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alpha dream

Remodels for
houses worth keeping.

Spanish revivals in Hancock Park, Craftsman bungalows in Bungalow Heaven, post-and-beam mid-centuries in the Hollywood Hills, post-war ranches in Mar Vista. We self-perform framing and finish, keep one superintendent on the job from demo to handover, and don't bid below cost to win the work.

By the numbers —

Project size
100 – 4,000 sqft
Permit clock
4 – 16 weeks
Build time
5 weeks – 10 mo
Starting at
$55k

What we remodel.

  • Item R-01

    To the studs, when it's time.

    Scope
    1,500 – 4,000 sqft
    All-in
    $385k – $1.2M+
    Build
    24 – 40 weeks build

    Whole-home remodels

    Spanish revivals, post-war Craftsman, mid-century ranches, and the occasional Streamline Moderne. Seismic upgrades, layout rework, plumbing and electrical pulled and reset. One project superintendent on-site every working day. Live-out or live-through; we plan both.

    • Seismic & foundation upgrades (cripple wall, anchor bolts, hold-downs)
    • Whole-house re-pipe (PEX-A) & re-wire to 200A
    • Window, roof, siding, and stucco restoration
    • Historic-district-compliant restoration (HPOZ, Mills Act eligible)
    • Title 24 envelope upgrade modeled in-house

  • Item R-02

    Walls come down. Light comes in.

    Scope
    120 – 400 sqft
    All-in
    $95k – $240k
    Build
    8 – 12 weeks build

    Kitchen re-imagining

    Honest cabinetry, soft-close everything, the appliance package you actually want. Three local LA cabinet shops on rotation; we never spec from a big-box catalog. Stone fabricated locally — Heath, Fireclay, or a slab yard run.

    • Custom millwork from LA-area cabinet makers
    • Stone fabricated locally — Heath, Fireclay, slab yards
    • Integrated paneled appliances when wanted
    • Permitted electrical & gas re-routes
    • Make-up air, range hood ducted to exterior

  • Item R-03

    Skylights, steam, stone.

    Scope
    40 – 180 sqft
    All-in
    $55k – $145k
    Build
    5 – 8 weeks build

    Bath sanctuaries

    Built for the next twenty years of mornings. Wet-room layouts, curbless showers, radiant floors. Schluter Kerdi, two coats, every single time — and a real trapped floor drain in the shower, not just a linear strip cosmetic.

    • Curbless wet rooms with linear drains
    • Radiant heated floors (electric or hydronic)
    • Schluter Kerdi waterproofing system, two coats
    • Custom vanity millwork + integrated stone tops
    • Steam shower wiring & generator-ready bench

  • Item R-04

    More house, same lot.

    Scope
    200 – 1,500 sqft
    All-in
    $185k – $675k
    Build
    16 – 28 weeks build

    Additions & second-story pop-ups

    Bump-outs, rear additions, second-story additions. We thread the needle on setbacks, FAR limits, and historic review so the new work reads like it was always there. Foundation tied in, roof framing matched, eaves carried through.

    • Rear & side additions (single story)
    • Second-story additions on existing foundation (with SE)
    • FAR & setback feasibility before you commit
    • Tied-in foundations and continuous load path
    • Roof framing matched to existing pitch & overhang

  • Item R-05

    Repair, don't replace.

    Scope
    Whole-home or façade
    All-in
    $185k – $850k
    Build
    20 – 36 weeks build

    Historic & HPOZ restoration

    HPOZ-compliant work in West Adams, Highland Park, Angelino Heights, South Carthay, and Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven. We salvage original sash, pocket doors, and millwork, replicate when we can't, and document everything for the Mills Act.

    • HPOZ design review submission & support
    • Original window restoration (sash kits, glazing, weights)
    • In-kind stucco repair (lime + Portland blends)
    • Salvaged & replicated millwork from LA shops
    • Mills Act documentation + property tax abatement filing

  • Item R-06

    Bolt down before the next one.

    Scope
    Foundation + cripple wall
    All-in
    $8k – $65k
    Build
    2 – 6 weeks build

    Seismic retrofits & soft-story

    Cripple-wall bracing, foundation bolting, hold-downs, and full soft-story retrofits for older multifamily. We pull the LADBS or city permit, file the engineering, and schedule inspections so you keep the EBB rebate.

    • Cripple wall sheathing + foundation bolting
    • Hold-down anchor installation (Simpson HDU)
    • Soft-story retrofit per LA Ord. 183893 / SM Ord.
    • EBB (Earthquake Brace + Bolt) rebate paperwork
    • Pre-1980 wood-frame and pre-1978 dingbat coverage

Four habits, every project.

  • 01

    Self-perform framing & finish

    We don't sub out framing and finish carpentry. Same crew from rough to trim means tighter tolerances, less coordination overhead, and a single phone to call when something needs adjusting.

  • 02

    One superintendent, on-site daily

    Same super from demo to handover. Knows your lockbox code, your dog's name, and which neighbor to text before the saw cuts start.

  • 03

    Friday photo updates

    Every Friday, every project. Photos of every elevation, every open wall, every change. You can be in Tokyo and still know what's happening on your job.

  • 04

    Two-year workmanship warranty

    Two years on workmanship from the day of final occupancy. Manufacturer warranties pass through to you. We come back to fix our own work, no charge, no argument.

Permits change everything.

A kitchen remodel in Santa Monica is a different paperwork problem than the same kitchen in Pasadena. Tap into the cost, permits, zoning, and timeline detail for your area.

Remodel FAQ.

What does an LA remodel actually cost in 2026?

Kitchens land between $95k and $240k. Baths between $55k and $145k. Whole-home remodels between $385k and $1.2M+ depending on scope. Additions between $185k and $675k. We price each project line-by-line — no $/sqft guesses on a napkin.

How long does a remodel actually take?

Kitchens: 8–12 weeks. Baths: 5–8 weeks. Whole-home remodels: 6–10 months. Additions: 4–7 months once permitted. Permits add 4–16 weeks depending on jurisdiction (LADBS vs. Santa Monica vs. Pasadena vs. Burbank all run different clocks).

Can I live in the house during the work?

Sometimes. Kitchen and bath remodels are usually live-throughs with a temporary kitchen and dust walls. Whole-home remodels are usually live-outs — we can help you find a 4–8 month rental nearby. We'll be honest with you at feasibility about which makes more sense.

Do you handle permits, design, and engineering?

Yes. Architectural drawings, structural engineering, Title 24, and the LADBS / city permit application are all in-house or with our regular partners. Your name never goes on the counter at the building department.

Can you work with my architect?

Often. We have a short list of LA architects we love working with, and we're happy to review drawings from anyone — we'll flag constructability issues before you spend more on design.

What about HPOZ / historic districts?

We do a lot of HPOZ-compliant work — West Adams, Highland Park, Angelino Heights, South Carthay, Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven. We handle the design review submission, attend the board meeting, and design to in-kind repair standards from the start.

Keep reading —

request a quote

Tell us what you’re building.

A few specifics — city, scope, budget, target date. We’ll come back with a one-page feasibility note within the week.

Phone or email — at least one so we can reply.

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