R1-St.Lucie North Living-Vol.564

Closet Designs to Fit Your Style and Budget

A closet is more than a place to stow your suits and sweaters… it’s the place where you prepare for the day ahead and where you begin to undress and unwind at the end of the night! So it should be a soothing space, one that doesn’t add to your stress.

The spacious walk-in closets from Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast allow you to dress and undress in style while your clothing and accessories are neatly displayed within easy reach. There’s no clutter or chaos, just expert craftsmanship and aesthetically-pleasing design; and, it can all be achieved within your budget!

Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast is passionate about maximizing home storage without affecting the beauty of your interior. They design, build, and install custom

reach-in closets, walk-in closets, and kids’ closets. Additionally, the company offers custom designs along with production and installation of garage cabinets, home of ces, laundries, pantries, media centers, hobby rooms, wall beds, wall units, and so much more. Ask Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast about their garage wall organizers, garage ooring, work benches, custom jewelry drawers, wine racks, book shelves, cedar paneling and hampers, too… they do it all!

The process starts with the experts at Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast measuring your space and itemizing your belongings, then showing you ideas and samples to help you nd a style that’s just right for you. From there, your designer will work with you to custom design your space using dozens of material options and hundreds of features from one of their 4 collections.

Once your designs are exactly the way you want them, your units are custom built using the nest materials from the Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast

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factory. The company then professionally installs everything exactly to the speci cations of your designs from the collection you chose.

There are four collections to choose from at Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast: the Everyday Collection, Classic Collection, Regency Collection, and Brio Collection.

Everyday Collection™

Fresh and modern, the Everyday Collection™ offers a sleek solution for your closet clutter. This design includes 3/4-inch straightedge panels, adjustable shelves, and half-overlay at face doors. Best of all, it’s available at a price that’s equally as pleasant as its appearance.

Classic Collection™

Combine simplicity and style with the Classic Collection™. It unites essential organization with stylish design to create the practical closet you’ve been looking for. This collection features our exclusive soft edge treatment and half

overlay doors and drawers.

Regency Collection™

The Regency Collection™ incorporates 1 1/8” thick panels with 3/4” shelving for a sophisticated look you’ll love for years. Add tilt-out hampers, islands, and countertops to create a convenient, stylish space that has everything you need.

Brio Collection™

When you’re in the mood for something modern and bold, the Brio Collection™ answers the call. Sleek corners and clean edges surround the system of atfront doors and drawers. Display your carefully curated wardrobe against a clean nish for a timeless look.

Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast has been earning a reputation for integrity since 1982. As the industry leader in customer service

and innovative home design, their values are rooted in a deep passion for delivering home transformations that transform lives. So what are you waiting for? Schedule a FREE in-home design consultation and estimate from Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast!

Closets by Design of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast is open Mondays through Fridays from 8AM-5:30PM. For more information, call 772-2073265 or visit palmbeach. closetsbydesign.com.

Meet the doctor Jacques Benchimol

DDS. A er receiving his undergraduate degree from Boston University, he earned his dental degree from Tu s University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where he graduated magna cum laude. University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

personality and does very good work and is very reassuring and explain what he is doing. I’ve never felt more comfortable. He xed my broken front tooth and made me smile again. He’s amazing! And the staff and dental assistant are all awesome.”

For What It’s Worth

There are two things you might want to know about me. e rst is that I’m sensitive. at doesn’t mean I don’t have a backbone, a er all I am originally a Jersey Girl, but spending more than half my life in Florida has so ened me, and DNA is the rest of it. I am blessed with an optimistic outlook, much to the chagrin of many people I have met along the way. I’ve been told that no one wants to hang out with a pollyanna day in and day out, so I try to temper my happy demeanor as much as possible. e reason I bring this up, is because it has come to my attention that my three latest columns about Cleveland Clinic, beginning with a negative attitude about the untimely medical service, then morphing into another column of those of you who agreed with me, with horror stories of your own in getting appointments, which nally turned into being invited to meet the president of Cleveland Clinic for a sit-down and let it all hang out in his o ce. Anyway, my last column has invoked angry words in someone. I have been accused of selling out so to speak, or being less than forthright, and perhaps even getting a long-awaited appointment with my doctor traded for a positive column about my hope that Cleveland Clinic will become the “patient- rst” hospital that we all want. I gave Dr. Singh a thumbs up, with cautious optimism, and I still do.

I have to say it. My feelings were hurt on several levels. First, I am not a paid employee of this magazine, and as such, I have no reason to write anything except what I personally think about topics in a truthful manner, hence, the title, For What It’s Worth. For some of you, it may be worth something. For others, it may be worth nothing at all. I am all about disagreement, a er all, that’s what makes the world go round, but we can disagree kindly. I am not

by Dr. Mel , Ph.D.

apologizing for my hopeful attitude. Most of my columns try to include, wonder, happiness, positivity and optimism. Sometimes, if something rubs me the wrong way, I may vent, but even then, I am always hopeful. If we don’t have hope, what do we have, a er all? I understand that I cannot please everyone all the time, and that is not my reason for writing this column, but it saddens me that it seems we can no longer have any optimism in an open forum, without hostility and anger toward the writer. To set the record straight, I am not a journalist, I am a nurse. I also did not major in English grammar in school, and at times there have been typos for which I apologize. ere is an editor at the magazine who I count on to save me from myself, but sometimes she gets busy and lets me go under. My topics are varied. I am not trying to uncover hidden agendas or cast shade on people or places for the general public. I am just sharing a piece of myself and my thoughts through my column. If you like what I have to say, please keep reading. I am humbled by your positive messages and the time you have taken to email me. If you don’t like what I have to say, that’s ne too, but please skip over my column rather than wasting your time reading it, and making unkind and personal comments. We’re all just trying to do the best we can. Commenting on Cleveland Clinic was gutsy on my part. I thought long and hard about it, but I hoped it might lead to change. I think it may open up some positive avenues for all of us. It was never meant to be the explosion that it caused, but I hope that all of your emails will help to change the situation there, (no, I never disclosed your names) and I appreciate your input, as does Dr. Singh, President of Cleveland Clinic. To be clear, I am not and have never been, paid for my columns, I was not given any incentive to write a positive third column a er

my meeting with him, I was not given an earlier appointment with my physician, (still waiting until August!) and I am not an investigative reporter. I can’t do anything more than share my stories, and hope you will still share yours.

e second thing you should know about me is that I am writing under a pen name. is column was started six years ago as kind of a lark, to be short-lived and I thought anonymity would be best, since I still had an o ce practice. I am now retired, but the column continues, lol. I have written a novel, soon to be out on Amazon, ngers crossed, and at that time, I will have to let you know who I am, in the hopes that you might want to read it. For now, thank you for all your encouragement and support over the years. I will try not to let you down. I love writing, and I love that many of you have given me your kindest words over the years. It is the reason I keep going. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to personally write you back, but I couldn’t reveal my personal email without letting the cat out of the bag.

For what it’s worth, if you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.

$1,499,000

VENTURE HARBOUR

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

RIVERFRONT! Panoramic views from this Custom CBS, 3BR, 2 bath on 2 lots, impact glass, 2C garage, beautiful appts and all the amenities of this 55+ Island Community!

ACTUALVIEW

$415,000

FAIRWINDS COVE

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

RIVERFRONT! Wide river views from this spacious nicely updated 2BR, 2 bath, 2nd oor. Gated with clubhouse, 2 pools, tness, tennis, pickleball and more!

ACTUALVIEW

ACTUALVIEW

$919,000

OCEANSIDE I

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Ocean to river panoramic views from this 8th oor, beautifully updated 3BR, 2 bath NORTHEAST CORNER! Lovely furnishings plus also incls. Island Dunes Golf & Tennis Country Club membership!

ACTUALVIEW

ISLANDIA II

$699,900

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Stunning PH views from this totally renovated 2BR, 2 bath with custom appointments throughout. 24hr security, 2 pools, tness, pickleball and more.

ACTUALVIEW

DUNE WALK

$489,000

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Direct oceanfront views from this updated 5th oor, 2BR, 2 bath. Gated with pool, tness, clubhouse and more.

$1,275,000

REGENCY I

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Spacious 3BR, 2.5 bath SOUTHEAST CORNER, over 2300sf of living with 5th oor views of the ocean, river and golf course. Includes Island Dunes Golf and Tennis Country Club membership.

ACTUALVIEW ACTUALVIEW

$750,000

ADMIRAL HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Stunning ocean, river and golf course views from the beautifully updated 2BR, 2 bath with gorgeous furnishings incl. Includes Island Dunes Golf and Tennis Country Club membership.

$587,000

ISLANDIA I HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Breathtaking ocean views from this 4th oor 2BR, 2 baths with open oor plan. 24hr security, 2 pools, tness, pickleball and more.

$469,000 $1,500,000

DUNE WALK HUTCHINSON ISLAND

REGENCY II

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Gorgeous 8th oor views from this 3BR, 2 bath NORTHEAST CORNER, nicely updated and lovely furnishings. Includes Island Dunes Golf and Tennis Country Club membership!

ISLANDIA II HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Clean and ready to enjoy 2BR, 2 bath on the perfect 9th oor looking South down the Island. Great amenities include 24 hour security, 2 pools, tness, tennis, pickle ball and more!

BEACHFRONT! Beautifully updated and furnished 7th oor 2BR, 2 bath with views of both ocean and Intracoastal. Gated with clubhouse, tness, pool and more!

ITS YOUR LUCKY DAY!

$550,000 $720,000

MIRAMAR ROYALE HUTCHINSON ISLAND

BEACHFRONT! Perfect 7th oor views from this desirable 2BR, 2bath, with both bedrooms on the ocean. Some updated plus gated with pool, lobby, tennis, tness and more!

Plantation Shutters Florida Inc: Quality Workmanship Never Goes Out of Style

By Gina Zuk

Moving into a new home comes with many choices. One of the decisions that must be addressed is window coverings. For Florida residents, the decision is especially important due to humidity levels, sunlight, and heat exposure. Beautiful plantation shutters are a classic style that will never go out of fashion. ey have been around as early as the 18th century and became particularly popular throughout the southern United States where it was important to protect home interiors from the sun and heat. Whether you’re trying to achieve a modern design or complement period features, plantation shutters can match a plethora of styles. You deserve the best for yourself, your family, and your home or business. When it comes to plantation shutters, one of your absolute best choice of providers is Plantation Shutters Florida. Owner and operator, Santos Ajucum emphasizes the di erence between regular blinds and plantation shutters, “Blinds are just window coverings, plantation shutters save energy, protect oors and furniture and act as an insulator from sun and sound. Regular blinds cannot do that.” Santos has been in the business for over 25 years and learned how to manufacture and custom-create shutters for all shapes and sizes of windows. He specializes in architectural designs including arches, curves, oor-to-ceiling, doors, and unique sizes and shapes of all kinds. “I have been in manufacturing since 1997, it doesn’t matter what shape a window is, we nd a solution for the customer,” declares Santos. e family-owned business is the largest manufacturer of plantation shutters in South Florida. is is a huge bene t to customers because on-site manufacturing allows customers to buy direct and enjoy a quick turnaround time between sale and installation. Installation can be completed in just seven days! eir ability to deliver and install stunning shutters in your home in just seven days truly sets Plantation Shutters Florida apart from any competitor. If a window covering establishment tells you it will take eight to 12 weeks for installation, most likely your blind is coming from overseas. Santos’s experience in the industry taught him how to manufacture his product faster without compromising quality.

Plantation

Shutters Florida is e cient. “Whatever we manufacture today, we install tomorrow, we do not have to use the room to store materials,” states Santos. All the manufacturing is completed on-site in their workshop which provides an impressive production capacity

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of 8,000 square feet of exquisite shutters each month! e entire process is e cient and streamlined which keeps costs down for their customers. At Plantation Shutters Florida, customers receive a free consultation in their home or at their 10,000-squarefoot showroom combined with workshop. e professional, trained team of experts will come to your home and take precise measurements of every window. If needed, a custom template is created to allow for a perfect tting shutter. Other businesses may sell shutters, but don’t really know them and they end up sourcing stock shutters from China which of course cannot be customized. At Plantation Shutters Florida, customers also receive seal caps that cover the unsightly window seal and match the design of the shutter, providing a polished and nished look. Santos had three years of color mix training by Sherwin Williams which allows Plantation Shutters Florida to create any desired color. “It’s easy for me to see the color based on years of working with colors and seeing how they react,” Santos admits, “I can just eyeball it and make any custom color a customer wants.” is service cannot be duplicated with stock shutters from China. In fact, competitors will advise their customers to call Plantation Shutters Florida for custom color and design selections.

Customer Satisfaction Above All Else

MyLivingMedia.com years. Customers and the local community are Santos’s priorities. He has provided thousands of dollars in plantation shutter donations to the Quantum House and Dogs For Life Inc.- two local non-pro t organizations.

Fully licensed and insured, all of Plantation Shutters Florida’s products are made with high-quality sustainable woods and corrosion-resistant Ultra-Poly and hardware right in their own workshop in Fort Pierce. Santos and his sta welcome collaboration with interior designers and builders on both residential and commercial projects. Visit them at their showroom and see their ne attention to detail, and uncompromising commitment to quality in their raw materials and nished products. Plantation Shutters Florida, Inc is located at 406 Farmers Market Road in Fort Pierce. e showroom is open Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturdays from 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM. For more information visit www.plantationshutters a.com or call 772-872-6805.

A Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited company, Plantation Shutters Florida is a trusted and valued provider to home and business owners throughout Florida. Customers choose Plantation Shutters Florida not only for their dedication to excellence, their quality workmanship, and competitive prices but also for the company’s trustworthy and reputable reputation. Santos warns consumers to be wary of businesses who claim to sell shutters, collect a deposit and not follow through on the job. Unfortunately, that occurs too o en. Santos proudly admits, “We are established in the community and we are not going anywhere.” He currently has 18 employees including trained installers that have been with Plantation Shutters Florida for 17 years. Subcontractors are never needed or used because they are not trained in the installation process. Santos likes to make himself available to his customers. “If people want to speak to me for whatever reason, I am there for them, “states Santos. Santos also likes to take a hands-on approach to his business and get involved in painting, manufacturing, installation, and whatever it takes to get the job done. e Best of Houzz, Angie’s List, and Hometown News Best Readers’ Choice awardwinning company has provided plantation shutters to Saint Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach and the Marriot Resort in Palm Beach and Orlando for the last eight