Expert home remodeling advice from Murray Lampert, San Diego’s design-build firm since 1975 - kitchens, additions, ADUs, outdoor living, and more.
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Most home improvements are not directly tax deductible, but federal energy credits, California's solar property tax exclusion, and capital gains rules all affect San Diego homeowners. Here is what you need to know.
Design-build is the most efficient and accountable way to remodel a home, and it’s been the cornerstone of Murray Lampert’s approach since 1975.
In a traditional remodeling arrangement, homeowners deal with separate contracts: one with a designer, another with a general contractor, and often a third with specialty trades. When problems arise — and they always do — responsibility gets passed between parties. Costs shift. Timelines slip. The homeowner ends up in the middle of unwinding a complicated project, which invariably ends up costing a lot of time and money.
Design-build eliminates that structure entirely. Murray Lampert’s in-house architectural designers and interior designers work under the same roof as our production team and project managers. Your project moves from concept to completion under a single contract, with one point of accountability: us. Once your scope is approved, your price is fixed with no change orders driven by miscommunication between parties who weren’t working together from the start.
San Diego’s permitting environment, HOA requirements, and coastal zone regulations add complexity to any remodeling project. A unified design-build team navigates those requirements as a single entity. The articles in this section cover how design-build works, what to look for in a design-build firm, and how to evaluate whether this approach is right for your project.
San Diego homeowners have been trusting Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel with their most significant home improvement projects for over fifty years. As a fourth-generation family business founded in 1975, we’ve helped thousands of families transform their homes across San Diego, from Coronado to Carlsbad and Point Loma to La Mesa.
Home remodeling is more than construction. It starts with understanding how you live, what frustrates you about your current space, and what your home could become with the right vision behind it. Our in-house architectural designers and interior designers work alongside our production team under a single contract, which means the design you approve is the project that gets built with no gap between vision and execution.
Every project we take on comes with detailed design and accurate pricing. Once your scope is finalized, your price is fixed. That’s not an industry standard, it’s a Murray Lampert standard.
In this resource library you’ll find articles covering every aspect of home remodeling: planning your project, choosing materials, understanding San Diego’s permit process, and making design decisions that add lasting value. Browse the articles below, or contact us to start a conversation about your project.
A home addition is one of the most significant investments a San Diego homeowner can make, and one of the most complex to execute well.
Unlike a remodel that works within existing walls, an addition changes the structural footprint and often the character of the home itself. When it’s done right, the addition feels like it was always there. When it’s done poorly, with a design that doesn’t integrate with the original architecture or construction that cuts corners on foundation and framing, it becomes a liability rather than an asset.
Murray Lampert has been designing and building home additions in San Diego since 1975. Our in-house architectural designers begin every addition project with the same question: how do we make this feel like it belongs? That means studying the existing roofline, exterior materials, window proportions, and interior flow before anything goes on paper.
San Diego’s permitting process for additions is thorough: structural engineering, Title 24 energy compliance, soils reports in some areas, HOA approvals, and the city’s plan-check timeline all add to the planning horizon. Murray Lampert’s project managers handle every step from permit application through final inspection. Browse the articles below for guidance on planning, design, permitting, and what a San Diego home addition realistically costs at different scales.
San Diego’s ADU market has changed significantly since California’s accessory dwelling unit legislation took effect. Permit timelines are shorter, setback requirements have loosened, and more property configurations qualify than most homeowners realize.
Murray Lampert has been building in-law suites and accessory living spaces in San Diego since well before ADUs became a mainstream conversation. We understand what the City of San Diego and surrounding jurisdictions actually require — the specific permit pathways, utility connection standards, and design constraints that apply to your property.
An ADU project begins with a site assessment. Lot coverage, setbacks, existing utility connections, and the condition of the primary structure all affect what’s possible and what it costs. Murray Lampert’s architectural designers evaluate these factors early in the process, before any design work is finalized, so that the project you design is the project that gets permitted and built.
Common configurations include detached backyard units, garage conversions, attached additions with separate entrances, and interior conversions of existing space. Each has a different cost profile, permitting pathway, and design considerations. Our ADU design-build program is built around multigenerational living: affordable units for family members downsizing, aging-in-place spaces for older relatives, and flexible rooms for short-term guests or multi-purpose use. Browse the articles below or reach out to discuss what your property can accommodate.
A well-designed interior is more than beautiful. It functions better, feels better, and holds its value longer. At Murray Lampert, interior design isn’t a service we outsource. Our in-house interior designers are part of every project team, working alongside our architectural designers and production managers from the first design conversation through the final walkthrough.
That integration matters. When the person selecting your finishes, fixtures, and materials is working directly with the team building your project, specifications are clear, substitutions get flagged early, and the finished space reflects the design intent. There is no lag between a design decision and a construction question. Both are resolved in the same conversation, which is essential to keeping the project on schedule and on budget.
Interior design at Murray Lampert covers the full range of finish selections: cabinetry, countertops, tile, hardwood, plumbing fixtures, lighting, hardware, and paint. Our designers bring knowledge of what’s available, what holds up, and what works in San Diego’s specific climate conditions, including marine layer humidity on the coast and heat exposure inland, rather than simply following catalog trends.
The articles in this section cover interior design principles, finish selection guidance, design trend analysis, and practical advice for homeowners working through design decisions with or without a professional team.
San Diego’s climate is the envy of the country, and the homeowners who get the most out of it are the ones who have invested in outdoor living spaces designed to function year-round.
Murray Lampert designs and builds outdoor spaces that extend the livable square footage of your home without a full addition: covered patios, outdoor kitchens, decks and hardscape, pergolas, and indoor-outdoor transitions that take full advantage of San Diego’s weather. The design process starts the same way an interior remodel does: understanding how you use the space, what you want to be able to do there, and what the existing conditions allow.
Permit requirements for outdoor structures vary significantly by jurisdiction and project type. Attached patio covers, freestanding structures over a certain size, outdoor kitchens with gas connections, and structures affecting lot coverage all carry specific requirements in San Diego County. Murray Lampert handles permitting as part of every project.
In San Diego’s real estate market, a well-designed outdoor kitchen and covered living area can meaningfully improve marketability and appraised value, particularly when the space is designed as a true extension of the interior rather than a stand-alone backyard feature. These articles cover outdoor kitchen design, patio and deck planning, hardscape materials, and what to expect from a San Diego outdoor living project.
The kitchen is the most-used room in most homes — where family and friends gather, meals are made, and daily life plays out. Investing in a kitchen remodel delivers the highest combination of daily satisfaction and long-term value of any home improvement project when done well.
Murray Lampert has designed and built kitchens across San Diego for nearly fifty years. In that time we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t: layouts that feel open but function efficiently, storage solutions that actually get used, finish choices that hold up to daily life, and material selections that age well in San Diego’s climate.
Our in-house architectural designers and interior designers collaborate on kitchen projects from the first conversation. Layout, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, plumbing, lighting, and finish selection are planned together — not assembled from separate vendor bids. That integration is what allows us to commit to a fixed price before demolition begins.
A kitchen remodel involves more permit and inspection touchpoints than most homeowners expect — especially when the project involves moving plumbing, upgrading electrical, or altering walls. Murray Lampert’s project managers handle all of it: permit applications, city inspections, subcontractor coordination, and scheduling. Browse the articles below for guidance, or reach out when you’re ready to start the design conversation.
Building green in San Diego isn’t just an environmental commitment — it’s a smart investment in long-term performance and home comfort.
California leads the nation in energy efficiency standards. Title 24, CALGreen, and evolving local requirements set a high bar for insulation, HVAC efficiency, glazing, and water use in new construction and major remodels. Murray Lampert designs and builds to meet and exceed those standards, because our clients deserve homes that perform well for decades.
Our in-house architectural designers incorporate energy-efficient strategies from the earliest phase of design: building orientation, window placement, insulation systems, mechanical equipment, and material specification all factor into the finished home’s performance. San Diego’s climate adds nuance: coastal homes face moisture management challenges that inland projects don’t. Inland homes must manage cooling loads that coastal homes rarely encounter. The right green strategy depends on where your home is and how you live in it.
This section covers sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, eco-friendly insulation options, solar and battery considerations, and the green certifications relevant to San Diego homeowners. Whether you’re planning a whole-home renovation or a targeted green upgrade, these resources will help you make better-informed decisions.
Not every home improvement project requires a contractor, and knowing when to tackle something yourself versus when to call a professional is one of the most valuable skills a homeowner can develop.
Murray Lampert has been working with San Diego homeowners since 1975. In that time we’ve seen what happens when the right project is handled the right way, and when it isn’t. This resource section covers the practical side of home ownership: maintenance schedules, material selection, finish choices, simple repairs, and the judgment calls that help you protect your investment without overextending.
The articles here are written with real homeowners in mind. You’ll find guidance on seasonal maintenance, how to spot problems before they become expensive, finish and fixture options that hold up in San Diego’s coastal climate, and project-planning advice that helps you stay on budget whether you’re doing the work yourself or coordinating a professional.
We’re also straightforward about limits. Structural changes, major electrical work, and anything requiring a permit belong with a licensed contractor. We’ll tell you which is which and why. When a project grows beyond DIY scope, Murray Lampert’s design-build team is ready to take it from there.
Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel is a San Diego company in the deepest sense of that phrase. Founded in 1975 as a family business, we have been rooted in this community for four generations, and that relationship goes well beyond the work we do inside people’s homes.
San Diego is where we live, where our families have lived, and where our team members are raising the next generation. That long-term stake shapes how we operate: with accountability to neighbors, a commitment to the local economy, and a responsibility to stand behind our work for decades.
Over the years, Murray Lampert has supported local nonprofits, participated in neighborhood improvement initiatives, and partnered with organizations that strengthen San Diego’s communities. We believe a business that benefits from a community has an obligation to give back, and that the measure of a company’s character is what it does when no one is watching.
This section highlights Murray Lampert’s community involvement, charitable partnerships, local events, and the stories of the San Diego neighborhoods we’ve had the privilege of serving. We’re grateful to be trusted here, and we don’t take that trust lightly.
