Mountain Gate Ave

Restoring and Maintaining Home Exteriors: Stucco, Shingles, Siding, and Brick

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Got Home? We’ve Got an Exterior Paint Process For It

The Bay Area sings in a chorus of varied genres of architecture. From Eichlers and Craftsman Bungalows to ornate Victorians, robust Colonials, and magical Storybook houses, each genre is unique. What makes a style remarkable is in part how it features a specific set of materials. Arana views any home we are invited to work with as a treasure. We combine artistry with craftsman utility to not only beautify but also to protect the home for the long term.

While many houses in the Bay Area are around 70-to-100 years old or more, that timeline is nothing compared to the thousands of years that castles built in Europe have stood. Coming in somewhere between that kind of longevity and what is available to us if we are thoughtful and caring with the tools and materials available to us today, we present this article describing how we handle the types of exteriors that make up the majority of homes of The Peoples of the Bay Area: Stucco, Shingle, Siding, and Brick.

STUCCO: This home exterior material is a personal favorite of mine because it is infinitely easy to maintain — which makes it more environmentally friendly as well, in our opinion. We see in the industry a rise in the use of “sustainable” products, but if these are not also long-lasting, and must be replaced 2-to-3 times more often, then to us, that product may not in fact good for the environment. Stucco (as long as it is applied to a home NOT built on a hill near an earthquake fault) can go 10-to-20 years without needing new paint. As long as there are no cracks left unsealed, you don’t have to do much to it. Open cracks can let water in and that allows rot to develop underneath. The downside of stucco is that a whole wall of your home might be rotting away inside the stucco and you might not know about it.

Our process for maintaining, restoring, and beautifying stucco: We scrape and sand any peeling paint. For any cracks, we open them up, check for water damage underneath, and re-patch them. We spot prime and only if necessary, fully prime the whole house. If your house has a pre-colored stucco that is being painted for the first time, we can expect that a lot of primer will be needed, as unpainted stucco gets “thirsty,” drying out as it ages.

Let’s talk about elastomeric (“terpolymer” paint) on stucco: While we understand that it has some desirable qualities, as it is useful for waterproofing or bridging small cracks, it is only effective under the right conditions. If your stucco is in bad shape, and/or if you already have years of paint build-up, elastomeric is not the right choice. It cannot replace necessary repairs and upkeep. And please do not rely on elastomeric to solve all of your waterproofing problems! Elastomeric is best used on new stucco. If used on previously painted stucco, it is important not to over-apply it; results may vary depending on the texture of the stucco. Our advice is to research very carefully before you choose this product.

SHINGLES: Cedar shingles are not the most common material, but you will see them on homes across the Bay Area. Cedar is an amazing and versatile wood product, but it can become susceptible to breakdown in a shingle format. Varying approaches may be taken on how to treat them.

New shingles: Some homeowners choose to let the shingles stay raw and cure in the sun, causing them to turn gray. While this is a viable approach, we recommend at least that you have a clear sealer with a UV protectant applied to will help to protect the shingles from sun damage over the long term. This coating should be reapplied about every 5 years.

Cedar shingles that have been coated with a semi-transparent stain product: Over time, stained shingles develop tannin spots and will go grey or even totally black. To maintain a specific color and appearance we recommend using a wood brightener product that can be sprayed on and then gently scrubbed into the shingles with a stiff-bristle nylon or utility brush. Scrubbing enables the product to penetrate and remove the tannin stains as well as other types of mildew and grime.

The shingles should then be rinsed with a pressure washer (professionals-only, please). Once the shingles are nice and clean, we apply our favorite stain product: Messmers. Whether clear or one of their stock colors, we highly recommend Messmers as it results in a beautiful and long-lasting finish. NOTE: It is best to hold off on repainting the painted-wood elements around the shingles until after this process is completed, as any accidental contact from the wood-brightener product can mar a newly painted surface.

Cedar shingles that have been coated with a semi-solid or solid stain product: These types of stain products can partially or fully obscure the grain pattern of the wood. These products are used to achieve a color rather than enabling a proper marriage between color and wood grain. Any stain will fade over time, but with these types of products, you may also see peeling, flaking, or scratches — that become unsightly more than anything. Again, cedar is a hardy wood that will not rot, but in a shingle format, it does tend to break down slowly over time. A good general pressure wash of semi- or solid-stained shingles and a reapplication of the stain product in a one- or two-coat process should suffice, depending on the original product used and the condition of the wood.

Painted Shingles: Yes, this is a thing and we consider it almost a last resort, or if you simply must have a fully painted shingle home. If you don’t already have painted shingles, don’t do it. The amount of maintenance painting shingles can create is unpredictable, with each shingle potentially becoming a peeling-paint mess. To prepare and repaint this type of home, we would use the same process for painted shingles as for siding (see below). Another option is to replace your cedar shingles with HardieShingle® siding which is a fiber-cement product that is gaining in popularity.

SIDING: There are different varieties of siding your home can be built with. The original redwood of the SF Bay Area, cedar, pine or Douglas fir, or vinyl, or HardiePlank® Lap Siding which is a fiber-cement product that we are seeing on newly-constructed homes. HardiePlank is a pre-colored product that can later be painted when you are ready for a change.

Our process for painted siding, as with any painted surface: Scrape and sand any loose or peeling material. On wood surfaces, rot may need to be repaired or replaced. Repairs on damage to wood siding can only be done on areas that are no bigger than 4” x 4”. For these, we scrape out the rotted wood, apply a liquid that kills the dry rot organism, and then apply a two-part resin product that fills in the gap. We then apply a full coat of primer to those repairs and to the whole exterior of the home as needed. Next, we go over the entire surface area to inspect and caulk open gaps, in order to create a paintable surface.

BRICK: Brick homes are rarer in earthquake-prone California, but they are here, and we do work on them. Oftentimes bricks can absorb dirt and accumulate mold and mildew which can make them look drab. We recommend a careful pressure wash and scrub to brighten the bricks. Like any concrete or stone product, brick can erode over time and lose its shape. We recommend a clear sealer to prevent this. One that we use is Drylock. If you are going to go DIY with this product, please be sure to get it in a flat finish because shiny is no bueno on bricks!

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10 Things to Consider When Choosing Paint Colors for Your Interiors

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By Judy Dinkle, Interior Designer and Color Consultant

Interior Designer Judy Dinkle is one of Arana’s go-to color consultants for our clients. As part of the service we provide, we include a free one-hour paint color consultation for whole-house interior or whole-house exterior contracts. We asked Judy to give us some pointers that we could pass along to our community; things to keep in mind when selecting paint colors for your home.

Judy says:

  1. Choose right the first time. Paint may not be that expensive, but labor costs can add up. Choosing colors carefully at the start of a project will save you time, and money, later on.
  2. Follow the “Rule of Three.” To give your room a sense of depth and a feeling of being thoughtfully designed, choose three colors that work well together for your wall color, accent color, and secondary accent color.
  3. Be bold. Often, I find that homeowners are afraid of being too bold, or of choosing colors that are too personal. I recommend choosing colors you will love living in. Your spaces will be more welcoming and authentic as a result. If your favorite color is red, paint a room red! Or choose an accent area to paint red, and add red pillows. The truth is, any color can look good if it is properly integrated into the palette of the home.
  4. Look in your closet for inspiration. When I ask my clients, “What would you like?” and they just don’t know — I ask them to show me their closet. The colors that are in your closet tend to be what you naturally gravitate towards and look good in. The spaces in your home should feel good and flatter you in the same way.
  5. Pick a color from your favorite BIG things. Another way to get your color cues is to look to the strongest and largest pattern in a room. Begin with a beloved piece of furniture or a rug, a stone countertop, carpeting or wood floors, one visually striking item that is very large in the space. Pick a color from that piece or pattern and start from there. That might be your wall color, or you might choose a more neutral wall color that compliments it, for example, a shade of white or ecru.
  6. Pair colors to enhance the energy of the space. In general, pairing colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel enhances the mood they project. Pairing cool colors such as blue and green in a room will lead to a more casual or relaxing feel that will work best in your informal and private spaces, like the bedroom. Reds and oranges together are warm and energizing — good for places where you want a lift such as a laundry area, entry, mudroom, or a home office or workout space.
  7. Skip the beige, or give it life. People tend to like beige because it’s safe. But it’s also pretty blah. If you want to do neutral well, the trick is to contrast cool and warm tones. For example, a warm beige-y-wheat paired with a cool gray can create a little tension that is more interesting to look at than if you chose all shades of the same neutral tone.
  8. Create a color strategy for the whole house. We don’t want every room to be the same color, but we do want all of the colors throughout the house to have flow. A red sofa in the living room might be echoed by a burgundy accent color in a bedroom. You might take a bright cabinet color like sea green in the kitchen and repeat it in the palette of an adjacent great room or dining room, in painted accents or in the pattern of the pillows or curtains, so that those spaces talk to each other.
  9. Go BIG in small spaces or places. Small spaces, like powder rooms, for example, can be a fun place to apply your boldest, brightest, deepest colors on the walls. While in general, painting a room white will make a tiny space look bigger, I like to give more power to a space by using bold color. Let your big rooms expand with the lighter tones and have the small spaces be more cocooned and impactful.
  10. Choose the right finishes. A good rule of thumb is to always do painted-wood trim in a furniture finish, like satin, rather than a semi-gloss; it looks richer. Sometimes I break this rule and choose to paint a door, wall panel, or divider screen in a high-gloss for drama and shine, however, the surface needs to be nearly flawless to begin with and the preparation of that surface also has to be perfect because high-gloss shows every imperfection. So choose wisely, (and hire a good painting contractor, of course).

Credits for images in this post:

PHOTO CREDIT: Garett Wisesan

PROJECT CREDITS: Painting Contractor: Arana Craftsman Painters; Color Consultant and Interior Designer: Judy Dinkle

Judy Dinkle of JD Designs is an award-winning interior designer located in the Bay Area. You are welcome to contact her directly about her color consulting and design services at [email protected] or 925-330-6774. Learn more about her work at www.houzz.com/pro/judydinkle/judy-dinkle-jd-designs

Great Room Judy Dinkle Houzz

Think Like an Interior Designer: More Tips on Choosing Colors for Your Home

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By Judy Dinkle, Interior Designer and Color ConsultantJudy Dinkle headshot

(Part 2 of 2) Approaching a whole house interior painting project can easily feel overwhelming.

As an interior designer and as a color consultant working with Arana’s clients, I see this all the time. It’s why I do what I do, and why I am happy to help when Arana refers me for a project. Here are a few strategies I use to help guide clients to making the right decisions on paint colors for their homes.

Where to begin:

When faced with selecting a palette for your home, I recommend starting with the more public spaces, the living room, dining room, and entry. Once we find a palette we like for those areas, then the colors for the adjacent rooms end up jumping off from the main colors of the formal entertaining areas. Thus after the formal areas, choose related colors for the family room, primary bedroom, guest room, powder room, bath.

While it might be tempting to apply one palette of three colors throughout, if you paint the whole-house interior all the same, you will end up dulling down the impact of those colors.

How to make a room look thoughtfully put together:

If you want to think like an interior designer, try decorating from dark to light, vertically, in this order: floor, walls, trim, crown molding, casing, ceiling.

For example, if your floor is super dark, the walls might be a medium wheat gold, then the crown molding and casing around windows and doors might be a lighter tint of that or a warm white that picks up the warm tones of the gold, or you could choose a light gray wall color paired with a cool white with a touch of gray in it for the woodwork.

Designer Mark McCauley, says this “cookbook” method to color selection tends to work because it mirrors what we experience in nature: “Any interior space replicates the outside world. The exterior environment is generally darker below our feet (the earth itself), medium-valued as you look straight ahead (buildings/trees) and lighter skyward.”

When to paint it black?

Some designers have a rule to add a little bit of black in every room. This technique is very popular now, and I think it’s a good idea but I don’t automatically do this in every room. Still, it’s a tool that works. Black acts to clarify a room’s colors. The black could be the hardware on cabinets, it could be a faucet, a light fixture… also, you want to repeat it in a number of accents in the room to help create balance.

Accents like this are like adding jewelry to a perfect outfit. Sometimes I like to use black on a painted floor register or heating vent, especially with older houses that might have vent covers that are very decorative. I might find a place to repeat that pattern elsewhere in the room, also. Other opportunities for black include the stove hood in the kitchen, older light fixtures, door handles.

Other accents that many people may not realize are paintable include brick fireplace surrounds or even the treads and risers on a staircase! Paired with a nice runner, a painted stair system can look fabulous.

When to paint it gray?

In general, like black, a good gray also is a neutral you can use to accent space and pull things together from one room to another. Gray is also popular now. I advise caution; despite what you see in the magazines, I say do NOT do ALL light gray and white. Rooms still need color: pops, accents, artwork, graphic patterns on sheets or towels, an accent wall.

Gray is a great supporting player. Gray’s chameleon-like quality invites other colors to appear either warm or cool depending on the tone of gray you choose, and grays can pair beautifully with both pastels or stronger colors like hot pink, Kelly green, or citrusy shades.

Still stuck? Consider timeless pairings:

Still not sure where to begin? Consider timeless pairings to help choose a palette: start with black and white, or blue and white. Try this in a bathroom and then accent with metallic, copper, brushed bronze, or brushed brass. The metallic will balance the contrasting colors and make your space look more thought out.

You are welcome to contact Judy Dinkle directly about her color consulting and design services at [email protected] or 925-330-6774. Learn more about her work at www.houzz.com/pro/judydinkle/judy-dinkle-jd-designs

Oakland painters Arana Craftsman Painters

What Is Pantone’s Color of the Year?

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What is the color of the year and why is it relevant? Is there just one? Under the heading of nothing is as simple as it sounds, there are multiple answers to these questions. Color of the Year, as announced by the Pantone company annually in December, is a relatively new phenomenon that began in the year 2000.

The Pantone announcement doesn’t just relate to house painting, but rather is an analysis of past color trends in industries including fashion, marketing, and business, as well as the mood of the culture, influences in the environment, for products and design, and a prediction (although some would say, this announcement drives the market) of what color will be relevant for the following year.

This annual event originated as a way to generate excitement about color. And the paint companies soon followed suit, announcing their own colors of the year. Basically, it’s all about marketing and P.R. But it’s also A LOT of fun to witness the reveals.

We also want to direct you to herein to projects in our portfolio that are similar to the selections being highlighted by Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore this year.

Note that the paint company colors tend to have almost no relation to Pantone’s announcement, visually, but rather are relevant to what has been trending in the design industry, specifically. Pantone’s color choice tends to have a direct bearing on consumer goods and fashion, including what colors the iPhone will be available in, for each year.

We like to use the annual announcements as an opportunity to reflect on the jobs in our portfolio where that color has been successful for us in the past.

Sherwin Williams selected a shade of teal (“Agean Teal”) that is somewhat similar to this very popular kitchen cabinet project, color specification and interior design by LMB Interiors: Hillsborough Kitchen Remodel

And Benjamin Moore’s “Urbane Bronze” is quite close to the colors famed designer John Wheatman selected for the exterior and basement of this august, North Berkeley home: Berkeley Basement Dig-Out

For our designer colleagues and for our homeowner clients, we see the annual announcement as a point of consideration — to explore the different feelings that the color might evoke, and a point of inspiration, an opportunity to make changes — as a professional retiring an old stand-by go-to color, or as a homeowner deciding to refresh a space.

Did you know? Arana puts together a book for interior designers each year about the paint companies’ announcements and the impact, which is available for download on our website in the resources section.

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Pantone’s Color(s) of the Year for 2021: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray

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For 2021, for only the second time in its 20-year tradition of choosing the color of the year, Pantone selected a duo: gray and yellow. Their explanation is, as always, epic poetry:

“Ultimate Gray + Illuminating, two independent colors that highlight how different elements come together to support one another, best express the mood for Pantone Color of the Year 2021. Practical and rock-solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating is one of strength and positivity. It is a story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly.

“A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combination of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope. We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit.

“As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity, and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. The colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time, Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience.

“Emboldening the spirit, the pairing of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating highlights our innate need to be seen, to be visible, to be recognized, to have our voices heard. A combination of color whose ties to insight, innovation and intuition, and respect for wisdom, experience, and intelligence inspires regeneration, pressing us forward toward new ways of thinking and concepts.”

From www.pantone.com

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Philanthropy Spotlight: Carolyn Rebuffel Flannery and Make It Home

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Faithful readers of our blog may recognize the name of interior designer Carolyn Rebuffel Flannery. We have loved working with Carolyn to help realize her beautiful, pattern-driven design projects and have featured her twice in previous articles, once for her inventive self-created textiles and again when we wanted our designer colleagues to weigh in on their favorite shades of white paint.

While many of us have pivoted in different ways in 2020, Carolyn took a big leap. Closing her design business for one year, Carolyn dedicated herself to launching and running a charitable nonprofit, Make It Home. Combining her longtime advocacy for foster children with her knowledge of and networks in the design community, Carolyn’s new non-profit places donated new and gently-used furniture and fixtures (a longtime waste issue in the design industry) in homes of newly-adopted foster children and of previously homeless adults transitioning out of crisis and into permanent residences.

Thus, Make It Home provides quality furniture, including beds, lamps, tables, and dining sets to vulnerable populations who might otherwise not have access to these things that create home. With COVID-19 causing the need for support to surge, Carolyn decided to have Make It Home be her main priority.

And now, what started out as a one-year sabbatical has turned into a full-time career change. Carolyn reports, “I am not going back to residential interior design—this endeavor is too much fun and has the potential to help so many people. So I am going to do it full-time for the foreseeable future.”

“I might take on a design project here or there,” she adds, “if it looks as fun as what I am doing now, but…”

Click here to read more about Make It Home, as covered in Business of Home.

At Arana Craftsman Painters we care deeply about supporting community. We wanted to spotlight Carolyn for her courageous leap into full-time philanthropic work and are honored to count her among our creative, change-making colleagues, clients, and friends.

Are you working to make a difference in the world? Would you like to have your work featured in our newsletter? Contact us!

Shelter in Place, Part II: ADUs — Costs, options, and considerations

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Continuing our conversation about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), we asked Kevin Mond, head of design and sales for HDR Remodeling, as well as co-owner and vice president of the company, to describe in detail the process, costs, and range of options, to help our community make the best decisions for themselves. Arana has partnered with HDR on a number of projects, including the gorgeous custom-built ADU featured in this article.

Kevin writes:

Our company built our first ADU in 2015 and, from what we’ve seen, the rapid rise in requests for ADUs has been a fairly recent phenomenon. In the beginning, we were mostly working on garages, converting them into dwellings — this is a huge undertaking, especially when it comes to dealing with getting permits. Over the last five years, as the trend has continued upward, we’ve seen requests for ADUs vary quite a bit and we have found that there is simply not a one-size-fits-all reason or solution.

ADUs tend to fall into a few different categories. Some people simply want to generate rental income. They have space and want to invest in their property, but because it’s a rental, they prioritize doing the work as cost-effectively as possible, rather than focusing on quality. Those are not typically our clients since the high level of craftsmanship HDR Remodeling provides often comes at a higher price point.

Another category we see are couples whose parents will help them buy a house in the Bay Area, one on a big lot, with the condition or future goal of having the parents move into that ADU in retirement and be close to their children and grandchildren. We also see the case where parents own a large house and are willing to downsize and have the next generation take over the big house while the parents move into an ADU in the backyard.

A fourth reason is that people simply want to create additional space. Many of us in the Bay Area live in smaller homes; by adding more square footage in a separate part of the house or on the property, we can have that music studio, yoga studio, or home office (a huge Covid-19 need).

What excites me about ADUs is how creatively we have to think. It’s very different from designing a 2000-square-foot home.

For an ADU, you have to spend a lot of time analyzing every square foot, even every square inch — maximizing the layout so that the space feels larger than what it really is.

This challenge makes you rethink assumptions. You start asking questions like: Why does a bathroom need its own sink? If the kitchen sink can work just as well as your wash station, you can have one sink for the whole structure.

In one recent build, for a 250-square-foot ADU (click here to view photos in Arana’s portfolio) — which is very small — the clients didn’t have a specific need in mind, but they wanted flexibility. So, we installed a Murphy bed and a combined-use sink. This project also shows how the smallest details make a difference. For example, we took a mirror that they really liked, and instead of a simple surface-mount, we recessed it, just to avoid having it protrude from the wall. This helped make the space — which has a kitchen, bathroom, dining area, and bedroom — feel bigger. We vaulted the ceilings to make the interior feel larger than it really is.

There is a funny battle within ADU design. People love their backyards, but they also want the additional square footage of living space. Negotiating those competing desires is a dance we do so that we can provide enough square footage for each.

We also help clients decide if the trade-off is worth it. A backyard ADU may not always be the best choice; it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If it’s a home office, a ground-up backyard ADU may not be the best route to go. It is costly to bring in electrical and plumbing and all of the systems required in a dwelling. In cases like this, installing a prefab structure might make more sense. If the homeowner doesn’t have a large backyard, building an attached ADU inside the home is sometimes an option. We recently completed a project in a standard 2-bedroom, 1-bath, 1200-1500 square foot, Oakland home, where we were able to dig down to achieve the required 8-foot ceiling height.

ADUs, especially ones with full plumbing and electrical, are often more expensive than people expect. For construction costs only, the budget can be around $350-$450K, and beyond. Even if you self-manage the project, construction costs can still end up being around $300- $400K, plus time spent project managing. And then you have to add in the costs for engineering, permitting, interior design, and furniture and decor. If there is room in the budget, I advise clients to prioritize using higher quality materials.

If instead of an ADU, you want to build a studio or an office in your backyard, that is much less costly. It’s a completely different permitting process and simpler to build. You are not excavating, bringing in plumbing, electrical, etc., or even having to pour a deep foundation. Because these structures are considered sheds, the foundation requirements are much simpler; you can do something very straightforward for about a third of the cost.

Another cost-cutting option, and one that also speeds up the process, is installing a prefabricated structure. For prefabricated dwellings, HDR recommends Abodu (abodu.com). We completed three Abodu installs for clients so far in 2020 and are finishing up two more, right now. For prefab sheds, a company we like is YardPods (yardpods.com).

People think, “I have a garage here, it’s kind-of falling apart, I’m 80% there, I just need to put some drywall and heat…” But that unfortunately is far from reality.

A garage built in the 1920s was built to store things, not people. To convert to a space where people live, the safety considerations go way up. You typically have to do additional framing, pour in a foundation, upgrade the siding to ensure that it’s waterproof, and make sure that the roof is in good shape. Plus you have to excavate and bring in proper systems, like plumbing and electrical. It doesn’t matter if the space is 200 square feet or 800 square feet, systems are where the costs go up.

A clear, upfront explanation of the cost is helpful because most people I talk to say ‘I thought ADUs would cost around $150K.’ There is a preconceived notion that smaller dwellings should cost far less to build than a larger structure. That’s why it is so important for us to educate the general public in order to assist in better upfront decision making. We appreciate the opportunity to reach Arana’s audience on this topic!

By Kevin Mond.

Learn more at: www.hdrremodeling.com

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Shelter in Place with Accessory Dwelling Units

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Now that “Sheltering in Place” has become the “new normal,” many of us are looking to our homes to support us more than ever before. Maintenance projects that we might have been putting off are suddenly in our faces 24/7 and getting long-needed attention. And with this new and constant attention to home, we recognize that we need our spaces to be multi-functioning, as everything from work, to school, to socializing is now being done on video-chat.

While video in some ways feels more distanced than the in-person world of before, it is also more intimate. We are peering into each other’s homes through these tiny boxes on our screens!

Speaking of tiny… another concept that has become even more popular in recent years is the multi-purpose and modular-functioning tiny home — as well as the idea of creatively carving out space in your existing full-sized home, whether within the structure, going underneath, adding onto, or installing an entirely new structure; whether built from scratch or pre-fabricated and placed in your yard.

All of these can be classified as an ADU. ADU stands for “Accessory Dwelling Unit.” Sometimes quaintly or antiquated-ly referred to as the “in-Law” or even “Mother-In-Law” unit. In legal terms, an ADU is a space that has its own entrance, a bedroom, its own bathroom, storage of some kind, and a kitchen.

While ADUs might have once been the place that gave you breathing room from your Mother-In-Law when she came to stay for extended periods (not for us, we love our MILs!), today the ADU serves many functions, from an income-generator via Airbnb, to a home-office or home-schoolroom, to a way to re-welcome-home adult children who previously left the nest, or shelter other relatives long-term, creating an accommodating extended family compound in uncertain (and even in better!) times.

There are two categories and four typical formats of an ADUs: Detached — either Constructed or Pre-built; or Attached — usually a garage conversion or underground excavation.

A general ballpark-estimate for a 200-square-foot interior ADU is about $150,000 and a 650-square-foot backyard-detached cottage may run you as much as $350,000. Prices will vary depending on size, as well as any unforeseen construction issues that come up, plus how fancy you want to go with materials, appliances, decoration, furnishings, etc.

In the Bay Area, some see the rise in ADUs as a solution to rising new-housing needs. And legislation has followed suit in recent years. We’ve experienced a welcome decrease in the regulations that were previously deal-breakers, or at least headache-makers, including reducing or eliminating parking requirements, and shortening distance from curb measurements for permitting, as cities like Oakland and Berkeley are searching for lower-impact ways to create more housing.

In comparison with countries across the world, it seems that the United States has started to catch on to the benefits of multi-generational family housing, seeing ADUs as a pathway to keeping families together; although economic factors are also a noted influence and now, the pandemic.

Currently, California holds the #2 spot in the U.S. for the highest percentage of multi-generational family homes.

More and more in the Bay Area, we are seeing scenarios like this one: a large backyard cottage might house an adult child in their 20s with the parents living in the front house, and as this next generation marries and starts to have kids, the new growing family and aging parents swap places, with parents moving to the backyard abode and aging-in-place.

Of course, the key to having an ADU install be a positive experience is hiring an experienced and knowledgeable team. We have worked with HDR Remodeling and other general contractors and architects whom we refer to and are referred by who can steer you through the process with, hopefully, as little grief and as much information to reasonably calibrate expectations of cost and duration, as possible.

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Kitchen Trends To Avoid In 2020

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We don’t want to brag, but you can show us any kitchen, and we can assume, in a few years or so, when it was designed or revamped (we know it’s a neat party trick)—because kitchen architecture, like fashion and another home decor, usually follows patterns that come and go.

One minute of avocado-green refrigerators are great, and the next, they’re painfully old. Ditto: flooring of linoleum. We could still say the same thing about cane furniture— only that it came and disappeared, gone, and coming back later.

Many reasons make a kitchen design unwanted and lose the appeal it had on people. One of the reasons is that many modern designs are coming up, thus phasing out traditional kitchen trends that have been there before.

However, some of the old kitchen trends like the use of wood counter tops are slowly coming back and are replacing modern kitchen trends. With the onset of 2020, we figured we’d take a look at a couple of past-their-prime types that are ready to retire, at least until the pattern inevitably comes back.

marble counter tops

Let’s clarify — we’re thinking about the real stone, not the feel of marble. With its distinctive striations and shading, it will always look good in the kitchen or the bathroom. Correct marble counter tops, however, come up with a lot of things.

These need to be resealed every few years; these will scrape, rub, or stain; and they are brittle, so that heat and even some chemicals become troublesome if misused. What is the explanation for the exit? There are more robust options available— such as marble, butcher- stone, or even granite.

Marble is expensive to purchase and also will take a toll on your pocket, installing it on your kitchen wall, counter top, or even on the floor. That alone may make a homeowner opt for cheap alternatives to use in their kitchen.

All-White Kitchens

You can’t really go wrong with a white kitchen, but it’s bland, and the design world is over. Where’s the personality? The all-white kitchen has become synonymous in many homes and hotels. It is good to show class in your kitchen and even at the entire house.

However, this trend should not be with us in 2020, moving forward. The main reason is that it does not incorporate any creativity in it. Most all white kitchen are monotonous and do not have any sense of style in them.

With the onset of modern kitchen interior designs, many people opt to use warm colors in their kitchen. This is because warm colors are suitable for appetite and also have an artistic look.

Subway Tiles

There’s nothing objectionable about the subway tiles— it’s just that they’ve been so overdone that they’ve refurbished the bathroom, and they just look like overkill.

There are many other fun ways to make a back splash. Why not try a different form, a handmade tile, or even a stone slab instead?

Industrial-Style Statement Lighting

Heavy, bulky pendant lighting had a moment, but the industrial style had come and gone in favor of something a little lighter and more understated. The new method lets the rest of the kitchen shine and doesn’t block the view in the open concept room.

  • Tip: Make sure you always pay attention to the height of your lighting as applied to your floors, cabinets, or kitchen- island.

Plaster Walls

They’ve been all over our Instagram for the last few years. Don’t give in, man. It’s hard to imagine, but the wall plaster would look incredibly old quite early. Oh, it’s a hassle to keep clean, and it can smear quickly. Not perfect for a room where stuff will sometimes spill or splatter.

Barn Doors

They were probably on their way out a couple of years ago — and now they’re legal. They’re just too overdone, and only really make sense in a minimal type of home.

Open Shelving

In this day and age, using open shelving as a style in your kitchen may seem outdated. As the days progress, many people are adopting the use of closed shelving in their kitchens.

Open shelving is being phased out with modern home designs. The main reason for this is the open shelving design looks ugly and may create an eyesore to anyone looking at the content on the shelves.

Open- space kitchen

We used to design a kitchen with open space and no doors to increase the space around and also enhance movement in the kitchen. Today, we see the folly in our ways, and we want our walls back.

People were tired of staring at mountains of dirty dishes while they were sitting on the couch, or putting their heads on tossing pillows that feel like dinner last night.

Granite Themed Counter Tops

For many years, granite has been used as the most preferred material for counter tops. Most modern-day designers discourage the use of granite counter tops. As time progress, the trend is slowly fading away, and most people are adopting other styles of designing their counter tops.

Most people are opting to use stone, timber, and concrete as the preferred material for counter tops. White quartz will have a fantastic look if it is used as the primary material for your counter top.

Closed-off kitchens

Just like the rest of the house, Quirk notes, the floor plans are available, and they’re here to live.

You may not always want to see the chaos that can build up in the kitchen, but it doesn’t suit modern tastes anyway. Most people refer to open floor kitchens as “Kitchens without Borders.”

Conclusion
The architecture of your kitchen is one of the most important choices you need to make while decorating your house. The reason is simple: you can’t change the look of your kitchen as quickly as the equipment needs installation and plumbing. Right now, the usual thing is to create a modern kitchen that’s specially built.

If you haven’t yet settled on the most suitable type of decoration for your kitchen, this article will be helpful for you to know kitchen- designs to avoid. We encourage you to apply multiple models for you to have a kitchen that has been modernized and has your personal touch.

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Designers’ Favorites: Carolyn Rebuffel Flannery on White Interiors

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Carolyn Rebuffel Flannery, Workroom C (https://workroomc.com/): Benjamin Moore: Super White, Linen White, White Dove, Decorator’s White

How would you describe your design aesthetic? Home as a haven; peace, simplicity and beauty that resonates with each client’s lifestyle. We strive to craft designs that are inspired, savvy, and practical, and that promote a sense of calm and comfort. We specialize in designing homes for busy families looking for a soothing retreat to call their own.

What advice would you give to homeowners about choosing whites? My top four faves and why: Super White — when there is tons of light; Linen White — super-complimentary in traditional settings and works well with antiques; White Dove — softer than Super White and friendly to other colors; and Decorator’s White — works almost all of the time, in all different lighting conditions.

We put together a blog post listing our top 10 favorite whites, along with a short description of each one’s color undertones, with links to each on the Benjamin Moore website.

Do you have a project/story that demonstrates an unexpected or particularly spectacular use of white? I did have one project where we tried about 15 different whites and ended up using two of the fifteen. That was a crazy project…!

Recently, I moved into a new house, and I realized that this is the third time that I’ve moved into a new house and painted the whole entire interior white! For me, personally, painting the entire house white gives me the perfect jumping off point for art and pattern play, and layering all of that together. My first two homes were very traditional. One house had been built in 1912, the other was a Spanish Mediterranean.

In both of those, Linen White worked all the way through. Linen white is a softer, more traditional white. The house I just moved into is darker, so I’m using White Dove, which brightens it up.

For clients, if I can talk them into being bolder with fabrics and cabinet color choices, then I like white because it’s a great backdrop. But, if I specify a sofa in a very snazzy fabric, that tends to make people more nervous than if I paint their wall a bold color.

Still, I’d rather do a snazzy sofa, patterned pillows, patterned drapes — big, little, and medium patterns and pillow sizes, and paint the walls white. As a designer, you always make your boldest suggestion first, and then you adjust. In theory, white doesn’t really seem like it would be a bold suggestion, but it is.