Home & Garden

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for.  The 3rd Annual A.Allbright Painting Charity Giveaway is here.  Each year one deserving family is chosen to receive $5,000 of painting services for their home.  Here at A.Allbright, we look forward to the opportunity to give back to our community by donating our time and resources to help those in need.  In fact, we love it so much that this year we are raising the bar and will be giving $7,500.

Does Danna Witherbee’s “messy story” sound familiar?
“I had always considered myself a highly organized person until a number of life circumstances reduced my systems to chaos.  Papers were piled everywhere, box upon box sat unopened and precious time was wasted looking for specific items over and over again.  My husband was getting annoyed.  I was in the process of starting two home-based businesses and knew they, too, would succumb to disorder and most likely failure if I did not get my ‘life business’ under control….”
So, what did Witherbee do? After she got over “her embarrassment,” she called Certified Professional Organizer®
Barbara Ricketts, a.k.a. The Mess Doctor.

What are the key ingredients to selecting the right cabinets?  Of course the first thoughts that come to mind are the characteristics of appearance, cost, design features, perceived quality and warranty play a huge role in the choice.

Stained glass windows are a beautiful addition to any home whether as part of a remodel or new construction.  When most people hear stained glass panels, images come to mind of old cathedrals with extremely large panels depicting religious scenes.  Those are beautiful examples of the art, but much smaller simplistic panels can be placed in your home to add character.  Windows for your home can come in a variety of shapes, designs and sizes, which can be used in many rooms throughout the home.  Stained glass panels can also be set in doors whether it is a large exterior front door or interior sliding doors, stained glass can add a unique touch while allowing in light.

1. Create privacy.  Plant a living fence to shield unsightly views, provide a visual and sound barrier from the road or your neighbors, or create a private retreat. Choose evergreen shrubs for a year-round barrier, flowering shrubs for color and fragrance, or a combination of the two. .

Many of us find ourselves so busy in the daily grind, that finding time to design a serene place at home can become difficult.  Decorating is much like the process of producing a work of art; it takes creative flair and expert insight to bring to life.  Before hiring a professional, you can prepare simply by removing the clutter and considering color and personal style.

Selecting tile for your home, whether it is for your floors, counters, backsplash, shower, fireplace, BBQ or pools, can be a very daunting task.  Choice of color, size, type, natural stone versus stone-look tile for your desired design and overall maintenance all play a factor in decision making.  With so many new stores, home decorative programs and magazines, it is important to find a place to help you weigh your options with variety, patience, competence and flair, to make sure that the product being used is appropriate for the area and installed with recommended methods.

Water gardening is fun and easy.  It is easier to take care of than a garden and you will use less water than your lawn.  Ponds are alive, active and always changing.  Both adults and children can enjoy them. 

Peggy Erickson has a wonderful job and does she love it.  “No day is ever the same,” says Erickson.  “I have the opportunity to meet new people, see great houses and work on interesting projects”.

Rose Anschultz knew her open-plan media room needed a makeover when she applied for HGTVs Color Correction with Constance Ramos.  She had a room that felt too light and just “blended” with the rest of the home.  A room she felt should be warm and different from the rest of the house.  Did she think she would be chosen?  Well, when I asked Rose she said, “I knew in my heart I would be chosen.  I even had dreams of being chosen.”

Are you dreaming of a kitchen or bath remodel and wishing that there was someone accessible and trustworthy you could talk to about the project?  Do you find yourself a little bewildered in the complex arena of excellent kitchen and bath design, looking for personal service and truly custom work? 

The kitchen is the heart of your home and should be beautiful, as well as, functional.  Unfortunately, to replace kitchen cabinets just for beauty’s sake is a very expensive, time consuming and an inconvenient proposition.  Not only are the cabinets involved, but also so are the countertops, floor replacement, plumbing, and in most cases, plumbing fixtures.
There is an alternative to the costly, frustrating and messy job of kitchen replacement, which does not require the tearing out of countertops, the removal of sinks and the replacement of the floor and plumbing.  This alternative allows you to use your kitchen in a moderate manner during the work of kitchen cabinet refacing and restyling.

In the fall everyone should consider what their home requires to be in top shape for the cooler seasons and holidays that lie ahead.  Even if you have limited finances to splurge on home improvements, you can take steps to make your home more enjoyable for the winter months and holiday visitors.  My tidbits this month provide a few ideas, which you may want to consider for your own home.

 If you’re an authentic coffee drinker, choosing a quality coffee maker is a decision that should not be taken for granted.  If you are planning to mix your favorite coffee on your own, you will need a coffee maker that has all the features you need.  

Twenty-six years ago Debbie Francis, owner of Debbie’s Sewing and Interiors, hemmed her first pair of pants.  From there she created a business only one could ever dream of.  Before relocating to Santa Clarita, Debbie’s Sewing and Interiors was exclusive to the prestigious New York Hamptons. 

Wow, look at the prices of bottled drinking water and all the companies that are now in the bottled drinking water business.  Wouldn’t it be great if you were able to get bottled water from your own faucet at home?  Hey, what if you could get cold bottled water from your fridge? 

Relaxing in the backyard on a beautiful summer night is one of the best pleasures Santa Clarita has to offer.  Relaxing on quality patio furniture is one way to enhance an endless summer evening.  Tired of the carbon copy patio sets you see on every corner, take a look at Summer Classics.  They have the broadest lines of patio furniture available and one is sure to fit your taste.  That is one reason they are quickly becoming known as “the Ralph Lauren” of patio furniture.  Let’s take a closer look at just a few the materials they use in some of their collections.

“No one has the right to use America’s rivers and America’s waterways, that belong to all the people, as a sewer.  The banks of a river may belong to one man or one industry or one state, but the waters which flow between the banks should belong to all the people.”  President Lyndon B. Johnson said upon signing the Clean Water Act of 1965.  Here in the Santa Clarita Valley, we are fortunate to have a portion of the last remaining natural river in Southern California.