Gold badge with 5-star rating text and Google logo beneath it.
Green circular badge with a gold trophy icon and text '2025 Neighborhood FAVE Nextdoor' indicating a neighborhood favorite award.
Red circular badge with white text saying 'People love us on Yelp' and the Yelp logo with website URL www.yelp.com.
Handshake Icon

Licensed & Insured

Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Thoughtful remodeling and custom construction for hillside homes with ocean views and architectural heritage.

Remodeling Hillside Homes With Views and Complexity

Palos Verdes Estates homes sit on challenging lots. Slopes, setbacks, ocean proximity, and strict design review boards shape every project here. Remodeling in this city means working within those constraints while honoring the home's setting and potential.

Most homes were built between the 1950s and 1980s. Many have good bones but dated layouts. Kitchens face the wrong direction. Master suites feel cramped. Living spaces don't connect to the views they were built around.

What Makes These Projects Different

The terrain dictates the approach. Foundation work often comes first. Retaining walls, drainage, and hillside stability are part of nearly every addition or remodel that expands a footprint.

Design review is thorough and specific. Materials, colors, rooflines, and landscaping all require approval. That process takes time, but it also maintains the character that defines the area.

These homes reward careful planning. The goal is to make the architecture feel like it belongs on the site, not like it was dropped there.

Kitchens That Work With the View

Original kitchens in Palos Verdes Estates homes were often placed at the back or side of the house. That made sense for the era, but it wastes the best feature of the property.

Reorienting the kitchen toward the view changes how the home functions. Open layouts connect cooking and gathering spaces. Island seating faces west. Windows frame the coastline without compromising storage or work zones.

Material and Finish Choices

Coastal air affects finishes. Hardware oxidizes faster. Paint weathers unevenly. Material selection matters more here than in inland areas.

We use finishes that handle salt air and hold up under UV exposure:

  • Stainless steel and powder-coated metals for hardware and fixtures
  • Stone countertops that don't etch or fade
  • Exterior-grade paints and sealants on any surface exposed to the elements
  • Windows and doors with corrosion-resistant frames

Additions That Respect the Slope

Adding square footage on a hillside lot requires structural precision. You're often building over steep grade or cantilevering beyond the original foundation.

Second-story additions are common. They capture views and avoid expanding into already-limited yard space. But they add load to an existing structure, so foundation reinforcement and lateral bracing usually come first.

Outdoor Spaces and Grading

Flat outdoor space is rare here. Most yards slope significantly. Creating usable terraces means retaining walls, drainage systems, and sometimes pier-and-grade-beam foundations for decks or patios.

These aren't simple projects, but they're what make outdoor living possible. A well-designed terrace becomes the most-used part of the home.

Master Suites and Bathroom Remodels

Older master suites in these homes tend to be small and compartmentalized. Closets are shallow. Bathrooms lack natural light. The layout doesn't reflect how people use the space now.

Expanding into an adjacent bedroom or alcove is common. Vaulted ceilings and larger windows bring in light and air. Walk-in closets replace reach-ins. The bathroom becomes a private retreat with space for a soaking tub and a separate shower.

Fixtures Built for Longevity

We install fixtures and finishes that stay functional and elegant over decades. Frameless glass, wall-hung vanities, and thermostatic valves are standard. Heated floors and towel warmers add comfort without visual clutter.

Full-Home Transformations

Some homes need more than a kitchen or bath update. The floor plan doesn't work. The finishes are tired. The entry feels dark and unwelcoming.

A full-home remodel touches every system and surface. We open up walls, replace windows, update mechanicals, refinish floors, and rework the exterior. The goal is a cohesive home that feels intentional from entry to backyard.

The best transformations feel understated. The home looks like it was always meant to be this way.

Structural and Seismic Upgrades

Many older homes here weren't built to current seismic codes. A full remodel is the right time to add shear walls, anchor bolts, and foundation ties. These upgrades aren't visible, but they matter.

Permitting and Design Review in Palos Verdes Estates

The city's design review process is one of the most detailed in Los Angeles County. Submittals require elevations, material samples, color boards, and landscape plans.

Projects are reviewed for compatibility with neighborhood character. That means traditional styles are favored, and modern interventions need to be carefully considered. Approvals can take months, so timeline planning starts early.

Working With the Process

We prepare thorough submittals and anticipate review board concerns before the first meeting. That reduces back-and-forth and keeps projects moving. Understanding what the board values makes the process smoother for everyone.

What Homeowners Should Expect

Remodeling in Palos Verdes Estates takes longer than similar projects in less-regulated areas. Design review, geotechnical studies, and hillside construction all add time.

But the results reflect that care. Homes here have lasting value because they're built right, designed thoughtfully, and approved through a rigorous process. The investment shows in how the home functions and how it ages.

Speak Icon

Testimonials

Trusted by Homeowners & Professionals

Services Icon

How We Work

Our Proven Process

We follow a straightforward, contractor-led process that keeps your project organized, on schedule, and built to our standards of craftsmanship.

House Icon

The Lungu Method

We bridge the gap between architectural vision and flawless execution. From the first permit walkthrough to the final hand-off, our team manages the complex logistics, coordinates specialist trades, and maintains a rigorous schedule.

Strategic pre-construction, transparent weekly updates, and a white-glove handover experience.

Services Icon

Los Angeles & Austin

Our Recent Projects

See the quality of our craftsmanship in homes across Los Angeles and Austin.

Modern kitchen with white marble waterfall island, beige bar stools, pendant lights, and white cabinetry with subway tile backsplash.
Modern backyard ADU with cedar siding, large windows, landscaped garden, and a stone pathway.
Backyard view of a single-story house with a patio table and chairs, green lawn, trees, and a blue swimming pool with lounge chairs.
Modern bathroom with frameless glass shower, white vanity with black faucet, toilet, and a towel on a rack by a large mirror.
Modern fireplace with black tile surround and wooden slat accent walls in a room with wood flooring.
Handshake Icon White

Our Standards

Why Choose Us?

Speak Icon

Behind the Build

Follow Along for Ideas & Updates

Alert icon

FAQ

Got Questions?
We’ve Got Answers.

Here are the most common questions about working with Lungu in Los Angeles and Austin. For anything else, reach out—we’re happy to help.