LOS ANGELESLIVING VOL XXXVI • NO. 4 • ODD AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Contents 12 - 16
HOME FASHION
The Ideal Motorized Window Covering Experience Elegant Surfaces That Last Forever The Charm Of A Murano Glass Chandelier
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KITCHEN & BATH
Love The Home You’re In–Why Remodeling Is A Wise Choice
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HOME REMODELING
From Design To Completion–Create The Kitchen And Bath Of Your Dreams
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PRODUCTS & SERVICES
A More Efficient Heating And Air Sysytem
22 - 28
EXTERIORS & LANDSCAPING
Take Back Your Backyard With Motorized Exterior Awnings Bringing The Culinary Experience Into The Open Air Why Is My Foundation Failing? It’s All In The Soil A Revolutionary And Unique Shade System Evict Termites Without Leaving Your Home
30 - 31
HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS
Reshape Your Body In 20 Minutes!
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LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
ON THE COVER Lighting plays a vital role in how you live in and enjoy every aspect of your home. For the past 90 years, Hinkley Lighting has been creating lighting for the modern family. Hinkley understands that your home is so much more than a physical place—it’s an emotional space designed by you. For more information about Hinkley products and much more, Lighting Zone is your local lighting solution. For more information, you can visit them at 17354 Hawthorne Blvd., call them at 310-921-9495, or visit www.DreamOnLighting.com. See their article on page 16, and their ad on the back cover.
ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
homefashion
Beach Home motorized coverings by Window Collections
Elegant motorized coverings by Window Collections
T I he
deal
MOTORIZED WINDOW COVERING EXPERIENCE
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otorized window coverings are today’s standard. Automated window treatments allow function to meet form by offering full enjoyment of that million-dollar view, and controlling the exterior and interior lighting to create an elegant atmosphere. There are two things that are crucial to achieving the best experience when you are looking to incorporate automated window treatments into your own home. First, you want to find a company you can trust that has the top reputation in your local area. Experienced professionals will be able to help you find the perfect window treatment match for your home, and can answer any questions you may have so you can feel confident with your purchase. The second aspect to consider is product quality. You want a company that carries top-of-the-line products that offer the most innovative technologies on the market. Timers, applications, and other incredible options can allow the sun to wake you naturally, shield your view from the sun’s harsh glare, protect furnishings throughout the day, and know that your privacy is maintained at night. Customizable settings allow you to enhance your lifestyle, however you’d like. Lutron® keypad technology is one of the most cutting edge options available to homeowners. Featuring intuitive functionality, one control enables you to access several pages for simple control of your window shades, and even other aspects such as lighting, temperature, and more.
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LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
Cutting Edge Lutron® Keypad Technology
On-screen button labels are personalized for your home, making operation extremely easy to navigate. Professionals will work with your audio/video technician and lighting designer to ensure seamless integration and control of window treatments with internal lighting and other electronics. Also, automation isn’t just for roller shades anymore. You can experience cutting-edge control with the Lutron Sivoia QS™ line of controllable shading products. The silent QS motor accommodates SunScreen or Blackout roller shades, custom fabric Roman shades, natural grass shades, wood blinds, and track systems for draperies and sheers. Drapery tracks are custom-built to fit your window, and are available in both straight and curved configurations up to 90 degrees. Drapery systems can also be dual mounted over windows and sliding glass doors for two layers of fabric. For homeowners looking for the most dramatic window presentation, motorized plantation shutters add upscale elegance and value to your home. For over 25 years Window Collections has designed, engineered, manufactured, project-managed, installed, and programmed window treatments, and are proud to be the top provider in Southern California for motorized window coverings. With an A+ ranking with the Better Business Bureau, Window Collections has also been praised by Robb Report, Gensler, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Design Magazine, and many more. They combine expert products with design knowledge about window coverings, such as roller shades, Roman shades, draperies, natural shades, and plantation shutters, to provide homeowners with a smooth and worry-free transition into using the latest in automation technology. For more information, you can call them at 310-773-9792 or visit www.windowcollections.com. You can also visit their showroom, featuring over 50 automated window coverings, at 11704 Wilshire Blvd. Ste D-212 in Los Angeles. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
homefashion
rom countertops to floors, it seems almost inevitable that every homeowner experiences the moment of realization that those once flawless surfaces simply just don’t look as beautiful as they used to. Natural stone can become stained, scratched, or discolored, and you may have even started to spot holes. The bottom line is—it’s just not as easy to take care of your surfaces any longer. However, before you start to stress over the cost of replacing those tired surfaces, you might want to explore a superior option that allows you to not only enjoy the floors, countertops, and showers that you once fell in love with, but also save both money and time on a replacement project. Not only can those surfaces be restored to like-new condition, but the right professional can teach you how to take control of your investment by providing care tips that prevent future wear and tear. You will finally be able to enjoy surfaces that sparkle, all year long. Whether your surfaces need a deep cleaning, refinishing, polishing, repair, sealing, stripping, or more, the key to long-term success is to become involved during the process so that you too can learn about your unique situation. When professionals evaluate your surfaces, whether a floor, counter or shower, they are also creating a personalized list of customized maintenance suggestions as they go, providing you with insight on how to properly care for your home. Here are just some examples of care tips that professionals can educate you about in regards to surface care:
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LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
Natural stone. Use only neutral pH 7, no rinse, concentrated stone soaps when cleaning, and be sure that the label says “safe for marble.” Never use vinegar, lemon juice, or bathroom tube and tile cleaners that contain acid on marble, travertine, limestone, or onyx surfaces. Floors. Blot spills to remove liquids. When mopping is necessary, remove all loose debris and dust with a vacuum or broom before damp mopping, making sure to never flood the floor. Countertops. Wipe the surface daily with a clean damp rag and neutral cleaner, and make sure to have high traffic surfaces sealed periodically to prevent long-term staining. Showers. Squeegee all wall surfaces upon completion of each shower, or the very last shower of the morning. Also, be sure to remove standing water from the surface after use; this prevents mineral build-up on the surface. Sureshine™ Care and Restoration Services believes that client education on the proper maintenance of treated surfaces is of utmost importance. Sureshine carries high quality maintenance products that are made in the USA and designed to keep your treated surfaces looking great. Their professionals understand that in most cases, following simple maintenance instructions can save you thousands of dollars by extending the useful life of your floors and reducing the need for professional help. Services include marble, limestone, and travertine refinishing, polishing and cleaning, granite repair and sealing, tile and grout cleaning, concrete and terrazzo polishing, saltillos and Mexican paver stripping and refinishing, exterior paver deep cleaning, and glass polishing, as well as comprehensive and personalized maintenance plans. For more information, you can call Sureshine at 866-346-2121 or visit www.sureshinecares.com. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
homefashion
The Charm of a
Murano Glass Chandelier
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handeliers add style and personality to our living spaces. As a work of art, a stunning chandelier can become the focal point of a room, elevating it from drab to dramatic. Chandeliers can be used for hallways, foyers, dining rooms, and any other room to make a grand design statement. Would you like to bring the beauty and romance of Italy into your home? Invoke the elegance of an Italian palazzo with a Murano glass chandelier, such as the one pictured here. Murano is a cluster of islands near Venice, Italy where following a centuries-old tradition, master craftsmen blow molten glass into beautiful shapes using human breath and wood and iron tools. This one-of-a-kind chandelier features tulip glass, a bronze finish, and leaves with a hand-rubbed verde finish. As an example of the best in Italian
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design, it will surely add a note of charm and distinction to any home. This unique fixture comes from the Butterfly Collection of L’Originale, a family-owned Italian company that emphasizes old traditions along with high-quality materials and attention to detail. For decades, L’Originale has been providing custom light fixtures for five-star hotels and castles worldwide. Fortunately, you don’t need to own a castle to obtain this Murano glass chandelier. Although in limited production, this chandelier is currently available at Lighting Zone. You can visit their showroom at 17354 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. You can contact them at 310-921-9495 or you can e-mail lightingzoneinc@aol.com. You can also visit
LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
them on the web at www.dreamonlighting.com. Their friendly and knowledgeable consultants can help you select just the right chandelier to add beauty and charm to your home. In addition to an extensive collection of light fixtures, Lighting Zone also carries mirrors, accessories, and fine art objects to complement and enhance your lighting choices.
ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
kitchen&bath
Reach Your Best Buyers
From Design to Completion Create the Kitchen and Bath of Your Dreams
Do you want to use your advertising dollars where they will be most beneficial? Getting your company’s message out to homeowners that are interested in upgrading their home and lifestyle can increase your sales at a very economical price per household. Advertisers can utilize the attractive format of Los Angeles Living to reach qualified buyers that are interested in the products and services they sell. For more information on how we can help you grow your business, you can call:
(888) 612-7400
T
he design of your living spaces is fundamental to creating a fresh and exciting feel in your home. If your kitchen and bathroom are lacking the style and personality you desire, then it’s time to discover a unique and avantgarde solution that challenges traditional design conceptions. Indulge in the latest styles and features from both European and local manufacturers. By visiting just one showroom, you can have the exclusive opportunity to experience numerous designs and layouts of cabinets, countertops, flooring, lighting and many accessories. Italian designers bring the art of sensuality back into your kitchen while making the space more functional and efficient. If your taste is not towards the contemporary, there are traditional offerings available as well. A full design team will listen and work with you in order to achieve the look and feel that you are seeking. From initial design to completion, professionals will make the process easy with careful planning, scheduling, installation and assistance. Designer Kitchens is an ideal choice for all of your kitchen and bathroom remodeling needs. Offering Italian cabinets from Astra Cucine, UltraCraft euro-style cabinetry that come with an incredible 100-year warranty, Kraftmaid® cabinetry, Caesarstone® quartz countertops, and much more, they have been serving Los Angeles County for over 10 years. Designer Kitchens is fully certified, licensed, bonded and insured General Contractors. For more information and a free consultation, you can call them at 310-474-5120. You can also visit their website at www.designerkitchensla.com or see their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/designerkitchensla ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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homeremodeling
Home
omeowners are continuing to choose to reinvest in their existing homes rather than buy a new one. If you already enjoy the general look of your home, updating the kitchen, renovating the bathroom, or adding on to the existing structure will have it looking newer and fresher than before. Home remodeling and renovation are common undertakings to increase the resale value of a home, yet more importantly; it is an investment in your quality of life. With a new color palette, flooring, efficient windows and doors, and the implementation of numerous other creative options, including architectural elements and sunrooms, remodeling your space will increase the value of your home and enhance the quality of your lifestyle. If you know that remodeling is in your future, but aren’t quite sure where to start, two areas of the home that will allow you to maximize any sort of transformation are both the kitchen and bath. So much of our time is spent
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in our kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen is the heart of the home, around which everything revolves; from everyday routine to the most special occasions, it draws people in and fulfills needs. While the bathroom is where you often start your day, as well as escape for relaxation and quiet time with a nice long bubble bath. Specialized home remodeling companies offer full-service design and construction to customize and improve your home through all phases of construction. One such local company is Sol Design Group Inc, a family owned and operated business that is capable of meeting all of your home remodeling needs. Sol Design Group Inc. strives to create memorable and lasting relationships with their clients, working with architects and interior designers to bring your dream to reality. For more information, you can call them at 844-876-5247 or visit www.solairinc.com.
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productsandservices
A More Efficient
HEAting And Air SyStEM hile being comfortable is always a critical component, when it comes to your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, it’s also crucial to be aware of both efficiency and health. An inefficient system can not only cost a ton of money when the time comes to pay your monthly electricity bill, but it can also force your family to breath unclean air that is polluted with dust and other allergens. With an environmentally conscientious future on our horizon, energy efficiency is becoming a major decision maker for homeowners buying household products. Windows, water heaters, and most appliances are all being manufactured with energy consumption in mind. Like many homeowners are currently experiencing, you might feel a bit guilty when constantly running your air conditioning each and every day while knowing how much energy it consumes. You also might find yourself forced to cut back on using the air conditioner due to those high bills. Here’s the good news—if you are looking for more efficient ways to cool your home that can also provide your family with safe, clean air, there are solutions.
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If indoor air quality is a top priority, Air Scrubber Plus® is a revolutionary new system designed to help eliminate air quality risks by reducing air pollutants, VOCs (chemical odors), cigarette smoke, dust, pollen, mold, odor-causing bacteria, and odors caused by pets and cooking. Air Scrubber cleans, freshens, and purifies the air using specialized germicidal UV light waves along with a proprietary catalytic process that creates enviroscrubbing molecules of oxygen and hydrogen, just like nature’s outdoor scrubbers. A professional heating and cooling technician can easily install the unit.
LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
Zoning systems are the ultimate way to maximize your comfort while keeping things efficient. In just about every home, temperatures often fluctuate from one room to the next. A zoned heating and cooling system breaks your home into different areas, or “zones,” that are each controlled separately by a thermostat. This help to not only eliminate hot and cold spots, but you also have individual control over the temperature of each room in your home. Finally, WiFi thermostats and programmable thermostats are fabulous ways to gain some energy efficiency over your system. Also known as smart thermostats, WiFi capabilities improve energy efficiency by allowing you to control the temperature of your home from a computer, tablet, or smart phone. Programmable thermostats save energy and money by allowing you to adjust your home to a user-set temperature program. Along with these new innovations in home heating and cooling technology, professionals can also help you find the quietest systems on the market, as well as many other requirements that you may have. It’s time for you to experience the ultimate in home comfort. Whether you’re thinking about going green, or simply want to increase your home’s value quickly and affordably, SolAir & Energy is your one-stop shop for all of your energy efficiency needs. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, you can call them for a free consultation or more information at 1-855-7-SOLAIR (776-5247) or visit www.SolAirAndEnergy.com.
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The Continental Patio Awning Deployed
Take Back Your Backyard With Motorized Exterior Awnings
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hen you invest in a home, you are buying more than just an interior. Think about it—if you didn’t like spending time outside enjoying the view and your beautiful surroundings, then you could have just bought a condominium. There’s a reason why you bought your beautiful home. The real question is: are you using it to its full potential? One of the main issues that might be keeping you and your family from completely utilizing your backyard is the weather. While basking in the sun for a few minutes can be nice, there quickly comes a point when it simply becomes overwhelming. What if you had the luxury to spend time outside whenever you want, whether it’s day or night, and always feel comfortable? Retractable shading systems allow you to finally take control of your backyard. Enhance your outdoor living experience by creating the functional space you have always wanted. One of the best features of innovative motorized awnings is that they don’t change the look of your home. Instead, they can enhance your backyard by adding color, more versatility and creating a new usable space. When an awning is retractable, you can have shade when you need it and sun when you want it. Therefore, depending on the weather and your needs, the control is totally in your hands!
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The Continental Patio Awning Retracted
An awning can be either deployed or retracted. While deployed, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your outdoor surroundings in comfort while being protected from the sun and other natural elements based on the system you choose. Watch the kids play in the pool and enjoy your backyard in the shade without worrying about getting too much sun. Relax by your outdoor fire pit at night and soak in the ambiance of your stunning landscape in the moonlight. When an awning is retracted, it disappears from sight and doesn’t change the look of your exterior décor. Essentially, a retractable shade system helps protect both you and your home at all times. When retracted, you can help protect your investment. Invest in your outdoor living spaces, reclaim your space and start appreciating every aspect that your backyard has to offer. For more information about high-quality awnings and other systems, you can contact Alpha Productions, Inc. at 800-223-0883 or visit them at www.alphaproductions.com. Alpha Productions has been manufacturing their Suntamer® products in the U.S.A. since 1978. They design, manufacture and install all of their own systems. With the majority of their business coming from client referrals, Alpha Productions always strives to provide the best possible customer service experience.
ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
homefashion
Bringing the Culinary Experience into the Open Air
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or a professional chef, preparing a meal is like a well-choreographed dance, flowing seamlessly from one station to the next before the food is finally presented to the diner. The outdoor kitchen experts at Alfresco® Open Air Culinary Systems bring this efficient restaurant methodology to homeowners looking to transform their outdoor dining experience with commercial-quality products and a custom design that focuses on comfort and convenience by improving flow and functionality. Proper space planning creates strategically placed zones that ensure essential operations are close by, minimizing steps. The prep zone, containing the sink and waste centers, allows food to be fully prepared outside instead of inside. Next to it are the cooking systems—grills, side burners, etc. From there, the layout flows into a plating station and finally the area where homeowners can serve and entertain, including a beverage and cocktail center and products such as the keggerator that personalize the space to suit your needs. Alfresco’s outdoor kitchen specialists include ample and conveniently located storage space in each design, so outdoor chefs have everything they need within easy reach of food preparation and cooking stations.
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Sealed dry storage pantries allow for items such as spices, dry foods, and flatware, which usually aren’t kept outside because of weather and insects, to be stored close at hand, eliminating the need for constant trips inside. Unique cold storage options include commercially designed refrigeration that keeps temperatures extremely cold—in the mid 30˚F range—even in extremely hot weather. Homeowners will benefit from a complete line of restaurantinspired grills, refrigeration, and other accessories developed by Alfresco’s open-air kitchen professionals who apply the same methods they use when customizing commercial kitchens for gourmet chefs to the outdoor kitchens they create for residential enjoyment. Commercial-quality features include heavy-gauge stainless steel and intensive, seamless joint welding that can withstand the use and abuse of amateur cooks, Mother Nature, and even a professional kitchen staff. Alfresco Open Air Culinary Systems builds 100% of their products locally in Commerce, California. For more information, you can call Armand’s Discount, Inc., located at 9400 Venice Blvd. in Culver City, at 310-839-5555. www.ArmandsDiscount.com
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exteriorslandscaping
Why Is My FoundatIon FaIlIng? It’s All in the Soil
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he old adage, “a house must be built on a solid foundation if it is to last,” rings all too true when you begin to understand the signs of foundation problems. Cracks in the walls, windows, and doors begin to stick, or won’t even open at all, and floors begin to settle and become uneven. Finally you think your foundation is slowly sinking into the ground. It may seem as though your home is falling apart at the seams. The truth is, it may very well be due to a failing foundation.
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But what causes your foundation to fail? The number one reason is settlement due to expansive soils that your home was built upon. Shrinkage and swelling from dry conditions and rainy or wet conditions cause soil to pull away from your foundation. Settlement due to this moisture imbalance will cause cracks to appear throughout the structure, including interior-exterior walls and floors. Settlement eventually causes your foundation to crack and separate, causing even more damage. Expansive soils are present throughout the world and are known in every US state. Every year, they cause billions of dollars in damage. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that ¼ of all homes in the United States have some damage caused by expansive soils. In a typical year in the United States, they cause a greater financial loss to property owners than earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. Along with the shrinking and expanding of soils, some other causes of foundation failure include: • Wash-outs or over-wetting due to pipes leaking • Poor compaction or fill techniques • Tree roots or other growth causing damage • Hillside slippage due to erosion or seismic • Poor construction techniques • Material failure due to age or infestation Foundation Technology is an expert company in determining the causes of foundation failure, and designing a cost-effective permanent repair solution that is guaranteed to bring your house back to health. Their alternative repair solutions are backed by structural engineering, and also come with a limited lifetime warranty. The best part is, the cost to inspect is free and the cost to repair is far less than you might expect. To reach Foundation Technology, you can call 855-650-2211 or visit www.foundationtechnology.com.
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LOSANGELESLIVING
My Daddy fixes bumpers!
PUBLISHER
WALLY HICKS III
MARKETING SPECIALISTS PHILLIP ALVIDREZ, DEBORAH MESNA, DEBBIE TARNOFF advertIsIng MaIlIng address Affluent Target Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 18507 Anaheim Hills, California 92817-8507 (714) 446-6280 FAX (714) 446-6294 (888) 612-7400
www.losangeleslivingmagazine.com
For comments to the publisher: livingmagazines@yahoo.com The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Los Angeles Living. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, we cannot supervise the way in which information found in Los Angeles Living is used. Los Angeles Living is produced bi-monthly by Affluent Target Marketing, Inc., P.O. Box 18507, An a heim Hills, California 92817-8507. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All submitted materials, including images, logos, and text, for advertising and editorial are assumed to be the property of the provider, and Affluent Living Publications can take no responsibility for unintentional copyright infringement. Affluent Target Marketing, Inc. has the right to refuse advertising.
At Your Home or Office
WHY GO TO A BODY SHOP ? A Mercedes client was quoted $2,200 to replace his bumper. Executive Paintworks repaired BEFORE
AFTER
it for only $400!!!
Since 1988
Call now for a free quote Executive Paintworks 888-472-4333
CIRCULATION VERIFIED BY U.S. POSTAL RECEIPTS.
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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exteriorslandscaping A Revolutionary and
Unique Shade System ustom-made canopies have their perks, however they can also become an additional source of stress. For example, to fit properly, they require precise pre-measurement, fabric and color selection, weeks of fabrication and finally installation. Once installed the custom canopies can’t be modified and any repairs (if possible) require a trip back to Canopy Retracted the shop. Now, there is an innovative new product on the market that provides homeowners with a retractable shade system that is infinitely versatile, customizable, and adaptable. Infinity Canopy is a modular You can also add vertical panels to either or slide on wire canopy composed of individual shade panels that are both ends for additional shade and privacy. connected together by a marine grade stainless steel and aluminum Unlike traditional shade products, Infinity Canopy can be modified even parts. It can be installed on pergolas or between two opposing structures. The after it is assembled and installed. You can add or remove sections and shade panels are available in a variety of colors and made of the highest quality panels to increase or decrease the width and length of the canopy, outdoor fabrics including Phifertex® and Sunbrella® that are resistant to water, change the canopy’s color and design, replace damaged sections with fire, mold, fading and can last five-to-ten years. They can be ordered in one or replacement parts and panels, and even remove the entire canopy or the multiple colors and placed in different panels for cleaning and winterization, in just minutes. configurations to create unique designs Infinity Canopy was designed with the goal to make the beautiful that are simply not possible by any other slide-on wire canopy style available to homeowners in an infinitely versashade system for those ever-changing tile and adaptable system. If you are ready to enhance your outdoor space tastes, styles and needs. and get the most out of your investment, you can call Infinity Canopy at You can lock individual panels in 844-4-CANOPY (844-422-6679), or visit them at www.infinitycanopy.com. place, or remove panels for open space.
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ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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exteriorslandscaping
Evict Termites Without Leaving Your Home
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ermites are among the most destructive pests in the United States, causing property damage to 600,000 homeowners each year. Although you have no choice when the termites move into your home, you have many different choices once you discover them. Twenty years ago homeowners didn’t have many choices, and tent fumigation was the standard extermination method for termites. This outdated method entails moving out of your home for three and a half days while a dangerous amount of toxic gas is pumped into your home. Homeowners who choose tent fumigation are forced to pay for three days worth of lodging, dining and pet boarding, as well as pack or discard all the food and medicine in their home. Not only is tent fumigation incredibly inconvenient, it also leaves a huge footprint on the environment. The chemicals used for fumigation have been identified by the California Air Resources Board as Toxic Air Contaminants, and have a harmful and long-lasting impact on the ozone layer. Fortunately there is an affordable, eco-friendly and effective alternative that won’t displace you from your home. XT-2000 Orange Oil® Plus is a revolutionary, scientifically proven product used by IPM companies to control termites. This innovative formula is 95% pure orange oil, a natural termite pesticide made from pressed and distilled orange rinds. With orange oil, you get rid of your termites with the same guaranteed results as fumigation while still enjoying the comforts of home. Trained technicians come to your home and perform a thorough inspection to detect the termite colonies. Using a high-tech optical scope, the technician can determine the extent to the infestation and inject orange oil directly into the infested wood members, killing the termites on contact. The fumes also act as a neurotoxin to the termites, creating a pleasant orange fragrance that humans smell without any effect. A remarkable property of orange oil is its ability to wick
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LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
through wood, traveling through the porous cells in all directions. Therefore, orange oil not only treats the areas into which it was injected, but will soak into surrounding areas providing a superior termite protection. For more information on XT-2000 Orange Oil® Plus, or to find a certified Pest Control operator, you can call (866) 870-8485. XT-2000 has been in business since 2004, and they have treated over half a million structures, including homes, apartments, schools, commercial buildings, and more. Orange Oil Plus is 95% pure orange oil— beware of imposter products that contain only trace amounts of orange oil but also contain hazardous petroleum distillates. XT-2000 Orange OIl professionals are certified XT-2000 Orange Oil experts. They go through a required vigorous training program and have annual training updates. Very few pest control products are as vigorously controlled, so when looking for a pest control professional be sure they are a Certified XT-2000 affiliate by visiting their website at www.xt2000.com ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
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
LOS ANGELES LIVING • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
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. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
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. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
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 20minute 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 Los Angeles area locations: Redondo Beach (310) 697-1238, Thousand Oaks (805) 413-4880, Long Beach (562) 606-0677, Pasadena (626) 658-2142, and West L A (310) 500-2005. www.ThePerfectWorkout.com
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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