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The Tulip Journal

Plain-English guides and design stories for homeowners planning a remodel, addition or ADU in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Design concept: kitchen with light white oak flat-panel cabinets and pale veined stone countertops

KitchensWarm Wood Is Back: Planning a 2026 Kitchen That LastsWood cabinets have overtaken white in the latest Houzz kitchen research. Here's how to choose a species, a finish and a stone that will still feel right in fifteen years — and how to decide whether your current cabinets can be saved.8 min read

Illustration: a closed-off older kitchen with oak cabinets and a wall blocking the view to the family room

KitchensInside a Valley Ranch Kitchen Remodel, Phase by PhaseA closed-off 1950s kitchen, a wall the family wanted gone, and a clear sequence from first measurements to final walkthrough. Here's what each phase of an open-plan kitchen remodel looks like — and what can move the schedule.7 min read · Oct 12, 2026

Illustration: a single-story mid-century ranch house on a tree-lined street

Additions & ADUsBuilding Up on the Peninsula: What a Second-Story Addition Really InvolvesAdding a second floor can give a growing family room without giving up the yard. It also brings structural questions, design review and a longer timeline than most remodels. Here's an honest look at the process, using a 1950s Palo Alto home as the example.7 min read · Oct 12, 2026

Decision diagram comparing building up with a second story and building out with a ground-floor addition

Additions & ADUsSecond-Story Addition or Ground-Floor Extension? How to DecideBuilding up versus building out — how lot size, structure, zoning, design review and your daily life shape the right way to add space to your home.3 min read · Sep 29, 2026

Checklist for hiring a contractor: license lookup, insurance, written contract and payment schedule

Planning & PermitsHow to Hire a Remodeling Contractor in California (and Avoid the Horror Stories)The questions to ask, documents to check and red flags to watch for before you sign with a remodeling contractor in Los Angeles or the Bay Area.3 min read · Sep 29, 2026

Infographic comparing four ADU types: detached, attached, garage conversion and junior ADU

Additions & ADUsCalifornia ADU Rules: A Plain-English Guide for LA and Bay Area HomeownersWhat state law allows for ADUs and junior ADUs in California — size, setbacks, parking, permits and fees — and how it plays out in Los Angeles and Bay Area cities.5 min read · Sep 29, 2026

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Tell us about your projectAnswer a few quick questions about your home, the project, your budget and your timing. It takes about two minutes, and we reply within one business day.
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A price, then design and contractAfter the visit we send a written summary with an approximate price and timeline, usually within 2–3 business days (4–7 for larger projects). We then develop the design with 3D renderings and set the final price in your contract, with payments tied to completed work. Nothing is ordered or built until you approve it in writing.

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Still from a Tulip Remodeling client video, filmed in a finished kitchen with rift-oak cabinets and a marble backsplash — From one of our client videos: a finished Tulip kitchen in Los Angeles

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