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How We Work

Our Remodeling Process

Six clear steps from the first walk-through to long after handoff — used on every Tarzana and LA project.
Master in Design is a Tarzana-based design + build remodeling firm specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs and complete-home remodels across the greater Los Angeles area. Our personal touch on craftsmanship and our eye for design are what make our work different — but it is the process below that makes every project actually land.
Every kitchen, bath, addition and whole-home remodel we take on follows the same six steps. Same in-house team. Same accountability from kickoff through final walk-through, and for years after.

1. Plan

We meet, walk the space, and understand the must-haves, the dreams and the budget.

2. Design

Layouts, finishes and fixtures — presented in a clear scope before anything starts.

3. Permit

We handle all permits, drawings and inspections so you do not have to.

4. Build

One on-site lead, one schedule, one phone number. You always know what is happening.

5. Finish

Punch list, walkthrough and a clean handoff. We do not leave until you are happy.

6. Stand Behind

We back our work and we are still around years later if anything ever needs attention.

Ready to start your project?

Tell us about it — no obligation, no pressure. We respond within one business day.

Every Master in Design project follows the same five-step process — the same flow we have used in Tarzana since 2012 to keep budgets honest, permits on time and finishes on schedule.

Remodeling can feel opaque from the outside — a sequence of unknown steps, uncertain timelines, and costs that seem to materialize from thin air. At Master in Design, we run every project through a defined six-phase process that has been refined over 200+ projects since 2012. The goal is simple: no surprises. You know what happens next, when it happens, and what it costs before we pick up a hammer.

The Six Phases

Phase 1: Discovery & Consultation (Week 1). We come to your home. We walk every room in scope, talk about how you actually use the space — not how the previous owner used it, not how the floor plan says you should, but how your family lives day to day. We discuss your budget range openly so we can tell you honestly what is feasible within it. If your vision and your budget are misaligned by 40%, it is better to know that in Week 1 than in Week 10. We take measurements, reference photos, and detailed notes. Within 3–5 business days you receive a preliminary scope-of-work summary and a rough-order-of-magnitude budget range at no charge.

Phase 2: Design & Engineering (Weeks 2–5). Once you approve the preliminary scope and sign a design agreement, we produce architectural plans, structural engineering calculations where needed, 3D renderings of key spaces, and material/finish selection boards. We walk you through cabinet door styles, countertop slabs, tile layouts, flooring samples, paint colors, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, and door hardware. Decisions made during design drive the accuracy of the construction estimate, so we guide you through every choice — not with a “pick whatever you want” shrug, but with informed recommendations based on durability, maintenance, and cost.

Phase 3: Permitting (Weeks 3–8, overlapping with Design). We prepare and submit permit drawings to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Typical permit turnaround for a residential remodel in the Valley is 2–6 weeks depending on scope and current LADBS volume. We handle plan-check comments and resubmissions. No work begins until the permit card is posted.

Phase 4: Construction (6–16 weeks, scope-dependent). Demolition → rough-in (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, framing) → in-wall inspection → insulation and drywall → finish surfaces (tile, flooring, paint) → cabinetry and trim installation → mechanical trim (fixtures, devices, appliances) → final details. You receive weekly progress reports with photos, including shots behind the walls you would otherwise never see: waterproofing, electrical rough-in, blocking for grab bars and TV mounts, insulation coverage.

Phase 5: Final Inspections & Punch List (Week of completion). City inspector signs off. We walk the project together with blue tape — you mark anything that needs attention, and we fix it. The punch list typically takes 1–3 days. We do not consider the project complete until you sign off.

Phase 6: Warranty & Follow-Up. We provide a one-year workmanship warranty on all labor. Manufacturer warranties apply to materials, fixtures, and appliances. If something needs attention after move-in — a drawer that settled out of alignment, a paint touch-up, a caulk joint that shrank — you call us and we come back. Promptly. Not “when we are in the area next month.”

Every Master in Design project follows the same five-step process — the same flow we have used in Tarzana since 2012 to keep budgets honest, permits on time and finishes on schedule.

Kitchen remodel with statement linear pendant and travertine counters in Tarzana, CA