Home Improvement Made Simple // 3 Quick Do-it-yourself Projects to Liven Up Your Space

When it comes to freshening up a home, small changes can have a big impact. You don’t have to break the back either. Are you ready to revolu-tionize your bedroom? Or give your front porch a surgical-free facelift? Here are a few simple weekend projects that can provide the breath of fresh air your space needs.

Sometimes making an exterior change can provide inspiration for revamping the rest of your home. Start by creating a warm and welcoming feel to your en-

trance. Give the front door a fresh coat of paint, switch out the door’s hardware and clean up the light fi xtures. Even up-grading your house numbers can make a difference. Have some fun with it and pull in color by adding potted fl owers and succulents.

Home improvements, inside and out, can be daunting. We are here to change that. Right in our backyard, are a pool of experts who can make home transformations—both small and large—a simple, enjoyable task with a big impact. Throughout the pages of our inaugural Inside/Outside issue you’ll fi nd tips directly from local know-it-alls in landscape architecture, interior design, general contracting and more, who have shared their in-the-fi eld experiences and expertise to help you refi ne your personal spaces. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or a wanting-a-changer, our latest special project has tools for you to tackle tasks around the home to make your dream space a reality.

Adding color to a room, be it with curtains, pillows or rugs, is a great way to lighten it up. You don’t have to commit to a painted focal wall. Instead play with

various textures and shades of the color palette. Accent pillows can add a nice pop to your couch during the spring and in a guest bedroom come fall. Nothing has to be permanent. Search for versatile pieces you can use around the house.

Holes in the wall can be patched up and painted over—so, don’t be afraid to switch up your art-work and photo galleries. Incor-porate varying frames, of differ-

ent shapes, sizes and color. Remember, you create the rules. Blend personal photographs with a fl ea-market fi nd, mass-produced print and your child’s latest artwork. Then, switch it up every so often by changing out pieces and pics. This is your gallery, curate.

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Create a neutral furniture foundation. Look for a neutral outdoor furniture

collection with deep setting. Modular pieces are versa-tile and can be easily rearranged to mix things up.

Get creative with plants. Whether succulents or colorful perenni-

als, add life to your space with plants. Think about varying heights to add depth and interest to a space. Simple plant or succulent cuttings from your yard make the space feel effortlessly put together.

Flow from Inside Out

STYLE-SPIRTATION FOR CREATING THE IDEAL INDOOR, OUTDOOR SPACE

For the past 20 years, Paula Oblen has expressed her passion for style and design through residential projects drawing inspiration from boutique hotel spaces. Often fi nding herself gazing around a lobby or guest room, she would ask: How can I bring this feeling home? That question combined with notes scribbled on a cocktail napkin ultimately fueled the idea for Hotelements. Hotelements, 1001 Avenida Pico, Suite. C-219, San Clemente, 949.697.3944, www.hotelement.com.

Indoor-outdoor spaces provide the perfect opportunity to extend your living space. To help us fi nd the ideal balance between style and comfort, from inside to out, we recruited San Clemente-based home and lifestyle de-signer Paula Oblen, who opened her house to share her design philosophy—one that seam-lessly incorporates boutique-hotel inspired elements with the personal touches of home.

When designing a space, think about creating an experi-ence. Take a step back, throw out the rules and embrace a carefree, playful and comfortable approach to design. Believe me. This casual vibe will shine through, creat-ing a space both you and your guests will love to live in. People don’t live in model homes. The perfect compli-ment is when a guest wants to remove their shoes and sink into your home. When it happens, you’ll know you’ve achieved the ultimate space.

Create a seamless transition. A well-de-signed outdoor space should feel like an

extension of your home. Think about how the space will fl ow. French doors create a clear and unobstructed view. With the addition of textured, sheer drapery that catches the breeze, open doors add a light, airy feel to the room.

Be true to your style. Toss rules aside. Mixing together styles you love is what makes the space feel personal. Let your individual style lead your design style—if you love bohemian and mod-

ern, like I do, sprinkle in a bit of both.

Illumination is essential. Lighting is key to creating the perfect ambience in

any indoor-outdoor space. Incorporate candles. A simple votive can work wonders in a metal hurricane or glass cylinder. Use simple lighting to accentuate elements you want to bring attention to like plants, architectural ele-ments, pathways or pools.

Do the unexpected. Bring design el-ements you love inside … outside.

Infuse texture with throws, pillows, trays, objects and elements. Outdoor pillows are a great way to add color and comfort and our awesome California weather affords us the opportunity to throw a few indoor pillows outside.

DESIGN TIP

DESIGN TIP

DESIGN TIP

DESIGN TIP

DESIGN TIP

DESIGN TIP

BY PAULA OBLEN, HOTELEMENTSPHOTOS BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS

Go beyond the price. When collecting bids we are all tempted

by the lowest price. Look for a detailed proposal that includes all items you expect the contractor to provide. If something ap-pears to be missing, ask. A good contrac-tor will know and identify potential areas where extra work may be needed.

Let’s say you want to remove a win-dow and install a set of doors. Did the contractor include the cost of rerouting electrical wiring around the door? Is the interior trim included? How about paint? Where costs addressed for protecting your hardwood fl oors?

Small projects come with simpler price tags.

On large projects a contractor should be able to provide a rough estimate to help with your budgeting. Once you have selected a contractor, it is fair to expect the exact scope of work to be de-fi ned with associated pricing. Accurate job costing takes a lot of time—for an average size addition that could be well over 40 hours for the contractor.

Most contractors I know are good peo-ple, but we tend to be overly optimistic when it comes a project’s timing. Before construction, ask for a schedule. For the

window-to-door project, that could be a verbal confi rmation of the door’s arrival or when demo, stucco and drywall could be completed.

On a larger project, such as a kitchen remodel or an addition, a written con-struction schedule is critical. This helps the homeowner know when decisions need to be made, when materials pro-vided by the owner need to be on the job and when to schedule that end of project party.

Home projects take time. Schedule time during the day when

work is being performed to look over the project. Get to know the people working on your home. Expect weekly meetings with the contractor. The investment of your time is equally important as the investment of money to get the results you want.

In order to ensure a successful proj-ect, take the time to come up with a solid plan. Then, take that plan and follow it—it’ll help you avoid the surprises and chaos that remodeling can bring.

Nolan Harris settled in San Clemente 14 years ago and began Riviera Construction, a general contract-ing company specializing in residential remodels and outdoor living spaces. Nolan enjoys surfi ng with his family and watching his boys play soccer. 127 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente, 949.412.5325, www.rivieraconstruction.com.

BY NOLAN HARRIS, RIVERIA CONSTRUCTIONYou interviewed contractors for a home improvement project, collected bids,

signed the contract and paid a deposit—now comes the easy part. Think again. From the customers, family and friends I talk to about home improvement, I fi nd

a large number have had a bad experience with the construction process or their contractor. Why is this? I believe there are three things that lead to homeowner headaches and put a strain on the customer-contractor relationship: a poorly defi ned scope of work, lack of a realistic or detailed construction schedule and an unexpect-ed amount of customer involvement in the process.

Not to worry. There are easy ways to make the construction process simpler.

Avoid Construction Pitfalls // Take the Chaos Out of Your Next Home Improvement

iStockphoto.com

When taking on a large home project, be it landscaping or remodeling a kitchen, it is vital to consider where materials come from and where they go. Recycling what you can both inside and out has its ben-efi ts—it means less waste, lowered costs and more diversion from area landfi lls.

When demolishing a wall, kitchen or entire house you’ll likely fi nd local require-ments to divert recyclable construc-tion and demolition debris from county landfi lls. Such waste, according to a 2008 waste characterization study, makes up 29 percent of California’s waste stream. All south Orange County cities have ordi-nances on the books to keep recyclable

materials out of the trash. Contractors and homeowners complet-

ing a residential project in Dana Point of more than 150 square feet must obtain a permit and haul at least 75 percent of con-struction waste to a recycling facility. San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano also have a permitting process but only require at least 50 percent of waste to be recycled at city-certifi ed facilities.

Tearing out a kitchen? Appliances, dry-wall, fl ooring and wood can be transported to the Prima Deshecha Material Recovery Facility. Redoing the roof or giving the front yard a facelift? Tierra Verde Indus-tries will take your landscaping materials,

The installation of low to no water landscapes isn’t a new practice.

But recently, here in the severely drought-punished region of Southern California, residents and municipali-ties are turning away from lawns and tropical landscapes and embracing ones closely tailored to the state’s desert environment. Whatever we choose to call it—xeriscape, water-conserving, drought-tolerant or sustainable—low water yards are trending.

We talked to Don Kansteiner, a land-scape designer with the San Clemente-based Paradise Designs Inc. to get insight on sustainable landscaping and water-saving measures in the yard.

What is sustainable landscaping? What can be done to make a yard sustainable?

As a landscape designer, I too have

been behind as far a sustainable land-scapes go. Being open minded is the fi rst step in the application or transition to sustainable landscapes. It is a practice that has been in place pretty much forever, but was lost in the throes of new, new, new and new.

In terms of residential landscapes, there are many improvements that can be made to create a sustainable yard: the use of permeable materials, native or adaptable plant installation, improvement of soil conditions, rain water capture and reuse, material sourcing from local suppliers, re-use of recycled materials, use of small turf areas and irrigation system improvements.

Did you know using native plants improves insect and bird cultures? Throw away your hedge trimmers. Design and al-low plants to grow into their full cycles. This creates healthier plants and contributes to the other life cycles that depend on plants.

How can sustainable elements be in-corporated without an entire landscape overhaul?

Hot topics now are turf and irrigation. Irrigation can be improved to reduce wa-ter loss and increase water effi ciency with better application and management. This can be done with sub surface and drip systems, or by using matched precipita-tion nozzles on existing systems.

The use of native grasses, or low-water use ground covers can reduce mainte-nance and its related impact—fuel and chemicals—and can provide a new look that actually changes with the seasons. Synthetic turf has its place, but I am strug-gling a bit with its long range impact. As a comparative, I am using less and less plastic bags and bottles every day.

With our state’s water crisis, how can out-door water usage be trimmed immediately?

A quick example: I live in an older home where it takes almost 3 gallons of water to get hot water to the shower. I now put a bucket in the shower, capture that water and use it in my courtyard planters, herb pots and curbside planter. By doing this two times a day, I will save 2,100 gallons over a year and repurpose it to the garden.

In most cases, an irrigation audit and

system review with recommended im-provements by a landscape contractor is a great place to start fi nding the “leaks” in your garden.

Are there long-term measures that can be taken in the yard to conserve this natural resource?

There are too many to mention and more are being discovered and created. It all starts with a design that includes the practice of sustainable landscape right from the beginning. This takes an open mind and a new way of looking at the landscape for a lot of us.

We do live in a desert here in South-ern California, and the yards are not all large, but the impact is huge by the sheer numbers of houses. I love the “Think Globally, Act Locally” slogan when it comes to sustainable landscapes. Who knows, we might even help the bees and the butterfl ies.

Don Kansteiner designs landscapes for Para-dise Designs—a full-service landscape design, construction and maintenance company owned by brothers Tom and Jeff Garton. Started in a Dana Point garage 25 years ago, Tom and Jeff built Paradise on family. They’ve since shaped a team of designers, project coordinators and crew mem-bers who create their clients’ paradise. Paradise Design, Inc. 1395 Calle Avanzado, San Clemente, 949.498.2155, www.paradisedesigns-inc.com.

lumber and wood shingles. Heavier materials such as asphalt, con-

crete and rock can be recycled at Green-stone Materials, Inc. where 100 percent of disposed materials are crushed, tweaked, scalped, screened and recycled for a new life and purpose. These recycled products become a top choice for materials to be used underneath structures, pavement, concrete, paving stones and even land-scape bedding.

Before embarking on that next house overhaul, look into ways to reduce the project’s footprint by salvaging debris and utilizing recycled materials when pos-sible.—Andrea Papagianis

EcoScapes: Designing for Our Future

CONSUME LESS, CONSERVE MORE WATER WITH A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE

Greenstone Materials, Inc. in San Juan Capistrano recycles asphalt, concrete and rock and gives it new life for home, road and landscaping projects. Courtesy photo

Give Waste New Life // Skip the Landfi ll and Recycle Construction Debris

Owners of this contemporary San Clemente beach home reached out to Paradise Design, Inc. to give the home some needed curb appeal. Designers removed the traditional lawn and got creative with the yard’s tight constraints. Large steel planter boxes and ceramic pots were installed to create a formal entry and an at-grade drip system was put in to maintain the low-water needing ground coverage.

Dripping faucets, clogged drains, running toilets and water leaks are unavoidable. At some point in time, we all encounter plumbing problems. To answer a few questions about do-it-yourself fi xes and preventing costly pipe issues, we asked Clay Robinson, a technician at Chick’s Plumbing. Here’s what he had to say.

How can a homeowner prevent costly plumbing repairs?

Have your home inspected oncea year by a licensed plumber and stay on top of any plumbing problems that are brought up. Have preventative maintenance done to anything that may

need it—area drains, mainlines, water fi ltration systems, fi lter changes, etc.

Are there do-it-yourself or quick fi xes for dripping faucets, low-water pres-sure, running toilets, and clogged/slow drains?

For faucets, replace cartridges and stems once a year. There really are no quick fi xes though. To maintain good water pressure, clear aerators that are typically found at the tip of faucets. When it comes to running toilets, dye test them. Put food coloring in the tank. If you see the color in the toilet bowl after about 5 to 10 minutes, the fl apper and/or fi ll valve may need to be replaced. If the toilet is 10 years or older, you should replace it. To prevent clogged and slow drains, set up a maintenance program with a plumber that you trust for them to come out every 4 to 6 months to snake and/or jet your line.

Pipe Problems // Answers Straight from the Plumbing Expert

When problems arise, when is it time to call a professional?

Anytime you see or hear water running when all the fi xtures are off, call a plumb-er. If you feel warmth coming out of your fl oor, and you don’t have a radiant heating system, then you should call a plumber.

Chick’s Plumbing has provided quick, reliable and quality service to south Orange County residents and businesses for more than 35 years. From 24/7 emergency repairs to kitchen and bathroom remodels, Chick’s technicians are fully equipped to handle every plumbing need. Chick’s Plumb-ing, 34172 Doheny Park Road, Capistrano Beach, 949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com.

Clay Robinson