Home / Journal
The Studio Journal
The journal.
Ideas, process, and inspiration for outdoor living in Los Angeles. Pools, hardscape, kitchens, and the craft behind them.
Latest Article
Outdoor Remodeling Advice · August 6, 2026
Top Trends in Modern Geometric Pool Designs for 2026
Rectangular fiberglass pools have quietly taken over the backyard market, with 85% of new installations now favoring clean-lined shapes over the old kidney and freeform styles. That single number tells you everything about where the top trends in modern geometric pool designs for 2026 are headed: straight edges, sharp corners, and water that looks like…
Read the article →Latest from the Design Studio
All The Articles
Outdoor Remodeling Advice · September 28, 2023
Innovative Paving Solutions: Installing Pavers on Top of Concrete
Are you tired of the dull and boring look of your concrete patio or driveway? Have you been considering Improving it with pavers but are not sure how to go about it? Installing pavers on top of concrete can be a game-changer for your property. In this post, we will explore this concept in detail…
Read more →
Outdoor Remodeling Advice, Pavers Services · September 6, 2023
How to Choose a Paver Contractor in Los Angeles: Licensing, Contracts and Red Flags
Hardscape is one of the few home improvements where almost everything that determines the outcome is buried before you ever see it. Once the surface is laid, the excavation depth, the base material, how thoroughly it was compacted, whether a separation fabric went down over clay soil, and how the edges were restrained are all…
Read more →
Patio & Decks Services · September 6, 2023
Designing and Installing a Paver Patio with Fireplace: Turn Your Backyard into a Luxurious Retreat
More and more homeowners are craving a little extra space beyond their home's interior. A cozy outdoor living area is topping many wish lists these days. Imagine settling into a beautiful paver patio with a fireplace as its centerpiece. Not only do you get to enjoy a visually pleasing space, but you also have a perfect…
Read more →
Outdoor Remodeling Advice, Pavers Services · September 6, 2023
Concrete vs Paver Cost for Your Outdoor Space
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the differences between concrete and pavers, including concrete vs paver cost, so that you can make an informed decision for your project. Choosing the right material for your outdoor space can be a daunting task, as it will affect both the look and functionality…
Read more →
Retaining Walls · August 11, 2023
Retaining and Block Walls in Los Angeles: Engineering, Drainage and Permits
A retaining wall is a structural element, not a landscape feature that happens to hold soil. It resists forces that increase disproportionately with height, and when one fails it does so gradually and then suddenly, usually taking whatever sits above it along with it. In a county with hillside neighbourhoods, expansive clay soils, seismic activity,…
Read more →
Outdoor Services · August 2, 2023
Outdoor Kitchen Design in Los Angeles: Layout, Utilities, Materials and Permits
Los Angeles is one of the few places in the country where an outdoor kitchen genuinely earns its cost, simply because the weather allows it to be used most of the year. That same fact makes it easy to overbuild. There is a wide gap between a grill on a patio and a built-in kitchen…
Read more →
Pool Services · July 24, 2023
Pool Maintenance, Repair and Upgrades in Los Angeles: An Owner Guide
Owning a pool in Los Angeles is a different proposition from owning one almost anywhere else in the country. There is no closing it down for winter and no covering it in October. It runs essentially year round, which is the pleasure of it and also the reason equipment, surfaces, and water chemistry work harder…
Read more →
Fireplace Services · June 7, 2023
Fireplaces and Fire Features in Los Angeles: Air Quality Rules, Seismic Chimneys and Fire Zones
Fireplaces are one of the few home features where Los Angeles regulates more tightly than most of the country, and where the local constraints surprise people. Three things shape what is possible here, and none of them is climate: regional air quality rules, earthquake risk to masonry chimneys, and wildfire hazard zoning.Understanding those three before…
Read more →
Landscape · February 17, 2023
Landscape Design That Adds Value to Los Angeles Homes
Most landscaping advice about home value is written for a national audience and translates poorly here. Los Angeles buyers weigh outdoor space differently, water carries a cost and a regulatory context that it does not elsewhere, and in a growing share of the county insurance considerations now sit alongside aesthetics. What raises value in Ohio…
Read more →