Home & Garden

Seems this has been the big question for many people this past year, and the answer is very clear and simple, it’s yes—it’s a no brainer!  History always repeats itself, and yes, it’s been a long and slow recovery, but the facts are clear.  The top analysts are predicting the economy will be closer to recovery by spring.  So again, yes!  This would be the time to start your home improvements.

We are all guilty – guilty of neglecting one-fifth of the total paintable space in a room.  We spend hours collecting paint samples.  We examine the color wheel closely to consider the perfect color for our room makeover.  And when the paint professional asks our preference for the ceiling paint, we answer in one word: White.  But consider for a moment the dramatic effect of the room if there was a color contrast, even a subtle contrast, between those beautiful walls and the ceiling.  Or, if you are nervous about an “accent wall,” consider using the ceiling to provide the accent for the room.

This article is continued from last month.  The City of Santa Clarita can take from two to four days to have a permit in your hands.  The City of Los Angeles is usually an over the counter pull, however it can take several hours in that one day of waiting in all of the necessary lines.  The City of Simi Valley takes plan submittals only and the plan checkers look at the plans for a seven to ten day period and call you when the plans are ready for permitting or corrections need to be made.

Rowland Air, Inc. is a fully licensed, family owned business and has been serving our loyal customers in the Santa Clarita Valley area since 1987.  The Rowland Air family has been a resident of the Santa Clarita Valley since the community only had roughly a population of 120,000 in December of 1990 and we have experienced the growth with you to a current population of approximately 275,000 as of January 2009.

Every January thousands of people resolve to make changes that will improve their quality of life.  Three of the top New Year’s resolutions are to “quit smoking,” “loose weight,” and “get organized.”  It’s been said; if you want to change your life, start by clearing out your clutter.  If you are feeling stuck and truly want to make a change in your life, clutter clearing and organizing is the way to start.

What we do at Randal Winter Construction to assure satisfied customers is first find out what the customer’s needs are for their new custom kitchen.  This is accomplished through an extensive interview in their home.
The following are just some points we cover in the interview:

Recent information in the news discussed the hard water problems associated with tankless water heaters since the ban on Automatic Water Softeners went into effect.  The columnist answers questions of residents in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The specific question to him in question comes from a homeowner who had removed his Sears Automatic Water Softener to be in compliance with the softener ban and now finds that his aerators were clogging up with what looks like small chunks of scale in the sink faucets and showerheads.  In addition to the inconvenience of the clogged sink faucets and showerheads he was concerned that there might be a damaging situation with his tankless water heater. 

The City of Santa Clarita now has appointed five people to be Cultural Arts Comissioners.  The Cultural Arts Commission had 16 people apply for one of the five positions to be an Arts Commissioner.  Each of the 16 people presented an application and three letters of recommendation to the Ccty council members.  All five city council members read all of the applications and letters of recommendation and each council member could choose one person to be their nomination for one of the art commissioners.  The city council chose four men and one woman to be Art Commissioners.  The names of the new Arts Commissioners are: Michael Millard, Paul Strickland, John Dow, Eric Schmidt and Sandy Fisher.

We spend weeks trimming our homes for the holidays!  We pull out treasures we only see once a year.  So after the holiday decorations are stowed away for another year, many homes feel empty and as sterile as a hospital room.  Avoid the Post Holiday Humdrum Home Syndrome with a few well-placed accents!
The right accent pieces can make your home look refreshed.

In this day and age, most people consider the role they play in taking care of the environment.  Recycling is a common practice in most homes and we consider carefully the way we use and dispose of many items.  We scrutinize chemicals and how they affect our personal home environments but also consider what they will do to the atmosphere.  Many paint manufacturers have also been considering what it means to be “green” and both the paint professional and homeowner find the new “natural” paint choices to be a valid option when selecting paint color.

Do you need a little help to get the kitchen or bath you’ve always wanted?  Is it time for a remodel and need help from the professionals?  Are you looking for some personal service and custom work? 
With over 18 years experience, Dannick Designs Inc. is dedicated to providing you with the best service possible.  Dannick Design is a general contracting company specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodels, with an interior designer on staff to help you with all your decorating needs.  Licensed, bonded and insured, rest assured you will get that perfect kitchen or bath remodel you’ve always dreamed of.

“Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful” – William Morris
With my design clients, I teach them that less is more.  Sometimes all a room needs to have “good design” is to subtract, rather than add!
I regularly travel through my rooms with a fresh eye, to determine if my accessories and decor still reflect who lives in our house.
Let’s think about how we can subtract rather than add to our decor in order to improve our homes.  The goal is to restore order to our homes and by so doing – simplify our lives!

The cool, short days of winter usher in the bare-root planting season.  Bare-root plants have been tended in commercial growing fields for several years, then dug and supplied to retailers with their roots bare of soil but kept moist enough to prevent dehydration.
Roses, fruit trees, grapes, and berries are all available at this time of the year in bare root form.

I’ve been thinking of a way to welcome in the New Year with a special offer to new customers who bring their business to Rayne.  This is an offer that almost anyone can use and will introduce many of you to a local business in Santa Clarita that Rayne and myself know and trust.
Many of us are looking for that “something extra” before we take our business anywhere.  I am often asked why I do not offer coupons in The Magazine with two for one specials, 25 percent off deals and the like.

The City of Santa Clarita recently announced that over $13 million dollars in tax-exempt bond monies have been made available to the city in what is being called the Recovery Zone Facility Bond (RZFB) program.  These bond opportunities were made available to the City of Santa Clarita as a result of President Obama’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) with the hopes of investing in private projects that would benefit the community.

The next few months is said to be the best in years for home repairs and improvements.  While new construction has taken a sharp decline and contractors who used to have a six-week waiting list are now more available.  Less reputable contractors are weeded out, leaving the top contractors to compete for your business.

A common problem in certain areas of the Santa Clarita Valley is mildew and mold. They both are unsightly, invasive and can even be dangerous to one’s health. It is best to learn how to identify the two types of growth.
Mildew – Typically you will find mildew on your bathroom ceilings, exterior gutters, exterior eaves and soffits that have old oil-base paints or low-quality acrylic paints, the north side of your home, kitchens and some interior of closets. Mold is a little more difficult to spot and is normally mistaken as mildew.

Five Sleep-inducing Features for Window Treatments to Help People get Better Sleep
Whether you’re losing sleep over the economic news, job pressures, family issues, the upcoming holiday season or just run down by the hectic pace of our 24/7 society, many of us just need some rest.  Getting a good night’s sleep shouldn’t be considered a luxury and there are simple things people can do to create a sleeping environment that’s a knock out.