DESIGN INSPIRATION: Built-In Tech That Transforms Your Home - Lenton Company

DESIGN INSPIRATION: Built-In Tech That Transforms Your Home

Technology has a way of sneaking into every corner of our lives—and smart home design makes sure it does so beautifully. From tangle-free charging to lit-up closets and safety-first bathroom drawers, today’s custom remodels are elevating everyday spaces with clever, built-in electronic features.

Here’s how thoughtful tech, like docking drawers and beyond, is making life easier, safer, and more stylish—one room at a time.

Docking Drawers: Clutter-Free Charging That’s Built In

A docking drawer is a game-changer for device storage.

These cleverly designed drawers are equipped with integrated outlets or USB ports, allowing phones, tablets, and laptops to charge while tucked neatly away. A flexible, UL-listed cable system allows the drawer to open and close without damaging cords or compromising safety. The result is a clean, clutter-free countertop and devices that are always ready to go.

In-Drawer Outlets: Power Where You Need It

Appliances and grooming tools are easier to use—and store—when power is right where you need it. In-drawer outlets are a growing trend in both kitchens and bathrooms. Whether you’re plugging in a stand mixer or a hairdryer, having power inside the drawer keeps cords off the counter and devices within reach. In bathrooms, this innovation takes on a safety-first approach, especially when paired with automatic shutoff features.

Designing for Durability

Foster families—like any busy household—need spaces that can keep up. That includes durable flooring that can withstand spills, scratches, and the occasional cat chase. In this remodel, we installed waterproof, wood-look flooring throughout the kitchen and main living areas for a cohesive, low-maintenance foundation. Quartz countertops, soft-close drawers, and under-cabinet lighting completed the transformation, ensuring the space was not only beautiful, but built to last.

Heat-Sensing Bathroom Drawer Accessories

Busy mornings don’t always leave time to double-check the curling iron. That’s where heat-sensing bathroom drawers come in. These smart accessories cut power automatically when the drawer is closed, reducing the risk of overheating or fire. It’s one of those thoughtful touches that gives homeowners peace of mind without sacrificing convenience.

In-Counter Charging & Pop-Up Power Towers

Wireless charging is also finding its way into modern kitchens and home offices. In-counter charging pads are installed beneath quartz or stone countertops, allowing devices to charge just by setting them down—no cords necessary. For homes that need more accessible power, pop-up towers are a sleek solution. These hidden outlets stay flush with the surface until you need them. A gentle push reveals USB ports and plugs, ideal for everything from laptops to blenders, and they disappear just as easily when not in use.

Brilliant Lighting Features

Built-in lighting is another area where design and technology shine. Undercabinet lighting brightens workspaces and adds ambiance, while automatic closet lighting makes even small spaces more functional. One of our favorite upgrades? LED-lit closet rods. These innovative features combine structure and illumination, casting soft light on your wardrobe the moment you open the door.

Why It All Matters

These features may be tucked away, but their impact is anything but small. Built-in tech enhances safety, improves organization, and brings a level of ease that transforms daily routines. By integrating power and lighting where you need it most, your home becomes not only more functional—but more beautiful, too.

Let’s Bring Smart Function to Your Remodel

At Lenton Company, we specialize in creating homes that reflect how you live—down to the smallest, smartest details. Whether it’s a charging drawer in your kitchen, an auto-off bathroom station, or a closet that lights up your morning, we can help design a space that works better for you.

Call Lenton Company at 661.273.9179 or visit lentoncompany.com to schedule your complimentary Discovery Meeting. Let’s bring smart design into your home.

Outgrowing Your Space? Additions Are The Perfect Solution In Today's Real Estate Market - Lenton Company

Outgrowing Your Space? Additions Are The Perfect Solution In Today’s Real Estate Market

Finding oneself in a situation where you’ve outgrown your current living space can be both exciting and challenging. While moving to a new home may seem like the obvious solution, it might not always be feasible or desirable, especially in today’s real estate market. However, there is a practical and cost-effective alternative: additions, whether enlarging an existing space or adding a complete room. Join us as we explore how additions can address your space limitations, allowing you to create your dream home without the hassle of relocating.

Assessing Your Needs

The first step in determining whether an addition is the right solution for you is to assess your needs. Take a close look at your current living space and identify the areas where you feel cramped or lacking. Are you in need of an additional bedroom, a home office, a playroom for the kids, or perhaps a spacious kitchen? By understanding your specific requirements, you can tailor the project to meet your exact needs.

Cost-Effective Alternative

In today’s real estate market, buying a new home can be a significant financial challenge. Rising housing prices, competitive bidding, higher interest rates, and limited inventory can make the process unattainable for many. Room additions or adding footage to an existing room, on the other hand, offer a cost-effective alternative. Instead of investing in a new property, you can invest in expanding and improving your existing home, maximizing its potential and value.

Preserving Location and Lifestyle

Your current home likely holds a special place in your heart. It may be in a neighborhood you love, close to work, schools, or amenities that are important to you. Additions allow you to preserve your location and the lifestyle you’ve built, eliminating the need to uproot yourself and start anew.

Customization and Personalization

One of the greatest advantages of additions is the ability to customize and personalize the new space according to your preferences. You have complete control over the design, layout, and functionality of the addition. From choosing the architectural style to selecting finishes, colors, and materials, every detail can be tailored to reflect your taste and lifestyle. This level of customization ensures that the new space seamlessly integrates with your existing home, creating a cohesive and harmonious living environment.

Working with Professionals

Embarking on an addition project requires expertise and guidance from professionals in the field. Collaborating with an experienced contractor like Lenton Company helps you navigate the complexities of the process, from obtaining permits and ensuring compliance with building codes to managing the construction timeline and budget. Our team’s knowledge and skills will be instrumental in transforming your vision into a reality, ensuring a successful and as stress-free of an experience as possible.

Adding Value to Your Home

Investing in an addition not only improves your current living situation but also adds value to your home. The extra square footage and functional enhancements can increase the overall market value of your property. Should you decide to sell in the future, room additions or enlarging existing spaces can be a significant selling point, attracting potential buyers and potentially commanding a higher asking price.

Additions, whether a complete room or additional space in an existing room, offers an attractive alternative to a new home purchase, allowing you to expand and transform your existing property to meet your changing needs. With careful planning, professional guidance, and a touch of creativity, you can create your dream home while preserving the location, community, and lifestyle established. This month’s featured project created a library addition for our homeowners with a passion for reading and relaxing in front of a roaring fire. What’s your dream space addition? Let Lenton Company help bring your vision to life.

Next Home or Forever Home? - Lenton Company

Next Home or Forever Home?

When Lenton Company first meets with a homeowner to discover their needs and vision for a remodel, they ask if this is the homeowner’s next home or forever home? You may wonder why that matters. If it’s a next home, then the scope of the remodel will likely take into consideration its impact on the future resale value of the home. In contrast, a forever home’s main consideration will be for the homeowner to stay in their home as long as possible as the home’s occupants age and transition into their next life cycle. It’s an important, thought-provoking question that not only takes into account their present-day situation but focuses the homeowner on future plans.

Next Home

Next homes (and starter homes may fall into this category) are places you’ll probably stay only several years or until a major life change or milestone occurs. Having kids, a job change, or moving to a different city/state are common examples.

Advantages of a next home are affordability since they tend to be less expensive than forever homes. If it’s a starter home, you might be able to purchase it sooner than a forever home. It could also be an investment property with a passive income stream if you don’t need to sell once you’re ready to move.

Disadvantages are that the home may be smaller with limited amenities and more modest than a forever home. Selling in a few years could be a hassle given unknown volatility in the housing market and interest rates.

Remodeling opportunities are plentiful and can provide a competitive edge for a future sale. This is especially true for tract homes in large developments where a remodel will not only update the home but distinguish it from others in the tract. There’s also the personal enjoyment you’ll have while living in the home and making it suit your own taste and style.

Forever Home

A forever home is exactly as the name describes. It’s a place you plan to live in for a very long time, and possibly for the rest of your life. For homeowners looking to settle down long term, a forever home is appropriate.

Advantages may be a larger home featuring more amenities, such as a large outdoor space, extra storage, and a back deck or patio for entertaining family and guests. If you plan to stay in the home for decades, there’s time to pay down the mortgage and have the home appreciate in value.

Disadvantages are that this type of home may be more expensive since it is typically larger with room to grow. There’s less flexibility if plans change within a few years. Given the possible higher purchase price, the potential for losing money on an earlier than planned sale is there.

When considering remodeling opportunities for a forever home, the sky’s the limit. Homeowners can make as many changes to the home as they want, and a larger home may have plenty of space to do just that.

The Lenton Advantage

Lenton Company has served the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Valley since 1984 spanning three generations as a family-owned business. Its mission is to design, build, and remodel exceptional, life-changing spaces. Their team first meets with a client to discover their pain-points – problems, obstacles, what isn’t working – then custom tailors a design to their space and needs. From there the design team ceremoniously delivers the plans to the build team and work begins in earnest.

Whether it’s a next home with future resale value in mind or a forever home that addresses future needs, accessibility, and mobility discreetly and beautifully added to the home, Lenton Company asks the right questions in discovery to ensure the best outcome.