Home & Garden

We’ve all toured model homes before or ogled over pictures in our favorite design magazine displaying beautifully furnished homes. We are amazed by the designer’s ability to blend beautiful fabrics, custom wood, furniture and paint to create that special room, and we are immersed in its beauty as we daydream of someday living in a home just like it.
There’s probably something you didn’t notice in all of this, however, and it is something that is essential to the overall look of the finished product. That something is lighting and how well it is used to capture the essence of each and every room we see.

If you want an easy way to save electricity, you have to look no further than the pump next to your backyard swimming pool.  Most folks don’t know this, but your pool pump uses as much electricity every year as your air conditioner.

Carpets are generally used to create a quiet and peaceful living environment in your home. Carpets may look easy to clean and easy to maintain, but carpet cleaning is not as easy as it sounds. There may be various ways to clean your carpet. Here are some tips to start from.

It is always better to get a deep cleaning done of your carpet every six months, either by deep cleaning machine or by a professional carpet cleaner. Even though there are some disadvantages with deep cleaning, it is still highly recommended to go for it.

The end of the first quarter of 2009 is a few days away.  How are you doing with your goal “to get organized?”  Let’s continue de-bunking some common organizing myths so you can achieve your goals!
Myth: You have to organize your home/office all in one day.

March is a great month to renovate that tired front lawn.  We all want to conserve water (and money) and the best way in the garden is by promoting a healthy lawn.  If your lawn is a Fescue, Bluegrass or Perennial Ryegrass (these are the predominant varieties here in Santa Clarita Valley) and it’s not green, it’s time to take action.

With the economic times being as they are, buying a new home can be a complicated process that many of us are not thinking about doing anytime soon.  Whether your home is five, 10, 15-years-old, a remodel is never out of the question.  Remodeling can be a simple process to make your home feel new and luxurious without the extravagant cost.

Drawing is the basic activity of art, because it is the recording of things that you see, imagine and remember.  It is a way of communicating to others the ideas and thoughts, sights and experiences that are important to you.  Drawing is a way of seeing and keeping a record of things you have seen and it can be careful and studied or quick and sketchy of something to be remembered.  Young children love to draw and the art activity of professional artists and designers.

In 2006, Carrier welcomed the new increase in efficiency standards, from 10 to 13 SEER, and offers the most products to meet the new efficiency requirements.  Manufacturers can only produce 13 SEER units, although your local dealer may continue to sell existing inventory, install and service older units.
What Homeowners Should Know:

Do you really know what happens when you use a contractor that is not licensed or insured?  We’ve all heard the horror stories! Many people think that with the bad economy, now is a good time to save by using an unlicensed or uninsured contractor.  But think again.  This could be a decision that you will regret.  Chances are you will end up losing more money by trying to cut corners.  Choose professionals you can trust.

The Stone Gallery, Inc. has been a major importer of top-quality natural stone slabs since 1990.  Real granite and marble countertops and floors are unparalleled in beauty, quality, durability, and even price; they should always be considered over man-made countertops which are often misleadingly advertised as less expensive and easier to maintain.  A several-million-year-old slab of granite is a work of art, and we invite you to enjoy this “art” at our showroom and indoor warehouse—located at 8647 San Fernando Road, in Sun Valley.  Our friendly sales staff is able to assist you with design and fabrication ideas, and we are always happy to allow you to hand-pick your slabs from our vast inventory.

Spring brings the first warming rays of sun, lifting up our spirits and renewing us inwardly, as well as the world around us.  Our gardens bring us revitalization through the beauty of the flowers, the fragrance from the plants, the drone of the insects, the songs of the birds, and activity of the little creatures busy in their daily routines.

Garden center pros can advise on the steps necessary to reawaken the garden and prepare it for the summer months ahead.  Once the grass is fertilized and the flower beds are planted, then it is time to add a little “whimsy” to the garden.  Ponds and fountains, statuary, sundials, wind chimes, and garden flags can create a focal point or compliment a theme in the garden.  Birds will be attracted to the garden by the sound of running water from a fountain.  Gazing balls add a Victorian flair.  Sundials bring an ageless mood.

Other than the question water – you can live with; perhaps the real question is can you live without it?
Elementary School Science teaches all of us the concept of the Hydrologic Cycle where the fact is established that Water that existed thousands of years ago continually is used and then returned again and again for our use.  Until 20th Century technology established modern reclamation capabilities through membrane technology the only water available on the planet was that which nature replenished continually through the Hydrologic Cycle.  And, for centuries that was enough. 

Let’s start out by saying, Alu-mont is Made in the USA – Irwindale, California to be exact.  Alu-mont furniture is manufactured in an 110,000-square-foot plant that was designed and built specifically for the manufacturing of their high quality casual furniture. 

So here we are, ending the first quarter of 2009.  Time is going by so fast I wonder how many of us are still putting the automatic water softener issue on the back burner.  June 1 is rapidly approaching and that is the deadline to avoid prosecution and fines.
I would again encourage our readers that may have questions and do not fully understand the what’s, when and whys regarding the ban to please call me.  I will be happy to speak with you and help clarify what the LA County Sanitation Districts position is.

Runways and driveways have long been the inspirational source for home furnishings and decorating color choices.  From glass-like blues, botanical greens, dramatic black and white and whisper soft pink, color directions will drive towards individual self-expression, glamorous living experiences or an increasing awareness of important environmental causes.
Go Green: Green as a subtle backdrop to reflect an enhanced eco-consciousness, green will be representative of the growing environmental movement.  Mid-tone hues of fern, palm, pine and sage will be used on their own or coupled with clear blue or aqua to create a living space that conjures up a sense of outdoor-friendly living.  Sandy tans and warm browns can be intermingled to complete that earthy and eco-friendly feel.

If love is free, why are we shelling out money to over-priced and over-crowded restaurants on Valentine’s Day?  If you’re trying to spend a romantic evening with your sweetheart, it’s difficult to make a connection when 50 other couples are talking over you.  Why not re-create a suave restaurant right in your own home.  No reservations, no crowds, no over-priced menus and no waiter to tip.  It’ll be just you, your Valentine and the only table for two at your very own restaurant: your home. 

You can count on the reality that your home repair or improvement project is going to go over budget.  On occasion things go remarkably well and a project is actually completed for less than the projected costs.  In most circumstances, however, the project winds up costing more as we typically underestimate the costs.