Remodeling resources

Sunset, June, 2004

I am looking for an architect to do a gut renovation of a 1944 home in San Francisco. We plan on adding a third story and changing the layout of the home as well. I like many of the remodel projects I see in Sunset and am wondering if you can point me in the right direction to find an architect. The first gentleman I met was published in Sunset; while I really like his work, I'd like to compare it to some others as well.

LYUBOV MUZICHENKO

SAN FRANCISCO

EDITOR'S NOTE: Visit www.sunset.com/architects for general advice on working with architects. There you'll also find links to Sunset's Western Home Awards, with architect contact information. The American Institute of Architects has a website (www.aia.org/architect_finder/archfind_cando.asp) that lets you search for member architects by zip code and building type.

I am wondering why your magazine always features high-end remodels, where someone has an architect design what they want and pays an outside contractor a lot of money to do it. Many of us are do-it-yourselfers and like to see what others do!

For example, we remodeled the living room/dining room and installed a new kitchen in our 1,000-square-foot house. We spent less than $18,000 for the kitchen, designed by Home Depot and installed by our son and a contractor friend, which turned out absolutely beautiful. And one of our bedrooms is actually our home office. This past spring, we completely refurbished it, including new furniture, on a budget of less than $3,500.

ROBERT AND VIRGINIA STEARNS

SIGNAL HILL, CA

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the reminder to keep do-it-yourselfers like you in mind. By the way, there are instructions for building a handsome hose bench on page 111.

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