The Blog
Find invaluable resources and inspiration for your home and your life with detail-oriented stories, design how-tos, and recipes from resident experts from Lars Remodeling and Design. This is your one place for all information and imagination you require.
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ADU and Golf Simulator Remodel in San Diego
Client Success Story Dale & JUlie Attached ADU & Golf Simulator 1 NEW SPACE Spaces Transformed 16 Months Total Build Time ADU Project Type REPEAT CLIENT How They Found Us Their Story Dale and Julie didn’t need an introduction to Lars Remodeling & Design. This was their fifth project together, and when they started imagining […]
How to Set a Realistic Home Renovation Budget for Your San Diego Remodel
How much does a house renovation cost in San Diego? San Diego whole-home budget: layout retained, September 2026 planning references and illustrative reserves Budget line item Typical published band* Defined design-build package $150,000-$250,000+ Contingency assumption 10-20% Money held for unexpected work $15,000-$50,000+ Package plus contingency $165,000-$300,000+ Housing, storage, owner purchases and other exclusions Add documented […]
What a Whole-Home Remodel Costs in San Diego
How much does it cost to completely renovate a house in San Diego in 2026? Whole-home remodel costs in 2026: Lars planning references for a new kitchen, bathrooms, and updated systems. Budget line item Low reference Typical published planning band* High reference Complete design-build scope $250,000 $250,000–$600,000+ $600,000+ Separate contingency, illustrated at 10–20% $25,000–$50,000 $25,000–$120,000+ […]
Point Loma Kitchen Remodel: Case Study
Client Success Story Cynthia Kitchen Remodel • Point Loma, San Diego, CA 3 Spaces Transformed 6 Months Total Build Time KITCHEN Project Type FACEBOOK AD How They Found Us Their Story For years, the kitchen at the heart of Cynthia’s Point Loma home had been the source of daily frustration — outdated electrical, poor lighting, a stove tucked […]
Whole Home Remodel & Second-Story Addition in San Diego, CA
Client Success Story Christopher & Kathy Whole Home Remodel & Second-Story Addition • San Diego, CA 8 Spaces Transformed 9 MONTHS Total Build Time WHOLE HOME + ADDITION Project Type GOOGLE How They Found Us Their Story Christopher and Kathy loved their San Diego neighborhood too much to leave it. As their family grew, they […]
San Diego ADU Regulations 2026: City and County Requirements
San Diego ADU requirements depend on which agency governs your parcel. Inside the City of San Diego, an accessory dwelling unit may be up to 1,200 square feet with no parking space required. In the unincorporated County, the standards differ, starting with a parking requirement. Both allow up to four units on a typical single-family […]
What Does It Cost to Build an ADU in San Diego in 2026?
There is no single official 2026 average for the cost of building an ADU in San Diego. Based on Lars Remodeling & Design’s experience planning and building local ADUs, homeowners can use several broad investment ranges as an initial guide: approximately $90,000–$150,000+ for a garage conversion, $120,000–$200,000+ for a junior ADU, $200,000–$350,000+ for an attached […]
Remodeling in a San Diego Historical District
San Diego’s historic districts include far more than the 11 places named in older lists. As of August 12, 2026, the City of San Diego Historical Districts GIS dataset contained 30 mapped records. A separate March 2025 City inventory report also reported 30 known districts as of October 2024, but its list is not identical. […]
5 Smart Home Upgrades for Your Remodel
You have already decided to give your residence a whole new look, yet you’d like to add some smart features to improve the overall functionality and comfort. If you’re planning to sell your property, such upgrades can positively influence the appraisal value. It’s important to devote some time to scan your home for areas that […]
Warm and Functional Whole Home Remodel Case Study: San Diego, CA
Client Success Story Sandy & Reza Family Whole Home Remodel • San Diego, CA 8 Spaces Transformed 10 Months Total Build Time WHOLE HOME Project Type GOOGLE How They Found Us Their Story Sandy and Reza came to Lars with a clear point of view: their 1977 San Diego home needed to work better before it […]
