Home & Garden

Did you know that homes with predominantly blue interiors have the reputation of taking five times longer to sell?  Blue decreases a person’s body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.  A large amount of this color aids in turning one’s focus inward.  A combination of blues and greens enhance an individual’s concentration and focus, a good choice office space.  Adding taupe as a third color has enough orange character to support friendly interaction between associates and the brown states reliability.  This combination is perfect for many businesses as it increases productivity while creating an environment of peace and trust.  Here are some other things to consider when coordinating colors for your project.

As Memorial Day approaches, our thoughts turn to those brave American soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.
I don‘t know about you, but I cannot simply bear the thought of not honoring and remembering the veterans.

Summer is on the way, it will be here before you know it.  One of the greatest things you can do with your kids is to plant a garden, but you must beware or you may be buying new kids bedding.  Be prepared to have some dirty kids.  Be on the watch for your kids bedding, because it may be in danger.  Most parents understand that kids are fascinated by digging in the dirt.  Your kids will have to take their baths before going to their rooms to play.

With some of the confusion still remaining in the Santa Clarita Valley, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, and Fair Oaks Ranch regarding water softening and water treatment, it is becoming more important to choose carefully the company that will serve us and our families.  Many companies have come and gone over the last few years, (sometimes months), leaving their customer base without any service or support.

One of the newer trends we are seeing in counter slabs is the use of Silestone.  Silestone has become very popular with not only the residents of Santa Clarita but with builders and designers as well.  Silestone countertops are available in a wide range of colors designed to fit any decor and any personality.  Silestone offers a sophisticated elegance and timeless beauty.  The natural quartz in Silestone delivers distinctive depth, brilliant clarity, glimmering radiance and a cool, solid surface feel unique to natural stone. 

People who love nature are naturally drawn to wood products.  The fact is that wood is natural and sustainable resource and does not add to our landfills or contribute poorly to our environment.

Would you like to simplify your life and get back to basics?  Want to turn your home into a sanctuary, a haven from the craziness going on outside your front door?  Are you looking for a sense of relief, well-being and control that comes when your home is organized?
In this fast-paced world it can seem like there is no time to breathe let alone time for reading a book, listening to music, playing with the kids or leisurely walking the dog.  As the pace of life has quickened so has the trend toward collecting things and stuffing them into our homes.

As the final date draws near where the removal of Automatic Water Softeners is required many Santa Clarita Valley residents are asking questions about alternative water treatment.  For those who are choosing not to pay the high service rates for portable exchange softening tanks, and only a limited softening capacity, there are several different options available.

Art is a powerful inter-cultural, non-linguistic way to communicate.  Visual art expresses emotions that words only begin to communicate.  Artists begin to create their artwork when something has inspired them.  It maybe a beautiful sky, ducks crossing a road or going to the ocean and seeing a lot of surfers. 

From ancient times to the present day, water is a necessity.  We must have it to survive physically.  But, water satisfies so many other needs.  The visual impact of a body of water is relaxing, refreshing and grounding.  Add movement and the sound of splashing water and the magic begins.

Every home exudes its own unique personality. Home accessories often play a large part in defining the ambiance and atmosphere that makes every house a home. Walking through a home should reflect the experience of an unexpected adventure. Each room should seamlessly flow into the next while simultaneously presenting different themes. From the bathroom to the bedroom to the kitchen and beyond, home accessories can help to make your home a place of comfort and warmth as well as unify the various patterns and motifs depicted throughout each space.

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling.  So making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort.  Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Sunny days of spring inspire dreams of enjoying one’s garden, and now is the perfect time to live those dreams.  Your perfect place needs to beckon your escape at the day’s end.  It should bring romance to your garden, and accommodate family and friends in cool comfort.  A beautiful patio with the right choice in quality outdoor furniture will complete your garden, and be your sanctuary.

After much consideration and research into the paint industry, market color trends, consumer needs and demands, A. Allbright is proud to be launching their new paint line in April 2009.

It seemed like the natural thing to do, offer a paint line to our customers that we could stand behind that would complement our quality and professional painting services.

In these tough economic times choosing home improvement projects that can reduce our energy costs are something to strongly consider.  Retractable awnings offer great benefits in reducing energy costs while keeping you cool on your deck or patio.  You can reduce heat gain inside by as much as 77 percent and reduce sunlight and glare through your window by as much as 94 percent.

Warm spring nights, cool breeze through the open windows, your neighbor’s pool pump screeching.  Sound familiar?  Barking dogs, buses, Harleys, your kid’s drum set.  All noises we don’t like but seem to come with the territory of living with neighbors. 

Energy-Saving Retrofitting Reduces Carbon Emissions, Lowers Utility Costs

The Community Energy Partnership recently selected the Santa Clarita Senior Center to receive numerous energy efficiency upgrades, including five sun tunnels, as part of a large-scale energy efficiency tune-up and demonstration project. The energy-conserving retrofits will save the Senior Center approximately $2,700 annually, plus additional savings that will be tracked over the course of the year. 

Does the economy have you pinching pennies?  Are you trying to save a few bucks and still make a money saving investment for your home or office?  Why not upgrade your home or office with energy efficient Milgard Windows from B & D Glass?