The Unsuspecting Bosslady: Shanty Wijaya

LOS ANGELES - Nov. 26, 2018 - PRLog -- The powerhouse behind Los Angeles's hottest new home designer, Allprace Properties, is Shanty Wijaya, a former molecular biologist from Jakarta, Indonesia, whose love of business and design is setting a new bar in the renovation market from mid-city to West Hollywood to NELA.

Her custom homes and designer renovations are known for the their boldness, for the "no detail spared" approach to renovation...for example, one of her last projects in mid city sold for $211,000 over the listing price, and perhaps it's because she installed a Bertazzoni range when most of her competition were installing mid-range appliances.

"I create the space that I would want to live in. I can feel. I walk around a potential property and it is natural, and I'm kind of flexible so I don't set it in stone from the start."

Shanty, who arrived to the US in 2001, but has been flipping since 2008, entered the market when it had just suffered the crash. But to be successful in this field, one has to have a taste for risk.

"I know it sounds backwards. I started with the cheapest houses in the worst neighborhoods." But one by one, she gained confidence and saw the market respond to her creative instincts in a very positive way. With each new victory, the price point moved up, and Shanty's desire to install more design, take bigger risks grew as well.

Standing outside her most recent work of art, a 4 bedroom Modern Farmhouse in north Atwater Village in Los Angeles, her attention to detail is on display. From the exterior landscaping, precious staged vignette seating areas and hanging chairs, to the solid wood dutch doors, Brendan Ravenhill designer lighting fixtures, Bertazzoni pro range, Gaggenau built-in refrigerator, leathered granite kitchen counters to the resin tub and waterproof plaster walls, it is clear that Shanty's project stands head and shoulders above the competition's predictable laminate floors and gray cabinets.

"Every house speaks to me. It's intuition. It tells me what it wants, and I answer the call. This house, for example, it needed to be reimagined. The lot is so big but the house sat at the very back of the property. We built it out to offer an optional master, and create some outdoor entertaining spaces, like the space right off the dining room, or the picnic area under the fruit tree. The ceilings needed to be lifted and basically I wanted to create an experience for the new homeowner. I don't just do this work for money, it's really about invention."

Her inspired design breaks records, sets new standards, and shapes the transformation of neighborhoods. The community aspect is very important to her when she is working on a project. "We become friends with the neighbors, they look out for us and we appreciate them. We want them to see what we are building and to feel good about my design being integrated into the neighborhood. Since we are often the newest home on the block, it is important to have respect for our neighbors, and we do. We have met the most wonderful people, sometimes in areas that seem so gritty. Most of the time, the neighbors are happy with what I have create and the way it brings esteem to the street or block."

And when you are a soft-spoken Indonesian woman, how does that affect your performance in this business? "At first, I felt that people didn't take me seriously. They didn't believe that I was the one making the decisions. One Realtor asked me (one day when I was here at the house) where the owner was. When I told her that I was the owner, she couldn't believe that I did this myself!"

"But in all honesty, I have learned to be more assertive and have figured out ways to get the best results. I love it when people underestimate me, too. It gives me so much drive."

New projects from Allprace Properties are set to be released in early 2019. To join the Allprace interest and gain access to the newest listings before they hit the market, visit: https://mailchi.mp/acme-re/allpraceproperties

Allprace Properties is setting a new standard for design and reinvention in the Los Angeles housing market. ACME Real Estate is honored to represent Allprace Properties in the procurement and resale of renovation projects. We are always looking to buy! Email courtney@acme-re.comto submit your inquiry.