As the 8th most expensive zip code in the United States, Los Altos Hills (94022, to be exact), is definitely not a cheap place to live. You get a lot of bang for your buck here, however, with guaranteed lot sizes, beautiful residential areas with restricted zoning (no apartments or commercial buildings here), and a fantastic community of adults to socialize with at the farmers’ market on Thursdays. It’s a quiet, ranch-reminiscent town that’s unfortunately about to get even more pricey.

By the end of 2017, the Fed expects yet another ¾ point increase in interest rates—meaning your LAH mortgage has the potential to rise more than $500 per month. If you’re lucky enough to live in this coveted zip code, that number may not concern you. However, it definitely serves as that market’s warning to stay put. Now is definitely not the time to buy new.

A lot of tech cities have somewhat transient populations, as people roll from one city to the next. But the Los Altos population has increasingly skewed toward those in their late 20s to early 40s, as folks settle down to raise young families here.

Los Altos got its start with farms and apricot orchards, and while the community’s changed a lot since then, plenty of people still like working in the dirt. When I’m in the area, I’m always blown away by the number of lush gardens. One of my clients tells me that the Garden Club of Los Altos is one of the oldest in the state (nearly 90). Not only does the club share ideas for tending their own gardens, they help beautify the city—and they do a pretty fine job of it.

Los Altos’ development history is actually pretty interesting. It used to be a notable bedroom community, but the city became concerned when malls and chain stores started sapping its retail district. They got aggressive, and now have a long list of mixed-use development projects in various states of completion. These condo, retail, and commercial buildings center around the now-booming First Street district and are complemented by great restaurants and boutique shops.

The time we spend at home relaxing can be incredibly valuable for finding inspiration and personal growth. This space is especially important in a town like Los Altos, where most of the city is residential and our families get a fair amount of cultural exposure through books and media. By keeping your home stocked with a range of stimulating literature, you can have the world of culture at your fingertips, even in a suburban setting.

To bring that ‘window to the world’ into your own home, why not couple your bibliophilia with your love of interior design to create a custom library that showcases your personal and professional interests and ignites your passions? Integrating a library seamlessly into your existing office lets your room pull double-duty and keeps your favorite volumes within arm's reach for easy reference. Valet Custom's designers can integrate bespoke library shelving into your home in a way that supports spending your downtime productively with literature.

Karin Parodi is one of the outstanding designers at Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets, and something that sets her apart from our other designers is that she often partners with interior designers, builders and contractors to work with clients who are either building a home from the ground up or doing extensive remodeling to an existing home. Our featured project this month is a swoon-worthy deluxe walk-in closet that was part of a major remodel for Brian and Jan in Los Altos.