LOS ANGELESLIVING VOL XXXIV • NO. 5 • EVEN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Contents
12 - 20
HOME FASHION
Taking Elegance One Step Further With Automated Window Coverings Conceal Your Speakers Reveal Your Style Getting Organized Step Into The Future–Today
12 - 20
HOME FASHION
Enhance Your Home With LED Lighting How Do You Capture The Color In Your Life? Protect Your Flooring, Furnishings And Artwork From The Sun Without Changing The View Out
22 - 24
KITCHEN & BATH
Helpful Hints For Kitchen Remodeling From Design To Completion Create The Kitchen And Bath Of Your Dreams
25
GO SOLAR
Solar–Good For The Environment And Your Pocketbook
26
KID SAFETY
A Pool Fence That Doesn’t Require Any Deck Holes
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Could Mold Be Making You And Your Family Sick?
28 - 30
EXTERIORS & LANDSCAPING
Take Back Your Backyard With Motorized Exterior Awnings Planning Ahead For The Holidays Is A Bright Idea
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CHARITY
Hollywood Coming Together For At Risk Youth
32 - 33
HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS
Reshape Your Body In 20 Minutes!
ON THE COVER The Yorba Linda kitchen featured on the cover has been redesigned and outfitted with custom cabinetry by Reborn Cabinets in Anaheim. It features granite countertops and beautiful contrasting cabinetry. This kitchen offers all the elements for family gatherings. For more information, you can contact Reborn Cabinets at 714-630-2220, or visit their showroom at 2981 East La Palma Ave. in Anaheim (open 7 days a week). You can also visit www.reborncabinets.com. Please see our ad on page 13 and our article on page 22.
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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LOSANGELESLIVING PUBLISHER
WALLY HICKS III
PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVES MARKET LINK
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: wally@keyaccess.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. CIRCULATION VERIFIED BY U.S. POSTAL RECEIPTS.
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LOS ANGELES LIVING • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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homefashion
Taking Elegance One Step Further with
Automated Window Coverings And the Newest Technology
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utomated shades allow function to meet form by offering homeowners full enjoyment of that million-dollar view and creating beautiful atmosphere by controlling the light that surrounds you. With timers, iDevice applications and other types of innovative home automation technology, you can allow the sun to wake you naturally, protect your view from the sun’s harsh glare and know that your privacy is protected at night. Astronomical time clocks can automatically raise your window coverings 30 minutes before sunrise, lower them 30 minutes after sunset, and even adjust to protect furnishings throughout the day. Experienced automation specialists offer complete project management for automating all types of window coverings. They combine expert product and design knowledge about window treatments such as solar sunscreen shades; Roman shades; draperies and natural shades to provide homeowners with a smooth and beautiful transition into using the latest in automation technology. Automation isn’t just for roller shades anymore. Lutron® shading solutions offers homeowners cutting-edge control with the Sivoia QS™ line of controllable shading products. The silent QS motor accommodates sunscreens, 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 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
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LOS ANGELES LIVING • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
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. Automation specialists will customize all keypads and remote transmitters to suit your needs and specifications by programming individual and group controls for all window coverings. Automated shades are even capable of integrating with your current home automation system and iPad and/or iPhone. The green choice for the modern-day homeowner, solar powered roller shades are a fashionable and functional solution. With their fully self-sufficient off the grid application, solar powered roller shades take 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 a touch of a button! Licensed and insured craftsmen provide the finest quality, factory-trained installation working together with the audio/video technician and lighting designer to ensure seamless integration and control of window treatments with lighting and other electronics. For more information and an in-home consultation from automation experts, you can call Window Collections at 310-773-9792, or visit their showroom and design center located at 11704 Wilshire Blvd., Suite D-212 in Los Angeles. You can also visit them online at www.windowcollections.com. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
homefashion
Conceal Your Speakers
REVEAL YOUR STYLE
Y
ou want the incredible sound of a full home audio system, yet you just can’t live with those large and unsightly speakers. This is a common battle that homeowners often face when upgrading their sound system. Bulky equipment is never a good addition to a carefully planned home décor, and there has never been a way around this unfortunate situation—until now. Now, you can have the best of both worlds. Wall Art Sound is a truly concealed flat panel art speaker system that allows you to enjoy spacious sound while beautifully showcasing your favorite art. The perfect décor solution to an audio problem, you will be free to decorate around your creativity—not around your speakers. The flat panel speaker is genuinely unique from all other forms of electrical audio sound reproduction, utilizing the prin-
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ciple of distributed mode vibrations in an engineered lightweight rigid body. No grates or grills for covers, Wall Art Sound blends invisibly into your space. Fill an entire room with warm, smooth, full-bodied harmony in an aesthetically pleasing way. You can even provide your own picture to display. Dedicated Sound Audio (DSA) provides you with the perfect intersection between sound and art. DSA experts are happy to help set-up any installations and consultations, offer design advice or answer any of your questions. You can call them at 949-273-8320, or visit their website at www.dsausa.com to see a step-by-step process for custom frame design and more.
LOS ANGELES LIVING • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
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Getting Organized
homefashion
By Kathryn LaBarbera
s space in the family home continues to be a problem, more people are searching for alternatives. The solution is to get organized. Take an inventory of everything you want to store in the space. Determine what you want to keep and get rid of the rest. Once you know what you are going to keep in the space, determine where everything will go. Group similar things together (all shoes or all shirts), and sketch the space to draw a plan. Use all of the available space. Since storage space is hard to come by, it is important to store things neatly and efficiently. Smaller shelves, cubbies, or baskets can make good use of the space where clothes are not hanging in the closet. The last decision you need to make is how you want your organized space to look. Whether you decorate with an art deco flair or are more traditional, it is important to create a space in the look that reflects your style. The hard thing is getting started. Look at your calendar and make a date. If you are having a difficult
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time or just don’t know where to start, call an expert. There are professional organizers and custom closet companies that help people every day. The key is to take the first step. For more information or to schedule a free design consultation, you can call Closet Factory at 800-692-5673 (please mention code 62). Or, you can visit them online at www.closetfactory.com
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homefashion
n 1957 the Disneyland attraction, Monsanto House of the Future, displayed conveniences such as picture phones and television remote controls. It also introduced many people to their first microwave oven. What Walt Disney envisioned in his automated home of the future has become today's affordable reality. We now have the ability to control our lighting, temperature and even music with the touch of a finger—from a handheld central control. Not only that, we can even monitor the security of our home, and the occupants within, through cameras which can be assessed through your computer and handheld devices. Traditional television has been replaced by 3D interactive monitors, which allow you to access the Internet, as well as converse with family members across the country and world, from the comfort of your own living room. Home theaters can be custom designed to fit your needs. From speakers and screens to luxurious seating that far surpasses the comfort of those in your local theater, the choices are completely up to you. Movie settings can automatically dim the lights in your great room, lower the shades, raise the screen and more, creating the perfect movie-watching atmosphere to entertain in style. Never has it been easier to integrate your family's safety, efficiency and convenience. Through custom designed alarm systems, home theaters, surround sound, automated lighting and security cameras you can step into the future—today. For more information, you can call Safe & Sound Technology for your free quote at 310-951-1234. You can also visit their website at www.SafeAndSoundTechnology-LA.com
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homefashion
Enhance Your Home
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hile décor, color, and furniture are all crucial elements when it comes to accenting your living ... environment, the ambiance of a home is defined by lighting. Decorating is not complete without stylish lighting to ............. illuminate the areas that you have thoughtfully created. Technology continues to evolve, and more and more homeowners are discovering significant savings—on average, hundreds of dollars per bulb—over that the greatest trends in lighting can be incorporated into their very their extra-long lifespan. own homes. One such trend is sweeping the nation and revolutionizing LEDs use less wattage to generate light more efficiently. That’s interior lighting at an incredibly fast pace—LED lighting. good for your budget and for the environment. And, because LEDs are Why are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) now set to become a standard source non-toxic and made from recyclable plastic or aluminum, they are of illumination for the 21st century? LED lighting offers homeowners amazing safer for the environment than incandescent or fluorescent lighting. benefits that conventional lighting does not. And finally, the greatest asset of LED lighting is its design flexibility. LEDs consume far less energy than standard light bulbs, which leads to Innovative designers are using LED lighting to create unique and beautiful greatly reduced energy costs. You can reduce your electric bills while structures for the home. Lighting comes in a rainbow of colors, shapes, simultaneously enhancing your living environment. A typical filament in and novel applications. From candelabra-shaped bulbs to elegant a light bulb can be easily broken. An LED is encased in a high-strength chandelier pieces, the versatility offered by LED technology will please optical grade resin, without any fragile glass or filament. Low-heat and even the most discerning homeowner. low-voltage also makes LED lighting an overall safer source of light. For more information on LED lighting and more, you can call Electric lighting comprises nearly 25% of most household energy budLighting Zone, Inc., located at 17354 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance, at gets, making an investment in LED lighting an important consideration for 310-921-9495, e-mail lightingzoneinc@aol.com, or visit them online homeowners. More expensive than incandescent or CFL bulbs, LEDs provide at www.DreamOnLighting.com.
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homefashion
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our home should be a representation of you and what you want your living space to evoke. Changing your wall color can have a huge impact on the way your living spaces look and feel. Is your living space formal or casual? Is your theme modern or more traditional? Will you want to incorporate color from the warm or cool side of the color spectrum? These are just a few of the things to consider when choosing the right paint for your interior walls. Hand-painted and custom designed, specialty paint is the centerpiece of any room. Be it stripes or squares, or anywhere in between, you can choose from multiple colors, styles and designs all designed exclusively for you. Here are just a few examples of designs to personalize your home. theStripe. Every stripe is customized according to your specifications, painted by hand and nuanced to perfection. While the mechanics of a stripe can be considered simple, their versatility based on color, style and direction leaves plenty of room for complexity—it all depends on the type of look you desire. Single color stripes are classic, while pinstripes combine two different colored stripes, either vertically or horizontally. The multi-stripe includes various different colored stripes, either vertically or horizontally. You can even drop shades, which includes multiple shades of the same color. theSquare. Invite the drama of wallpaper, without the hassle or expense. Squares can be completely filled in with color, resulting in a fun look that’s perfect for a child’s room, or even understated and hip depending on the color selection and overall design aesthetic. A borderline square is not completely filled in and allows you to compliment the style you already have with a punch of color. One really creative way to use squares is with a painted frame, positioned around wall art to highlight the beauty of your décor.
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theGeometric. Who says argyle is just for socks? Get creative with exclusive designs that can be as elaborate or understated as you want. Once you have discovered your ideal interior paint solutions, you don’t have to stop there. Why not continue to work on other aspects of your home to create the complete environment you have always wanted? Furniture restoration and revitalization is a cost-efficient way to give your home new life. With emphasis on a green design philosophy, the objective is to utilize the found, given or discarded furniture relics of yesterday and rejuvenate them with an original design created just for you. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and everything old really can be made new again with the right attention. Your new living space can be finalized with custom organization and finishing interior design touches. Maximizing your space with function and style allows you to regain control over your lifestyle. Ultimately, your home should reflect what you want to feel in your space, and reveal the unique aspects of your personality. Located in the Greater Los Angeles area, including Ventura and Palm Springs, thedavidbrandon designs is a client-based home interior design business. thedavidbrandon designs features a unique, custom brand designed exclusively for you—the client. Capture the color in your life with theSignature, specialty paint design; theRestoration, furniture restoration and revitalization; theOrganizer, custom organization; theDesign, interior design services; and theAccessory, one-of-a-kind, hand-painted home furnishings. Everybody has a story to tell, and thedavidbrandon designs understands that home is where the story begins. For more information, you can call them at 323-380-6188 or visit their website at www.thedavidbrandon.com ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
homefashions
Protect Your Flooring, Furnishings and Artwork from the Sun WITHOUT CHANGING THE VIEW OUT
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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.
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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
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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kitchen&bath
c
hoosing a remodeling company can be tiresome and confusing. A kitchen remodeling company with local stability, a showroom where you can view some examples of their work, a manufacturing center open to a tour, experienced credentialed designers—these are just a few of the criterion that customers interviewed found to be important in the success of their remodeling.
Helpful Hints for Kitchen Remodeling Where the cabinets are manufactured is important to the overall success of a smooth remodeling experience. Importing cabinets from out of the country or buying so-called custom cabinets from manufacturers that are not local can often prolong the completion of the project. Also, finishing is as critical as manufacturing. Is the product prefinished with a factory finish or is the installer attempting to finish the cabinets in your home? Touching up cut corners or spotting is not the same as finishing the cabinets once they have been delivered to your home. Does the company have flexibility in the products they offer? While replacing cabinets with newly designed and manufactured custom cabinets does have its advantages, refacing existing cabinets with new drawers, and sometimes even a combination of both new cabinetry and refacing, offers savings while dramatically improving the look and feel of the room. This type of upgrade is a good idea for people who already have countertops that are functional and acceptable, or for those who want to upgrade their kitchen in stages. Refacing existing cabinetry is not always the best choice for those wishing to add modern amenities or custom designs. If you want to include new countertops, sinks, and cooking appliances, it might be more cost-effective to actually replace the cabinets. Experienced designers can help you choose what will fit your needs best, offering information
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about various available options. These designers will listen to your needs, and because of their experience and knowledge about the latest available products, can offer valuable information to help clarify your thoughts. Designers must be comfortable working with older products that you might want to bring into the remodel. Designers must have an accurate and unbiased understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of combination remodels and be prepared to discuss all aspects of the possible choices. Avoid being sold on the idea that new cabinets are the only way to go, or that refacing is the cheapest and most sensible choice to achieving your desired changes. The company must keep in mind that everyone is different and that kitchens satisfy various needs and uses. The designer must be versatile and innovative in planning in order to accommodate your lifestyles and your budget. Installation is significant in a remodeling project—is the installer employed by the manufacturer? If multiple tasks are a part of the remodel, does the remodeler take full responsibility for all aspects of the project, or are you forced to manage the remodel with various trades coming and going? Additionally, the remodeling contractor should require continuing education for staff, a further step in making sure the designers, project managers, and their installers are not only experienced, but also up-to-date on new criteria and products that can enhance your plan. Reborn Cabinets, located at 2981 East La Palma Ave. in Anaheim, has a 40,000-square-foot, well-equipped manufacturing and showroom/design center with numerous displays and examples to enjoy. Experienced designers are available seven days a week. You can visit and browse the showroom, or you can call Reborn Cabinets for more information at (714) 630-2220. ONLINE AT LOSANGELESLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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kitchen&bath
My Daddy fixes bumpers and dents! SAVE $$$
WHY GO TO A BODY SHOP ?
A Mercedes client was quoted $2,200 to replace his bumper. Executive Paintworks repaired BEFORE
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Since 1988
it for only $400!!!
Call now for a free quote Executive Paintworks 888-472-4333
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From Design to Completion Create the Kitchen and Bath of Your Dreams
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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
gosolar
Solar — Good for
the Environment And Your
Pocketbook
oing solar means largely reducing or completely eliminating your power expense, all while personally contributing to making your home, your community and the nation itself more green, sustainable, and self-sufficient. Imagine opening that familiar utility bill next month and seeing it nearly zeroed out. But not only for your next month; for your next year, for your next decade, and for the next 25 years—the amount of time modern solar panels are guaranteed and warrantied to capture clean energy from the sun to light up your home and provide you and your family
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with all the electricity you need. Solar has come a long way over the last few decades. Today, the United States is committed to catching up to and surpassing the other countries of the world that have already enthusiastically and successfully established solar power as the most viable, green and reliable source of energy available and making solar installations more affordable than ever before. Thanks to a generous 30% tax credit and as much as a 35% cash rebate from your local utility company, the net cost of the system is often only a fraction of the overall cost. Most systems will pay for themselves in
two-to-four years worth of utility bill savings, and from there it is simply 20-plus years of money you no longer have to spend each month. For most, that is between $100,000–300,000 in your bank instead of a utility company's coffers. Moore Solar & Green Construction is committed to helping you actualize this opportunity with confidence and competence. In an industry where online quickie quotes, cookie-cutter systems and impersonal service abound, they specialize in one-on-one consultations, free on-site inspections and designing a system tailored very specifically to your home. With decades of hands-on experience and time-tested know-how, they will make it easy, affordable and enjoyable for you to go green and start saving money right now. For more information, you can visit them online at www.mooresolar.com or call 323-221-1260 to schedule a free site inspection!
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kidssafety
A Pool Fence
THAT DOESN’T REQUIRE ANY DECK HOLES id you know that in the state of California, drowning is a leading cause of injury-related deaths among children under the age of five years old? If that fact isn’t scary enough, about 65% of these drowning and near-drowning incidents occur in the family’s very own backyard. If your home has a pool or spa, you want to make sure that your family is completely protected from any accidents. When the time comes to purchase a safety product for your pool, it’s crucial that your selection is not only incredibly safe,
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but also functional, attractive and non-invasive. There is a brand new product on the market that is paving a new path for pool safety products. The innovative no holes pool fence is unlike anything else because it requires absolutely no installation into a deck or surface, and you don’t need to drill any holes on your property. Here’s how it works. The fence sits in a base that has been specifically designed by professional engineers. Each base is three-feet wide and when filled with water, weighs 65 lbs. A standard pool fence is 12-feet long, which would require four bases that are connected to each other. Therefore, the four connected bases weigh a total of 260 lbs. You can enclose an entire swimming pool and a child cannot get into the area, not to mention you won’t have to put any holes on your property. If your pool area requires more than just four bases, you can add on as many as you need.
Guardian Pool Fence Systems has been working on this unique pool safety concept since 1997. After years of planning, the no holes pool fence is now available for purchase. For more information about this fascinating new product, you can call Guardian Pool Fence Systems at 800-366-7233 or visit www.guardianpoolfence.com.
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foryourinformation
old is a serious hidden health threat to homeowners. The reason why mold can be so dangerous is because most people don’t even realize that they have it, let alone that it might be making them sick. Unfortunately, the truth is that mold is everywhere and it’s crucial that you take control of the situation. People that are sensitive to mold can experience skin rash, runny nose, eye irritation, cough, nasal congestion and aggravation of asthma or difficulty breathing. People with low immunity or have respiratory issues may be at increased risk for infections from mold growth. Some molds produce toxins called mycotoxins. When people are exposed to mold mycotoxins, they may suffer toxic effects including fatigue, nausea, headaches, and irritation to the lungs and eyes. If you think your family members have health problems caused by exposure to mold, you should consult your physician and find a reputable mold removal company. Moisture levels within the environment cause mold growth. The first step in mold remediation is determining what is causing the moisture and allowing the mold to thrive. It is important to alleviate whatever is causing
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the moisture. It will not help in removing the mold if the initial causes are not solved. Before starting mold remediation work, it is necessary to isolate the affected areas. Air scrubbers are installed to prevent unnecessary spread of mold spores that can easily travel through your home. It can also be spread throughout the living space by entering air conditioning and heating systems. There are techniques remediation experts do such as encapsulation, application of antimicrobial treatment, sanding and other methods. There is specialized equipment from wet vacuums, thermal imaging cameras, moisture meters, HEPA vacuums as well as the proper chemicals. Some remediation requires the removal of affected items such as drywall or cabinets. Air scrubbers are capable of capturing virtually every airborne particle and are run 24 to 48 hours after treatment of affected areas. Be sure you hire trained professionals to remediate mold. If you know someone who suspects they have mold, you can give KRB Construction a call today at 310-766-5555.
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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!
Skylight Pergola/Lattice With Awning Deployed
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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.keyaccess.com/alphaproductions. 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
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 • LOS ANGELES LIVING
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exteriorslandscaping
Planning Ahead for the Holidays is a Bright Idea! There are many unique designs available in
y
our yard can be the envy of the neighborhood during the holidays. Beautiful outdoor light sculptures will transform your home into a sparkling holiday wonderland. Children are delighted by these glittering sculptures, and nothing quite gets you in the holiday spirit like decorating your home in a festive display. You can choose from nativity scenes to snowman to reindeer and toy trains or create a festive scene with a number of animated sculptures, such as elves or victorian horse and carriage.
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small and large sizes to suit homes, businesses, churches, or parks. When you order holiday light sculptures, they are shipped to you with all the lights completely attached. Set-up is quick and easy—just unfold the sculpture, tighten the hinges, and plug them in. You can hang the displays on walls, stake them in your yard, or install them on optional stands. These light sculptures are professionally hand-crafted in
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rust-resistant aluminum with a powder coated finish to combat the elements for years without peeling or rusting. The lights on the displays are UL-listed commercial grade. It’s never too early to start planning your holiday decorating. Light sculptures are easy to store: they fold flat and fit back into their reusable shipping container. For more information and to view the products available, you can visit www.affluentproducts.com or call (888) 612-7400 ext. 337, or you can email products@keyaccess.com
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charity HOLLYWOOD COMING TOGETHER FOR AT RISK YOUTH Designing for Child Survivors of Human Trafficking in Los Angeles
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ontributing to the very community that we live and thrive in is a top priority for many people. However, the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles is so vast and diverse that you want to feel confident that your donations are being used effectively and honestly. Thankfully, an organization called Design By Donation is now making it convenient for you to help through its community driven design program. Design By Donation’s current focus is to design comfortable and secure facilities that inspire, empower and encourage the human trafficking child survivors of Los Angeles. One of the greatest violations of human rights, human trafficking continues to affect over 27 million people worldwide. It is a violence that robs individuals of their dignity and erodes the health of both victims and communities physically, mentally and socially. Most people feel this atrocity happens in other countries, and don’t realize that these children walk the same streets that we do—they share the same community that we call home.
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The current focus of Design By Donation is to collaborate with Saving Innocence to restore hope and renew the innocence of young women in need of protection and shelter. The mission is to provide a safe place for these unfortunate children to be inspired, empowered as well as protect the innocence of their youth. Currently, Saving Innocence is operating in collaboration with LAPD and is in need of support so they can develop an empowerment center that focuses on the success of these young women. Design By Donation requests any items that can be used to help transform space to create a more welcoming environment, such as paint supplies, office supplies, wall coverings, fabric, furniture, lighting fixtures, flooring, and hardware, to name a few. The girls can also benefit from day planners, school supplies, gift cards to McDonald’s®, as most of these girls are coming off the street, hungry and penniless. Financial and time donations are also welcomed with gratitude. Organizers are planning an upcoming event where contributors will receive both recognition and documentation of their donations. For more information about how you can help or to make a contribution, please visit www.designbydonation.org or you can pledge your support by phone at 888-INSPIRE (1-888-467-7473). To stay updated on all future events and upcoming “Pop Up Thrift Store”, like them on facebook.com/designbydonation and follow them on Twitter @designxdonation
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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 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
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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
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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
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