Ideas for the Ultimate Home Refresh: The 2021 Home Resource Guide

Hillside Courtyard Residence

Looking to redo your home but not sure where to start? Here we have it all — inspirational remodels to give you ideas for home improvement, design suggestions, plus where to turn for remodeling resources.

Also, check out our directory for more suggestions.

This Corte Madera Remodel is Cool on the Outside, Warm on the Inside

alden miller remodel living room

In 2008, interior designer Alden Miller met a young couple in need of guidance on how to style their modest Corte Madera home. “We worked well together, and over the years, they would call me to help out on few small projects,” she recalls. Years passed. And the couple began to feel they’d outgrown the space. Like many first-time homeowners, they fantasized about relocating to grander accommodations—a place that ticked all the boxes on their ever-growing wish list. But because they’d already fallen in love with their neighborhood, and the home’s 180-degree views of the city, the Bay, and Mount Tam, they eventually decided to stay put, renovate and expand. Read more.

Alfresco Heating

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alfresco heating

PATIO HEATING SOLUTIONS

415.884.2880 •  [email protected] •  alfresco-heating.com

Enhance your patio with permanent, overhead outdoor heaters from Alfresco Heating. Create a patio haven, where you can safely entertain guests in an inviting, open-air visiting space. Expand your living area all-year ‘round. Alfresco Heating offers consulting, provided by patio heating experts, competitive pricing, installations, and service for the life of your products. To get advice, explain how you want to use the area (i.e. there’s a dining table in the center that seats ten or a lounging area with a view) and send measurements and two or three overview photos, or send plans and elevations if the area is not yet built. We take pride in knowing our expertise on patio heater selection and placement leads to your warmth and comfort.

Blisshaus

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Blisshaus home organization

TIMELESS ELEGANCE  PLASTIC-FREE LIVING

415.999.8532[email protected]

It’s easy to spy a Blisshaus kitchen: Shelves perfectly appointed with rows of pretty jars. Pastas, flours, snacks, and treats transformed into a gorgeous display. The order and  beauty are divine.

YOUR KITCHEN, BUT BETTER

PLASTIC-FREE LIVING MADE SIMPLE

The best part of your Blisshaus kitchen is that living without plastic becomes simple. With our custom shopping lists and bags, you’ll find it easy to shop plastic-free at the store.  Back at home, everything has its spot and decanting your food will be a breeze. You’ll be amazed how much your garbage and recycling will shrink. Get inspired with our Before & After stories at blisshaus.com.

A Scott Valley Home Reimagined to Maximize Potential of Space and Views

Scott Valley home

As an interior designer, Shirley Parks spent a decade helping clients turn ho-hum homes into architectural gems. But when her children hit middle school, she decided she needed to take a beat and focus on family. But that didn’t mean giving up her passion for interior design. Instead, she shifted into renovating her own homes with the intention of flipping them for profit. “We’re currently on our fourth project house,” says Shirley, who has since re-launched her interior design business. “Now that my kids are older, I’m less stretched for time. Plus, I feel like I’ve earned the equivalent of a master’s degree through my four renovations and I’m excited to pass on what I’ve learned to my clients.”Read more.

North Coast Tile & Stone

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North Coast Tile & Stone

FULL SERVICE TILE AND  STONE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION

3854 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 707.586.2064

Family owned and operated for over 30 years, they are the North Bay leader in tile installation and granite fabrication for residential remodels, new home construction  and commercial jobs. From start to finish, North Coast Tile is dedicated to working with you on  accomplishing your vision. Hundreds of granite, quartzite, marble, soapstone, limestone and onyx slabs to choose from  in their acre large outdoor yard. Inside is a beautiful boutique tile showroom offering hand selected tile lines from all over  the world. Six designers are on staff to help you achieve your vision. At North Coast Tile they are also  happy to work with you and / or your Designer, Contractor and Architect. Expertise, knowledge and trust make them the tile company that provides the solid  foundation you will need to get your project started. Kelly Bracewell By Design, interior-bydesign.com

Together, Yet Separate: Finding Respite in an Airy Homestead Valley Home

Homestead Valley Home
Photo by David Duncan Livingston

In 2010, Jodi and Mark Martini purchased a spacious hillside home in Mill Valley in need of a little TLC. Despite its quirks, they fell madly in love with the property which had spectacular views. They were especially impressed by how the lot felt private and remote, yet still offered easy access to town and the Golden Gate Bridge. For six years they enjoyed the space, as is, while attending only to its most pressing problems, which included fixing the rickety decks, and replacing a structurally deficient platform driveway.

Over the years, they toyed with the idea of renovating. But the timing never felt right. “There were a lot of reasons not to do it, one of which was my decision to take a job at Stanford,” says Jodi. The couple contemplated relocating to the Peninsula. But, ultimately decided to stay put, continuing to raise their two kids, Drew and Lila, in the community they’d grown to love. Once committed, the y surrounded themselves with a team of seasoned experts and with their help, turned their dated gingerbread cottage into a show-stopping California Modern. Read more.

Sunrise Home

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Sunrise Home

STICKLEY’S WALNUT GROVE  COLLECTION

831 B Street>San Rafael, CA 415.456.3939

We’ve happily created a new gallery devoted to Stickley’s Walnut Grove Collection. You will LOVE its clean and curated aesthetic which promises easy care even in the busiest of environments. Crafted from American walnut it will stand the rigors of modern life beautifully. The collection includes bedroom groups, dining groups as well as consoles, coffee tables and side tables. Fairly quick ship and well priced this definitely makes your design decisions easier — you can have it all — beauty, durability, delivery and value! Visit us soon to see the new Walnut Grove collection and ask about our new Partnership Promotion offering 20% off for two years!

How to Budget for a Home Remodel

Home renovation

WATCH ANY HGTV home improvement show and you quickly realize the cost of remodeling in Marin County isn’t exactly commensurate with prices in the rest of the country. In fact, a luxury kitchen can cost as much as a turnkey home in other parts of the U.S. “For projects in Marin, you’re looking at renovation costs of around $400 to $600 per square foot,” says Michael McCutcheon, owner of the Berkeley-based McCutcheon Construction. But that’s only a rough estimate, he adds. “We’ve done jobs that cost the owner as little as $250 per square foot to as much as $2,000 per square foot. It depends on an owner’s expectations.”

While costs are admittedly steep, there’s a silver lining to living in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the nation: “Every dollar you spend on a kitchen or bath remodel returns up to $4 per square foot in resale value,” says Thomas Dreyer, president of the San Rafael–based Marin Realtors Association. There’s also value in simpler projects like creating a user-friendly entryway, updating flooring, redoing lighting, landscaping or just painting, assuming you don’t over-improve for the neighborhood. “The metrics are obviously different for a modest home in Terra Linda and a luxury estate in Belvedere,” Dreyer says.

Exact costs depend on a range of factors, including scope, finishes and just how much hand-holding you need. The all-in price for a DIY project, for example, will relieve you of considerably less cash than one that engages architects, engineers, contractors and interior designers.

Price aside, noise, mess and general interruption into your daily life during a full remodel is just too much for some homeowners. As an alternative, consider a soft remodel — one that doesn’t require construction, but can still go a long way toward making a dated house feel new. The results you can achieve simply by refreshing paint, flooring, fixtures and window treatments can be astonishing, especially if you spring for new furnishings. “It’s the reason I encourage clients to hire a stager when it comes time to sell,” Dreyer says. Read more.

Lamperti Contracting & Design

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Lamperti Contracting & Design

REDEFINING EXPECTATIONS… ONE CUSTOMER AT A TIME

1241 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, CA 415.454.1623

Lamperti Contracting and Design has been providing exquisite and functional modern, transitional and traditional kitchens and baths in Marin County since 1965. The owner, Sean Kelly, has over 30 years’ experience in all aspects of the design/build industry; specializing in high-end Kitchens and Baths. We invite you to visit our newly redesigned and comprehensive kitchen and bath showroom featuring Bentwood, Harmoni, Columbia, Woodharbor and the Sub-Zero/Wolf Parlor – showcasing the latest innovations and trends in appliances and cabinetry. With a full-service design team, we will help you envision creative and functional ideas to incorporate into your dream home. Lamperti Contracting and Design takes pride in knowing each project reflects superior quality and artistic mastery.

A Marin Home Gets Remodeled for Outdoor Living

Rydal

Crafting the perfect home happens with many iterations. The Sullivan-Newman family’s journey started in 2016, with a significant remodel of their home’s interior.

Now, four years later, they have completed the finishing touches — the expansion of their outdoor living.

After they put their two-year-old son, Axel, and one-year-old daughter, MJ, to bed, Morgen Newman (the co-founder of Cora, an organic feminine products company) and Kayti Sullivan (a senior vice president at Yelp) will often crack open a craft beer, and sink into the hot tub on their deck, which, thanks to their wood-clad home’s location atop a steep hill, has unobstructed views of Mount Tamalpais. “Living here feels like being on vacation,” Sullivan explains. Read more.

New Dimension Builders, Inc.

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New Dimension Builders

205 Camino Alto Suite 140 Mill Valley, CA 415.381.5485

YOUR VISION COMBINED WITH OUR EXPERTISE

It’s more than a construction project. It’s your home. New Dimension Builders has been trusted by architects and homeowners throughout the Bay Area for over 20 years to bring their dream homes to life. Our experienced and professional team is known for our excellent client relationships, superlative craftsmanship, well honed process, and green building practices. We have worked with our clients in Marin County, San Francisco and Sonoma County to build inspiring homes that have appeared in Dwell Magazine and Modern Living, and we look forward to working with you to create yours. Learn more at ndmarin.com

HSH Interiors

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HSH Interiors

FULL-SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN

7 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA  415.702.6460

10004 SE River Street, Truckee, CA 530.562.9644

At HSH Interiors, sophisticated homes are designed to be as unique as the people who live in them. The full-service interior design firm has been serving the Bay Area and beyond since 2002, with Holly Hollenbeck at the helm. For every project— whether it’s a large-scale remodel, ground-up construction, or furniture design and selection—HSH Interiors drafts detailed road maps that make projects feel manageable, without leaving a single detail to chance. The HSH team works collaboratively with the client, architects, and builders to run projects large and small on-time and on-budget. With their new office, centrally located in Truckee, HSH Interiors is now serving the Tahoe market, in addition to the Bay Area, Jackson Hole, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, and beyond.

A Sausalito Craftsman Home Gets a Remodel

The home’s new and improved kitchen.

SANDY AND DAVID Millspaugh of Asheville, North Carolina, were drawn to the Bay Area after two of their children moved here. One eventually resettled out of state, but the other put down roots, purchasing a home in Marin to live in with his wife and son. After many visits, the Millspaughs fell in love with Marin and decided to buy a home here too, planning on a bicoastal retirement.

Finding the right spot wasn’t easy. “We looked on and off for at least five years,” David says. Finally, in 2014, they settled on a hillside Craftsman in Sausalito with postcard bay views. Read more.

Collected Studio

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Collected Studio

BESPOKE INTERIOR DESIGN

925.360.9384 • [email protected]

Collected Studio is a full service Interior Design firm that transforms residential, hospitality, and commercial spaces into evocative habitats for living, relaxing and entertaining. Interior Design, at its core is the study of how human beings relate to their built environments and spaces curated by Collected Studio embody each client’s own unique personality and avocations. Helmed by Principal and Founder, Julianne Schaefer, Collected Studio has been serving the Bay Area since 2013, working in tandem with architects, contractors and a curated list of specialty vendors. Collected Studio has consistently elevated the standards for client services through their detailed and collaborative design process.

Sarah Evers Hoffman

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Sarah Evers Hoffman

INTERIOR DESIGN AND REMODELING

[email protected]
ASID • HOUZZ • NARI • 415.457.8358

For more than two decades Sarah Evers Hoffman has been collaborating with clients to create beautiful, stylish and timeless interiors. Her strong relationships with a host of contractors and artisans ensure that quality, well-crafted materials will be utilized in the personalization of your home. Sarah guarantees attention to every detail and exceptional follow-through. Let’s make your world beautiful!

Badeloft

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MODERN. SIMPLE.

2829 Bridgeway, Suite 101 • Sausalito, CA
415.644.5888 or 877.892.3445

Here at Badeloft, we take a modern yet minimalistic approach to the design of our bathroom fixtures. We specialize in Stone Resin freestanding bathtubs, freestanding sinks, wall-mount sinks and counter-top sinks. Our Stone Resin products are made from marble and limestone mixed with a polyester resin. As far as bathtubs go, people are moving away from the acrylic and fiberglass tubs as they have zero heat retention. Since Badeloft products are made with natural minerals and the tubs are one-piece, solid fixtures, they have noticeably strong heat retention and will help the water inside stay warmer, longer. Badeloft is a global brand based in Berlin, Germany. With showrooms throughout Europe and N. America, our US offices and showroom are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our products are designed in Berlin ensuring that all of our products demonstrate both practicality and modern innovation. We are confident that they will be the focal point of your new bathroom.

Pine Street Natural Interiors

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Pine Street Natural Interiors

HEALTHY HOME INTERIOR DESIGN PRODUCTS

323 Pine Street, Suite A • Sausalito, CA 415.331.9323

Since one of the largest contributors to indoor air pollution is home furnishings, all Pine Street Natural Interiors products are created without using harmful chemicals. Our standards of design are based on principles, which explore the effect of the built environment on human health. Knowledge of healthy products and our design experience ensures your home will nurture your mind, body and spirit.

Architectural Design Carpets

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Architectural Design Carpets

DESIGN & INSTALLATION EXPERTS

1111 Francisco Blvd East, Suite 3 • San Rafael, CA 415.458.1717

Marin County’s hidden gem flooring showroom, ADC, has over 30 years of experience with an array of products managing from luxury one-of-a-kind statement pieces to family friendly floors. We collaborate with the Bay Area’s top interior designers, real estate agents, and homeowners to achieve their flooring vision with our inspirational collection of broadloom carpets, rugs, and hard surfaces. The foundation of your home starts with us.

Sandra Bird Designs, Inc.

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Sandra Bird Designs Inc.

TIMELESS BEAUTY

415.927.1171 • Lic #460795
Photographer: Dennis Anderson

Certain spaces seem to transcend time. Designed for the 2007 Designer Showcase, the kitchen pictured at the right is an example of how form and function work together to create timeless beauty. The textures, finishes, and color palette feel as fresh today as they did 14 years ago. For more timeless spaces, visit sandrabird.com or Sandra Bird Designs on HOUZZ.com.