Los Angeles Living December 2014/January 2015 by Affluent Target Marketing

LOS ANGELESLIVING VOL XXXV • NO. 6 • ODD DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

LOSANGELESLIVING PUBLISHER

WALLY HICKS III

MARKETING SPECIALISTS DEBORAH MESNA, DEBBIE TARNOFF LEE WILLIAMS ADVERTISING MAILING ADDRESS

Contents 12 - 18 20 - 22 24 - 28 30 - 31

HOME FASHION

www.losangeleslivingmagazine.com

KITCHEN & BATH

For comments to the publisher: debbie@keyaccess.com

EXTERIORS & LANDSCAPING HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

ON THE COVER When it comes to interior design, there is no better way to approach a project than with a truly comprehensive process, featuring white-glove service from planning to completion. Like the luxurious home featured on the cover, great design is a symphony of elements, each carefully crafted and orchestrated. Established in 2008, Nadia Elgrably and her talented team have over 25 years of experience in the interior design field. For more information, you can call Nadia Designs at 310-892-1799 or visit www.nadiadesigns.org. See their ad on page 7.

Affluent Target Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 18507 Anaheim Hills, California 92817-8507 (714) 446-6280 FAX (714) 446-6294 (888) 612-7400

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

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. CIRCULATION VERIFIED BY U.S. POSTAL RECEIPTS.

ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING

homefashion

Window Shading Technology 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. Easy programming and operation using electronic keypads with backlit buttons and custom engraving provide homeowners with immediate control of natural light with a touch of a button. Remote control capability is also available for complete control at your fingertips anywhere in the home. Keypads and remote transmitters can be customized to suit your needs and specifications with individual and group control programming for all window coverings. Automated shades are even capable of integrating with your current home automation system and iPad and/or iPhone. 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. The green choice for today’s modern-day homeowner, solar powered window treatments are both fashionable and functional. With their fully self-sufficient, off-the-grid application, solar powered shades turn an average window into an energy efficient treatment with no external control. The system harnesses the power of the sun to deliver a green window solution that is forever powered by the planet’s most natural light source— all with just the touch of a button! For over 20 years Window Collections has designed, engineered, manufactured, project-managed, installed, and programmed window treatments in some of the finest homes and commercial properties in North America. 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.

That Consistently Redefines Everyday Living

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. With timers, applications, and other types of innovative home automation technology, you 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. Timers and sun sensors can automatically raise your window coverings 30 minutes before sunrise, and then lower them 30 minutes after sunset. You can customize the settings to enhance your lifestyle however you’d like. Additionally, 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

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

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DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING

homefashion

Experience the Magic of

Crystal Clear Illumination

ynonymous with elegance, Swarovski invokes a feeling of glamour, sophistication, and old-world charm that has captivated the public for over a hundred years. Swarovski Lighting combines pure light sources with the fascinating, light-filled qualities of crystal to create a line of contemporary lighting solutions in extraordinary designs to suit every décor. With lighting systems ranging from crystal chandeliers to wall-mounted or pendant luminaires, homeowners can be sure to find an appropriate style for any application, whether it be illuminating the front entry, above a bar or dining table, lining the main hall, or providing atmosphere in the master suite. Swarovski’s lighting collections include

circular, height-adjustable styles ideally suited for high ceilings, linear designs with symmetrical facets, tubular surrounds, and more to create a multi-facetted, multi-layered lighting experience. Different sized and shaped crystals are paired with high-voltage halogens and LEDs respectively to achieve outstanding interior lighting effects as well as provide long-lasting, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient illumination. These sparkling lighting systems provide unique inspiration for architects, interior designers, and homeowners around the globe. Visit your local lighting specialists to explore the broad array of lighting options available

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

to suit your home and personal style. For more information on Swarovski lighting systems, you can call Lighting Zone, Inc., located at 17354 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance, at 310-921-9495, e-mail lightingzoneinc@aol.com, or visit them online at www.DreamOnLighting.com. In addition to an extensive collection of high-quality light fixtures, Lighting Zone also carries mirrors, accessories, and fine art objects to complement and enhance your lighting choices.

ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

homefashion

Protect Your Flooring, Furnishings and Artwork from the Sun WITHOUT CHANGING THE VIEW OUT

he sun’s UV light can ruin your home’s interior in no time, causing fading of your fine furnishings, flooring and artwork. Now there is a way to enjoy the sun while not only maintaining, but actually improving your view outside. Prestige window film by 3M is a superior way to protect your finest assets without changing the look of the glass. Innovative Prestige window film provides you with a crystal clear solution to fading by blocking out 99.9% of the damaging UV rays. The benefits don’t end with fade protection. Prestige film also blocks 97% of the sun’s infrared heat, significantly cooling your home and reducing the demand on air-conditioning. This can reduce cooling costs up to 20% by maximizing energy efficiency. This is no ordinary window film. Prestige outperforms other types of window film including ceramic, metalized and dyed films. Prestige is virtually invisible on the glass, keeping the room light and airy and it has no added reflectivity, so you never have that dark mirror appearance associated with standard window tinting films.

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

Some of the best aspects of Prestige: • Works as soon as it is installed • Requires no maintenance and no upkeep • Pays for itself in preservation of your interior and in energy savings • Guaranteed to last a lifetime Campbell Window Film is the authorized 3M installing dealership for Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange Counties. They offer free estimates and consultations along with lifetime warranties. They can provide you with samples of the Prestige window film and explain the installation process, which is clean and quiet, and can be completed usually within one day. Campbell Window Film can assist you with finding your perfect window solution. For more information, you can call them at 800-580-9997 or visit www.campbellfilm.com

ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Whether you have a priceless Picasso or

your child’s first framed masterpiece, you’ll want it hung with love and care. There is no better way to ensure that your artistic investments are transported, delivered, and displayed properly than with a local team that can do it all. CHANDELIER AND ART INSTALLATION. Professionals that specialize in chandelier and light fixture installation know exactly how to keep things safe and protected. This also applies to wall art, as a professional can both place and hang your art in the perfect location in order to create a focal point in your living space. CHANDELIER CLEANING. With the holiday season upon us, it’s important to ensure that your chandeliers are shiny, clean, and beautiful before hosting any parties or entertaining guests. There is nothing more elegant than a professionally cleaned chandelier that makes your interior sparkle and shine. With over 12 years of experience, LA Teams is your local art installation company, offering peace of mind when it comes to transporting and displaying artistic items such as sculptures, mirrors, paintings, artwork, chandeliers, and more. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING

kitchen&bath

Give Your Worn-Out Wood the “Wow” Factor Renewal Made Easy—Change the Color and Give It New Life!

Cabinet Renewal

igh style has moved from the runaways of Milan to our own homes. Chic trends and quality craftsmanship are the necessities of a home renovation. Whether a homeowner is preparing to sell, upgrade, or simply fix something that isn’t quite right, options and choices abound with N-Hance® Wood Renewal. While the ‘70s and ‘80s were a great time for many things, most homeowners want those years taken out of their kitchens and off their floors. Browsing local remodeling store aisles, it’s easy to fall in love with the colors and sophistication of today’s cabinets and floors. However, when a homeowner starts to visualize bringing a new look into their home, there is a good chance they will be overwhelmed with the timeframes and budgets. New floors mean a room cannot be used for days and sometimes weeks, while flooring and cabinets are demolished and replaced. Say good-bye to home cooked meals, and hello to eating out. Getting today’s freshest finishes and updated looks can seem out of reach, but there’s a new alternative to the expense, mess, and sheer chaos of ripping out floors and cabinets—let skilled craftsmen renew the floors and cabinets in a matter of days. Homeowners can upgrade to quality finishes that are well-rooted in the new millennium Lightspeed™ is the process of refinishing your hardwood floors or cabinets and curing them with powerful ultraviolet light that is only available from N-Hance. There is no more down time. Your floor is 100% dried and cured before the technicians leave. Bringing life back to your wood dramatically updates your home and minimizes downtime and expenses, instead of having parts of your home ripped up, ripped out, and banished to the landfill. Using time-tested techniques to renew existing wood floors and cabinets, the craftsmen remove wax and dirt build-up that make wood look flat and lifeless. The renewal process thoroughly cleans the surface, restores lost color, repairs damaged areas with less mess, and applies an elegant instant-cured Lightspeed finish. Have you always wanted chocolate cabinets or a rich cherry finish? You can go darker for a more modern look, for up to a third of the cost of replacement. To begin the process, craftsmen will come in, evaluate your home, and provide an estimate for renewal. Often, homeowners who want to put their home on the market want to give it the “wow” factor in a number of days versus weeks, minimizing costs and maximizing convenience for getting their home sold.

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

Before

After

Basic Floor Renewal

Before

After

The possibilities are endless for all your tired wood. To rejuvenate your cabinets and give new life to your doors, trim, and floors, you can call the N-Hance Wood Renewal of Los Angeles, serving West Los Angeles, at 310-558-3080 or visit them online at nhance.com/westlosangeles ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING

kitchen&bath

My Daddy fixes bumpers! 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

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

From Design to Completion Create the Kitchen and Bath of Your Dreams

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

exteriorslandscaping After

o you have a dirty, greasy grimy grill? Do you worry about your food being contaminated? Luckily, you don’t have to worry anymore— grill cleaning professionals can keep your barbeque looking beautiful and your food safe and delicious. Professional technicians are trained and experienced in the proper care and restoration of all types of barbeques. Services range from full restoration, functional cleanings, and a full repair service. When your grill technician arrives, they will test and diagnose your barbeque for any functional issues and determine necessary parts. Next, they remove all contents of the barbeque and clean your grill grates, warming rack, and burners. All grease, carbon, and debris are removed. The box is thoroughly cleaned and a detailed polish is done of your barbeque, cabinets, and drawers. Just like auto maintenance, a grill cleaning is necessary to keep your outdoor investment both protected and ready to perform at its peak performance Most homeowners are unaware of the necessity of a good cleaning to prevent hot spots, rust, discoloration, and the build up of grease and food particles that attract rodents.

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

Before

Keep your outdoor kitchen clean, safe and fully functional by calling Filthy Grill today. For over 10 years, Filthy Grill has provided services in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties, and has recently extended their territories. The professionals at Filthy Grill value customer service as their number one priority and we will do what it takes to make sure you are fully satisfied. For more information or to schedule your cleaning or repair, you can call Filthy Grill at 1 855 554-7455 or visit filthygrill.com. Franchises are also available.

ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

exteriorslandscaping

Custom Outdoor Cabinetry

ELEGANT AND FUNCTIONAL utdoor kitchens have evolved drastically from the basic barbecue island. Innovative cabinetry solutions from Brown Jordan® Outdoor Kitchens provide the freedom to custom design unique outdoor living areas. Create an outdoor entertainment showplace that will add value to your home. Designed to blend with the surrounding landscape, custom cabinetry complements Brown Jordan furniture and continues the indoor theme to the outdoors. Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens are fully customizable stainless steel cabinets manufactured in the U.S.A. The collection offers powder coated finishes in 10 exclusive designer colors, eight realistic faux wood finishes, four custom textures, and a variety of exclusive door styles, providing almost limitless design possibilities. Features rival the latest innovations of indoor cabinet lines including

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

concealed hardware, solid core doors, trash pullouts, fixed and sliding shelves, soft-close, self-close drawers, and leveling legs. The option to apply designer powder coat finishes adds protection to the stainless, allowing it to withstand any climate for a virtually maintenance-free investment. Cabinets are designed to fit all major outdoor appliances; grills, social cookers, side burners, smokers, pizza ovens, bars, beverage centers, and more. If you are looking for a little extra touch of glitz and glamour, insert options are available for the cabinet doors, including wood grain options and textured metal that can be left in its true stainless form or powder coated with a designer finish. All cabinets come with a lifetime warranty, and all powder coated finishes come with a seven-year warranty. Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens meet the needs of today's homeowners, architects, designers, builders, hotels and resorts that seek cabinetry to fit the unique décor and style of an outdoor living environment. For more information, you can call them at 855-839-5063, visit their website at www.brownjordanoutdoorkitchens.com, or email info@brownjordanoutdoorkitchens.com

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The Continental Patio Awning Deployed

Take Back Your Backyard With Motorized Exterior Awnings

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!

Skylight Pergola/Lattice With Awning Deployed

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

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.

Skylight Pergola/Lattice With Awning Retracted 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 full-time 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 14 private fitness studios in Southern California 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 that 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

Physician Diane Rand firms her body during a 20-minute training session at The Perfect Workout.

women—have a fear of “bulking up” like a 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

LOS ANGELES LIVING • DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

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. 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.

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 ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Arlene Esgate tones her arms as part of her 20-minute training session in San Diego.

the method made sense to Joyce, and she decided to enroll with a personal trainer 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 20 private studios throughout California 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, West LA (310) 500-2005, and Thousand Oaks (805) 413-4880. www.ThePerfectWorkout.com

DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015 • LOS ANGELES LIVING