Kathy's Remodeling Blog

New blog about New Orleans

2008-08-18T08:36:00-07:00

You can now see more New Orleans posts at my new blog: Dispatch From New Orleans The subject matter will be the three necessities of life: food, shelter and music. Stop by and say hey.

Dispatch from New Orleans: Scene from the street

2008-08-14T10:13:44-07:00

We are each called to duty by our passions. Some people I know are called to help homeless animals, homeless kids, the dying, the wrongly accused, and so many other good causes. I feel for all those. But it's houses...

Tidbits from the web

2008-08-05T21:44:28-07:00

A slow burn over a gas grill Follow along as this New York Times columnist tries to get a gas grill grilling. Good luck with that! More Stack 'em or don't stack 'em — you decide So you need a...

Fun with IKEA's $40 Varde wall shelf

2008-08-05T21:23:27-07:00

IKEA sells a pretty nice $40 Varde wall shelf unit. But actually, it's a little bland. A couple of designers from Los Angeles offer some variations in the L.A. Times. Above you see 1) the original in the center, 2)...

In New Orleans and missing home (sort of)

2008-08-05T11:25:24-07:00

Here I am in New Orleans, visiting my husband, who has been hired by Louisiana State University for six months to help train people how to rebuild hurricane-damaged homes properly. This whole deal started back in February when Bill and...

Winner announced on 'Design Star' (spoiler alert!)

2008-08-04T10:05:36-07:00

Why am I always right? Well, I'm not. But I was right about Jennifer winning HGTV's "Design Star." There's just something about dimples, don't you agree? Thanks to AJ for the update yesterday on who won. Also, I got this...

'Design Star' — And the winner is . . .

2008-08-03T16:41:53-07:00

Ha ha ha! No "spoiler alert" needed here! You want to hear an awful coincidence? I'm flying to New Orleans during the very hours this last episode airs (I'm blogging Sunday afternoon from a Starbucks at LAX). What kind of...

Famous folks at home: quiz

2008-08-01T23:05:47-07:00

Can you imagine yourself cooking here? I'm not sure if the famous former athlete whose home contains this kitchen actually cooks here. That's what hired help is for, right? (Not that I have personal experience with having a professional cook...

Looking for a landscaper

2008-07-31T14:21:08-07:00

A reader sent in this email: Hi! I saw your Pardon Our Dust article on drought-tolerant grasses. Can you recommend good landscape architect in the L.A. area? (Pamela Burton is not taking new clients.) Thanks! Any recommendations for this reader?

The temptation of the professional Viking gas grill

2008-07-30T16:08:00-07:00

Sen. Ted Sevens of Alaska, the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. Senate, was indicted yesterday on allegations that he failed to report $250,000 in improvements that were done to his home. He has denied the charges. Among the items he...

End-of-the-month book giveaway: 'Affordable Remodel'

2008-07-29T21:34:35-07:00

UPDATE: We have a winner! I picked the number "3" out of my hat, amd J Steele of Black Diamond Builders in Lake Forest was the third commenter. Check out Black Diamond Builder's website here. Thanks to all who entered....

A little bit of celebrity right here on the blog

2008-07-29T16:16:46-07:00

Reader Mary Kay Ulsamer writes in about her great experience having one of the "inspiration rooms" on Rate My Space, Angelo Surmelis' new show. (You see above the kitchen Angelo redid.) On Rate My Space, Angelo makes over some room...

Finally, the 'Design Star' final challenge

2008-07-27T23:22:58-07:00

God, I love this show! This could be an Olympic sport, don’t you think? Imagine a design challenge with “athletes” from all over the world — China, Korea, Australia, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, and so on. They would each get...

Me and Architectural Digest, together at last

2008-07-25T11:38:11-07:00

Are you a fan of Architectural Digest? I haven't been. In fact, until a couple of weeks ago, I avoided it like the plague. And using a cliché word like "plague" is not just lazy writing. It really describes the...

Where there was darkness, I brought light

2008-07-24T14:07:43-07:00

This morning, as I walked down the hallway toward the bathroom, I felt startled when I saw light coming from there and I thought: "Darn it. I left the light on all night." But the illumination did not come from...

California's most-wanted unlicensed contractors

2008-07-23T21:58:18-07:00

News from the California Contractors State License Board: Worst of the Worst — Avoid These Contractors In our ongoing effort to protect California consumers, the CSLB has identified the worst unlicensed violators who are known to prey on vulnerable and...

Ouchy! Metal fragments in these pillows

2008-07-22T14:30:55-07:00

Somewhere in China, at some point in time, there was a mechanical breakdown in the manufacturing process at a factory, and metal fragments made their way into these good-looking pillows. Then, the pillows were packed up, loaded into freight containers,...

Mike Holmes in New Orleans

2008-07-22T10:51:17-07:00

I've got my own paparazzo working down in New Orleans (AKA my husband, Bill) and he swung by the house Mike Holmes of "Holmes on Homes" is helping to build. This project is part of the Brad Pitt-founded Make It...

Who will win 'Design Star'?

2008-07-21T09:23:36-07:00

Last night, on HGTV's "Design Star," the three judges agreed this was the strongest group of finalists they'd seen yet. I agree. And I wondered if they might just give all three finalists — Matt, Trish and Jennifer (seen here)...

A treat in store for you

2008-07-20T00:57:40-07:00

Now don't hate me for this, but last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Angelo Surmelis, host of HGTV's "Rate My Space," at his Los Angeles home. You can see Angelo and his doggie Baxter in the photo above....

Insulation and moisture issues in New Orleans

2008-07-19T19:10:50-07:00

Watch SoCal contractor Bill Robinson discuss insulation and moisture issues in New Orleans with homeowner Ariane Wiltse and NOLA contractor Julie Groth. Then, take the test: Click here for the answer.

More efforts to stop the junk mail already

2008-07-17T12:39:08-07:00

Do you think I'm too codependent? When I write, call or email a company to stop already with the junk mail, I feel for the person at the other end, who might get a little deflated feeling that I don't...

In a recession, time to amp up the nesting

2008-07-16T13:54:49-07:00

I haven't had a drink of alcohol or any other mood-altering drugs for a long, long time (it's this addictive personality that's to blame). But every now and again, when I get a feeling of total bliss, I think: Ah,...

Do you want your remodel good, quick or cheap?

2008-07-08T11:03:27-07:00

There's a common ditty in the remodeling industry that goes like this: "Do you want it done good, quick or cheap? Pick two." While you may want all three (and maybe you've actually done that), there's a certain amount of...

Wow! Such a deal on handcrafted glass tile

2008-07-07T14:28:08-07:00

I don't normally include sale items in my blog, and I may never do it again. But this press release I received from Oceanside Glasstile is just too yummy to keep to myself. As an aside, Oceanside Glasstile is what...

Musings on lovely people — bold, unafraid, generous

2008-07-07T13:40:08-07:00

After nearly two decades of visiting people at home and writing newspaper and magazine articles about their remodels, I still can't get over how open and unafraid these people are. And how generous. I mean, what makes people so at...

Are some landscape plants TOO wonderful?

2008-07-06T17:33:13-07:00

On my walks lately, I keeping coming across the type of plants you see in this photo. They are in bloom right now and so gorgeous I can hardly stand it. So you might wonder, as I have: why don't...

Give me the sink and the view, and yes, we can become farmers

2008-07-06T09:31:18-07:00

Becoming farmers in midlife is a new trend. An article in the New York Times tells the story of hotel executive Dan Gibson, who wanted to try his hand at farming instead. His wife Susan needed some persuading and she...

Deadly beds

2008-07-05T10:14:41-07:00

These kids' beds, imported by Bayside Furnishings of San Diego, are handsome, no doubt about that. Unfortunately, they are also potentially deadly and have been recalled. Already one toddler was killed in Placer County, Calif., when the lid of the...

Two complete baths in 14 days

2008-07-05T00:41:35-07:00

How is it possible for a remodeling company to completely gut and remodel two bathrooms in 14 days? Can you even wrap your mind around that? Check out the full story here. (Photos: Rod Foster)