Bay Living Magazine AprilMay 2017

BAY LIVING Contents

A resource guide serving silicon vAlley, the peninsulA & sAn frAncisco • vol XXXviii • no. 2 • odd April/mAy 2017 D I S C O V E R A D D I T I O N A L I N F O R M AT I O N AT B AY L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E . C O M

19 14 - 26 Home Fashion

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Custom Built Glass – Unlimited Design Possibilities And Applications Innovative Window Treatments Designed To Do More Than Simply Cover A Window Hammerton: Glass Lighting Takes The Spotlight Custom Organization Solutions For Every Room In Your Home Hardware Is Like Jewelry For The Front Door Explore Your Options In Flooring When Choosing Window Treatments – A Professional Window Covering Specialist Is A Must Why Reupholster?

35 52 37 - 48 Products & Services Personalized Concierge Service For All Your Home Maintenance Needs Saving You Money With Whole House Fans Is A Breeze!

Synthetic Turf – Achieving Your Desired Results Renew & Refinish Your Wood Cabinets And Floors Redefine Your Space – Balance The Indoors With The Outdoors Turn Your Garage Into A Functional Extension Of Your Home Tired Of That Wood Cabinet Look From The 80’s?

Eco-Friendly Solutions For Termite And Pest Control Classic Techniques With Modern Technology Professional Barbecue Cleaning Protects Your Investment And Improves Taste

27 Wine Collecting Preserve The Quality And Value Of Your Wine With Proper Storage

28 Home Remodeling Transform Your House Into Your Dream Home

52 - 54 Exteriors & Landscaping Transform Your Outdoor Living Space With Custom Masonry Create Shade When And Where You Desire With The Added Value Of Security, Energy Savings, And Increased Home Value Invest Wisely By Upgrading Your Landscaping

32 - 36 Kitchen & Bath Hammock Bathtub Takes Stylish Relaxation To A New Level The Kitchen Is The Heart Of The Home Crosswater – The Ultimate Bathroom Design Fix Your Grout And Your Tile Will Shine

56 - 57 Health Beauty and Fitness Reshape Your Body In 20 Minutes!

ON THE COVER Featured on the cover is the ultimate one-of-a kind luxury outdoor living environment designed and built by the international award-winning pool designer and builder, John R. Rigo. Utilizing his over 30 years of experience, he created this luxurious resort style oasis that included the homeowner’s entire dream list of amenities and much more.

John R. Rigo considers himself an artist whose canvas is the pool and surrounding area. He works personally with each client from the initial consultation until completion, meeting their budget and exceeding their expectations. You can call Watermark By J. Rigo at 408-426-1164 or visit their website at www.watermarkbyjrigo.com See their ad on pages 30 and 31.

The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bay Living. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, we cannot supervise the way in which information found in Bay Living is used. Bay Living is produced five times a year by Affluent Target Marketing, Inc., P.O. Box 18507, Anaheim Hills, CA 92817.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All submitted materials, including images, logos, and text, for advertisements and editorials are assumed to be the property of the provider, and Affluent Target Marketing, Inc. can take no responsibility for unintentional copyright infringement. Affluent Target Marketing, Inc. has the right to refuse advertising. Circulation verified by U.S. Postal Receipts. For additional information call 888-612-7400, email info@baylivingmagazine.com or visit baylivingmagazine.com

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homefashion

CUSTOM BUILT GLASS Unlimited Design Possibilities and Applications

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he beauty of glass is its versatility; it comes in many colors, textures and patterns, and can enhance any room in your home. Using glass may not be a new idea, but today’s options for glass applications are limited only by the imagination.

A shower is a dominant feature in any bathroom.

With the addition of clear glass frameless doors, this area quickly transforms from an average aspect to a stunning focal point. There are a myriad of different options when it comes to custom glass frameless shower doors. Nearly invisible, a clear frameless glass shower door limits the visual barriers, provides a flowing seamless look, and has the effect of making the area seem more open and roomy. In smaller bathrooms, they can create the illusion of a larger space. Frameless doors are strong, featuring thicker glass with heavy-duty hardware. Unique hardware allows the door to swing both out and in. Additionally, a

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homefashion frameless shower is a wise long-term investment and much more desirable to people looking to buy a home.

Mirrors, whether over a vanity or covering a complete wall, add light and the illusion of space, making the room look larger and brighter.

Installing a steam shower offers an in-house spa feel, while relaxing and soothing the muscles and senses.

Mirrored backsplashes add depth and dimension. Beautiful custom colored glass or a back-painted glass backsplash will give your kitchen a nice “pop of color”. The look is sleek and modern with no grout lines and is easy to clean.

Heavy streamlined glass with minimalistic design is very trendy. A glass partition, room divider or barn door can be created to provide privacy in any room of your home. For your living room, kitchen or office, glass can be used as a protective covering for a beautiful tabletop or desk. It can also be the tabletop itself on a special base or pedestal.

Glass shelving offers a unique blend of aesthetic appeal, practicality and function. Place your valued pieces front and center while bringing the beauty and freshness of glass to the display.

Sleek and modern glass railings add elegance to both the interior and exterior of your home. Wine rooms made of glass can showcase a beautiful collection of your favorite bottles.

For over 30 years, CB Showers (CB stands for custom built) has been creating beautiful shower enclosures as well as other interior and exterior glass products. They exclusively offer Diamon-Fusion, a special treatment that closes the pores of the glass, enhancing the look and making cleaning and maintenance easier. For more information, you can visit the CB Showers’ showroom at 1160 Industrial Rd in San Carlos or call (650) 593-6997. You can also view their website at www.cbshowers.com

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APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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homefashion

INNOVATIVE WINDOW TREATMENTS Designed To Do More Than Simply Cover A Window

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unlight is warm and welcoming, but without proper UV protection, it can result in unsightly sunburns and damaged furniture and décor. With warmer, longer days approaching, take advantage of the sunshine safely and comfortably with the latest window treatments and technologies from Hunter Douglas. Whether you want to enjoy natural light in your living room or keep the temperature down during heat waves, Hunter Douglas has window treatment solutions to set the perfect scene.

Easy Lifting. The right window treatments are more than just beautiful, they also work with your lifestyle needs. With a host of proprietary cordless operating systems such as LiteRise and Vertiglide, Hunter Douglas offers an array of options that raise, lower, tilt or traverse window treatments easily and intelligently. And, opt for the latest in automated window treatment technology with PowerView Motorization, an advanced wireless operating system that gives you precise control over your window treatments whenever and however you want.

Enhancing Light. Ensuring Privacy. Natural Light constantly changes and shifts throughout the day. Strike a balance between

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the light you want and the privacy you need with Silhouette Duolite, a cutting-edge proprietary system that doubles up on performance and style by seamlessly combining a Silhouette shading with an independently operated room-darkening roller shade that nestles behind it in the same sleek head rail.

Elegant. Energy Efficient. Windows do more than just let in light and offer a view of the outdoors; they’re also where a home can lose up to 50% of its heating and cooling energy. Try energy efficient styles within the refreshed Duette honeycomb shade category, including the enhanced Duette Duolite that features two different fabrics/opacities of your choosing fused together to form one sophisticated shade design for enhanced style and performance.

To see a variety of different Hunter Douglas products, you can visit Rebarts Interiors, an authorized Hunter Douglas Window Fashions Gallery with showrooms located at 1352 Broadway in Burlingame, 990 Industrial Road Ste. 106 in San Carlos and 253 State St. in Los Altos, (650) 348-1268. www.rebarts.com. Or you can also call The Yardstick at (408) 214-1300, visit them online at www.theyardstick.com or email at contact@theyardstick.com ONLINE AT BAYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

homefashion

HAMMERTON: Glass Lighting Takes The Spotlight

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nce known exclusively for large-scale, custom chandeliers beautifully handcrafted from steel, Utah-based Hammerton Lighting is now gaining industry attention for its work in many forms of artisan glass.

Why glass? “Pushing the boundaries of lighting design requires continuously expanding our palette of design elements,” explains Levi Wilson, Hammerton’s founder and VP of Design. “Glass is a very broad platform for design innovation. It allows us to evolve our work in several directions that are highly relevant to today’s market.”

Hammerton launched its glass initiative with the 2011 purchase of Lightspann, a glass lighting studio founded by California artist Christina Spann. Since then, Hammerton has expanded its in-house artisan glass operations to include both blown and kiln-fused glass.

The company’s Hammerton Studio line showcases these capabilities in many collections.

Adds Wilson, “Surprisingly, it’s our expertise in metal that allows us to do unusual work in glass, because we fabricate all our jigs in-house.”

Although blown glass and kin-fused glass involve the same material, each results in a unique set of characteristics. Blown glass is fabricated by inflating molten glass and working it in a furnace to achieve a desired shape. Kiln-fused glass is created by heating sheets or particles of glass in an oven until they fuse together or conform to a mold. Blown glass lends itself to rounded forms and sleek ONLINE AT BAYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

This Hammerton LAA2013 pendant, 15”H x 10” diameter, is artisan crafted from over ten pounds of blown and wrapped clear glass in the company's Salt Lake City glass studio.

Available in several glass colors and metal finishes.

surfaces, while kiln-fused glass can be formed in a wide range of angular and curved shapes, and can also incorporate texture.

Recent glass introductions under the Hammerton Studio brand have been very well received.

“The Bezel/Gem, Optic Blown Glass, Parallel and Apothecary collections have just taken off,” Wilson says. “The market definitely understands the superior quality craftsmanship in these fixtures, and the value proposition is pretty compelling. We are fabricating literally tons of glass each month.”

For more information about Hammerton products and much more, Coast Lighting is your local one-stop shop with the largest lighting display in the Bay Area. On-site consultations are available, along with custom fixture design and fabrication, lamp repair, and installation services. Coast Lighting works with homeowners, contractors, and designers, helping them to understand the technical requirements for their projects. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable about the industry’s products and applications and will help you select the most appropriate solutions. For more information, you can visit Coast This Hammerton CHA2030 chandelier, 48” Lighting at 2626 El Camino Real in square, showcases alternating panels of hand-textured and kiln-fused Crystal and Redwood City, call them at 650-850-6220, or Cobblestone glass. Glass as shown. Available in many metal finishes and custom versions. visit www.coastlighting.com APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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homefashion

CUSTOM ORGANIZATION SOLUTIONS For Every Room In Your Home chieving an organized lifestyle is easier than you might think.

High-quality custom storage solutions for your closets, home office, entertainment center, pantry, laundry room, garage and any unique space that you might have, can simplify your life while offering versatility, quality, and style.

Our daily routine begins and ends in the closet, so it should be a place of peace, organization and beauty. Transform your closet with a custom design that will create a space for everything. Find what you need, take charge of your morning routine, and discover a feeling of harmony to carry you throughout your day.

With an inspired yet functional design, a custom home office will create a modern system that helps keep your business affairs organized and free from clutter – whether it’s a small niche or an entire room. By creating an organized setup, your home office can become an oasis with a workflow that serves you.

Adding a built-in wall bed in an extra bedroom or even home office will create a space that serves a multitude of functions. Custom wall bed cabinetry conceals your bed within a system of built-in cabinets that optimizes your space so you have a fully functioning bedroom by night and a versatile living space by day.

Wall units can be crafted to fit nearly any space. Versatile designs can create a space for your home theatre, display cabinet, wardrobe or library storage.

Entertainment centers can house all of your media center components, including flat screen televisions, gaming and audio equipment. Entertainment centers keep your electronics neat and organized by hiding unsightly cords and providing a designated area to store all of your remotes, reducing clutter.

As kids bedrooms transition from cribs to big beds, so do their clothes, toy closets, and game collections. Clever organization creates a custom-designed unit or closet that transforms your child’s bedroom into a functional kid’s storage system and will help them learn to organize.

Convert an outdated laundry area into a vibrant, modern cleaning station with custom cabinetry, plenty of shelf space and wall racks. Pantries, home bars and wine racks offer tremendous opportunities for adding innovation and a modern touch to your home. Mudrooms provide a transitional space, keeping your home clean from outside dirt and provide additional storage keeping clutter organized.

The time has come to make your life easier so that you can finally relax and enjoy the transition to a more manageable life. The professional design consultants at Closet Factory will work with you in creating custom spaces that fit your unique style, budget, and organizational needs. For more information or to schedule a free design consultation, you can call Closet Factory at 888-501-0541, visit their showroom at 1000 B. Commercial in San Carlos, or visit them online at www.closetfactory.com

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homefashion

HARDWARE IS LIKE JEWELRY FOR THE FRONT DOOR

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aldwin Hardware is a fashion statement for a home; part of the design aesthetic. It is couture for the door. For over 70 years, they have been a timeless and trusted brand. Boasting both style and substance, creating a charismatic presence in any home. Through generations, Baldwin’s passionate pursuit of perfection has forged them into masters of their craft, so that today, you have the power to make a bold style statement without even saying a word.

Baldwin Hardware’s products provide you the ability to create your signature look and show the world what true luxury is about.

When people say it’s lonely at the top, they’re definitely not talking about the Baldwin Estate. This impressive top-of-the-line portfolio comes with plenty of company; everyone wants it. Estate includes seemingly infinite possibilities, elegant finishes and exclusive, custom styles. Their master craftsmen create each piece by hand and with the utmost care: it’s no surprise Estate is the crowned jewel of the Baldwin brand. Estate door hardware is the start of the grand style that can be carried throughout the home with coordinating interior hardware.

The Reserve portfolio is for people who want more. Far beyond just a lock in a box, Reserve opens the door to a customizable world flowing with inspiration.

Reserve is the best of both worlds: accessibility and artful appeal.

Baldwin’s pocket door lock is available in up to 20 finishes, four styles, and there is a pocket door lock for every design aesthetic. The four styles are available in privacy, passage and keyed entry.

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You can see Baldwin Hardware locally at Belmont Hardware. When you visit one of Belmont Hardware’s six showrooms, you will find Northern California’s largest selection of the world’s finest decorative finish hardware and plumbing fixtures. Belmont Hardware is family owned and has been a favored source of homeowners, architects, interior designers, and custom homebuilders for over 80 years. You can visit the Belmont Hardware showrooms, located in Belmont, San Jose, San Francisco, Novato, Walnut Creek, and Fresno, to see an extensive collection of products on display. Or you can visit www.belmonthardware.com for additional information and more details.

APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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homefashion

Explore Your Options In

FLOORING

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ew technology has made flooring more durable, and available in many colors, textures and finishes. So what type of floor covering is right for you?

Carpet. Today’s carpet manufacturers have taken various lifestyles into consideration, resulting in developing the most foot-friendly, softest carpets ever made. Fiber weave and backing advancements in technology have created carpet that combines both refinement and durability.

Carpet comes in a variety of colors, patterns and styles and adds a warm feel to any space. Some carpet styles are made specifically for rooms that have heavier foot traffic, while others are made to resist almost any spill.

Hardwood Flooring. Generally, there are two types of hardwood flooring – solid or engineered. Solid hardwood comes in a variety of stains, plank size, edges and gloss.

Engineered hardwood on the other hand, is made of 3 to 5 layers laminated together. While engineered hardwood looks like solid hardwood, it is actually more structurally stable and can be used virtually any place hardwood is used.

Laminate. Do you prefer the look of slate, wood or tile? Laminate duplicates the look of more expensive natural flooring, yet it is budget friendly. It is tough, durable and easy to maintain. Laminate is aesthetically pleasing and can make a room pop. It is a great choice for high-traffic areas.

Vinyl. The latest digital designs and cutting-edge technologies have allowed for the possibility of naturallooking textures and greater visual depth in today’s vinyl flooring. Luxury Vinyl Flooring (also known as Luxury Vinyl Tile or LVT) is the newest and most popular floor category in the market today. It’s known for its versatilitygetting the look of wood or ceramic for a lot less. It can be used in so many different rooms throughout your home.

Tile. No matter what your architectural or home décor style, there’s a tile solution that will bring your design vision to life. All tile is modular- this allows you to be creative in how you assemble your floor. Tiles can be

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ceramic, natural stone, porcelain or bamboo. Utilize large floor tiles for a grand look or set tiles at angles to help grow small spaces.

To learn more about the many choices in flooring for your home, you can visit Bay Area Floors & Design Carpet One at 2225 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo or call 650-515-3955. In business for 26 years, their friendly and knowledgeable sales staff can assist you and point you in the right direction to get your flooring project started. They do it all from material to installation and all of their installation crews are employees not sub contractors. In addition, they have full design services and can assist with any custom job as well as maintenance, repairs and complimentary in-home estimates. For additional information you can visit their website at www.bayareafloors.com or email Photo courtesy of Fabrica Fine Carpet & Rugs.

Product shown is Cape Town in Constantia. lorisdesign@gmail.com ONLINE AT BAYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

homefashion

When Choosing Window Treatments A Professional Window Covering Specialist Is A Must

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hether you are moving into a new home or redecorating your existing home, your windows are always going to need a window covering. However, choosing the right type of covering for your window can be overwhelming with the many choices, styles, colors and fabrics to choose from. That is why it is important to consider a window covering specialist when contemplating which window treatment is best for your home.

Let’s face it, almost every room in your home will have windows, whether it’s a large sliding glass window, a bay window or an awkwardly shaped small window, choosing the right window treatment is essential. Each house and each room has its own unique design requirement. A professional can assess each room and recommend selections based on what the room is used for, how much light is needed or not needed, your personal decor style and if motorized light control is an option.

After the professional discusses your needs and assesses each room’s decorating needs, they will then have a wide selection of window covering options to recommend for you along with color choices and fabric swatches and even advise you on accents that will enhance the entire look. Drapes can be custom made to your specifications and you can choose from a collection of materials from all the major suppliers like Robert Allen, Kravet®, Duralee® and more.

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Other options available are shades, blinds and shutters. Hunter Douglas is a manufacturer that offers a variety of shades, sheers and gliding window panels. Many of which can be operated by automation and motorization and are possible to control through your smart devices. This makes it great if you want to waken to the filtering sunrays or choose to close them if you are working late and will not be home before dark.

Your professional window covering consultant will walk you through which window treatments will work well with your décor style, whether contemporary and modern or provincial and traditional as well as your needs. For example, if you are trying to add more light to a dark room, certain color choices and types of window coverings can be recommended to bring the room together and make it pleasing aesthetically and functionally.

For an in-home consultation with a professional window covering specialist that can view the many possibilities of window treatments perfect for any room in your home, you can call The Yardstick at 408-214-1300. They have helped homeowners for over 58 years with their window covering needs and guarantee all installations for a year.

The Yardstick has many blind and shutter samples from several manufacturers. Based in Santa Clara, they serve from Marin to Carmel. You can also visit them online at www.theyardstick.com or email them at contact@theyardstick.com

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APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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homefashion

Why

Reupholster?

f your old sofa looks as though it’s on its last legs, don’t be too quick to bundle it out of the house. Resourceful homeowners are discovering that many old pieces have a value you can’t buy today. And they are restoring them through reupholstery. The economics of reupholstery works for them, too. For dollars and cents, it can be one of today’s best buys.

The value is in the frame.

If your old sofa (or chair) has a good frame, it is well worth reupholstering. A frame is the essential element in the structure, and if it’s solid there’s no point going out and

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buying a new one. So, what is a good frame?

One that’s made of hardwood—oak or maple, for example. Hardwood is strong and has longevity. A clue is its weight—hardwood is strong. That’s why furniture sales people will often lift up one end of a sofa when showing it to a customer. They are demonstrating the frame’s weight. And the frame is what your upholsterer can check out.

The art of reupholstery.

Building on your old frame (where you save big dollars,) the upholsterer reties the springs, puts in new webbing, all new padding and filling, and totally recreates the

sofa. This is all handwork, involving a high order of skills. What you get back is a piece of furniture, in the class of a custom-made piece.

The fabric advantage.

A significant advantage in reupholstering is fabric selection. You choose from a panoramic range of colors and textures. You can find just about any fabric at any price, to fit any décor.

For more information, you can call Sterling Custom Upholstery at 650-961-8700, or visit their website at www.sterlingcustomupholstery.com

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winecollecting

Preserve The Quality and Value of Your Wine

WITH PROPER STORAGE

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ine wines can get better with age, but they need to be treated properly. There are six important factors for fine wine storage.

They can all be met with a wine cellar which will protect and make your wine last longer.

A wine cellar is for any wine lover, whether you are a seasoned collector or have just started to discover the wonderful world of wine.

Temperature. The colder the wine cellar is, the slower the aging of the wine and the warmer it is, the faster it ages. If kept in your closet or on a shelf in the living room it will age much faster than in a refrigerated wine cellar.

Stability of Temperature. You’ve heard of set it and forget it. Well that’s almost true with wine cellars; it is set it and maintain it.

Fluctuations in temperature wreak havoc on wine. Wine is more like your retirement account, set it up and leave it alone.

Humidity. Wine cellar humidity is tricky. You need it humid enough as to not dry out the cork but dry enough not to have mold form in the wine cellar. Humidity between 60-80% should be a good balance.

Ventilation. It is important that other odorous items are not stored in the wine cellar and that it is free from odor. Sounds crazy but the cork is a breathable material and air can go into and out of the bottle making the wine pick up smells and tastes from these odors.

Darkness. Low-level lighting is ok for wine but the short wavelengths degrade the special flavors in a fine wine. Even though the wine is in a bottle that can protect it, don’t put it in direct sunlight.

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Security. This can mean protection from theft, but it can also mean protection from breakage or even being disturbed too much.

Wine cellar cooling is a specialty that falls in a niche between refrigeration and air conditioning. This is why it’s crucial to consult with an expert that specializes in wine cellar cooling.

Through their many years of experience, Cold Craft has obtained the special knowledge and skills to assist you in finding the ideal solution.

The professionals at Cold Craft, a full service heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration company, can work with you to install, maintain and service wine cellar refrigeration to your exact needs. For more information, you can call them at 888-447-0071 or visit www.ColdCraft.com

APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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homeremodeling

TRANSFORM YOUR HOUSE INTO YOUR DREAM HOME hile the home you fell in love with years ago may have suited you perfectly at the time, upgrading your home will address the changes in your lifestyle to meet the specific needs you have today.

With the current real estate market, moving to a new home that has all the modern updates you want and need is not always the best option. If your house is already in the perfect location and you love your neighborhood, creative home renovation and remodeling solutions will expand your living space and enhance your lifestyle.

This will increase the resale value of a home, but rather than looking at the upgrades in terms of selling, look at them as an investment in your quality of life.

Whether you’re considering a kitchen renovation, bathroom upgrade, room addition, or home renovations, you’ll see a striking difference between the original space and the finished product, increasing aesthetic appeal and functionality.

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There is a wide array of innovative options for enhancing your interior decor as well as the comfort and convenience of your overall space. Transform your outdated kitchen into a gourmet kitchen with an adjacent dining room, add a convenient home office to benefit the dedicated entrepreneur, or open up a wall to create a very spacious living room area.

With extensive remodeling experience, a professional contractor can assist in turning your simple ideas into detailed designs, providing layout ideas and additional resources that make the difference between a finished room with no detail and one that will grab the attention of every visitor as soon as they walk in.

Wilkinson Preservation has more than 20 years of experience providing outstanding work and customer service. Along with remodeling and renovations, they offer personalized concierge service for all your home maintenance needs. For more information, you can call them at 650-581-1940 or visit their website at www.wilkinsonpreservation.com

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H

ammock

B

atHtuB

Takes Stylish Relaxation to a New Level “Struck by the synergy between the shapes of two compelling symbols of relaxation, a hammock and a bathtub, we were inspired to develop a piece that would provide the ultimate vehicle for total escapism.”

–Miles Hartwell, Co-founder of Splinter Works The peaceful experience of kicking-back in a hammock has been further enhanced by combining it with the immersive comfort of soaking in a hot bath. By literally elevating the experience of bathing into a suspended sculpture, the bathroom has been reinvented as a contemplative sanctuary for artful relaxation.

Designed for use in a wet room, the Hammock Bathtub is suspended from the walls and does not touch the floor. It is fixed with stainless steel brackets that can be covered over, or left revealed. The bath is filled using a floor standing tap and the wastewater is released through the base into a floor drain. A downpipe drain can also be installed if a wet room setting is not possible.

The Hammock Bathtub is made from carbon fiber, which is utilized for its inherent strength, and ability to be formed into complex curves. Furthermore, the weave of the fabric references the cloth of a typical hammock. Beneath the layers of carbon fiber is a foam core, which insulates the tub. This means that the bath stays hot for considerably longer than normal.

Another beguiling characteristic of carbon fiber is that it offers an unparalleled texture.

Through the smooth layers of lacquer, it always inspires a close-up look at the depth of the geometric weave of the fiber. Even in black, it has a surprisingly soft look that is more associated with fabric.

At 106” long, the Hammock Bathtub is longer than a regular bathtub, leaving plenty of room to share the experience. Custom sizes are available but it is also designed so that it can be trimmed up to 8” to allow for flexible installation. The Hammock Bathtub can be tailored in different colored lacquers; black, white, red, blue, yellow, pink, bronze, and pure silver, or embellished in hand-applied gold leaf with clear lacquer.

After the success of the suspended Hammock Bathtub, the freestanding Hammock Bathtub evolved as a standalone piece that doesn’t need walls, yet still offers the playful

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kitchen&bath form. With an optimum shape for a relaxing bathing experience, it has more flexibility of arrangement. The visually arresting curvaceous shapes have a dark magnetism, luring the eye to explore their striking contours. Conceived in woven and lacquered carbon fiber, they are also undeniably tactile, warm, and inviting.

Splinter Works have in fact pioneered the use of carbon fiber in the bathroom. The pieces have to be produced in a giant autoclave, which is normally used to make Formula One cars. The love for this challenging material not only stems from the incredible strength, but also its lightweight characteristics, (when empty, it weighs just 14 kilos) meaning not only can the freestanding Hammock Bathtub be positioned anywhere in the room, but it can go anywhere in the house with no need to reinforce floorboards in the upper floors.

Splinter Works’ mission is to create furniture that is engaging and inspiring. Through their designs they strive to enrich the lives of users, enhancing their environment and elevating the experience of everyday life. Their aim is to create work that is individual, thought provoking, aesthetically beguiling, intelligently designed, and seamlessly functional.

The designs are experimental and theatrical, while maintaining the importance of the inherent function of the piece. The work revels in playing visual tricks where balance is often questioned.

Opposing dichotomies of solidity versus weightlessness, motion versus stillness, and strength versus fragility are played out in ambitious designs through innovative materials. Splinter Works can tailor designs to suit clients' requirements and also produce unique commissions where every element, from the intended location and practical requirements, to striking a personal resonance with the commissioner, can be considered and accomplished.

You can see Splinter Works products on display at the Belmont Hardware showroom located in San Jose. When you visit one of Belmont Hardware’s six showrooms, you will find Northern California’s largest selection of the world’s finest decorative finish hardware and plumbing fixtures. Belmont Hardware is family owned and has been a favored source of homeowners, architects, interiors designers, and custom homebuilders for over 80 years. You can also visit the Belmont Hardware showrooms located in Belmont, San Francisco, Novato, Walnut Creek and Fresno, featuring an extensive collection of products on display, or you can visit www.belmonthardware.com for additional information and more details.

Photography by Samer al Rawas Interior Designers, XYZ Designers ONLINE AT BAYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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kitchen&bath

tHE kItcHEN IS tHE HEaRt oF tHE HomE o better suit their social lifestyle, the family featured in this article needed a reconfiguration of their kitchen and dining spaces. This family of four loves to spend time together, cook and entertain. They needed additional space for their daily workflow and an enlarged space for hosted events or on a simple school night.

One challenge was with less than 90 square feet of kitchen it limited one person to use the space at a time. Another challenge was there were multiple doors swings impeding the traffic flow.

Additional challenges included an obstructive wall separated the kitchen and dining, and a corner window directed a view to the unsightly neighboring fence.

Their original intent was to enlarge their home’s footprint with an addition. A review of space usage was made which showed that while the kitchen, dining, living, and family rooms were traditionally separated, a combination of the casual dining and kitchen spaces would better fit their lifestyle needs.

The wall dividing the kitchen and dining area was demolished, in order to unite the two spaces. The lateral support required additional shear value added to the back of the home, which coordinated well with a decision to shift the window for a better backyard view. This solution allowed the “Great Room” to be executed.

Adding storage space, improving the cabinetry components, updating the appliances, enhancing lighting, and providing a multi-use cooking/eating/workspace peninsula were only a few of the many answered requests.

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A new tankless water heater allowed a re-purposing of the utility closet to incorporate a large pantry with double the storage capacity.

With a range of ages using the space and to accommodate tasks for all users, the Universal Design approach was used in the lighting selection and placement. Glare was decreased by implementing layers of light through a variety of suspended LED monorail fixtures, under-cabinet tape lighting, and decorative pendants.

Two-tone custom cabinets were chosen to maximize every inch of storage (through ergonomic internal components) while providing a visually unique solution. Engineered Quartz “Lagos Blue” counter-tops provided a neutral, durable solid surface to compliment the tile back-splash and allow the handmade tiles from Spain to “shine”. These tiles were sourced on one of the family’s past Europe trips, reflecting their travels and added a delightful personal element.

With Case® Design/Remodeling, every single aspect of your home improvement needs are covered. For the featured renovation in this article, Case received a NARI META Gold award. The process-driven team at Case always strives to facilitate a logical sequence of steps that will help break down and simplify the remodeling process, while keeping the project on track and moving forward from design to completion. For more information, you can visit their website at www.CaseSanJose.com, or call 408484-3884 for a free consultation.

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kitchen&bath

CROSSWATER The Ultimate Bathroom Design

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rosswater has a passion for bathrooms that sets them apart with a dedication to offer innovative and cuttingedge products to meet the demands of today’s bathroom environments. For almost twenty years Crosswater has excelled in creating complete design solutions to suit all bathrooms, whether a master bathroom or a small guest bathroom. Always striving for perfection to deliver the very best in quality, each product is manufactured using only finest materials and latest manufacturing techniques.

Crosswater recently expanded into the North American market offering lavatory and tub faucets, tubs, shower heads, shower kits, exposed shower bars, shower arms, shower valves, mirrors and accessories. With a variety of collections to choose from, you will find the perfect match for your distinctive style and needs.

The Waldorf Collection combines exquisite craftsmanship with early twentieth-century style, representing the ultimate in bathroom luxury.

The Belgravia Collection classically designed elegant brassware offers a designer element to traditional bathroom schemes.

The Arcade Collection bridges the gap between today’s minimalist and yesterday’s period pieces.

The M PRO Collection aligns iconic definition with versatility for today’s environments; anchored with architectural appeal for the discerning homeowner and architect.

The Wisp Collection brassware combines minimalist lines and profiled edges, achieving a contemporary finish.

The Dial Collection is the latest in push button shower technology, which enables you to precisely

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control the flow of the water as well as the temperature. This innovation not only looks smart with four designs to choose from, it’s smart on the inside using pioneering flow control technology.

Easy to operate with clear symbols that identify each function. There are eleven separate flow positions, providing the perfect flexibility between eco friendly showering and a luxurious high-pressure power shower. The thermostatic value technology provides for precise temperature control.

You can see Crosswater products on display at the Belmont Hardware showrooms located in San Jose, Belmont, Walnut Creek, Novato and Fresno. When you visit one of Belmont Hardware’s six showrooms, you will find Northern California’s largest selection of the world’s finest decorative finish hardware and plumbing fixtures.

Belmont Hardware is family owned and has been a favored source of homeowners, architects, interior designers, and custom homebuilders for over 80 years. You can also visit Belmont Hardware showroom located in San Francisco featuring an extensive collection of products on display, or you can visit www.belmonthardware.com

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kitchen&bath

Fix your

GROUT AND YOUR TILE WILL SHINE

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oes your tile look worn-out and dull? Have your grout lines succumbed to staining, dirt and chipping? Or maybe your grout lines look an entirely different color than when your tile was first put in. Chances are, that color is still there, it’s just hidden by staining and dirt. Regardless, it’s time for a change.

Let your tile’s natural beauty and aesthetics shine through. Improving and revitalizing your grout can uplift your entire room’s aesthetics and the value of your home. By diligently maintaining your grout, you can avoid difficult and costly repairs caused by compromised grout and tile.

Grout cleaning is a simple process restoring the grout to its natural, beautiful color. The results are clean and brilliant grout lines.

Is your grout is cracked or grooved in some areas? Or there are missing chunks of grout in some places, too.

Keep your grout strong and healthy by repairing problem areas and resealing them effectively. Every inch of your tile and grout should be inspected, and all irregularities and all cracks should be repaired.

Grout sealing will not only protect the new grout from stains and dirt that can cause your grout to look dingy, it will also promote longevity and sheen for your tile and grout. Most importantly, it will save you a lot of effort in cleaning complexities and costs down the road.

Ideally, your grout should be at the same level as your tile and it shouldn’t lift off when you’re cleaning.

Clear indications that your grout is wearing down and

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deteriorating are grains of your grout coming loose each time you wipe down your tile or your grout is deeply grooved below the tile line. Left unresolved, it can create a pesky trap for dirt and bacteria. Moisture can seep through and compromise your subsurface with mold, mildew and water damage.

The solution is re-grouting. Your old grout is removed, and new and improved grout is installed. After the grout is installed, it is resealed and recaulked. This can make your room look and feel brand new without having to replace your tile (an expensive and laborious process).

Pro Grout offers professional grout cleaning, re-grouting, grout sealing, grout repair, grout re-coloring and re-caulking services. Their standard sealant will protect your grout after a deep cleaning or regrouting. And their Super Stain Sealer provides the ability to change the color of your grout and they can match almost any color you desire. Pro Grout offers a free professional-grade inspection and will help you figure out the best course of action for your tile. For more information, you can call them at 800-513-2236 or visit www.theprogrout.com

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products&services

Personalized Concierge Service for all your

Home Maintenance Needs

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wning a home comes with a significant amount of responsibility. Because there is just so much to keep track of and attend to, it can feel as though you are constantly calling different companies to handle various problems, which can be time-consuming and overwhelming.

Fine home preservation services can be an incredible asset to the homeowner who is looking for convenient and regular maintenance so that they can properly care for their largest investment—their home.

So, what exactly do preservation services consist of? Utilizing a customized quarterly maintenance plan, professionals will look over every large and small aspect of your home to ensure that things are functioning properly, and if something is not up to par, they will then use their skills and knowledge to make sure the situation is fixed immediately. Some examples of popular services include painting, plumbing, electrical, dry rot repair, stucco and cement repair, deck staining and sealing, pressure washing, fence repair, drain solutions, grouting, caulking, gutter cleaning, water filters, light installation, door and window repairs, rug cleaning, and more.

Most homeowners simply do not possess the expertise needed to attend to all of these aspects of a home, which is why having just one company that can look after and attend to a variety of different services is an incredibly convenient opportunity.

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Preservation services are not just limited to the quarterly maintenance plan. If you have an emergency or something comes up, you know exactly who to call. Additionally, preventative care services prepare you for season-specific needs. You don’t have to worry about a thing, not to mention, it’s very rare for something to fail on you unexpectedly when things are being closely monitored and proper care is being utilized beforehand.

Specialized preservation services offer solutions to just about any problem. One of the greatest perks of utilizing a maintenance program is that your home’s history is recorded and kept track of.

You will be on a first-name basis with your designated team, as they provide you with personalized and focused service.

One company that does this is Wilkinson Preservation. Created by Wilkinson Construction, Inc., a high-end custom home-building firm based in San Mateo, Wilkinson Preservation was born out of the obvious need that their existing clients had for maintenance services. With more than 20 years of experience and many loyal customers, Wilkinson Preservation proudly continues their tradition of outstanding work and customer service. Along with maintenance, they can also help with room additions and remodels. For more information, you can call them at 650-581-1940 or visit their website at www.wilkinsonpreservation.com.

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products&services

Saving You Money with Whole House Fans iS a BReeze!

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hen you come home after a long day at work and it’s been hot outside, the first thing you probably do when you walk into that hot and muggy home is flip on the air conditioning. However, the truth is, once the daytime heat has subsided and the evening air has reached a much cooler temperature, you are unfortunately wasting both energy and money by keeping the air conditioner running all night long to cool your home.

Why not efficiently utilize the cooler air outside in the evening or in the early morning instead of wasting energy trying to cool down your hot home? Now, you can keep your home efficiently comfortable with the innovative QuietCool whole-house fan (WHF) system. The technology is very similar to if you have ever opened your windows at night letting the cool air in and experienced a nice cross breeze. Besides the fact that it feels good, it also cools your house down.

This “passive” cross breeze described becomes an “active” breeze with QuietCool homeowners. This is the key to thermal mass cooling. Passive breezes within a home will eventually cool the ambient air to a comfortable level, but will not move enough air to cool the mass within the home. The “active” breeze that is created by a QuietCool fan is how this system works.

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Not only does a QuietCool system cool an entire home by up to 30- degrees, but it works quickly so that you will feel 10-degrees cooler in an instant. First, the cool breeze begins when a window or two is opened and the QuietCool fan is turned on. Air will be carried through the windows to create a breeze inside the home so you can feel the temperature difference right away. That cooler outdoor air will be brought through the QuietCool fan, and pushed through the attic vents, causing the hot stale air in the attic to be exhausted.

This step is crucial to ensuring that your home remains comfortable throughout the day.

A “cool mass” home does not reheat as much or as quickly as a “hot mass” home. Within a day or two of installing a QuietCool system, a day that was 90-100 degrees outside, will now feel like74-78 degrees inside your home when you return from work. This system cools the entire house by up to 30 degrees and the attic by up to 50 degrees, thus giving you the ability to cut A/C costs by up to 90%! It can significantly enhance, reduce or even eliminate the need for “manufactured” cool air. This means less energy than air conditioning and will give you the highest return on investment through savings.

Along with being able to cool your home, the QuietCool system exchanges the entire volume of air inside your home 15–20 times, per hour. You and your family will be able to breathe fresh air continually, control mold and mildew, and reduce airborne sickness in your ventilated home. Not to mention, QuietCool systems are pleasantly silent.

For more information on how QuietCool WHF can save you money and keep your home cool, you can contact Bay Area WHF, Inc. at (408) 377-4WHF (4943) or visit them at 1340 White Oaks Rd., #F in Campbell. They offer one year warranty on their installation in addition to the product warranty. They also service in helping you receive their energy rebates from their energy providers for using a ‘green’ energy efficiency product. For additional information, you can also visit their website at www.bayareawhf.com

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APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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products&services

SYNTHETIC TURF Achieving Your Desired Results ou may have noticed new synthetic lawns in the neighborhood and are open to the idea. Some look natural and are mistakable for real lawn.

Others have an unnatural color, visible seams, a shiny appearance and are laying down matted / flat. Here is a quick read on looking closer into synthetic lawn / turf.

Q: Why does synthetic lawn cost so much more than a new lawn?

A: The installation of a synthetic lawn initially costs more than real grass.

However, when you calculate the ongoing costs of water maintenance, costly fertilizers and time, it takes only a few years for the cost of a real lawn to surpass Q: What makes for a bad looking synthetic lawn?

A: Poor quality turf, lack of material, inexperienced installers, not using the cost of a synthetic lawn. proper tools.

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Q: What are the top 3 reasons people want synthetic lawn over real lawn?

A: Parents want a good looking, dry and usable space for their kids to play. Pet Q: What makes for a great synthetic lawn? owners want a clean /mud free area for pets to play. Homeowners realize the A: Looks indigenous. Use of quality materials, shape of the lawn, proper importance of conserving water. Removing natural lawn can save hundreds to infill level and the installers’ workmanship. thousands of gallons of water annually.

The professionals at Southwest Greens have constructed synthetic turf amenities since 1996 and specialize in the Art of the Installation.

Q: Can turf be installed directly on top of dirt?”

A: Not recommended. Over time the dirt will work up through the backing. Turf You can learn more by calling (650) 453-3883 or (408) 469-4911, fibers surrounded by dirt can be the host of hearty weeds and a muddy mess. scheduling an appointment at our designer showroom in San Carlos.

Visit us online at www.sw-greens.com Compacted base rock is the most commonly installed base material.

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products&services Before

After

YOUR WOOD

CABINETS AND FLOORS

O

ver time wood cabinets and floors look flat and lifeless due to dirt build up, wear and tear, scratches and age-discolored finishes. Cabinet and floor renewal is an innovative and affordable alternative to replacing, refacing (new doors), painting or traditional sanding/refinishing. In only a few days, your wood cabinets and floors will be restored to that like–new luster without the inconvenience, dust and odors from harsh chemicals. At a fraction of the cost, it will save you time and money.

If you are looking to change the color of your cabinets, one option is to make a slight color change giving your cabinets a warmer tone of the wood without covering the wood grains.

Pigments and dyes can be added to the new finish so that you can achieve virtually any color desired. Say you have maple cabinets and would like a slightly darker stained wood, the new finish can be custom dyed to your color preference and then professionally applied.

You can chose to do a complete color change, which will dramatically change the style and look of your cabinets. Select from custom durable color finishes that do not chip or peel, and when applied there are no drips, streaks or bleed thru.

If repairs are needed like gaps, holes, splintered wood, etc, they are made during the wood surface cleaning process.

N-Hance Wood Renewal uses their proprietary, state-of-the-art non-toxic and odorless products. These products along with their advanced technology and processes were developed to provide consistent high quality results. For more information, you can call NHance Wood Renewal, serving San Francisco and San Mateo counties, at 650-731-3917 or visit www.nhance.com/sanfrancisco and you can call Silicon Valley Wood Renewal, serving Santa Clara county at 408220-6626. Or visit www.nhance.com/siliconvalley ONLINE AT BAYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

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After

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Redefine Your Space— Balance the Indoors with the Outdoors

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hether you’re constructing a new home or remodeling your current residence, it’s time to become acquainted with a whole new level of lifestyle quality. Just imagine the possibilities of an expanded sense of space that an open wall affords, while preserving unobstructed views when it is closed.

Adding this system enables greater interior design flexibility, allowing the use of high-quality furnishings, like leather sofas and area rugs, in an outdoor space. Build peace of mind and stunning looks into your home with the highest quality operable glass walls. As years pass, glass walls remain as durable as they are beautiful, down to even the unseen hardware’s operations.

Plus, you’ll never tire of how effortlessly the wall glides open and shut with just one hand.

NanaWall redefined the category of opening glass wall systems. During their 25-plus years in business, they have earned the trust of architects, builders, design professionals, and homeowners as a solutions provider for re-imagining how buildings, people, and the elements interact. By combining precision engineering and outstanding design options across more than 20 unique systems, they advance design possibilities beyond the conventional for almost any space. For more information about NanaWall opening glass walls or to make an appointment to visit the showroom, you can call Brad Burden at 415944-8586. www.nanawall.com

Now, you can transform fixed walls into flexible openings that invite the outside in, and remove visual and physical barriers. Enjoy the expanded sense of space yet stay comfortable with a transparent barrier that protects you no matter what the climate or seasonal extreme.

At first glance, a glass wall looks like a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, but that’s where the similarity ends. Each panel is articulated on a hidden overhead track, and the panels themselves can quickly and easily open and stow away out of sight, creating breathtaking open-air vistas. With straight or curved layouts, along with hundreds of colors, finishes, and configurations at your disposal, there are virtually no limits when it comes to design.

Folding and sliding systems are available when it comes to choosing a glass wall. Folding systems create opening widths of up to 36 feet, while sliding systems offer a virtually unlimited opening size, and can be configured without floor tracks in non-weathertight applications.

Frames are available in aluminum, wood, or aluminum-clad wood.

A current growing trend in the world of glass walls is to re-create your patio and backyard into a living environment that is fully integrated into the rest of the house. The modern concept of outdoor rooms, kitchens, and entertaining areas is vital. The more convenient the connection between indoor and outdoor living areas, the more value is added to both spaces. For example, when sidewalk restaurants install an operable glass wall, they can open a complete wall to outdoor space in order to add valuable square footage for seating and display.

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products&services

TURN YOUR GARAGE INTO A

FUNCTIONAL EXTENSION OF YOUR HOME

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aving a clutter-free garage does not need to be a pipe-dream or wishful thinking. Garage cabinets capture all the vertical space for storage, including fitting around doors, windows, water heaters, washers and dryers and any other architectural challenges like angled ceilings and funky corners.

Wall rack storage systems can be customized to fit any wall space, with accessories like hooks, attachable shelves and baskets for small items, as well as specialty hangers for large items. They can cover a whole wall or just organize the space over a workbench or laundry area.

Custom garage cabinets with adjustable shelves allow you to configure the space any way you want to accommodate large and small items.

Place larger, heavier items on lower shelves for safety and ease, with lighter items up high. Open shelves allow for visible storage, so you can see, at a glance, where everything is. Clear plastic bins keep contents on display yet protected.

Garages tend to have lots of “head room.” Overhead racks can make use of that space by organizing storage that doesn’t require daily access. Getting seldom-used items into seldom-accessed space frees up the floor and more accessible storage for daily use.

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A custom garage floor adds beauty, eliminating the ugly, dirty look of raw concrete and giving your garage an attractive finished look. With a wide variety of color and finish options available, you can coordinate your floor with garage cabinets, other furnishings, your car, or even your favorite team’s logo. All garage flooring options are easy-to-clean and designed to withstand the high traffic and heavy use that a garage endures on a daily basis.

One of the biggest surprises in organizing your garage with cabinetry and a custom garage floor is the expanded living space and utility that is suddenly available for a craft or activity corner for the kids, an area for game tables, media center or even man cave.

PremierGarage of the Bay Area is locally owned and operated, with over 50 years of experience in the home service industry. Their professional designers can help you clear away garage clutter and maximize your garage’s space. With D’Vinci™, their proprietary 3D design software, you can see just how beautiful and functional your new garage can be!

For more information or to schedule a free, in-home consultation, you can call PremierGarage of the Bay Area at 408-444-9984 or 650-265-0510.

Or visit their website at www.bayareagarageflooring.com APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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products&services

TIRED OF THAT WOOD CABINET LOOK FROM THE 80'S?

T

he kitchen serves as a focal point of a home, it is the room where the entire family gathers and entertains.

And the cabinetry is the most eye-catching part of the

kitchen.

Are your cabinets looking tired and dated, not reflecting the ambiance and current style you wish they would? There is an alternative to replacing your cabinets which on an average is a third the cost of replacing, half the cost of refacing and takes only 5-6 days. The alternative is painting the exterior facade of your current cabinets.

Custom cabinet painting allows you to incorporate fresh colors, modern trends and the end result is your kitchen has a new clean look. The paint can be tinted to any color you wish.

Choosing white colors will achieve a classic or contemporary look. Using white and light colors on your cabinets can make small, dark rooms look larger and brighter.

Cabinet painting involves tools, equipment and techniques that are very specialized in order to produce a high-end professional looking result. When selecting your paint contractor, look for a professional painting company who listens to your needs and whose attention-to-detail is more important that rushing through painting your cabinets so that they can move on to the next job.

Fresh Coats Painting’s mission is to serve the customer’s needs and has a "leave no trace behind" approach to cleanliness during and after their work is completed. Interior and exterior painting is their main focus. They are trained to perform many tasks that fall outside the scope of painting including light handyman

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work, fence/deck staining/sealing, molding installation, base board installation and more. You can call Fresh Coats Painting at (408) 890-7399 to schedule a free estimate. Or visit www.freshcoatspainting.com

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products&services

ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS FOR TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL With Your Family’s Best Interest in Mind

P

ests such as termites have been around for millennia, and they aren't going to disappear any time soon. That doesn't mean, however, that you have to put up with them. There are eco-friendly treatments that allow you to rest easy at night, knowing your home is protected without exposing your family, pets and home to dangerous chemicals, damaging the environment or dealing with the inconvenience of having to move out.

Termites use their hard jaws to bite and chew through small fragments of wood.

When left unchecked, termites can slowly eat through the walls of your home. Over time this can cause severe structural damage and deal a significant blow to your wallet.

Termite activity can be hard to identify because the termite damage is typically done beneath visible wood beams. Many homeowners ignore some of the indications that termites are present, not realizing what they are. Some of the indications are termite swarms, skin casings left behind or tiny specks of excrement, which look a little like sawdust, left in the small pile.

A termite inspection performed by a highly trained, state-licensed professional will locate and identify termite and pest infestations. The inspection includes thoroughly checking common and hot spot areas such as attics, crawlspaces and exposed wood. This will determine the best treatment plan. Two examples of innovative treatments are XT-2000® Orange Oil Plus and Termidor®.

XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus is an extract of orange peels. The active ingredient is d-limonene which is used in household cleaners and pet shampoos. While orange oil can be a great cleaner, it also happens to be toxic to termites. When a termite comes in contact with orange oil, the wax coating of the termite's respiratory system is destroyed,

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causing it to suffocate. When injected into termite-infested wood, XT2000 Orange Oil Plus wicks like water up a string, penetrating the hard to reach areas and killing drywood termites and their eggs on contact. Orange oil is a renewable, plant-based solution that's been used as an insecticide since 1958.

Termidor is an odorless liquid that will not only kill termites; it has an innovative transfer ingredient. Termites can’t see, smell, taste or avoid its presence. They directly ingest and contact Termidor as they go about their normal routines. Then they can become a “carrier,” transferring it to other termites, spreading it like a virus throughout the colony.

Like termites, each type of pest has it’s own characteristics or traits. There are a broad range of eco–friendly products to resolve each type of pest issue. These products include such ingredients as peppermint, rosemary oil and wintergreen oil.

Planet Orange is a leader and innovator in providing green, effective solutions for pest control. Planet Orange’s termite control plan includes a two-year warranty, complimentary annual re-inspection, and free treatments during warranty, if necessary.

For a free estimate, you can call Planet Orange at 800-767-2643 or 408-963-6868, email info@planetorange.com or visit, www.planetorange.com

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products&services Stucco is a low-cost finish that is strong and durable, and is usable in most climates. It is fire resistant, can have any color added to it, and allows for a variety of textures. It can also be applied over concrete, cinder block, clay brick, adobe, cork or even straw bales.

Plaster restoration can restore cracked or damaged existing plaster to its original condition versus having it all torn out. Restoring old plaster can be a simple process when working with a company that has extensive knowledge and experience. A quality plaster contractor will be able to look at a wall and determine if the damaged areas can be removed, re-plastered and patched. That way, you still has the same quality plaster, restoring damaged interiors to their true glory.

CLASSIC TECHNIQUES WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY Elevating Plasterwork to the Status of Art

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laster is very versatile because of the broad range of options to choose from for the interior and exterior of a home. It can be tooled into a variety of textures, used throughout the home and be molded into all sorts of simple or intricate shapes.

The word plaster refers to interior work and stucco refers to exterior work.

The most common type of plaster used on interior walls is gypsum plaster. This is most commonly done through a three-coat process. In plaster a lath system first must be secured to the framing of your walls. Historically, lath was made from wood strips, but in modern times you will most likely find metal. This lath gives the plaster something to grab onto. After the lath has been installed the plaster goes on. The finish can be customized in different ways.

The advantage of a plaster wall is the thickness; since a plaster wall is thicker than drywall you have improved sound baffling, less likelihood of warping and increased fireproofing. A plaster wall also works best for irregular and rounded surfaces.

Venetian plaster is the application of the world's best plaster and the use of old world techniques to hard burnish the plaster into the wall as it cures to create sort of a pearl like finish. It creates a multi-dimensional depth of field in which areas fluctuate in color, depth, and intensity as the source of light changes from natural sunlight to artificial lighting.

Stucco is made from cement materials, sand and water. This is all mixed together to create a slurry. This slurry is applied over a metal lath that allows the stucco to adhere and maintain its strength. The finish coat is applied last, creating the decorative finish on the wall surface.

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The Meiswinkel family began its plastering tradition in the 1930’s and the RFJ Meiswinkel Company has since grown into a highly reputable name for residential and commercial plastering.

Along with plaster and stucco, they offer metal framing, drywall, lath, plaster restoration and historic renovation services replacing and repairing ornamental plaster in older homes and buildings.

For more information, you can contact RFJ Meiswinkel Company at 415-408-5414, email info@rfjmeiswinkel.com or visit www.rfjmeiswinkel.com APRIL/MAY 2017 • BAY LIVING

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PROFESSIONAL BARBECUE CLEANING

AFTER

PROTECTS YOUR INVESTMENT AND IMPROVES TASTE

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n the Bay Area, grilling up a hearty meal on the barbecue is a beloved pastime. Everyone loves a good cookout, but few homeowners enjoy cleaning or repairing the barbecue. It is safe to say that most grills could use a thorough cleaning, and many would benefit from an expert repairman.

Professionally cleaning your barbecue is sure to make your grill sparkle and shine, but it can do much more than that. A deep cleaning ensures a healthy cooking environment, improves the taste of your food and protects your investment. A comprehensive cleaning removes fat, carbon deposits, and cancer-causing carcinogens which are otherwise transferred to your food. A professional cleaning also reduces the chance of dangerous grease fires, prevents future corrosion and rust, and extends the life of your grill.

Now that we agree cleaning your barbecue is a great idea, some homeowners might ask, “Why not do this myself?” Because you don’t want to do it! Barbecues are complex and a thorough cleaning is messy and complicated. A skilled technician can come to your home at your convenience and give your grill a comprehensive cleaning with an environmentally friendly cleaning process. They will inspect every component to diagnose potential problems, clean and sanitize all parts, and polish the exterior to its original luster. Should your grill need replacement parts or repairs they are experts on nearly every model. Sometimes it is just better to call in the professionals.

For more information on mobile barbecue cleaning and repairs you can contact the Bay Area’s

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BEFORE

leading BBQ cleaning company Sparkle Grill Cleaning at (408) 409-1349. Their friendly and well trained staff is there to serve you. Sparkle Grill Cleaning also sells and installs new grills should you be in the market for an upgrade. You can see a complete list of their services online at www.sparklegrill.com/ca/bayarea/

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exteriorslandscaping

Transform Your Outdoor Living Space With Custom Masonry

Y

our home is where memories are born, nurtured and cherished. Your back- yard should be an important part of those memories. Whether you are looking to create a tranquil retreat to come home to, elegant spaces to dine and entertain or transform your outdoor living space with a backyard makeover, the options are limitless. Extending your living space outdoors is a sound investment that will add years of enjoyment and increase the value of your home.

Stone’s beauty, design versatility and durability provide the opportunity to be very creative. Not to mention, it is recyclable and extremely environmentally friendly. Fireplaces and fire pits can be

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a primary focal point, as well as an inviting gathering place. The sound of crackling flames in a built-in fire pit as you sip your glass of wine after a long day at work can be very relaxing. An outdoor fireplace can be enjoyed on cool summer nights and extend the outdoor entertaining season well into the cooler months.

Your outdoor living surfaces serve much the same purpose as carpeting or hard flooring inside your home. Pavers add texture and color to your yard, giving it a finishing touch that creates a beautiful surface, enhancing the beauty of your outdoor living space. Pavers can be used in the front of your home or in the backyard for entryways, driveways, pool decks or the whole patio.

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exteriorslandscaping Whether you’re having a summer gathering with friends and family, grilling burgers or just enjoying a quiet evening making cocktails and cooking steaks, an outdoor kitchen is the perfect addition to your ultimate backyard. An outdoor kitchen with custom masonry provides a one-of-a kind cooking experience that even the most discerning chef will appreciate.

Features and functions are plenty when it comes to one’s backyard. Having a plan in place is the first step. Start with collecting ideas from online sources and magazines, consult designers and contractors for advice and bids. Adding in a back porch, retaining wall, a paved pathway, a dining area, outdoor kitchen, garden boxes, water or fire feature, your backyard can become the place you dream about.

To learn more about the options available, gain inspiration and ideas for your home, visit Peninsula Building Materials’ Masonry Showroom. The showroom offers several full sized fireplace examples in their onsite Fireplace Gallery, as well as hundreds of other stone and brick samples, all under one roof.

Their helpful, knowledgeable staff is available to answer any questions and dedicated to helping customers realize their design ideas. Peninsula Building Materials Co. (PBM) is open to the public, and has been serving the needs of professional masons throughout the Bay Area since 1923. Over the decades this family owned and operated business has succeeded by providing a large variety of high quality products to their customers. PBM offers Northern California one of the largest selections of masonry products, including over 65 thin veneers and over 200 natural stone and brick products. Peninsula Building Materials Co. showroom is open Tuesday through Saturday, and is located at 2490 Charleston Road in Mountain View. You can call them at 877-282-0522 or visit www.pbm1923.com for more information.

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exteriorslandscaping

cREatE SHadE WHEN aNd WHERE You dESIRE With the added Value of Security, energy Savings, and increased Home Value omeowners tend to have a love/hate relationship with the sun. You might love those large windows that let in a lot of natural light and showcase your view, however the sunlight also most likely becomes excessive at times, if not downright bothersome. Here are some of the greatest ways to gain control over the sun so that you can call the shots, while increasing the security, savings, and value of your home.

H

Exterior Rolling Shutters. You want to let the natural light brighten up your home, but you hate having to avoid those living areas that become too harsh, too hot, and just downright uncomfortable. Exterior rolling shutters help to shield you and your family from the devastating effects of the sun. Not only do they block UV rays from damaging your floor and furniture, but they also help reduce your heating and cooling costs almost instantly. This also reduces the wear and tear on your HVAC system because you don’t have to use it as much. You can reclaim your living spaces that have become lost to light, heat, and even the cold, and you can do it all with the simple press of a button!

Rolling shutters allow you to simultaneously add value to your home and feel comfortable during any season. By simply having exterior rolling shutters installed, you add instant, real value to your home.

Along with saving you money on those energy bills, exterior rolling shutters will keep your home and family protected by never even giving burglars a chance. Hit the button and your shades roll down, lock in place, and create an aluminum-alloy barrier from you and the outside world.

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exteriorslandscaping

Solar Screens. Solar screens block 90% of the sun’s UV rays, so you limit the sun’s damaging effects on your furniture and floors.

But unlike rolling shutters, solar screens let you take in that million-dollar view while protecting your home. They may be thin, but solar screens are powerful, durable, and incredibly useful.

Retractable solar screens offer an immediate reward for smart homeowners. The comfort of keeping out the sun’s heat in a simple and stylish way is worth real money. If you ever decide to sell your home, you’ll be glad to know that your exterior shading has actually increased the value of your property. And even if you never sell your home, you’ll still reap the cost-savings benefits of a set of solar screens.

However, you want to be sure your home is protected without compromising style. With solar screens, you can select from a variety of different colored screens to match the theme of your home, as well as white, beige, or dark brown frames, which are built with aluminum and coated in epoxy powder for extended life and durability.

And perhaps best of all, you don’t have to mess with fragile strings like with traditional blinds. You get your choice of manual or automatic controls, and your solar screen fits nicely in a 4” box right above your window or sliding glass door.

Retractable Awnings. With motorized retractable awnings, you get sun protection and coverage that goes beyond clunky umbrellas or canopies so that you can transform your outdoor area into a cool, enjoyable retreat. Not only can you cool down your outdoor space by 15 degrees in just 15 seconds with a single awning, they are also custom made just for you and your home. Each awning comes with freestanding arms instead of poles or stands that tend to get in the way, and all fabrics are sourced from Sunbrella®. Not only will you get a reliably firm awning thanks to individual suspended springs maximizing the elasticity in the folding arms, using your awning is also easy. Choose from manual or motorized to fit your preferences.

Retractable Pergola Covers. If you already have a pergola, arbor, or glass roof, you want to make sure the space underneath is comfortable and usable. Enhance your space with a retractable cover. Pergola awnings use a gas piston tension system to ensure the consistent, reliable function of your awning for years to come. The recently improved tensile unit holds the fabric nice and taut, making it roll up more smoothly. Instantly lower the temperature of even the harshest glass-roof rooms, reducing your energy consumption and cooling costs significantly. They are electronically controlled and built-to-last. You can even protect your pergola awning with rain and wind guards for longer life.

For more information about exterior shade solutions for your home, the professionals at European Rolling Shutters can help determine your optimal solution. European Rolling Shutters have been protecting homes and families for nearly three decades. You can call them to book a free, no-obligation, in-home consultation at 800-327-0195, visit their showroom at 404 Umbarger Road, Suites A and B in San Jose, or see www.ERSshading.com.

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exteriorslandscaping Invest Wisely by

UPGRADING YOUR LANDSCAPING beautifully crafted landscape and hardscape adds aesthetic appeal, function, and will increase your home’s resale value. In a survey of real estate appraisers, 99% concluded that beautiful landscaping enhances the sales appeal of real estate.

With the numerous outdoor remodeling options available, you can custom design a dreamscape for your home, creating the ultimate in curb appeal.

When your guests arrive, their first impression will be an impressive driveway, walkway and front yard, and your home will be envy of your neighborhood.

Upgrading your landscaping is a wise investment, bringing a recovery rate of 100 -200%, according to Money Magazine.

Paver stones are an attractive and functional way to upgrade and raise your home’s value. With the endless choices of paver stone colors, shapes and patterns, you have virtually limitless options and a vast variety of design possibilities to reflect your unique style.

Paver stones are stronger and more durable than concrete - especially in earthquake territory, where the only guarantee with concrete is that it’s guaranteed to crack!

Installing a low maintenance synthetic lawn will lower your water

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bill, saving you time and money. Lighting can be added for ambiance, safety, and extend the use of your outdoor living space.

Adding a patio cover, BBQ Island, outdoor kitchen, pool deck, putting green or bocce ball court will add to the enjoyment value of your backyard. For additional pizzazz, you can add a paver retaining wall and steps to your home, or paver pillars and columns.

Family owned and operated since 2004, Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape, Inc. offers a 27 year warranty on installation, a lifetime warranty on pavers, and can complete your entire outdoor transformation. From design to installation, their team of experts can help you make your dreamscape into a reality. For more information, visit BlackDiamondLandscape.com, or to make an appointment call 408-329-9508 in the South Bay or 650- 539-4532 in San Francisco or on the Peninsula.

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healthbeautyfitness

Reshape Your Body in 20 Minutes!

By John Colman

When Diane Rand reached age 50, she got concerned that her weight was slowly creeping higher and her clothes were feeling too tight. As a practicing physician in San Diego, she knew the diagnosis. “Your muscles atrophy as you age, and this slows down the metabolism,” says Rand. “I knew it would keep getting worse if I didn’t correct it.” The antidote?

Effective weight training. But, she’d never lifted weights before. Plus, her fulltime job as a physician as well as her family life left little time in her schedule for exercise.

Fortunately, Diane read an article about “slow-motion” strength training, a revolutionary new exercise method promising a firmer, stronger, more shapely body from just two 20-minute training sessions per week. Even though the time efficiency and results sounded almost too good to be true, she decided to enroll with a personal trainer at The Perfect Workout, a local company with dozens of private fitness studios specializing in this unique approach.

Right away she noticed immediate increases in her muscle tone and energy.

After several months she’d also dropped one to two clothing sizes and was fitting into clothes which used to be too small.

“My trainer pushes me in a safe way, and I walk away feeling great after each session,” says Diane. “This is the wave of the future.”

Lean Muscles—The Key To Reshaping Your Body The Perfect Workout’s trainers encourage clients to build lean muscle tissue, which increases the body’s metabolism, burning extra calories even while you’re sleeping. Many people—especially women—have a fear of “bulking up” like a

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Physician Diane Rand tones her arms as part of her 20-minute training session in San Diego.

bodybuilder if they were to start strength training. In reality, if you’re older than 25, it’s much more likely that too little muscle is the problem rather than too much muscle. In their book Biomarkers: The 10 Keys to Prolonging Vitality , William Evans, Ph.D., and Irwin Rosenberg, M.D., show the research demonstrating that adults who don’t strength train lose an average of a half pound of lean muscle tissue each year starting at age 25.

As an example, a typical 55-year-old woman will have 15 pounds less lean muscle (and significantly more fat) than what she had at age 25. Muscle takes up less space than fat, so this typical

55-year-old woman has arms and thighs that are softer and less firm, wears a larger clothing size, and has a slower metabolism that burns fewer calories each day.

Effective strength training changes all of this. It increases your body’s metabolism, causing you to burn more fat and calories all day long. Strength training reshapes and tones your legs and arms.

And since muscle takes up 20% less space than fat, adding muscle and losing fat will make your body firmer, smaller, and more shapely. A fit 140-pound person can wear clothes several sizes smaller than an out of shape 140-pound person.

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healthbeautyfitness How Can Slow-Motion Strength Training Work So Quickly?

Slow-motion strength training involves brief and demanding workouts to get great results. The basic concept? Lift relatively heavy weights excruciatingly slowly (10 seconds to lift, another 10 seconds to lower) for as many repetitions as you can until you’re unable to move the weights anymore.

And when you learn to challenge your muscles as deeply as a skilled trainer can teach, it’s impossible to workout much longer than 20 minutes, even if you try. Dr. Philip Alexander, physician and faculty member at Texas A&M University’s College of Medicine, explains that it’s the intensity of exercise that stimulates greatest changes. “A slower repetition loads the muscles more effectively and efficiently. It’s harder!” exclaims Alexander. “That’s why it stimulates such a great total response from the body.”

Dr. Alexander has tracked hundreds of subjects using slow-motion strength training, noting significant improvements in muscular strength, HDL cholesterol profiles, bone density, and glucose tolerance. Other research adds more supporting data. Two separate studies by Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., and one study by Ellington Darden, Ph.D., demonstrate that slow-motion strength training produces 50% to 59% faster improvements than regular weight training. And because the repetitions are harder, each training session must be limited to 20 minutes—making this exercise method quite time efficient.

In 3 months Justin Brunette dropped 4 inches from his waist and lowered his body fat percentage by 6.4% with effective nutrition and weekly 20-minute training sessions at The Perfect Workout.

Joyce Reclaims Her Youthful Figure 54-year-old Joyce Magnuson had always been slim and slender when she was younger. But in her mid 40s, life’s stresses caught up with her and she began gaining weight. “During the next few years, I kept getting heavier, until I was thoroughly broken and disgusted with myself,” says Joyce.

Fortunately, she happened to read an article about slow-motion strength training and how it would reshape her body with just two 20-minute training sessions per week. The effectiveness of the method made sense to Joyce, and she decided to enroll with a personal trainer at The Perfect Workout.

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In 3 months Laura Retana Shelp lost 23.4 pounds and 10½ inches off her waist with improved nutrition and two 20-minute training sessions a week at The Perfect Workout.

After five months of combining an effective nutrition plan with two 20-minute training sessions each week, not only had she gotten stronger, she’d lost 43 pounds and dropped from a size 16 to a size 10. She was also able to get completely off the blood pressure medications that she’d previously needed to take. She adds, “The perk is looking good in the current styles. Even Macy’s keeps me motivated to stay fit!”

The Perfect Workout has dozens of private studios throughout the United States that specialize in one-on-one personal training with the slow-motion strength training method, including these Bay Area locations: Mill Valley (415) 423-1198, San Mateo (650) 513-2747, Menlo Park (650) 300-4308, Sunnyvale (408) 912-1387, Walnut Creek (925) 357-9704, Danville (925) 395-4891, Oakland (510) 254-3763, Southwest San Jose (408) 899-5812 and Pleasanton (925) 202-2231.

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