couldn't be happier with the results.  It's lighter, thinner and cheaper than real stone and can be installed in any location.  There is also much less waste than natural stone, contributes to the thermal mass of walls (green!), contains recycled content (green!) and comes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes which helps with achieving a natural and varied look. You will not believe your eyes when you see and feel this stone veneer.!

Installation at a job to be completed 12/10!!

Concept for a new client's shower wall, instead small openings for candles, create larger and longer niches for bath products! So versatile!

For more product information visit their website: http://www.eldoradostone.com/flashsite/

Design Adaptations

This happens all the time in home remodels/new construction; items get placed on back order, get lost or even worse - discontinued or arrive damaged.  In Lunada's most recent project, a bath tub of ours was delivered 3 weeks late and with so much damage to the exterior enamel that we had to reject it at delivery!  This was an especially sad realization because this tub is what sparked an entire bathroom remodel for our client.  The tub I am speaking of is the Kohler Highbridge, a beautiful fixture.  It has a finished apron recessed about 6" improving the accessibility of the tub by allowing the user to step closer to the basin or the space can be used for custom cabinetry, which is what Lunada decided to do. Lunada planned to highlight the tub's finished apron (let's get the most bang for the buck since the tub is pricier than a regular drop-in) by building an open shelf where the client could place decorative soaps, towels, what have you.

 

 This design was so thought out and happily embraced by our client, it was heartbreaking to think that we would have to reselect another tub that really wasn't comparable to the Highbridge. (You might be thinking to yourself, "Why not just order another one?" Well, lead time on a new Highbridge was 28 days, and we certainly couldn't allow our client to wait that long after the original 3 week delay.  This project should have been finishing up by now!!) Eventually the damaged tub was installed and the design was changed eliminating the open shelf and adding cabinets all the way across similar to this image:

Another option: tiling the front of the tub takes advantage of the 6" under the ledge increasing accessibility to the tub.

My point is, that even when there are setbacks within of home remodels and design, it isn't the end of the world. Good designers are all about adapting to situations that are out of their control and still producing beautiful design that their clients will love.  It's also about having good plumbing reps who will take care of you in times of minor crises like this. Check our website www.lunadaconsulting.com for progress pictures!

Last Minute Tax Credits!

All of the great tax credits that we have been hearing about are going to expire at the end of the year which is why it is a great time to take advantage of these projects now and not later.  All of these changes will pay for themselves over time, you will literally be paying less for energy with these changes and the govt. will most likely cover almost 30% of the costs!!! 

1. Get an energy audit - this can target problem areas and sometimes are required in order to take advantage of certain energy audits.
2. Re-Insulate - help keep cool air in and hot air out.....or vice versa depending on the time of year.  If you use insulation approved by the Energy Conservation Code the you can have 30% or up to $1,500 off 2010 taxes.
3. Replace old windows & doors - same as insulation, keep what you want in and what you don't wan out. This is a more expensive project but think of it as adding to your home's aesthetics as well as your pocket book.
4. Replace old appliances - Cash for clunkers isn't just for your old cars, check for these deals and always buy Energy Star Rated Appliances.  New energy saving appliances can qualify for a tax credit that is equal to 30% of the cost up to $1,500.
5. Re-Roof - a new roof is one of the best investments you can make for your home. In addition to appliances, there are also Energy Star rated metal roofs.  These roofs have "cooling granules" that help reflect the sun's heat rather than absorb it. 
6. Plan to install a solar water heater - Solar credits were extended to 2016, so if you can't afford it now, don't worry but don't put it off either! 
7. Install a smart meter - By showing you data in real time, you can monitor your usage more effectively.  This will also tell you when it is the best time to run certain appliances when the cost of electricity is low. 

Read a more comprehensive summary on The Daily Green.

Lunada Kitchen Storage Solutions

Recently, I was reading an article on Better Homes and Garden's website that gave a lot of great ideas for storing your small kitchen appliances.  Not unlike our Laundry room blog (seen below), your kitchen can be easily customized to fit the way you live without a demolition crew.  Don't get me wrong, custom kitchens, especially Luanda's, are amazing and beautiful, but the practical issue is a full blown kitchen remodel is not always in the budget and sometimes new appliances aren't either. Looking to streamline your kitchen? Need more counter space?  Are you embarrassed by your old or dingy appliances when company comes over? There are quick and easy solutions to your problem, my friends.  Well, first of all, we are going to need space and there is no time like the present to clean out those cupboards and make room for those eyesores.  Tuck away those microwaves into the pantry after you add a sliding shelf.  If you are feeling spontaneous, they now have microwave drawers that come in standard sizes so it is easy to replace an existing drawer in your lower cabinets.  Better Homes and Garden also had some great ideas about creating a snack bar or baking station.  You can group  all of your dry ingredients with your stand mixer that is now on a shelf that can be easily tucked inside a cabinet.  Or, you can group your toaster and coffee maker in a cabinet where you can easily grab a quick bite to eat in the morning.  You can find images of these great solutions below and hopefully they will get your wheels spinning.  Almost all of the hardware you need to convert your cupboards or drawers can be found at your local hardware store, or if you are dreaming a little bigger, Lunada is always here to help.

For more ideas on ways to adapt your kitchen, schedule a consultation with Lunada!

South Bay Interior Design meets the Mid-West.

One of the things that I think is truly unique to Lunada is our enthusiastic approach to BASEMENTS!  Lunada's founder is actually from the mid-west and she has always said how weird it was that no one out here has basements.  Basements are totally functional by offering additional storage easily accessed as opposed to crawling up into the attic. Basements also allows you to actually store your cars in your garage rather than all your junk!

One of the greatest benefits to moving all of your storage downstairs is the simple fact that once you get rid of your attic, you can now have higher ceilings! One of the most dramatic changes anyone can make in their home is the addition of natural light.  By removing that huge roadblock, you can now add skylights, vaulted ceilings, suspended lighting and ceiling fans that don't make you feel like your head is about to be chopped off it is so low.

Basements are great locations for wine cellars, which are always at the top of homeowner's lists when doing a remodels, which benefit from the cooler and more consistent temperatures.  They are also great locations for home offices -- you can have all the space you need and at the end of the day, closing that door allows you to 100% clock out.  Laundry rooms are also great down there to save on space, noise and mess.  Have a big family or shop at Costco?   Basements are great locations to store your 48 count toilet paper, 100 bottles of Coca-Cola, and bulk root vegetables.

Now, you may be thinking, "Can a basement be added to an existing house?  Or do I have to scrape my lot and start from scratch?"  The answer is both and luckily, Lunada has done both!  Now this storage solution can't be applied to just any home.  Of course you lucky beachcombers with the sand 20 ft. from your door can't due to the high water table and sandy soil, but those of you living in Palos Verdes, Rolling, Hills, San Pedro area.....definitely a realistic possibility.  Throw out your misconceptions of basements and realize that they can be totally functional for California living, they can be beautiful, and they can dramatically change your home.


Think all basements are dark and scary?  Think again.

Want to know if you can add a basement to your home?  Schedule a consultation with Lunada by visiting www.lunadaconsulting.com or calling 310.544.1895.

Phasing Your Home Remodel with Lunada

Many of our clients come to us with a simple kitchen remodel, and then soon after talking to them and working to find out what their big picture is, most people want to remodel their entire home AND landscape.  Of course not many clients can't afford such a financial undertaking such as a whole home remodel but want the same results.  The best way to achieve a whole house remodel with a limited budget is phasing the construction.  

Lunada always suggests remodeling your interior before moving onto your exterior.  

With construction comes a lot of mess.  Not only are there numerous crew members involved in demo, construction, and finish carpentry, there are dumpsters, materials being delivered and stored, appliances, furniture, and you are probably still living there too!  Now, backyards are important -- we live in Southern California after all!  You wouldn't want your new pool and grass to be trampled on or take the risk of ruining it with all of the commotion of a construction site. 

A client's best bet is to start with something the entire household uses on a daily basis: the kitchen.  This is where the most dramatic difference and most practical investment can be made through cabinetry, lighting, new appliances, and flooring.  Then, after saving up for a few months, it is a good idea to move into the dining room, living room, and entry and the bedrooms and private bathrooms.  This allows for minimal disruption to the homeowners during the construction process.  After your home is perfect, move outside to add that new pool or outdoor kitchen transforming your backyard into an outdoor retreat!  

The most important part about phasing a construction project is planning.  If you thoroughly plan the phases of your construction and time them with deliveries, payments, and personal calendars, a whole home remodel can be relatively painless.  Remember, Lunada is here for you and we can help you plan your project through a simple consultation.  Check out our website www.lunadaconsulting.com to fill out a contact sheet and we will get back to you as soon as possible.  Now is the time to start planning, summer is just around the corner!

Mesquite Hearth

There has been a lot of curiosity about the image on our website's home page. Mesquite is considered a domestic wood that is very stable and dense and is considered a renewable resource. It was made from 4 pieces of wood and when it was complete, you had to search for the seams; and if you weren't looking for them, you probably just thought it was the inherent nature of the wood. This hearth was personally fabricated by our G.C. and obviously was a labor of love. Good craftsmanship is hard to come by these days, and I think it speaks for itself.

 







Be sure to check out Lunada's Website: www.lunadaconsulting.com