In Los Angeles, there are not many opportunities to buy a brand new home, so unless the house you're looking at has already been updated, you're most likely looking at a renovation project. Our house only had one owner and there was very little to nothing done to it during the time they lived in it. The kitchen was small, L shaped with soffits and old cabinets. In the same area was an area for a table and chairs and on the other side of the kitchen was a small den area. I decided to gut the whole room and put in a large kitchen with an island.