As an architecture firm that’s been working with homeowners in the Long Beach area for many years now, we’ve naturally done a lot of work in nearby Rossmoor. Rossmoor is not technically a city, but rather an unincorporated area in Orange County. The neighborhood is almost entirely residential, with most of the houses having been built in the late 1950s and 1960s. It’s hard to find homes in Rossmoor that haven’t already been remodeled, but occasionally, we get calls from homeowners who have homes that still have the original floorplans.
We’re very familiar with the homes in Rossmoor and can often anticipate some of the changes homeowners want to make before they even ask for them. This is because these homes have several features that were fads when they were built back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but that aren’t necessarily desirable features today. Specifically, in many of the Rossmoor home models, the master bedroom is at the front of the home. Back in the day, the master bedroom was seen as sort of a “gatekeeper”-type space. Now, master bedrooms are viewed more like a retreat and are located either in the rear of a home or upstairs. As such, we get a lot of requests to move the location of the master bedroom or to have a new one added on to the back of the house that includes a larger master bathroom and a walk-in closet.
Another original feature of Rossmoor homes is varying ceiling heights. In some models, you’ll have a low entryway ceiling adjacent to a vaulted living room ceiling. This design feature was meant to provide spatial contrast, but unfortunately, there was little detailing on the ceilings. Today’s homeowners tend to prefer coffered ceilings or decorative beams that provide a more crafted feeling in the home.
Full kitchen remodels are another common request. The original Rossmoor homes had kitchens that were small and sometimes closed off from the rest of the house. Many of our Rossmoor clients are looking to expand their kitchens and make them showpieces in their homes. Patio additions and remodels are also frequent requests. Since some of the Rossmoor models are on the small side, homeowners are often looking to take advantage of their outdoor space to increase their living and entertaining areas.
When it comes to expanding the square footage of homes in Rossmoor, there are some things that homeowners need to consider. Most importantly, is that additions larger than 500 square feet require a soils report, due to Rossmoor having a high water table and a variety of soil types. Soils reports can be quite costly and take some time to complete, so homeowners either need to factor that into their budget and timeline or scale down their plans to avoid having to complete a soils report. Another factor to consider, is that the plans for any Rossmoor remodels need to be approved by the County. In Orange County, the various services like water, sewer, and other utilities are not centralized (as opposed to the City of Long Beach where all services are run by the City). This can sometimes make the approval process take a little longer.
Our architecture firm’s experience in Rossmoor is definitely an advantage for our clients. We are very familiar with common issues and challenges associated with Rossmoor home remodels and can guide our clients through them. We’ve helped many homeowners create their dream homes by reimagining spaces and coming up with creative solutions. (Here’s one home remodel in Rossmoor that was recently completed.)
If you have a Rossmoor home that is in need of a remodel, we would love to talk with you! Contact us today to set up an appointment or to have your initial questions answered.
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