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INSPIRED KITCHENS 10
Kitchen Resolution Take your kitchen from lukewarm to hot in the New Year. By Heidi Doerfert
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Remodeling Made Easy Get the look you want with professional help all along the way. By Patricia Hayse Haller
16
Countertop Options for Any Lifestyle From composite to recycled glass to concrete, there’s a new countertop that’s perfect for you. By Tammy Hansen
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January/February 2010 THM East Bay
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ideas and resources for your home
BayArea.com 8
Painting Spells A custom paint job can do magic for your home’s appearance. By Melinda Peacock
B UILD I T G REEN 7 Considering Home Energy Upgrades? Build It Green is here to help. By Annette Hartsfield
CCIDC 18 Kitchen Remodeling Made Easy Suggestions for saving dollars and your sanity. By David Wagner, CID
NKBA 20 Your Dream Kitchen The rewards are worth all of the effort. By Jennifer Ho CKD,CBD
CLCA 22 Recommendations to Maximize the Efficiency of Your Smart Controller
Search the Bay Area’s ultimate resource guide for more articles of interest, links
Eco-Fabulous Making your home Green is easier than you think. www.todayshomebayarea.com/feature
to more resources, Web sites, and professionals who can help you with all your home projects. So Much More Than Green
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Endless choices when it comes to eco-friendly paint. www.todayshomebayarea.com/professionalpaintcenter
A Backyard Oasis Renovate your swimming pool. www.todayshomebayarea.com/californiasgunite
Grass to Envy A new kind of eco-friendly synthetic turf saves the money and time spent tending to the lawn with. www.todayshomebayarea.com/heavenlygreens
Find more great ideas and resources for your home on
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Save Up to 50% on Custom & Ready-made Draperies Solid Silks Velvet Linen Taffeta & Embroidered Silks
Volume 10, Issue 1 • January/February 2010
The Bay Area’s best resource for your lifestyle at home. PUBLISHER/EDITOR
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© 2010. All editorial (headline, subhead, story, captions) published in Today’s Home is copyrighted and remains the sole property of Today’s Home. All rights reserved. Reproduction or reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.
Today’s Home is looking for highly motivated Account Executives with 2 years of advertising and marketing experience. We offer a dynamic environment, excellent growth opportunities, competitive earnings, and a benefits package. Full and part-time positions available. Please e-mail resumes to Jeff@THmag.com. TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
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Considering Home H Energy Upgrades? Build It Green is here to help. BY ANNETTE
HARTSFIELD
OW GREEN RETROFITS COULD SAVE THE WORLD.” This headline recently caught my attention. Working for Build It Green, a Bay Area based non-profit that promotes Green building practices, I know that home energy retrofits are a hot topic. I’m sure you’ve heard it too. The White House recently issued a “Recovery Through Retrofit” report, and a lot of the Stimulus dollars that are being funneled through local governments are earmarked for home energy retrofit programs. So can remodeling your home Green really save the world? Probably not entirely, but the energy and water conservation elements of a Green remodel are certainly a good place to start. Many existing homes have excessive air infiltration, no wall insulation, and inefficient heating, cooling and water systems. In California, for example, over 70% of the housing stock predates Title 24, California’s comprehensive energy standards, and many of those homes have never been upgraded. And even though homes built before 1960 tend to be a lot smaller than the homes built today, they have a much higher energy usage rate. Typical improvements in these homes can result in 30% energy savings and 50% water savings, which translate into savings on your utility bills as well. They also often qualify for tax credits. The U.S. Department of Energy has outlined a number of home energy efficiency improvement tax credits that are redeemable through the end of 2010 (www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm). So where do you start? Sierra Club Green Home can help get you going. An online resource for homeowners, it introduces Green home upgrades and provides helpful hints you can do on your own. Build It Green’s Home Remodeling Green Building Guidelines help you delve a little deeper. Basic steps suggested in the Guidelines include: Make sure your attic and walls are well insulated. Air seal and weatherize your home. Upgrade or replace windows. Install water efficient fixtures. Install high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Construct water efficient landscaping. For some of these steps you’ll want to enlist professional help. Luckily, a lot of building professionals are seeing the value in learning how to conduct Green retrofits, and are seeking the necessary training. There are currently several high quality training programs in the Bay Area. One of the most respected in the state is run by Build It Green. Build It Green has trained nearly 5000 individuals to build healthier, more resource efficient homes. Our curriculum was recently named as a standard for Workforce Investment Boards to meet new green jobs training goals. Our Advanced Training specifically focuses on retrofitting existing homes, guiding trainees through the deeper details of a comprehensive green home analysis. Further, Build It Green requires builders to keep their certification current by accumulating 16 continuing education units every two years. Don’t be afraid to ask for green building credentials when you’re hiring someone. Since green retrofits are such a hot topic, you may find a lot of people claiming they know how to do them. We post a directory of current Certified Green Building Professionals on the Build It Green website. This is a great place to find professionals in your area who are dedicated to getting your house to perform at its best. You may not be able to save the whole world, but you can do a little, and you can save a bit of money while you’re at it. And thanks to organizations like the Sierra Club and Build It Green, you can find help along the way. Annette Hartsfield is a Build It Green Program Associate and Grant Writer. For more information on Build It Green’s programs and to find a Certified Green Building Professional in your area, visit www.BuildItGreen.org. THM
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
East Bay THM January/February 2010
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Painting Spells BY
A
MELINDA PEACOCK
NEW PAINT JOB IS ONE OF THE LESS EXPENSIVE WAYS TO UPDATE
or completely change the look of your home, both inside and out. “It’s a great way to freshen up or go with a whole new look,” explains Mario Duenas, president of MGD Painting in Oakley. MGD Painting has been in business for over a decade, and is known for customizing each project. “Each job is different and needs special focus in key areas,” says Mario. One of their recent jobs was at the Diablo Country Club area in Danville. For this job, a color named Swiss Coffee was used throughout the main lounge, including columns, beams, and the paneled ceiling. “With either recessed lighting or good natural light, every little flaw in a paint job will show up as a shadow,” Mario explains. “You should want an experienced, professional painter, someone who is a perfectionist and will catch and eliminate any flaws.” Another specialized look that MGD Painting does a lot of is lacquering and glazing cabinets. Lacquer provides a clear finish that can be shiny, matte or satin. The look can be extra glossy or very subtle. Glazing is the building up of multiple thin, transparent layers of paint that creates a deeper, richer color through the layering technique. MGD Painting finishes new cabinets, refinishes old cabinets, and is very good at making a new cabinet match up to an existing set of cabinets in a home. One of Mario’s favorite jobs was glazing kitchen cabinets in a home in Blackhawk. “We used
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January/February 2010 THM East Bay
A custom paint job can do magic for your home’s appearance an ivory paint color and finished it with black walnut glaze,” describes Mario. “The glaze gives the cabinets depth and an antiqued Old World look. All of the details show up beautifully.” Some projects are large and involve a mix of paints, stains, glazes and clear coats. Add in multiple colors, and a job can get quite complicated. One home in Orinda involved stains in some areas as well as five different paint colors for various rooms. “You need a lot of skill to know when and how to transition paint colors from one to another when two rooms open up to each other,” explains Mario. “When the paint transition isn’t done right it can really look bad. A good paint company knows how and when to switch paint colors and types.” Each job is a custom job for MGD Painting. They can use their expertise with paint, lacquer or glaze to turn your house into your own magical castle. Get professional painting and lacquering from MGD Painting by calling (925) 679-2802 or e-mail mgdpaintinginc@yahoo.com. THM
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Professional Quality Painting at Unbelievable Prices! Interior/Exterior Painting Cabinet Refinishing Wood Staining Lacquer Finishes Oil Painting Custom Color Matching 20 Years Experience
MGD PAINTING & DECORATING
925.679.2802 mgdpaintinginc@yahoo.com Contractor’s License #752956
PROFESSIONAL SWIMMING POOL RENOVATIONS
BY
Ì
Before
R E -P LASTER /P EBBLE R ENOVATIONS T ILE /C OPING P OOL C RACK R EPAIR P OOL S HALLOWING R ETAINING W ALLS W ATER F EATURES P LUMBING /E LECTRICAL
925-960-9500 www.californiasgunite.com 510 Greenvile Road • Livermore TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
East Bay THM January/February 2010
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itchen ITCHENS. ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE UTILITARIAN, they have become the hub and command center of any home. And, hopefully, a warm and inviting space for guests to gather. Since the beginning of the year 2000, homeowners have had a love affair with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, cherry cabinets, and tile floors. This look is classic and should stand the test of time, but as we enter 2010, bold trends are emerging— and they start with color, color, color.
Photo courtesy Walker Zanger (www.walkerzanger.com)
K
Avigon kitchen.
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IN LIVING COLOR We all remember the colors of the 60s and 70s kitchen—margarine yellow, crossing guard orange, and avocado green. Those hues forced us into a gleaming white period only to be replaced by those bridesmaid-dress colors of mauve and peach of the 80s. From there, we entered the neutral phase where most of us have lived happily TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
Photo courtesy Bentwood Kitchens (www.bentwoodkitchens.com)
[ I N S P I R E D
esolution ever since. As we hit the 10-year mark of the Millennium, color is making a comeback. According to BHG.com, color is turning up in backsplashes (think turquoise mosaic tiles) and in countertops, like Dupont Corian’s new Illumination series. The material allows much more light to pass through shades like Arctic Mint and Lime Ice, creating an effect that’s positively glowing. Famous cook Rachael Ray has made Brady Bunch orange popular again and you can find it in Silestone’s Life Series line featuring colors like Orange Cool and Magenta Energy. If you’re not quite ready for that, you can go Zen with warm brown and berry tones or stick to shades of gray with the Platinum line. Nina Som of Cardinal Construction, Inc. in Pleasanton says while her clients still love traditional and Old World decor for their kitchens, she is seeing trends of color and clean lines inching their way in. TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
K I T C H E N S ]
Take your kitchen from lukewarm to hot in the New Year. BY
HEIDI DOERFERT
Homeowners in Livermore went with a decidedly more modern feel with light, frameless cabinetry and a countertop that combines recycled glass and cement. It’s available in hues ranging from neutrals to blues, greens and ambers. Gray is the new brown, says HGTV.com, but you can put both colors together for a cutting edge look. Other sizzling combos are red and white and silver and green.
COLOR INFU SION If a complete remodel isn’t in the budget in 2010, you can still kick up your kitchen by enhancing your existing cabinetry. N-Hance Wood Renewal in San Ramon can actually change the color of your cupboards. You can choose a color shift which warms up the color by a shade or two or injects new color into the existing cabinet tone. Or, you can opt for a complete color change. Turn lifeless oak to brilliant cherry, warm walnut, airy maple, or even off-white with >> East Bay THM January/February 2010
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an antique glaze. Greg Overfield of N-Hance says their service allows customers to stretch their makeover budget by saving on the cost of cabinet replacement. You can save those dollars for new appliances, lighting and flooring. N-Hance promises no mess, no dust, and no odor and most jobs are completed in a day! No matter what color you choose, you’ll be “green” since N-Hance uses low VOC, water-based finishes and they save good wood from being sent to the landfill. Another way to spice up your kitchen without calling for the demolition truck is to consider colored appliances. No, not the split pea green oven your mom had when you were growing up. Companies like Viking offer ranges and refrigerators available in 24 drop-dead colors like Mint Julep, Plum, and Lemonade. These shades are not for the faint-of-heart but for someone who wants their kitchen to make a dramatic statement.
MIX IT UP
Ring in the New Year by turning up the volume in your kitchen. To find out how Cardinal Construction, Inc. can help you transform your space, call (925) 426-8854 or visit their Website at www.cardinal-construction.com. To learn more about enhancing your existing cabinetry with N-HanceWood Renewal, call (925) 820-1019 or visit their Website at www.trivalleywoodrenewal.com. THM
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Calacata Lunu marble.
Photo courtesy Walker Zanger (www.walkerzanger.com)
A new way of thinking in the New Year is to not be so “matchy-matchy” when designing kitchen spaces. A client of Nina’s in San Jose went with natural maple on the upper cabinets, a couple of shades darker on bottom cabinets, and a rich espresso tone on the center island. Another dreamy option is off-white cabinetry mixed with sage green or black. Mixing colors creates a furniture-like feel and can turn your kitchen from functional to fabulous! Just like we’ve been taught to match our jewelry pieces, we tend to match our faucets and hardware. Nina says it’s absolutely okay to mix, as long as they have a complimentary tone. For example, you can pair a brushed nickel faucet with black cabinet hardware because silver and black look good together. Glass knobs can be a nice juxtaposition to stainless, marrying vintage with sleek. Knobs and pulls on upper cabinetry can be different than those on islands, as well.
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
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F 50-60% OaFnd Cabinets ops! Counter T
Photo courtesy Bulthaup (www.bulthaup.com)
Photo courtesy Bulthaup (www.bulthaup.com)
White, high-gloss lacquered walls with panels and elements of the Bulthaup b3 system.
Come Visit Our Newly Remodeled Showroom!
M M
AKING important remodeling decisions is easier at Ric’s Kitchen and Bath. The latest computer technology
enables you to visualize your kitchen and bath. Choose from an extensive line of cabinets and products in our beautiful showroom.
(510) 733-5543
Kitchen&Bath
3664 Castro Valley Boulevard Castro Valley
Rics-Kitchen-Bath.com contractors license #602812
C ONTRACTOR OWNED & O PERATED S INCE 1977 TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
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Remodeling Made Easy Get the look you want with professional help all along the way. BY
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PATRICIA HAYSE HALLER
January/February 2010 THM East Bay
OST FAMILIES START A MAJOR REMODELING project filled with excitement. But that rush of optimism often turns to bewilderment and confusion as they try to sort through their options, settle on a design, choose colors, pick out fixtures and appliances, and find the right people to do the work. Fran and Earl Mack of San Ramon, who wanted to expand and modernize their kitchen, say the process would have been overwhelming if it weren’t for their contractors, Mosche and Michelle Mor of Sunshine Construction, Inc. “We had never done anything like this before,” said Fran. “We knew we wanted a different, bigger and more modern design, but we didn’t know how to go about doing that. They were able to help us figure it out. It was like one of those home improvement shows where the designers come in, give you ideas and then take you step by step to help you get there.” The first step was for Mosche to help the Macks figure out a design that would accomplish their goals. Drawing on his 28 years experience as a general contractor, Mosche explained design principals and standard measurements, pointing out that there wasn’t enough space for a kitchen island. He suggested bringing in more natural light by putting matching windows on either side of the cooktop, and adding workspace with a built-in desk and overhead cubbies. And he clarified building regulations, showing them what they needed to do to bring the electrical and plumbing up to code and equip the kitchen for modern technology. Once they had a plan, Michelle Mor met with the Macks to help create a sketch of the new kitchen that was rough, but drawn to scale, and she took it to their cabinet company. There, the Macks were able to see a computer-generated picture of their new kitchen and start picking out cabinets and then do work on the next step of the countertops. “They wanted something light to make the kitchen look more open,” said Michelle. “So they went with maple cabinets with Baltic Brown granite for the countertops.”
M
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
Change your environment with
That decision—and many, many others—were easier because Michelle went with the Macks every step of the way. “She was very patient in helping us get ideas and taking us around to different places,” says Fran. It’s a personal touch that sets Sunshine Construction, Inc. apart and has earned them a reputation for quality service throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties. “I will assist the homeowners in picking out colors, granite, appliances, and fixtures,” says Michelle. “They are guided through the entire process, not just sent out on their own to get everything done. And for appliances and fixtures, we pass our contractors discount on to our clients.” She helped the Macks pick out tile for the floors and backsplash that matched the soft beige background colors in the granite and designed a motif of Baltic Brown granite diamonds and frame under the stainless steel and glass hood over the contemporary gas cooktop. Matching Baltic Brown granite diamonds are placed among the floor tiles as well. The result, says Fran, is a simple but elegant look that is exactly what she wanted, but would have had trouble getting without Mosche and Michelle. “It was so great to work with them. They kept things on track and got us to the right people. And all their subcontractors who worked here were very good.” In fact, she says, she was so pleased that she’s working with Sunshine Construction again, this time to renovate their living room.
enjoyable shopping experience.
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To find out how Sunshine Construction, Inc. can help you with a renovation, an addition, or new construction, call (800) 953-0053 or (925) 932-4072 for an appointment and a free in home consultation. THM
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
at Professional Paint Center, Inc. where you get a more
Professional Paint Center, Inc. 2724 North Main Street • Walnut Creek, CA 94597
(925) 933-3315 © 2009 Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore, the triangle “M” symbol and Natura are registered trademarks and Green Promise is a trademark licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co.
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*Bring this ad to your participating Benjamin Moore retailer. Limit one offer per household. Expires 4/30/10.
East Bay THM January/February 2010
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Countertop Options for Any Lifestyle BY
TAMMY HANSEN
OUNTERTOPS THAT WERE ONCE ‘always the bridesmaid’ in recent years have taken on a new prominence in kitchen design. While granite represents the most popular of surfaces, composite surfaces with new colors and textures marry several ‘must haves’ with fun new options. Composite, recycled glass, and concrete countertops offer fashion, functionality and an environmental sensibility. From spunky and modern to warm and traditional, they are enough to entice more and more homeowners to say, “I do.”
C
VETRAZZO When first introduced, glass based countertops represented a colorful, daring option in solid surfaces. In the past decade,
Your local Caesarstone dealer:
From composite to recycled glass to concrete, there’s a new countertop that’s perfect for you.
C AB INET RY & C O U NTERTOP NT ERTO P S
Kitchens Classics 2304 Monument Boulevard, Pleasant Hill 925.674.8966 www.KitchenClassics.net
the pallet has expanded to include more subtle tones. Soft, new Martini Flint and rich combinations like the popular Alehouse Amber with Patina from leading manufacturer Vetrazzo offer pizzazz in the browns that are found in nature. There are still plenty of playful options like Charisma Blue for the fun seeking homeowner (and the president, who has it on his desktop, according to Vetrazzo). An impressive 85 percent of the glass in the Northern California company’s countertops is recycled. Chips in the glass-cementpigment recipe come mostly from curbside recycling. However, everything from laboratory beakers to traffic light lenses make each surface a story in recycling. Vetrazzo, a U.S. company, tracks the glass in each countertop and provides a Certificate of Transformation to the homeowner. Comparable to granite in hardness and maintenance, Vetrazzo’s glass countertops can also be used as fireplace surrounds, making them an option for the great room.
Your local Vetrazzo dealer:
CAESARSTONE
The pioneer in manufactured solid surfaces combines natural quartz and a tough polymer to create the best of both worlds for the kitchen counter. Often called “composite” countertops, Kitchens Unlimited these surfaces are highly prized for ease of 1459 Newall Avenue, Walnut Creek care. CaesarStone, founded in 1987, maintains 925.934.4700 a leadership position in composite counters www.kitchenswc.com with an eye toward environmentalism, style and functionality. A lifetime warranty and several Green certifications make it an Earth and home friendly choice. The company (based in an Israeli kibbutz) doesn’t stop there though. Fashion is as important as function for the firm. 16
January/February 2010 THM East Bay
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
RESOURCE GUIDE APPLIANCES
Direct Appliance 925-560-0500 www.directappliancedublin.com CARPET AND FLOORING
CaesarStone in November began offering Motivo, an embossed product for everything from backsplashes to custom furniture. The first two patterns are Lace and Crocodile. The current collection also features recycled countertops, hammered matte finishes and a unique black metallic accent surface. Colors such as Marrone and Carbone (both recycled) offer bold statements while Absolute Noir and Jerusalem Sand are a soft background for the kitchen. Playful homeowners can try bright Apple Martini or Ruby Reflections.
CONCRETE Mention concrete countertops and the imagination tends toward stark, modernistic forms. While certainly possible, the minimalist gray surface is only one option for this fairly new countertop choice. Custom coloring for this mix of sand, stone and cement means counters can be just about any hue. Concrete is unique in that colors can be applied much like a painting, so countertop art is possible. Detail work expands the genre with ornate edge details from Tuscan to contemporary. Embedding anything from coins to shells to personal mementos adds to the custom look. Integral sinks, drain boards and trivets offer functional accents. Care of concrete countertops is similar to granite. Hot items should not be placed on the surface, nor should it be used as a cutting board. Non-abrasive soaps are recommended. Manufacturers recommend waxing occasionally to www.concretenetwork.com maintain luster. Still not ready to take the plunge? Look for a local dealer that specializes in these unique countertops. Peruse the photos and visit showrooms for a chance to experience the real thing. Often the best way to overcome remodeling jitters is a date with someone who can give specific advice geared toward your needs. It could just be a marriage made in heaven. THM TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
Carpet One of Livermore 925-455-9210 www.carpetoneoflivermore.com CLEANING SERVICE
Spring Fresh Cleaning 800-750-7175 www.springfreahcleaninginc.com CONCRETE
Lara’s Concrete 925-458-6304 CUSTOM FRAMING
Acanthus 925-866-1144 www.acanthusonline.com DRAPERIES
Exclusive Fabrics & Furnishings 866-413-7273 www.thedrapeboutique.com GARAGE STORAGE
Premier Garage 866-497-2880 www.premiergarage.com GARDEN ORNAMENTS
Giannini Garden Ornaments Inc. 650-873-4493 www.gianninigarden.com HEATING & AIR
Roeber’s 510-537-0556 www.roebers.com KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING
Valley Oak Designs 925-705-4611 KITCHEN CABINETS
Kitchens Unlimited 925-934-4700 www.KitchensUnlimitedWalnutCreek.com KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS
Kitchen Classics 925-674-8966 www.KitchenClassics.net KITCHEN DESIGN CENTER
Ric’s Kitchen & Bath 510-733-5543 www.Rics-kitchen-bath.com LANDSCAPING/PAVERS
Tice Valley Landscape 925.362.0178 www.ticevalley.com
LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT
Landscape Care Company 925-372-7973 www.landscapecare.net LANDSCAPE SERVICES
No Nonsense Horticultural Services 925-820-1843 www.NoNonsenseHort.com PAINT CENTER
Professional Paint Cener 925-933-3315 PAINTING CONTRACTOR
MGD Painting and Decorating 925-679-2802 PAVING STONES
Black Diamond Landscape & Designs 800-942-1955 www.blackdiamondlandscape.com POOL RESURFACING
California’s Gunite 925-960-9500 www.californiasgunite.com REDWOOD FENCING
Borg Redwood Fences 925-426-9620 www.borgfence.com REMODELING CONSTRUCTION
Sunshine Construction, Inc. 925-472-8760 www.sunshine-construction-inc.com SHOWER DOORS & ENCLOSURES
California Shower Door Corp. 800-675-6225 www.calshowerdoor.com SWIMMING POOLS
Hacienda Pools 209-839-1995 www.haciendapools.com TILE AND STONE
Western Tile Design Center 925-671-0145 www.westerntiledesign.com WALLBEDS
Wallbeds ”n” More 925-570-5663 www.wallbedsnmore.com WATER HEATERS
Phillips Water Heater Service 925-584-9846 WINDOW TINTING
Solar Control Glass Tinting Co. 800-999-3828 www.solarcontrolcompany.com
List your business, call 925-659-6200 East Bay THM January/February 2010
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Kitchen Remodeling Made Easy Suggestions for saving dollars and your sanity. BY
DAVID WAGNER, CID
OU HAVE DECIDED THAT YOUR KITCHEN is in dire need of updating and remodeling. The task can be daunting. Having spent almost forty years creating designer kitchens, I have a few suggestions that will make the remodeling process easier on your pocketbook and state of mind. The most important decision you should make is to obtain the services of a “Certified Interior Designer” specializing in kitchen design and remodeling. The reasons you want this specialized designer are twofold. They will provide you with a beautiful and functional kitchen within your investment parameters. They will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in construction costs. One of the biggest reasons for kitchen remodels going over budget is clients believing that a “big box store” can design their new kitchen with their computer programs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Professional designers call this moving boxes around, not design! As a homeowner, you provide these drawings to contractors for the purpose of obtaining pricing for your kitchen remodeling construction costs. There is no way a responsible contractor can give you a realistic price with these drawings. All the drawings indicate to the contractor are cabinet wall elevations and floor plan. A Certified Interior Designer will furnish you and your contractor the following plans, details and specifications:
Y
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January/February 2010 THM East Bay
Detailed lighting locations, fixture sizing and Title 24 calculations to meet California energy requirements. Without these calculations and specifications your project will be put on hold by your local building department! Detailed location and sizing of all electrical outlets, appliance requirements such as electrical, gas, water and all plumbing, fixtures and ventilation including makeup air if required. Detailed drawings of all structural and nonstructural work that may be needed. Portions of the work that are load bearing or seismic will need to have a licensed engineer or architect sign off on the appropriate section of these plans. Your Certified Interior Designer has access to these professionals thus saving you and your contractor any additional expenses. There are obviously more time and money saving suggestions that your designer will provide you. The more information your designer furnishes to your contractor the more realistic their construction pricing will be. There is no greater feeling for a designer than to know they have exceeded your expectations and protected your investment! By David Michael Wagner, CID#0744, Wagner Kitchen Design, Long Beach, California. You can find information on Mr. Wagner and other Certified Interior Designers in your area online at www.ccidc.org/cidpages. THM
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[ N K B A ]
YOUR DREAM KITCHEN BY JENNIFER
HO CKD,CBD
EMODELING YOUR KITCHEN can be a daunting task. Yet when done correctly, it’s the most rewarding remodel in terms of return on investment, increased functionality, elevated aesthetics and more. “Where do I start?” is a common question. With so much to chose from and a wide variety of information in it can be confusing to navigate your way. So let this guide lead you through the door of kitchen remodeling.
R
Make a Wish List Take time to think about what you would like in your dream kitchen. Look through ideas and pictures and start making a scrapbook of the ones you like. In round one, don’t eliminate any ideas because you think it’s not possible. Remember, this is a wish list and wishes do come true! The idea is to identify what you like and dislike. Soon enough you will see a trend of ideas that appeal to you. It’s time to pare down your choices in round two. As you go through your collection of prioritize what is most important to you. Place the most important ideas towards the front of your scrapbook and the less important towards the back. Now that you have a vision of your dream kitchen it’s time to make it a reality. National Kitchen & Bath Association
Ric’s Kitchen & Bath 3664 Castro Valley Boulevard Castro Valley 510.733.5543 www.Rics-Kitchen-Bath.com
Kitchens of Diablo 9680 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, Danville 925.831.9500 www.KitchensofDiablo.com
Find a Professional
The Rewards are worth all of the effort.
Ensuring that every need is met in the kitchen in terms of functionality, practicality and aesthetics is a job best left to a professional. Hiring a kitchen design professional can be one of the best choices you can make—wise choices based on their experience and mistakes averted can be major time and money savers.
Interview at least 2-4 professionals. Get a feel for their projects. Make sure you feel comfortable working with them—trust and communication is essential to a well designed project. Your design professional is your personal guide and translator in the world of kitchen remodeling. He or she will guide you through your choices, help you make the best choice for your situation and put it all down on an executable plan for you. The National Kitchen and Bath Association certifies design professionals specializing in Kitchen and Bathroom Design based on extensive industry experience and in-depth testing. An Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD) have a minimum of two years of experience. A Certified Kitchen (or Bathroom) Designer (CKD, CBD) have a minimum of seven years experience. And a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD) have a minimum of ten years experience. Please visit www.NKBA.org for more information. Jennifer Ho, CKD, CBD is a designer at De Anza Interior (www.DeAnzaInterior.com) and is the Vice President of Government Relations for NKBA Northern California as well as a member of the International Ad Hoc Committee for NKBA National. From choosing a designer to picking out colors, the NKBA is your source for design ideas, expert remodeling tips, and advice. To find a design professional near you please visit www.nkba.org. THM
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January/February 2010 THM East Bay
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East Bay THM January/February 2010
21
[ C L C A ]
Recommendations to Maximize the Efficiency of Your Smart Controller MART CONTROLLERS, also known as weather based controllers, are one of the many valuable water saving technologies available to help make landscape water usage more efficient. These devices are irrigation clocks that adjust the amount of water applied to a landscape in response to environmental changes. Using sensors and/or weather information, these controllers adjust your irrigation system automatically in response to rain, wind or temperature changes. Smart controllers can help reduce landscape water usage and in some cases can offer dramatic savings. They can also help you maintain a more healthy landscape.
S
Smart controllers are becoming very popular in states like California which are experiencing severe water shortages. However, if used incorrectly this device may not give the desired water saving results. The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to offer some recommendations to help you maximize the efficiency of this water saving device and to help keep your landscape beautiful. PROGRAM IT CORRECTLY.
In order to maximize and maintain water efficiency, the smart controller needs to be programmed correctly. These mini computers need in depth information about soil, plants, exposure, type of irrigation etc. because they
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January/February 2010 THM East Bay
are customized for your property. Like any computer, if it receives inaccurate information, it will not achieve the desired results, possibly resulting in over or under irrigated areas and damaged plants or hardscapes. MONITOR YOUR SITE. Site
conditions must be monitored, especially the first few weeks after installing your controller to fine tune and adjust your controller settings. Look for run off, poor plant heath,
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color changes and/or any other signs that settings might need to be modified. Several adjustments may be needed. WATER MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS. If you are limited to day of the week watering restrictions, your smart controller may not be allowed to function correctly. CLCA recommends to either use the smart controller or follow the allocated watering days, not both. If only allowed to water one or two days a week, it defeats the purpose of watering based on sensors and weather information. Smart controllers and good water management are often more effective at reducing landscape water usage than assigned watering days because most people soak their lawns during their allocated time, actually using more water than the site actually
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
needs. Some cities and water districts are now allowing those with smart controllers to be exempt from restrictions. Be sure to check with your local water district regarding restriction exceptions. REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF CURRENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
It is important to regularly inspect your irrigation system and repair leaks and/or other problems. Since these controllers consistently adjust your watering, if there is a leak or other problem with the irrigation system, even if programmed correctly, your landscape may not receive the correct amount of water that it needs. Learning to read your water meter will help you determine if you have a leak. INSTALLING NEW LANDSCAPE. If new landscape is being installed, San Francisco Orchid Society’s 58th Annual
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group plants into similar areas based on water needs. These areas, called hydrozones will help your plants receive the proper amount of water to meet their needs and help to maximize the efficiency of your controller because all the plants have the same water usage requirements. When selecting an irrigation system for your new landscape, take time to learn about the most efficient irrigation devices and about the water requirements of the plants being installed. Also consider including drought tolerant plants in your landscape design. A well-planned landscape incorporating advanced irrigation technology, drought resistant plants and a smart controller will see the most water savings.
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