Orange County Living Magazine | Orange County Homeowners by Affluent Target Marketing

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ORANGECOUNTYLIVING PUBLISHER WALLY HICKS III

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The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Orange County Living. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, we cannot supervise the way in which information found in Orange County Living is used. Orange County Living is produced bi-monthly by Af flu ent Target Marketing, Inc., P.O. Box 18507, Anaheim Hills, California 928178507. Re pro duction 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.

ORANGECOUNTYLIVING SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY • VOL XXXVI • NO.6 • ODD

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

14 - 22 HOME FASHION What Is Sleeping Well Worth To You? Bring The Breezy Simplicity Of Shore Life Into Your Home

Make Your Home New Again The Art Of Closet Transformation The Ultimate Lighting Experience

24 - 32 HOME PRODUCTS/SERVICES Sensationalize Your Home From Drab To Dramatic Keep Your Marble Looking Spectacular You Deserve Beautiful Woodwork This Shelf Knows How To Keep A Secret The Old World Look And Feel Of Venetian Plaster

36 - 40 EXTERIORS & LANDSCAPING Water Elements A Remarkable, Unique Patio Opening Roof System Evict Termites Without Leaving Your Home

44 KIDS Whimsical Treehouses That Come With Their Very Own Trees!

48 - 49 HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS Reshape Your Body In 20 Minutes!

ON THE COVER A renovation project should ultimately enhance your lifestyle, be beautiful to look at, and increase your property value. No matter what year your home was built, professionals can use their creative abilities, meticulous design skills, quality materials, and sophisticated craftsmanship to completely redefine your living space and bring it up to date. William Frey Construction has the team of professionals in place to deliver your ultimate home, from needs analysis, to design and construction, to satisfaction. You can call William Frey Construction at 888-546-3304, or visit their website at www.WilliamFreyConstruction.com. See their ad on page 13 and article on page 18. Lic. #930130. Photo by California Real Estate Photography

homefashion

What is Sleeping Well

WORTH TO YOU?

e all know the feeling of suffering through a very long day and wanting nothing more than to sink into that cozy bed waiting for you at home. However, more often than not, things don’t seem to go quite according to plan, and you wake up without the refreshed feeling that your body so desperately needed. People spend one-third of their lives sleeping. The quality of sleep that we get every single night influences how we feel; how alert we are, how much energy we have, and how productive we are throughout the day. Because of this, it’s crucial to be educated in regards to the quality of your mattress, and how it affects your sleep, comfort, and health. There is more to a great mattress set then one might think. Elaborate covers, exotic materials, and initial comfort tend to be the only focal points for the majority of salespeople. Yet, quality of materials, construction, and support are critical to a good night’s sleep and are often aspects that go overlooked while mattress shopping. The time has come for you to finally get the good night’s sleep that you have been waiting for—every single night. Newport Bedding Company has been locally family owned and operated since 1957, locally since 1978, combining old world craftsmanship with advanced manufacturing and sleep system technology to offer customers the highest quality handcrafted mattresses at competitive prices. Each mattress is created with care by master craftsmen, and not mass-produced on assembly lines. Their mattresses are two-sided for better performance, and offer a much longer lifespan than that of a traditional one-sided mattress that is designed to go bad in just a few years. All of Newport Bedding’s mid, high, and ultra-premium mattresses are hand button tufted to maintain their feel and to hold their shape, year after year. They also rest on true box springs that increase support and comfort level, versus a foundation, which is common today. Newport Bedding uses multiple layers of 100% natural, hypoallergenic cotton batting as the filling material on all mid, high, and ultra-pre-

mium mattress sets. Cotton is a material that breathes, aiding in the dissipation of body heat during sleep so you have a comfortable rest. Creating a flawless bed is an “arte.” Newport Bedding understands that a successful mattress is fit to the person, rather than forcing the person to fit to a mattress. Because all people have different needs, customization and quality truly are everything. Tom Sceberras has been in the mattress industry his entire life, representing the fourthgeneration of Sceberras master mattress crafters. While people tend to shy away from custom products because they anticipate a substantially higher price, nothing could be further than the truth at Newport Bedding Company. By eliminating the middle man and buying factory direct, customers will find prices often lower than those of luxury mass-produced bedding products. For more information, you can visit the Newport Bedding Factory Showroom at 1526 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa, seven days a week. You can also call them at 949646-3991. www.newportbedding.com. Ask them to show you how a good mattress is made. Newport Bedding will show you what the brand name mattress manufacturers don’t want you to know or see.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

homefashion

he coast is more than just a location—it’s a way of life. Even though everyone eventually grows up, you might be the kind of person that still longs for that relaxed, nostalgic feeling of the beach. If this sounds familiar, you’ll be glad to learn that Coastal Living magazine and Stanley Furniture have come together to create a home collection inspired by their favorite beach cottages. Casual, fresh, and offering a multitude of different seaside colors, Coastal Living™ by Stanley Furniture allows coastal dwellers and dreamers to create a look that’s distinctly their own. Weathered driftwood, burnished boat fittings, louvered shutters, coral and sea grass serve as inspiration for the collection. Clean lines combined with heavy distressing and muted, grain-baring finishes and paint colors add to the collection’s natural contemporary look. Whether it’s painted in one of six nature-inspired colors, stained in light or dark tones, or finished in Weathered Pier or sandy linen, Coastal Living is all about the wood. Richly grained white oak veneers and hardwood solids show through, lending a casual, authentically natural feel. Heavy physical distressing completes its well-worn, laid-back look. Designed to work well in open floor plans of all sizes, Coastal Living marries old and new, blending the gently weathered style of coastal antiques with the functionality of high-tech modern furniture, integrating features like hidden power strips as well as sliding panels and cutouts for personal and home electronics. And since storage is always top of mind, Coastal Living features innovative storage solutions.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Coastal Living features tarnished steel pulls and knobs, inspired from nautical designs like ship’s cleat and cabinet pulls. Naturally textured chenille, Solana sand, is used on the upholstered chairs. Reef, a complementary coral-patterned matelassé that subtly reinforces the collection’s elegant coastal feel, is used on some items. You can contact Ambiance Home in Irvine at 949-825-5020, located at 16862 Red Hill Ave., or you can call them in Mission Viejo at 949-455-0501, located at 23811 Via Fabricante. You can also visit their website at www.ambiancehome.com.

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homefashion you want to use it, not how someone else built it. Or, try opening up interior spaces for greater volume and to bring the beauty of outside into your indoor area. Personalize. Have some fun with your project and make a personal statement. Try some unique detail for your ceiling or a paneled wall. You could even design a display wall for your own personal pictures or artwork. When you use a company that specializes in home renewal, they have mastered the art of utilizing a systemized process in order to make your life easier. Not only will they reduce your stress, the entire process will be nothing but pleasant. First, you will get a comprehensive and cohesive style throughout your home so that everything blends together using the latest materials and techniques. Your schedule will also never be disrupted—an efficient team of

Photo by California Real Estate Photography Actual William Frey Construction project

Make Your

New Again ust about every homeowner reaches a point where it feels as though their once loved living space can no longer meet their needs. The fact of the matter is, after about 10 years, a home starts to look dated, and after about 20 years, a home becomes functionally obsolete. Additionally, all lifestyles experience change at some point. Whether your last child has recently moved out, or a new guest has recently moved in, such as an aging parent, you may be faced with new challenges. If you feel as though a change of scenery is in the cards, you are most certainly not alone. However, how can you take an old home and make it completely new again?

After Home renewal is a systemized process that not only makes your home look updated and beautiful, but it also restores your quality of life because everything will be fully functional once again. Essentially, there are five steps in the home renewal process: Home Core. This involves getting deep into your home to improve its internal functions, such as plumbing. Before investing in a brand new hardwood floor, you want to re-pipe your home’s plumbing so that new flooring doesn’t become damaged with mishaps such as pinhole leaks. Home Beauty. Just as it sounds, this is where professionals make your house look new and beautiful. This might entail projects such as retexturing walls, updating moldings and doors, updating electric fixtures, and a new paint scheme. Energy Efficiency. Get your home up-to-date and efficient, such as an LED lighting installation. Lifestyle Enhancement. Make your life run smoother with custom alterations. For example, reconfigure your master bathroom around how

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Before tradespeople understands how to work in a successful manner so you receive a consistent level of quality on your project, and comfort for your family. Finally, when you have a single point of contact, all parts of the project will run smoothly, from the design and material selection to installation. The professionals at William Frey Construction are experts in home renewal. They are constantly searching for cutting edge products and design to make your home look and feel stylish and new. With their simplified Home Renewal Program, you are one step away from a drastically improved living space. You can call them at 888-546-3304 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.WilliamFreyConstruction.com. ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

homefashion

The Art of

Closet Transformation

o you ever find yourself staring at your closet with sheer exasperation because you don’t even know where to start? It can be a struggle to even get those old, worn-out closet doors to open, and then when they do, you find yourself face-to-face with a mess. Whether it’s a matter of function or the desire for an updated look, closet and storage aesthetics tend to be an issue for just about everyone. However, it’s very common for homeowners to believe that bringing in the professionals is something they simply cannot afford. This is definitely not the case. In fact, replacing the interior and/or closet doors in your home is one of the least expensive and fastest ways to completely update the entire look of your living space. There are both organization and door options for virtually every home and budget—from the very basic to the exceptionally elegant. Some important things to consider in regards to new closet or interior doors include design options, such as paint and stain grade doors, and even unique door patterns, which are typically offered in raised or flat panels. Sliding doors in either glass or mirror are also a wonderful choice.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

If you have additional questions about where to start, the professionals at Interior Door & Closet Company (IDCC) can help. Family-owned and serving all of Orange County since 2006, they specialize in interior and closet doors, closet and garage organizers, and custom offices. The team at IDCC believes in treating their clients with the utmost respect and providing products that leave a lasting impression. From design help to impeccable service, you know you’re in good hands with IDCC. For more information, you can call them at 888-274-2105, visit them at 15441 Chemical Lane in Huntington Beach, or visit www.InteriorDoorAndCloset.com.

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homefashion

The Ultimate

Lighting Experience

electing the perfect lighting for your home can be an overwhelming process. In fact, most people aren’t even sure where to start because there are so many choices. Whether you are building, remodeling, tired of the ineffective lighting in your home, or simply want to reinvent your living space—improved lighting that creates focal points and flows perfectly from room to room is the answer. Professionals will help you with the entire process and introduce you to brand new ways of interacting with and enjoying your home through the use of lighting in ways you never previously imagined! The Light Lab is a 1,500 sq. ft. space where specific lighting effects are showcased for you to view. Simulated rooms include a kitchen, dining room, living room, entry, powder room, and even an outdoor garden landscape area.

You can take a tour of the complete home, or choose the rooms that are of the most interest to you for your project. In the Light Lab, you will receive a visual tour that demonstrates spectacular lighting effects. After the tour, you will never view lighting the same way again. One way to understand the Light Lab experience is to compare it to wine tasting—you want to get a taste of what you are buying before you make the commitment. With a new level of understanding and appreciation of how light affects everything, you will emerge from the Light Lab knowing the team at Allied Lighting will contribute to your project in ways that guarantee the outcome far exceeds your expectations! Allied Lighting has been providing homeowners with breathtaking lighting solutions and inspiration for over 60 years. Along with their exclusive Light Lab, Allied Lighting also has a 4,000 sq. ft. showroom that features all types of lighting and controls. Specializing in lighting design, consultation, and sales, the Allied Lighting team and their unique process will guide you to great lighting results. To make an appointment to tour the Light Lab, or for more information, you can call them at 949-200-8044 or visit them at 222 Victoria Street in Costa Mesa. You can also see their website at www.alliedlighting.net.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homeproducts/services

Before

Sensationalize Your Home

FROM DRAB TO DRAMATIC

orget the paint and posters—what if you could instantly turn boring walls into incredibly inspirational pieces of art that transport you to another place? If you are tired of looking at uninspired interior walls inside of the house, and drab cinder block in the backyard, then the time has finally come to bring your living spaces to life. Create a personalized retreat with a custom wall mural, custom wallpaper, or window treatment for your home. From outdoor walls and fences to apartments, dorm rooms, man caves, and businesses, virtually any scene or picture can be reproduced on your unique work of art. These innovative decorating solutions are large, colorful, panoramic digital images that add sophistication to a space. You can choose from over

After 200 photos in our image library, or even use your own high-resolution image. All images are waterproof, fade-resistant, lightweight, flame-retardant, and easily installed over any type of wall or fence including; block, stucco, wood, chain link, wrought iron and drywall. Also, because it’s not paint, you can take your mural with you when you move! The right mural can help you establish the perfect mood for your renovation or rejuvenation project. Do you want your room to feel like a beachside paradise, a wonderful outdoor garden getaway, or a luxurious waterfall? Do you want to look out at your backyard and see an amazing Southwestern skyline or a cityscape? Professionals will start by helping you choose the right mural for your space. Wall Sensations has been transforming homes since 2010. With each project, Wall Sensations will first create a computer rendering of your space so you can visualize how the mural will look. Once the mural decision has been made, you will be able to install it yourself or by Wall Sensations professional, can be completed within just two weeks. For more information, you can call Wall Sensations at 949-229-2846 or visit www.wallsensations.com.

Before

After

Before

After

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homeproducts/services

Revitalize your natural stone floors with professional cleaning, polishing and restoration. Marble, granite, terrazzo, limestone, travertine and other natural stone are luxurious architectual elements. The addition of any one of these quality materials refines the surfaces of your home, whether it’s the foyer, kitchen, bathroom or fireplace. So don’t allow your family and friends to be distracted from the natural beauty of these surfaces by failing to properly maintain them.

atural stone is a strong and durable material; however, it’s not indestructible. It’s still susceptible to stains, spills and damages from every day occurrences like the use of inappropriate household cleaning products and steady foot traffic. In fact, a little pebble caught in a guest’s shoe can spread scratches throughout your entire home. The good news is that when marble and other natural stone surfaces are scratched or stained, they can regain their natural brilliance with professional cleaning, restoration and protection. Your marble or granite floor, countertops, showers, vanities, fireplaces, patios, and driveways can be restored to their natural beauty. With proper care and maintenance, the potential for future damage can be significantly minimized or even eliminated. Regardless of what problems you may encounter, there is a way your stone surface can be honed and polished to its original shine. Amazingly, even cracked or chipped areas can be colormatched to blend into the existing flooring. Because most problems are repairable, properly maintaining natural stone costs substantially less than replacing it. A common part of the restoration process is repairing, cleaning and sealing grout, restoring it to its original color while also providing superior stain

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

resistance. It’s essential to choose the proper application of stone cleaner and sealer to reduce or prevent damage. So when choosing a cleaning and restoration company, determine if they carry products such as Intercare, a specially formulated cleaning product safe for daily use in cleaning stone surfaces. True stone craftsmen will have the experience and expertise to restore the appearance of your stone, as well as advice on how to keep them looking as beautiful as the day they were installed. They will work with you to determine the cause of damage and devise a plan to avoid a recurrence. Contact a local stone professional to discuss the maintenance procedures suitable for your specific materials. That call may extend the life of your stone’s finish for years and regain the elegant appearance you love. To contact a company that specializes in natural stone restoration, maintenance and cleaning you can call MARBLELIFE® of Orange County at (949)582-3277 or visit www.marblelife.com/orange for more information. If you sign up with MARBLELIFE’S maintenance program and you use Intercare in between your professional cleanings, they will guarantee that you will never need to restore your marble or granite floors again. Please call for details. ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homeproducts/services

Beautiful Woodwork here’s an alternative to replacing your wood cabinets or floors. People often put off refinishing their cabinets or wood floors because of the inconvenience, dust, noxious odor, consumed time, and budget. Over time, dirt build up, wear and tear, scratches and age-discolored finishes can make wood look flat and lifeless. Replacing cabinets or refacing (putting on new doors) requires new wood to make their products. Traditionally, once wood floors, cabinets or other woodwork in the home reached the point where it looked terrible, the options were limited. The good news is that with the products and methods available today, restoring the beauty of wood has never been simpler or more cost effective. By improving the look of your existing cabinets, you will save time and money. Technicians experienced with this process and methods of renewing wood finishes can produce like-new luster to your wood cabinets, floors and trim without the waste, mess and harsh odors from chemicals or expense of traditional sanding and refinishing. This can be done in only days not weeks. Here’s how it works: A thorough cleaning is critical for great results, so the first step is to clean the wood surface of any dirt, grease and grime out of the pores. Any repairs needed are also made at this time including gaps, holes, splintered wood, etc. Once the wood surface has been cleaned and repaired, it is sealed and the new water-based finish is then applied. The newer water-based finishes available today have been proven to be as strong and long-lasting as traditional oil-based finishes, but do not have the harsh chemical fumes or yellowing tendencies. It’s non-toxic and odorless. Additionally, pigments and dyes can be added to the new finish so that the technician can achieve virtually any color desired. Say you have maple cabinets and would like a slightly darker stained wood, the new finish can be custom dyed to your color preference and then professionally applied. Do you want a color change for your cabinets? The same cleaning and repair process is used and a stain or opaque finish is applied with a sprayer for a seamless, streak-free finish. The change can be as subdued or dramatic as you wish. Don’t replace your wood cabinets or floors—all you have to do is “N-Hance” them. N-Hance also does banisters, doors, fireplace mantels, windowsills, bamboo, cork, engineered veneer, hand-scraped and distressed wood floors, and much more.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Cabinet Color Change

Before

After

Basic Floor Renewal

Before

After

For more information about having your cabinets, floors or other woodwork in your home refinished, you can call N-Hance Wood Renewal at (714) 907-1917. You can also visit www.nhance.com. ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homeproducts/services

This Shelf Knows How to

KEEP A SECRET

s homeowners, we have the need to keep certain valuables locked up and tucked safely away from both family members and intruders. However, what about the items that need to be locked up for protection, but still kept somewhat readily accessible in case a situation of urgency arises? LedgeLocker is an innovative product that solves these exact issues. Created out of a desire to offer the public something simple, utilitarian, and high quality, LedgeLocker is a stylish shelf that blends in with its surrounding décor, yet is so much more than what just meets the eye. This incredible product is an attractive shelving system that can hide your valuables, conceal firearms, and secretly tuck away important documents—all in plain sight. Featuring a super strong yet easy-to-access locking system, both the lock and shelf has been patent protected for its ultra-smooth opening features, stationary top shelf, hinged storage space access, and unique design. The LedgeLocker comes in four sizes, two styles, and eight finish colors. Perfect for any home or office, the LedgeLocker concealment shelf is backed by a five-year warranty, is made in America, and custom designed with high-grade, heirloom-quality materials. Each LedgeLocker is delivered to your door in a

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

durable carton and ready to install. Not to mention, it’s a piece of furniture that you can take with you, anywhere you go. Since 2011, Brian White and Artech Design have been proudly manufacturing LedgeLocker Concealment Shelves at their headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information about this stylish and secretive part-shelf/part-locking safe, you can visit www.LedgeLocker.com, or you can call 1-888-699-5660.

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

homeproducts/services The Old World Look and Feel

Of Venetian Plaster

enetian plaster can be difficult to describe in just a few short words. In one way, it's a combination of lime and marble that is pigmented with natural earth elements, applied with a trowel to the surface of walls. Yet, real Venetian plaster is a far contrast from just paint out of a can. Along with color, it provides feelings of warmth, depth, and an overall euphoric feeling of well being. With an application of the world's best plaster and the use of old world techniques to hard burnish the plaster into the wall as it cures to create sort of a pearl like finish, you too can experience quality interior and exterior Venetian plaster. The combination of quality plaster, natural earth based pigments, and specially formulated carnauba wax creates a multi-dimensional depth of field in which areas fluctuate in color, depth, and intensity as the source of light changes from natural sunlight to light bulbs.

In bathrooms, Venetian plaster offers an extra level of protection from hot shower water vapor and steam, and will not rot the underlying drywall material. In bedrooms, it offers a smooth relaxing feeling just before you go to bed. Areas in the kitchen around the stove and oven will not discolor from heat, and is well protected against accidental staining when cooking your favorite pasta red sauce. And in the office, you will experience a feeling of well being when working long days and nights. Artisan-Plaster specializes in residential and commercial Venetian Plaster systems for both interior and exterior applications. Artist Michael B. Smith served a five-year apprenticeship with one of the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Venetian plaster masters, has over 40 years experience with concrete products, and 17 years experience with Venetian plasters. Artisan-Plaster uses only premium plaster formulas, which can be colored to your specifications. For more information, you can call 714-931-1417 or visit www.artisan-plaster.com.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

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ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

Water Elements n

o discussion of quality landscape would be complete without investigating the various uses of water in the garden, as well as how to construct them with quality and longevity in mind. There are a few important considerations to ensure a quality job that will add value to your home. First, start with a quality design where the water element is custom designed to integrate into the landscape. Beware of the pool builders who use standard templates to create their design. When dealing with permanent items such as pools, spas, water features, and hardscape, it’s worth investing in a quality design. A quality designed project will add more value and help you sell your home faster and for more money when the time comes, not to mention the many years of enjoyment you will have using your yard. Water elements can include pools, spas, Koi ponds, streams, waterfalls, fountains, and reflecting pools. You should carefully consider your needs, the desired effect you want to achieve, as well as the level of investment you wish to make in the project. Water can be used as a visual stimulus or to cover unwanted sounds, such as traffic. It can also be used for therapeutic reasons by providing

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

exercise or massage as in the case of a spa. Or it can be used for pure recreation and family fun. Start a file of photographs cut from magazines or copied from books to help convey your ideas to the designer or landscape architect. The more information you can provide, the better the chance of achieving an exciting finished product. The next important consideration is to use quality materials, equipment, and methods in constructing your water element. The amount of money saved by using less expensive filtration equipment is not worth it over the lifetime of the project. It is wise to use top of the line, matched equipment. By matching the equipment, the warranty can be increased from the normal one year to three years. Using the 400,000 BTU Pentair Master Temp Heater for pools and spas reduces heating time, therefore allowing you to enjoy the spa sooner. In addition, the use of the VS3050 Variable Speed Pump by Pentair and 60 sq. ft. DE filter will create a high quality equipment package. Also, to prevent damage from the shifting, highly expansive soil in Orange County, it makes sense to over engineer the steel and gunite to achieve higher strength in the pool shell. Ultimately, this amounts to cheap insurance against future structural problems. Possibly the most important factor to consider when including a water element in your landscape is to choose a reputable, detail oriented, and properly licensed contractor. When building a pool or spa, a C-53 pool contractor license is required. Pool contractors are required to have a $10,000 license bond and must adhere to strict rules in regard to payment schedules, etc. Koi ponds, streams, waterfalls, fountains, and other water features can also be constructed by a C-27 Landscape Contractor. A General Contractor or Engineering Contractor may also construct them under certain limited circumstances. Make sure you get and check potential contractor’s references. Evaluate the contractor’s attention to detail, as well as his followup services. Anyone can construct a stream or waterfall that looks like a pile of rocks, but it takes artistry to make those elements look natural, as though the house was built on a site with an existing waterfall or stream. A reputable landscape architect or design and build firm will be able to help you achieve your objectives and end up with a beautiful project. One such firm that specializes in producing award-winning projects since 1983 is Richard Cohen Landscape & Construction, Inc. You can call (949) 768-0599, or visit their website at www.richardcohenlandscape.com for further information.

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exteriorslandscaping

he louvered opening roof system is constructed of Zincalume louvers that rotate from completely closed to 155° open, by use of a small motor. It is safe to use and incredibly easy to operate. The motor is powered by a 12 volt transformer. A portable-remote controls the operation of the louvers. The opening roof system offers many benefits, including: Versatility. It can be built as a patio roof or commercial cover. It can also be installed flat or pitched. Sun control. The louvers can be positioned during winter months to cast the sun’s natural warmth into rooms to save on energy costs. During the summer, they can be moved to block direct sunlight to protect your home from unwanted solar heating. Ventilation. During the summer months, a place in the shade is where

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

you want to be. The system provides this by angling the louvers to a partially open position. Providing natural ventilation as hot air escapes and cool air replaces it. Rain protection. The louvered opening roof system has a uniquely designed louver that provides complete overlap to help prevent rain penetration. Imagine being able to control heat on your patio at the touch of a button. With the louvered system, you can enjoy the outdoors year-round and worry-free. For more information or a demonstration of the opening roof system, you can visit the 5,000 square foot showroom of All-Pro Remodeling at 706 North Tustin Street in Orange, (714) 288-1314. You can also visit their website at www.AllProRemodeling.com

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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

exteriorslandscaping

Evict Termites Without Leaving Your Home

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

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

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 ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

kids

TREE HOUSES

That Come with Their Very Own Trees!

ho says that you need a very large tree in your backyard in order to build a tree house? Now, you can have the addition of a charming, quaint, and enchanting playhouse without having to worry about the actual tree or the construction. Authentic to the core, this unique clubhouse starts with the log of a real, old fallen tree, and is then hollowed out. The charming house that sits atop of the tree is made from old, recycled barn wood. Choose from styles that offer a more traditional look, or make guests walk the plank on creative pirate ship tree houses. You can even design a custom tree house based on your specifications. Standard features include log porch and windows, a ladder with trap door, all wood construction, cedar siding, redwood decking, crooked windows, swayed rooflines, recycled cedar shingles, a rust accent package, painting and staining, and installation hardwood. Tree houses can be shipped anywhere in the country. For more information on The Ultimate Tree Houses, you can call Affluent Products at 888-612-7400, extension 321. You can also visit www.affluentproducts.com, or email products@keyaccess.com. Invoke playful emotions in both the young and old with your own fantastic tree house.

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

SUPERIOR TREE CARE ●Professional

Tree Trimming ●Tree Removal ●Tree Pruning ● Crown Reduction ●Palms Skinned, Trimmed and Removed ●Shrub, brush, and hedge trimming and removal ●Ivy topping and removal ●Lot & Hill Clean-up for Fire Regulations ●Power Stump Grinding

$30 OFF

Any service over $300.00 Limited time offer

TREE CARE FOR RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WWW.SUPERIORTREECARE.NET

949-552-5166

Liability & Workers Comp. Insurance State Lic# 765846

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING

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

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

ORANGE COUNTY LIVING • DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

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. ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.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. ORANGECOUNTYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

In 3 months Laura Retana Shelp lost 23.4 pounds and 10 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 Orange County locations: Newport Beach (949) 2004067, Huntington Beach (714) 460-5207, Laguna Niguel (949) 485-6000, Mission Viejo (949) 424-1021, Anaheim Hills (714) 400-9319, and Tustin (714) 599-9051. www.ThePerfectWorkout.com

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 • ORANGE COUNTY LIVING