Protect Your Million-Dollar View

Consider Windows that Clean Themselves and Screens that Seem Invisible

In sunny Southern California, you pay for your million-dollar view.  So why let your gorgeous view be obstructed by water spots or a dirty screen?  One window manufacturer, 103-year-old Andersen Windows, has created a better replacement window, which they call Renewal by Andersen.  Their patent-protected windows offer a new screen system and a glass treatment

 process that keeps their windows cleaner and clearer than the competition.

The new Renewal by Andersen window enjoys a TruScene screen that lets in more light and provides 50-percent more clarity than a standard insect screen.  In fact, it protects against even the smallest insects while at the same time being made of steel for maximum strength.

Renewal by Andersen windows utilize Low E-4 glass, which is the best window product for energy efficiency and low maintenance.  Photo-catalytic action within the glass allows you to simply wash dust and dirt off with a hose.  The water sheets off without leaving spots or drip marks.

Of course, Renewal windows also use a patented Fibrex material, which outperforms vinyl windows in all types of weather.  And Fibrex allows customers to choose their trim color well beyond the monochromatic white of traditional vinyl.

In addition to Renewal by Andersen exterior color choices, interiors offer three wood species choices: pine, maple and oak, and a variety of stains to choose from.  Customers looking to maintain their architectural integrity are very excited by the Renewal custom-made product performance.

When it comes to replacing your new windows and doors, consider improving the value of your home at the same time.  Most people inherited their windows and doors from the previous homeowners and are therefore not able to select a product that greatly impacts the appearance - and therefore the value of their home.  Clark Adams Co. was hand-selected by Andersen Windows to install their exclusive Renewal by Andersen Windows.  Call to arrange a free in-home estimate at 310-214-2222, or visit their website at www.clarkadams.com.

The Most Reliable Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures Used Today

From Dr. Harold J. Kaplan, MD, FACS

Cosmetic Surgery of the Face & Neck Exclusively

Eyelid Surgery (blepharoplasty): Upper blepharoplasty  corrects the excess skin on the eylids to create a more refined appearance.  Lower blepharoplasty also corrects loose skin to reduce sagging under the eyes.  To create a more refreshed, youthful look, Dr. Kaplan removes or repositions the fatty deposits that cause bags.  

Browlift: A browlift is a minimally invasive procedure designed to create more youthful looking eyes and a less tired appearance by elevating and repositioning the sagging eyebrow. Forehead lines may also be improved as a result of this procedure.

Forehead Lift: As with the browlift, one of the greatest benefits of this technique is that along with the skin, both underlying tissue and muscles can be lifted to correct deep forehead wrinkling and frown lines.  This helps create a more natural, longer-lasting result.

Face/Neck Lift: Dr. Kaplan corrects the effects of aging on the face and neck by lifting the underlying support muscles and reducing the excess skin, restoring youthfulness and softening wrinkles without creating a tight or unnatural look.

Submental Liposuction/Repair: Surgery is performed beneath the chin to eliminate the appearance of a "double chin".  Loose skin beneath the chin and neck may also be "lifted."  This procedure is often performed in concert with a facelift.

Nasal Surgery (Rhinoplasty):  Rhinoplasty can beautify the nose and often correct breathing difficulties at the same time.  By reshaping the cartilage and the nasal bones, Dr. Kaplan corrects the aesthetic presentation of the nose.  

Ear Correction (Otoplasty): Otoplasty is a procedure designed to correct malpositioned or malformed ears.  Not only can Dr. Kaplan "pin back" the ears, but he can also make the ears appear more symmetrical by reshaping them or reducing their size.

Facial Implants: 

• Surgical Implants require an incision and precise placement of a permanent prosthesis.  Dr. Kaplan can manipulate these to sculpt the chin, cheeks and other locations when augmentation of a particular feature is determined to enhance the result.
• Injectable Filler Implants include a variety of fillers available to plump and fill unwelcome lines and wrinkles and enhance lips.  The various sources of these materials are human and synthetic.  In general, the injections are done with small needles so there essentially no recovery time required.
  

Botox®: This injectable material temporarily reduces lines and wrinkles by weakening the underlying muscles which create the problem.

Laser Skin Resurfacing Techniques: A laser is used during facial plastic surgery as a resurfacing tool to significantly improve fine lines, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and acne scarring.  

Customized Skin Care Program: Trained medical aestheticians perform in-office medical strength chemical peels and Diamond tome particle-free microdermabrasion.  These treatments are coupled with a prescribed "at home" treatment regimen including skin care and sun-protection products.  These are only available at a physician's office.

Chemical Peels: Superficial and light chemical peels utilizing glycolic, beta hydroxy, retinoic and amino fruit acids, are safe and effective treatments to gradually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.  They are also effective in the treatment of acne.

Creating a Kitchen Remodel that Keeps Couples Together

Kitchen remodeling can be difficult on a relationship.  Many decisions need to be made and the more that homeowners can agree about their personal needs and goals before the remodel has begun, the better a kitchen designer and the installer can satisfy them.  Consider taking the following preliminary steps to keep your family in harmony.

• Step One: Communicate.  Take the time to talk specifics with your partner.  Are you looking for a new look?  More space?  A better layout?  Find photos of kitchens you've seen in magazines and show the kitchen designer what each of you like and what you don't like, before it's installed in your home.
• Step Two: Set Your Parameters.  Before you start, set a budget.  Without one, costs can easily get out of hand.  Although a perfect kitchen design looks fabulous, if your budget is one-third of the price, it can be very depressing.   Let your designer know the budget and that the number must be respected and change orders need to be in writing.
• Step Three: Determine Your Physical Space.  Are you open to moving any walls or do you need a design that is limited to your existing space?  What cabinet styles do you like and which ones match your home?  Before the designer begins, it really helps to know your preferences. 

After 30 years of designing some of LA's most impressive kitchen remodels, The Kitchen Warehouse (with eight full-time kitchen designers) recommends you take these steps and be sure to call a professional designer to help you navigate your new kitchen.  They display over 30 complete kitchens providing you and your partner with unlimited ideas.  Call for a kitchen design appointment at (323) 734-1696 or visit their website at www.thekitchenwarehousela.com.

Contractor Selection Tips from Clark Adams

The success or failure of a residential home improvement project, according to the California Contractors State License Board, is more dependent upon contractor selection than any other decision a homeowner will make.  Because contractor selection is so critical to getting the job done right the first tim, the CSLB has provided a checklist for homeowners to use in their selection process.

The checklist is designed to give remodeling consumers a better picture of all the potential contractor by listing recommended practices and certain requirements of all home improvement contracts and alert consumers to any potential problems or liabilities before a contract is entered into.

• Did your contractor tell you whether or not they carry General Liability Insurance? While not a requirement, it is a requirement to disclose whether or not a policy is in force.  The CSLB strongly recommends all contractors carry this insurance.
• What does this insurance cover? It is supposed to cover third party bodily injury and accidental property damage, but not the quality of the work performed by the contractor.
• How can you make sure the contractor is insured? If requested, the contractor is required to provide you with the name and telephone number of the insurance company.  You should call and verify coverage and date of expiration. 
• What about a contractor who claims to be self-insured? A self-insured contractor has made a decision to be personally liable for losses that would ordinarily be covered by insurance.  As yourself, if something went wrong, would this contractor be able to cover those losses?
• Did you contact the State License Board and check the status of the License? Call 1-800-321-CSLB or visit the website at www.cslb.ca.gov.
• Did you verify that the contractor has Workman's Compensation Insurance? The website address will disclose if a policy is in force.  If the contractor has no employees, it is not required, but beware of the contractor says they use employees instead of subcontractors and there is no insurance.
• Did you get at least three local references from each contractor?  Are they local and can you call them?
• Are building permits required? Make sure to have who is responsible for obtaining and paying for permits in writing.
• Does the contract include a detailed description of the work to be done and the materials used? This description should include brand names, model numbers, colors, sizes, quantities and options.  More details in the contract now prevent disputes later.
• Is there a schedule of payments? Maximum deposit is ten percent of the job or $1,000.  Whichever is less.
• Are all changes or additions to the contract in writing? This is a requirement and reduces the possibility of later disagreements.
  

Remember, the more time you spend up-front assessing contractor qualifications, the greater chance you have of experiencing a successful remodeling project that will enhance your quality of life for years to come!

For more information regarding window and door replacement, you can contact the professionals at Clark Adams Co. Windows & Doors or visit their showrooms at 2411 Artesia Blvd. in Redondo Beach or 23841 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance.  You can call for your free in-home estimate at (310) 214-2222.  Visit their website at www.clarkadams.com

Beautiful Design From Kitchens to Doors

Good custom design, whether it’s in a newly remodeled kitchen or an impressive set of front doors, is the key to an attractive home. It explains why the addition of Avalon Custom Wood Entry Doors to the products and services available through The Kitchen Warehouse has been so well received by local homeowners.

“These doors are remarkably consistent with our builder-architect-designer following,” said Glen Ferguson, one of the founding partners of The Kitchen Warehouse. His 34-year-old company, which specializes in kitchen design, is highly regarded for its skilled designers and enormous selection of cabinetry that includes 16 different lines and nearly a dozen choices of wood species.

Victor Garofalo, a representative of some of the high-end cabinet companies that supply The Kitchen Warehouse, has worked with Ferguson for at least 20 years. When he discovered the amazing artistry of Avalon Doors recently, he knew the product would be a perfect match for The Kitchen Warehouse even though its exterior and interior doors had little to do with kitchens.

“These are custom-custom doors, meaning that anything you can create on paper, we can create in the door,” Garofalo said. “If you need a 12-foot-tall door, or one that is three inches thick with your initials engraved in it, if you like elaborate wood carving or art glass, wrought iron trim, or copper and stainless steel integrated into the wood itself, Avalon Doors can do it. These are truly furniture-quality works of art.”

He added that Donald Trump has had Avalon doors installed in many of his projects, including his new home in Palos Verdes.

For an idea of the extremes to which the makers of these doors will go to satisfy customer whims in design, dimensions, and high-end woods and hardware for everything from doors to architectural details for home interiors, visit www.thekitchenwarehousela.com and explore the gallery. Several Avalon doors are also on display at The Kitchen Warehouse, an 8,000-square-foot showroom that features an always-changing exhibit of nearly three dozen model kitchens.

To make a good thing better, the doors are pre-finished and pre-hung, then delivered to the residence for fast, clean installation. Clients often take advantage of packaged services available with the doors, such as interior window molding, baseboards, and crown molding designer-guided to match in color and style with the rest of the home.

“My thinking was that the design expertise of The Kitchen Warehouse would be a big plus with helping people get the most out the Avalon product offerings,” Garofalo explained. “I know how good their designers are at helping people in the creative process.”