susan c-h's Profile

We all know that LA is getting overcrowded by the minute. Single-family homes with big backyards are just not viable anymore. I cringe when I drive thru BH - what a waste of precious space! I just moved into a new development, 5-unit townhouse. I left LA to get the big house and yard, but I'm happy to be back and I love my new place. I'm so over the whole yard thing - a lot of upkeep, and that just doesn't suit most lifestyles anymore. I'd much rather have duplexes and townhouses than those big highrises on Wilshire. I've been to Hong Kong, which has more highrises than NYC, and I could never live there.

I don't know if I'd go with white, but painting or staining sounds better than taking the doors off, unless your kitchen is super-minimal and the shelves are less cluttered than mine. If you do paint or stain - get a professional. I did my own once, but cabinetry is a lot harder than walls - sanding, filling holes, etc. The next time I did it, I hired someone and he did a great job (this was not in LA, so I have no recommendations). I'd say stain it a lighter color if you want the resale value. If you were planning to stay, I'd say paint it a bright color that pops against the white.