This Pleasanton fireplace surround came together in two days, and we were very pleased with the material the client chose: broken marble. Broken marble is made of irregular pieces of natural stone rather than uniform tiles. It’s a material with real character. No two pieces are the same shape, and the variations in color and
This Oakland fireplace was a patchwork. The surround was made of separate panels that didn’t sit on the same plane: some stood proud, some were recessed, and the edges between them never lined up. It made the whole wall look unfinished, as if the fireplace had been assembled from leftovers. You can see how it
This Twin Peaks client wanted to lighten up the room. The existing stone fireplace and hearth were dark and heavy, and they dominated the space. The plan was to encase the old fireplace and give it a clean, white plaster look, without the cost and mess of tearing it out. Why lighter works Dark surfaces
Fast home upgrades Ten upgrades that add the most, done in days, not months. Some of the best improvements to a home don’t take a remodel. We put together the ten upgrades that add the most appeal for the time and money, each one typically done in a few days or less. We keep wait
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This is the chimney inside the same El Sobrante home where we rebuilt the yard and patio. And like the yard, it was done on a budget, with the homeowner assisting with much of the work. Building a perfect box around a boulder The existing chimney was large and dated, and didn’t fit the ranch-style
A hearth has to do two things at once: stand up to heat and wear in front of the fire, and sit so naturally in the floor that it looks like it was always there. In this El Sobrante home, the new hearth had to meet the existing leathered marble floor flush, with no lip
