What Does It Mean to Win Best of Houzz?

The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”

Why SoCal Contractor Was Named Best of Houzz

Looking back at our top-performing project images and blog posts on social media, some trends have emerged:

Honest Advice That Saves Your Time and Money on Your Home Improvement Projects

What’s the best time of year to redo your deck? Or to renovate your kitchen? We answer these kinds of questions on the Build Blog every week and share snippets on Instagram and Facebook which our audience seems to appreciate. 

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What are the best #homeimprovement projects to do in the Fall? This is a good time to fix any chipped or warped decks. During the Summer, they most likely got used frequently and could use a refresh to prepare them before the Winter, when a different type of harsh weather will have its way. | More #HomeTips on the blog at SoCalContractor.com (link in the bio)

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Sep 10, 2019 at 9:04am PDT

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Labor Day weekend has come and gone, signifying the end of Summer. So what are the best home improvement projects to do in the Fall to get your home in Back-to-school shape? We're discussing on the latest #BuildBlog at SoCalContractor.com (link in the bio)

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Sep 9, 2019 at 5:33am PDT

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Decor Advice

One of the design elements that our firm specializes in is sustainable design and living. In posts like this one, we’re all about saving our clients time, money, headache, and saving the environment by advising clients to buy less and be okay with some empty, negative space. 

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Shower indoors or out? In this coastal getaway, you don’t have to choose! ☀️ 🌊 |Visit the #BuildBlog at SocalContractor.com for #indooroutdoor living and designing tips!

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We Get Repeat Clients

Moreover, we take a great deal of pride in the fact that the majority of our clients are repeat customers spanning a couple of decades. Why do we have so many repeat clients? We listen, build lasting relationships, and deliver quality design and installation on time! Check out more of our favorite projects from repeat clients here. 

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We're thankful to have so many repeat clients who sustain our business and let us be creatively free in our design-build practice. On the latest #BuildBlog, we wrote about some of the common themes that keep clients coming back for more. Give it a read at SoCalContractor.com (link in the bio)

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Making An Entrance 

Houzz frequently features our projects — like this one pictured below, to inspire the houzz community to make a lasting impression on guests when they enter their home! 

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Thank you so much to @houzz and writer Brenna Malmberg for featuring our entry way this week! Always a thrill to be included in a best-of round-up alongside so many talented interior designers.

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How to Design a Romantic Bedroom in 5 Steps this Valentine’s Day

Modern Romance & Mix-Matched Stylings

When it comes to the color palette in the bedroom, we’re always fans of something soft and sweet – and mixing it with a modern, trendy furniture piece or light fixture for a little edge. Using a pretty pink color palette, this blushing bedroom mixes traditional elements with trendy modern for a subtly mix-matched look. Keeping everything in a clean, pastel color palette gives the space it’s romantic feel.

Silky Sexy Sensual Sheets

The bed is the main event in the master bedroom – and these bedrooms are a couple of our favorites because not only are the platform beds sexy and custom-made, they feature good quality mattresses that last a while and are covered in the coziest, sexiest bedding. Talk about hotel-quality style!

Lighting Control to Take Your From Day to Night

Having control over the lighting scheme in the bedroom is imperative to helping you ease into bed and fall asleep at night with your natural circadian rhythms and wake up again to natural sunlight in the morning. Great window treatments, and layered lighting (general, ambient, and task) are key to crafting a gorgeous glow. Plus, candles on the nightstand or sideboards once the night is in full swing and you need to set the mood. 😉

Flirty Florals

We’re fans of floral prints, but it’s easy to go cheesy, kiddy, or homespun with a traditional floral print. The key here is to stick to a modern color palette and quality materials so you learn more flirty than grandma’s chintz. 

Something Special for Your Someone Special

This Valentine’s Day, make it special for your person — in the bedroom. Craft a custom space that’s just for the two of you by including something one-of-a-kind, like the artwork pictured in the Venice Beach home of artist Jodi Pantuck. Above the bed is one of Jodi’s original works. The piece is all about emotion discovered through meditation and is intensely physical. We love the way it energizes this sexy bedroom. 

1. Innovative Outdoor Lighting

Indoor lighting has come a long way and now it seems outdoor lighting is playing catch up. Outdoor lighting used to all look about the same, but much like outdoor textiles, the design and technology has started looking as luxe as interiors.

2. Natural Materials

Rattan is a trend that is still going strong — including the cable holding up the chandeliers. The aesthetic is ropey and casual but still maintains an air of sophistication.

3. Walls Designed to Highlight Lighting Features

Of course, in these lighting showrooms, the designers and merchandisers’ top priority is to emphasize the light fixtures. And we can learn a thing or two from them! There were a number of ways the walls were designed to make statement lighting the centerpiece of the room — from wallpaper that contrasted with the fixtures to two-tone monochromatic walls that made the gold and silver fixtures pop!

4. Blinged Out Floral Chandeliers & Sconces

Martyn Lawerence Bullard — always the master of regency style — softened his signature masculine, glam style with floral motifs on his chandelier and sconces for Corbett Lighting. Any of these pieces would create a gorgeous installation.

5. Sandy, Coastal Table Lamps

Vegas is full of glamorous style, but one of the prime demographics shopping the Las Vegas Furniture market is the SoCal coastal buyer and they’re looking for functional lighting for coastal interiors that’s still elegant and versatile — We found plenty in the brightened up Currey Co showroom!

Starting this year, new homes built in California are meant to be net zero, meaning they should generate as much energy as they take off the grid. https://t.co/zk3Fhu2Zex

— KCRW (@kcrw) January 22, 2020

5 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

• Solar

Ahh solar powering your home — this is really the main event. The city of Los Angeles is requiring new homes under four stories to be built with solar panels. You can lease, rather than purchase the panels- which will run you around $10,000. They will, however, save roughly $35/month.

• Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

This is a simple home improvement project – new windows and doors can be installed in a day or two and vastly improves quality of life. Homeowners are always happy when they finally pull the trigger on upgrading to new energy-efficient windows. They make it much easier to heat, cool, and ventilate the home. Our partners at Lion Windows & Doors are leaders in window sales and customer service in the Los Angeles area – we can’t recommend them highly enough to help you through the selection and installation process. Check them out here. 

• Indoor-Outdoor Design

Designing with indoor-outdoor living in mind is a top priority when building in Southern California. More and more, new homes are being designed to optimize the exterior space and get inhabitants out in nature. This lecture by leading sustainable interior designer, Lori Dennis, explains the importance of indoor-outdoor design, far before it was trendy to go green:

• Electric Car-Charging Ports

As the doomsday clock ticks down, and more and more people are realizing the urgency of improving our climate, electric and hybrid cars have come down significantly in price and even budget models are being produced. This has led to an increase in demand of at-home charging port installation. On average, they run around $500. Installing your own at-home EV charges doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg – owning, operating, and maintaining these vehicles will still save you time, money, and the environment.

• Low-Flow Plumbing Features

In addition to well-filtered water, you’ll want to be sure faucets are low-flow, which means they expound less than 2.5 gallons per minute compared to conventional flow which can be over 5 gallons! That’s a lot of water you can conserve without even realizing it.

Color Trends for 2020

Every year, the Pantone Color Institute announces their Color of the Year based upon extensive deliberation not just from design professionals, but also scientists and other colorists who evaluate what palettes best reflect what’s happening in the world around us. The color of the year selection for 2020 is Classic Blue, calming and dependable. 

Both of which are traits we’d use to describe the latest palette of Kelly Wearstler and Kravet fabrics – the pearly, pastel hues are soothing and bucolic. Expect to see them integrated to soften edgy modern interiors, as well as in English garden motifs, which seem to be on the rise.

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A refined balance between luxurious construction and natural elements. #IZUCollection #InstaKravet – – – Fabric: Lotus Pond, Osode

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Kitchen Trends for 2020

The next wave of kitchens as the hangout center of the home is upon us! Expect to see more appliances and layouts selected based upon the customization of the family’s diet. (For example, this home we recently designed for a Vegan chef who doesn’t cook with oils forgoes a range hood). We’re also seeing people transform their lesser utilized formal dining rooms as chef’s pantries or prep kitchens in which they hide smaller appliances, in order to maximize hangout space in the primary kitchen.

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When we first started working with Brian Wendell of Forks Over Knives, we were designing his costal bachelor pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. Fast forward and now we’re designing his family home in Mar Vista for him and his live in partner is Darshana Thacker, the head chef for FOK, complete with an indoor outdoor edible garden. Understanding where our clients are at different phases of their lives greatly informs design decisions. See more on the blog at SoCalContractor.com

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Lighting Trends for 2020

Here is a super specific trend we are seeing a lot of: Modern, glass pendants over kitchen islands and in entry ways. They’re round and soft and make a subtle statement, while having a translucence to them, blending in seamlessly with the rest of the interior.

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One of the reasons to shy away from “Glam” as a style is because it can so often lead to overconsumption maximalism, but there is a way to do edited glamour. To us, that is truly luxurious. Make one big, bold design choice in your room and commit to it – That could be an oversized piece of colorful art in an otherwise monochromatic space, or lacquering a ceiling, or including a bold, textural wallpaper. More #DesignTips like this one on the blog at SoCalContractor.com (link in the bio)

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Nov 19, 2019 at 8:37am PST

We’re also seeing bold, masculine, edgy industrial sconces popping up in unexpected spaces. 2020 is going to be a year of design that keeps us surprised around every corner!

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Stone and tile wall features can elevate your home from ordinary to extraordinary! On the #BuildBlog, we're sharing some of our favorite past projects featuring stone wall features that really elevate the homes' architecture. Give it a read at SoCalContractor (link in the bio)

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Aug 21, 2019 at 10:27am PDT

Home Technology Trends for 2020

What can you control with an app? Security cameras, lights. Hidden cables and TV’s. And a backlash against tech and out dependance on it in the bedroom. Expect to see it all integrated into every nook and cranny of our homes in 2020.

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We've been asked a lot lately about smart home technology and installation so we thought we'd share a few thoughts: Since smart home systems are known to be quite finicky, even when you do spend the money, we recommend using the best system and installer/programmer you can. Installing smart home tech systems are rough and finish jobs meaning the wires will be inside your walls which will be expensive to replace later on. Wireless systems are less reliable than the hard wires and usually cost more. Buy once, cry once and enjoy for years to come! | Keep your questions coming! We're answering more like this on the #BuildBlog at SoCalContractor.com

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Jun 7, 2019 at 10:56am PDT

Home Wellness Trends for 2020

Mediation rooms, yoga, clean air/water, energy efficient windows – These are the updates that are making a house a home. Installing water filters and air purifiers and sealing up any cracks to prioritize insulation were previously thought of as the unsexy home improvement projects and shoved on the back burner. But we’re happy to report a trend in homeowners prioritizing these aspects of their home! We go into more detail on these projects in this blog here. 

• Keep Things Warm

It’s amazing what a difference upgrading your windows to more energy efficient ones makes! Replacement windows is the #1 home improvement project that homeowners are completely satisfied with every single time. 

Another way to keep things warm is by sealing up any cracks around the house to lower heating/cooling costs and be sure things are well insulated. Lately, our clients have been big fans of installing radiant heating in the flooring. 

• Keeping Things Clean

Your HVAC and furnace filters probably need to be swapped out for new. Ideally they should be changed out every few months, or more often if your air quality is compromised from pollutants. So now’s the time, if you’ve been putting it off!

We’re also all about combating indoor air pollution with a great air purifier! Here are our top 3 favorite air purifiers on the market. 

• Quick Fixes: Freshen Up with a Coat of Paint & Hardware

When in doubt, paint it white — that’s our motto! There are few things a fresh coat of paint won’t fix in our world 🙂 Because Winter tends to be a slower season for professional painters so you’re likely to get the best deals on both labor and materials during this time of year. 

Another great quick fix update that can make a world of difference: swap out the hardware on your doors and cabinets for new! You’ll be amazed by what a refresher this can be. 

• Get Ready to Go Green

Now is the time to prep your yard for beautiful blooms in the Spring! Plant, prune, trim and remove dried, dying trees. 

The green doesn’t stop at the front door, though– get ready to go green inside as well: Install healthy water filters, swap out light bulbs for LEDs, and add some interior plants around your space for a sustainable interior boost! 

• Smart Home Upgrades

Security systems, thermostats, speakers, and more. From amazon echo to nest thermostats and puppy cameras: they can all be connected to apps on your home so you can check on your pets throughout the day, keeps your home secure, and set your home to the perfect temperature for the moment you walk through the door! 

Because the Danes have such long periods of the year that are chilly, the cozy and warm part is extra important and it’s why we tend to become interested in hygge style across the pond in America during the Winter months. 

Without further ado, here’s how to hygge your home for the holidays (and beyond) in 5 simple steps: 

1 Warmth and Well-Scented

Hygge style emphasizes full immersion – it’s not just about styling a trendy room for a photoshoot, it is about how the experience of being in it. That’s why candles, fireplaces, and other home scents are essential in the hygge home. Prioritize and invest in your sel-fcare with sustainable, healthy, high-quality candles and detoxifying bath soaks.

2 Swaddled in Cozy Fabrics

Hygge means always keeping something soft underfoot, be it a sheepskin rug or fuzzy house slippers. 

And it means keeping your body cozy in blankets, robes, or these on-trend cashmere joggers, we can’t get enough of!

3 Organized and Uncluttered

Organization boxes, simply said. The hygge home is clear of clutter. Any little thing that contributes to the calm! We love these simple, monochromatic canvas organization boxes from Target to keep everything uncluttered and uniform.

4 Libations Made with Care

Warm up with tea in the morning or wind down with whiskey by the fire at night. Taking time and care in the process of procuring libations for guests and carefully selecting the serving ware is nearly as important as the beverage itself. Hygge lifestyle is all about quality of experience. 

5 Emphasis on the Tactile

Give yourself a break from intrusive technology we’ve all become dependent on. Skip the flat screen TV on the wall and put away the phones. Hygge-ing your home means emphasizing physical media and tactile experiences and community. We love to hygge a space with photo boxes, bookshelves full of literary adventures, and board games. 

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Shop All of Our Favorite Hygge Home Essentials Here:

Take cues from your favorite hotel rooms and think of your guest bedroom in five zones: Entryway, bed, closet, bathroom, and breakfast nook/snack & coffee bar.

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Thank you so much to @houzz and writer Rashmi Haralalka for featuring this bedroom from our Lake Sherwood project in your round up of the Dreamiest Bedrooms! 💙

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Nov 27, 2019 at 11:34am PST

• Guest House Entryway:

Welcome to The Neighborhood

Give guests a warm welcome from the moment they walk in with guide books to your city or neighborhood. This is one of our favorites! It’s also a lot of fun to make your own from your unique local’s perspective. 

Home is where the wifi is…

We love the inclusion of a wifi password as wall art. Place it in a super visible, can’t-miss-it space like near the entry or over a desk. 

And extra phone chargers and a designated charging station always make for a comfortable stay.

Mini Mudroom

Since it’s the Winter, you might be faced with more inclement weather than usual which can mean snowy or muddy shoes – designate a mini mudroom in your guest house entryway near the door with a shoe and coat rack and an extra umbrella or two.

• The Bed Part of the Guest Bedroom

Mattress & Bedding

Of course, the bed is going to be the centerpiece and the most important aspect of the guest bedroom. We tend to keep a neutral palette in the guest bedroom, and like fabrics that are easy to clean. Though for Winter, perhaps something more festive and warm is in order! And extra blankets and pillows are always appreciated. Appreciating a good night’s sleep, we stan a good mattress. Keep your guests comfy in your guest bedroom by always doing your research and buying to last.  

• Guest Room Closet Organization

A Set of Hangers

Regardless of the size of the closet, or even if it’s just an armoire, it’s a great idea to include a set of empty hangers. These are our favorite space-saving sets:

Robes & Slippers

This is where taking cues from hospitality venues comes into play… One of our favorite parts of a luxury hotel stay are the plush, complimentary robes and slippers. 

Luggage Rack

Take the hotel-vibes one step further by including a luxe luggage rack. We love the chic, modern design of this one from Horchow:

• Guest Bathroom Essentials

Travel Toiletries

We like to keep apothecary jars full of travel-sized toiletries sorted by type (shampoo, conditioner, ets) that we accumulate through our travels and shopping in the guest bathroom cabinet.

Extra Towels

For guest bath towels, we like to keep it basic with sets of white linens. What can we say? We like a clean, classic aesthetic in the guest bath. 

• Breakfast Nook

Bar Cart, Snack Station, and Coffee Makers

Even if you don’t have a full kitchenette in a guest house, including a barcart with a coffee and tea station and some light breakfast snacks is a great way to give your guests the opportunity to ease into their day. 

Something Sparkly always takes a room from good to great. We love a statement-making chandelier or over-the-top lighting installation to draw the eye up and give the room an electric focal point. Lining a hallway with mixed metal sconces and strategically installing mirrors to bounce the light around the space are also great ways to go glam in small or underutilized spaces like offices, powder rooms, landings at the top of your stairs, etc. Here are some examples from past projects where the lighting took center stage:

Luxurious to the Touch

When we think of the pinnacle of luxury, we think of a plush hotel bed, one you sink into–just the right amount, with layers of cozy bedding. Added bonus if the comforter and pillows have a bit of sheen to them! Investing in luxe bedding doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but is one of those splurges that always feels worth it! Here are some of our favorite rooms full of plush textiles:

Statement-Making Decor and Accents 

We’re fans of the highly edited, pared-down aesthetic – one of the reasons to shy away from “Glam” as a style is because it can so often lead to overconsumption maximalism, but there is a way to do edited glamour. To us, that is truly luxurious. Make one big, bold design choice in your room and commit to it – That could be an oversized piece of colorful art in an otherwise monochromatic space, or lacquering a ceiling, or including a bold, textural wallpaper. Here are some rooms where statement-making choices allowed the room to take on a whole new character: 

Check out some of High Point Market’s glamorous showrooms here.

When we think about the why behind what we do, we think about what building and designing a home really means: It’s a personalized structure, separating us from public life. Having a sense of home means feeling secure, familiar, and comfortable. Unfortunately for many, that isn’t the case. Over the past several years we’ve been working with organizations around Los Angeles to aid housing-insecure families.

Unable to ignore the pervasive homeless epidemic sweeping Los Angeles, we partnered up with designer Lori Dennis, Lamps Plus, and Pen & Napkin to design the first homes of families transitioning out of homelessness into a space of their own. Most recently we teamed up again with Lori Dennis and Lamps Plus, but this time with the Sense of Home organization, whose focus is on the first homes of those who have aged out of foster care. Give this video above a watch for a peek into the process.

A Sense of Home

Furniture and building is another tool those of us more fortunate have at our disposal to help lift up those in need. One of the coolest parts of working with a Sense of Home is correcting the reciprocal cycle of foster care youth in a positive direction: recipients of the program pay it forward by working with former foster youth, themselves. We think that’s pretty cool!  If you’re in the Los Angeles area, learn how to get involved with a Sense of Home by watching their info video here:

Not Stopping There…

The thing is, this was a lot of work that went into helping one single family in need. That is a reality we have to face and try to not get too overwhelmed with when it comes to thinking about solving these problems on a larger scale. Lead designer Lori Dennis is going to be speaking at ted X Santa Barbara on the topic this month. Get more info about ted and how to break poverty cycles through design thinking here: