HOME IMPROVEMENT: Living up to its name

Service Champions Heating and Air Conditioning opened in 2000 in Brea with a staff of six people, recalls company founder Leland A. Smith. Today, the award-winning residential contractor’s base of customers expands beyond Orange County and into Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. To service these regions, they have expanded their team substantially and now have 195 employees.

Such remarkable growth is partly due to Service Champions’ razor-sharp focus on taking care of its customers and employees, Smith says. And partnering with the HERO Program in 2013 has only added to the contractor’s expansion, says Jim Dotson, a comfort advisor who has been with Service Champions since the beginning.

“The HERO Program has gotten a lot of homeowners involved in home improvement projects who typically may not have been able to afford them another way,” Dotson says. “It’s helped us reach out to a lot of clients. I think HERO is a game changer.”

The HERO Program allows homeowners to make energy- and water-saving improvements to their homes with no money upfront and pay for the improvements over time through voluntary assessments to their property tax bill. This is thanks to the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing provided by the HERO Program – the nation’s largest PACE provider.

HERO financing payments may have tax benefits, and many homeowners see immediate savings on utility bills. Homeowners can also take advantage of state and local rebates, which make the improvements even more affordable. A recent example of Service Champions’ desire to deliver stellar service occurred in Norwalk, in the home of Debra Solorzano-Madrid and Cesar Gallegos.

The couple had shelled out a sizable amount of cash for a pest control company to come out to their 1960-built tract home prior to having a new HVAC system installed this June.

For years, their air conditioner had failed to keep their single-story, three-bedroom home properly cooled. And it died just ahead of a birthday party the couple was planning for their 17-year-old daughter.

Choosy about selecting a HVAC contractor for the job, Debra and Cesar found Service Champions online and were impressed by the contractor’s great reviews.

During installation, Service Champions field technicians found a pigeon living in the attic.

Putting into action the contractor’s ethos of going to great lengths for clients, the technicians used a bed sheet to wrap up the pigeon and its nest and relocate the bird and its home outside.

“What kind of a (HVAC contractor) does that?” Debra asks. “Their customer service was just above and beyond.” Smith says Service Champions is committed to delivering the same exacting high standards of customer service throughout the Inland Empire. The company’s field technicians, about 20 percent of them military veterans, show up on time to jobs in crisp uniforms and feel personally invested in achieving customer satisfaction. Debra and Cesar highly recommended the contractor.

Ditto for the HERO Program, which is made possible through a public-pri­vate partnership with municipalities and has been adopted by 439 communities, making it available to 89% of California households. Since its inception in 2011, HERO has financed more than $1.95 billion in home energy and efficiency improvements in more than 81,000 homes.

“The HERO Program representative walked us through every step,” Cesar said. “We felt so informed. They wanted us to feel comfortable about making a decision, and we were absolutely comfortable in making it.”

Add A Quirky Touch To Your Home Decor

A home is a visual reflection of the personalities of its inhabitants, says Munawwar Sharifi, founder of ‘The Design Company India’ and ‘Let’s Space it out’. “Every human has a quirky side to his personality and expressing this is no longer considered taboo,” adds Sharifi. Consequently, quirky décor is now in vogue as home owners try to give a unique feel to their homes.

There is a vast range of quirky décor items that are available today, as an increasing number of artists, designers and creative entrepreneurs take to creating such products. There are stores all over the country that sell quirky creations and even websites, which have home décor items for every budget.

“Today, the posters of epic films are seen on homes’ walls more often, as compared to family photographs. The cutting chai glass is in trend. So is the the peti (metal trunk) and the aluminum kettle, which may have been an eyesore in the past but with some art work on it, it is now seen as a great décor item,” explains Sharifi.

Choose appropriate accessories Quirky items can brighten up a dull décor. “From the crockery that one uses in the kitchen, to the décor in the study table or bar area, there are products with a twist that can be added for fun,” says Sneha Raisoni, owner of Tappu Ki Dukaan. The inspiration for quirky items, comes from any art or design that uses popular or cultural icons and can be extended to Bollywood, autorickshaws and even trucks, she says. “We have coffee mugs, which look like cactus plants, ashtrays that resemble Indian loos and beverage glasses with funny lines,” says Raisoni, giving examples.

A peppy sculpture, a bicycle converted into a bar, a lamp crafted out of motorcycle parts, or graphic-based accessories, can change the mood of the décor and serve as interesting conversation pieces.

“Quirky can be humorous, playful, shocking or something which makes people curious. It can be huge in size, or the way it is arranged can be radically different,” suggests artist Bharati Pitre from Pune, who is known for exaggerated papier mâché figures with large bodies and small heads that reflect the lighter side of life. These elements tend to start a conversation and evoke curiosity. One can also play around with colors or shapes, which are striking, adds Pitre, who created caricatures of her friends’ faces on recycled old bottles and gifted it to them as décor items.

Selecting a quirky or a kitschy piece can be be tricky. One can also buy them online at sites such as whysoserious.co.in, tappukidukaan.com and Indiancircus.com. Look at its finish, material and the shades of colour used. “Ensure that the piece you select has its own special identity,” concludes Pitre.

Tips to add quirky décor elements Ensure that the pieces don’t end up looking cheap or tacky. This genre allows for items to be recycled. For example, old metal buckets, taps (can be used as hooks), old painted kadhais (can be used as planters), etc., can be used as décor items. You can also provide an artistic twist to old furniture and waste material – an old wooden stool can be painted in a bright orange shade, while an empty liquor bottle can serve as the base of a table lamp. Don’t go overboard and restrict your quirky décor items to a few selected pieces. Display photographs (or caricatures) of loved ones in neon-coloured frames and align them asymmetrically. Retain a brick-finish on the wall and colour it vibrantly with street art on the walls.

Start A New Life In This Home By The Sea

What could be better than raising your family in a picturesque seaside town, with views stretching across the Moray Firth?

At number 26 Boyndie Street West in Banff, you could do exactly that with offers over £234,000.

This four-bedroom house brings together sea views and community life, with walks past the harbour and plenty of local schools to choose from.

A recently renovated slate roof means the house is even more in-keeping with the area, and traditional features have also been retained inside.

The lounge is positioned to catch the sunshine throughout the day, and a lovely marble fireplace means this would be a great space for entertaining in, especially during the winter.

Patio doors lead out to the garden, meaning the room can be adapted all year round.

A second living area benefits from bay windows and could be transformed into a dining room, with fantastic garden views.

The spacious kitchen also has a dining area and leads out into the garden, making it ideal for the summer months.

Few homes can offer a stunning sea view from the landing, and all four bedrooms can be found upstairs. The master bedroom is large and has fitted wardrobes and units, alongside three further bedrooms which offer wardrobe space.

The four-piece family bathroom has a shower over the bath with cream units and tiling.

Traditional features such as ceiling rose and picture rails mean this family home still has plenty of character, and children will love the sprawling gardens both at the front and the back of the house.

The front garden consists of a lawn and plenty of shrubs as well as more colourful plants, whereas the back of the house is the perfect spot for a barbecue.

The walled rear garden has been planted with trees and flowers and is ideal for the kids to play in because it is fully enclosed.

A decking area makes the perfect sun trap and there are also steps down to the double tandem garage, meaning parking isn’t a problem.

The historic town of Banff itself is a golfing haven and is separated from the coastal resort of Macduff by a bridge running over the River Deveron.

Mortgage funding may also be available, making this house even more affordable.

The Home Decorating Tool You Probably Aren’t Using

They are surprisingly versatile and a powerful tool to have in your design armoury. You use them like pieces of art, furniture and other home decor, as major features in a room or a last minute styling detail, the opportunities are endless.

What could this fascinating addition be?

Plants!

Plants are colour, shape and most importantly life to a room and the ways in which you can use them are almost endless. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should bring every aspect of the outdoors in, but careful and considered use of plants in your home can do more than just brighten the place up a bit.

As a room divider

As you can see a shelf full of plants in a room can really divide the space and create a beautiful distinction between different parts of a room. You can use them instead of furniture or screens.

As a major statement

A large well-developed tree in your living room might not be in everyone’s taste but you can’t deny that its presence adds height and an element of drama. Case in point, the image above.

As an opportunity

If there’s a corner in your room that you just can’t get anything else to fit in and you don’t want the space to look awkward or wasted, try placing a cluster of plants there. A grouping with a mix of sizes and shapes could provide you with a visual distraction for hours at a time.

As a living sculpture

Plants that spill out of their containers add a nice sense of movement to a room, while clever uses of materials combined with plants (like the succulents above) add something you cannot get with other things.

As wall-mounted decoration

How amazing do these terrariums look hanging off the wall? On a blank canvas (such as this wall space) these additions provide just the right amount of interest and a sense of warmth.

As table centrepieces

While cut flowers are lovely, they don’t quite have the lasting appeal of a plant. Create a focal point on your furniture and use potted plants as a living, breathing, decoration. Oh, and don’t feel that you have to wait for a special occasion either. Who could be more deserving than you?

As hanging art

Plants look great when they fill the dead air space. They provide unique shapes and colours dangling above you. Hanging plants are perfect for those who live in small spaces.

As final styling pieces

Pairing inanimate objects and plants can make a great style choice in your home. On bookshelves they are especially practical ways to break up large volumes of books (though we’re also quite fond of books at Starts at 60).

5 Home Decor Trends Go Cool, Dramatic For Fall

This fall, decor continues to move in a more easygoing direction, with welcoming hues, softer profiles and a comfortable mix of materials and styles.

For those with a flair for the dramatic, there’s room for that, too.

Some trends for the upcoming season:

Warm and welcoming

New York designer Elaine Griffin sees the influence of millennials in a trend toward “feel good finds” with a palette of warm colors, laidback furnishings and lots of texture.

“Millennials’ homes echo the nurturing environments they grew up in,” she says.

That generation is embracing locally produced crafts as well as goods from far corners of the planet, she says: “There’s retro style and global influence everywhere.”

Fall also offers a range of new rugs, from fluffy wools in neutral colors to tapestries known as kilims in deeper tones and stronger patterns.

Amy Matthews, the Minneapolis-based renovation maven who has hosted shows on HGTV, DIY Network and TheDesignNetwork.com, loves using Persian runners in unexpected places.

“There’s nothing like (it) in the kitchen,” she says. “It brightens up a classic kitchen, and also makes changing out color schemes a breeze. And in any other room, it will take your decor to the next level by anchoring with ‘art’ for the floor.”

Pattern play

Geometrics, mineral prints, florals and global motifs get fresh interpretations for fall.

For Griffin, “marble motifs are the ‘it’ pattern of the season.” The veined white versions are found everywhere across bath, kitchen and tabletop goods, but look too for marbleized patterns in dramatic hues on fabric and paper.

Wallpapers are on Matthews’ pattern radar.

“Wallpaper’s not just for the walls anymore,” she says. It can go on ceilings and even furniture.

“It’s more dramatic and eye-catching than paint, making a strong statement and setting the tone for a room,” she says.

Roman blinds are also back in style, with contemporary pattern collections by designers like Diane Von Furstenberg and Jeffrey Alan Marks.

Mix and match metals

Beth Kushnick, set decorator for CBS’ “The Good Wife,” puts metallics near the top of her trend list.

“Some are highly reflective and others are more subtle, but they’re in gold, silver, copper and rubbed bronze. They really up-scale a look and broaden a color palette,” she says.

The trend appeals to Matthews, too. Her style tip: Don’t overdo it.

“I prefer not to pick any more than three different metallic-finished pieces, and then put them together for an eclectic and timeless look,” she says.

Color story

“My go-to color is always blue,” says Kushnick. “I’m seeing dark blue and teal in particular now, which work so well for a variety of styles, bridging the gap between masculine and feminine.”

Adds Matthews: “Cool grays are giving way to dusty, sky and indigo blues.”

Griffin is seeing muted versions of ’60s pottery hues — turquoise, coral, citrus and ivory — debuting this fall and carrying into spring 2017.

A range of whites and creams will complement all those metallics, says Kushnick.

“As a set decorator, I usually try to stay away from these colors, since they’re difficult to use on camera. But on my new show (CBS’s “BrainDead”) I’m using them almost exclusively. I’m seeing options in every décor style. White’s working year-round, and is here to stay.”

The paint company Benjamin Moore has named Simply White its color of the year, and Sherwin-Williams, Glidden and Behr also selected whites as their signature 2016 colors.

Dramatic touches

Matthews is excited about “the rebirth of the chandelier.” She sees the statement fixture as one of the most dramatic and playful additions to any room.

“Designs look best when they’re eclectic and a bit eccentric,” she says, adding, “The more eye-catching, the better. If tile is ‘eye candy’ for the walls, then pendant lights are the earrings that make the outfit.”

For Griffin, the drama’s all about a curvier silhouette in furnishings.

“After years of harsh angles, the curve looks fresh for fall,” she observes. “Streamlined new versions are evocative of ’70s and ’80s classics.”

INNOVATIVE WAYS TO USE LIGHTING IN HOME DÉCOR IN ESSEX

When remodelling your home, there are certain things you may not have thought of because your focus is on colour, style and even periods in décor. One of the most often overlooked aspect of remodelling or renovating a home is the lighting you will use to enhance the overall appeal of the room or rooms you are giving a new look to. Before finishing your plans, take a few moments to think about the kind of lighting that will offer the look you are after, then check out an electrician Romford area of Essex to get a quote and timeframe for installing the wiring and perhaps the lighting itself to see if your plans are within your budget. Here are some innovative ways to use lighting you may not have considered.

Task Lighting

Some rooms have need for more light than others, especially areas of the home where there is a lot of activity such as the kitchen or laundry room. Task lighting offers light directed towards areas where it is most needed so that you have ample light to do what you need to do while other areas are left in a softer glow. Task lighting can be floor lamps but usually you are looking at recessed lighting with the individual lamps being pointed towards areas that need to be well lit.

Ambient Lighting

In some rooms you don’t want that stark light that doesn’t allow you to just sit back and relax. Ambient lighting is ideal for this purpose and generally casts a warm, soft glow in the room. This is typically recessed lighting in the ceiling, or the fixtures can be flush, but the lighting gives off a warm glow that can be brightened to white if needed through the use of dimmer switches.

Accent Lighting and Lamps

If you are adding built-in cabinetry or bookshelves, accent lights are absolutely perfect for calling attention to what is being housed within. If you have a library of first edition books or some collectors’ pieces for your built-in glass cabinetry, small accent lights offer just the right amount of glow to capture the attention without overpowering all else in the room.

Wall Fixtures and Sconces

Older cottages and farmhouses often had wall fixtures and sconces of the period in which they were built. Over the years these have degenerated with use and time so that it may be required to install new lamps that have been fashioned after the period they were originally designed for. You could always try to buy working antiques, but often it is just easier and less expensive to buy new lamps fashioned like old.

Being aware of how you want to make innovative use of lighting prior to remodelling can save you a huge amount of time and effort later on. The wiring and inspection can be done prior to the finishing touches of your remodelling project and when that is complete, simply flip the switch and see the end result. It’s amazing what shedding a little light can do to any home décor.

5 Home Improvement Details That Make All The Difference

There are so many things to consider when doing up your home it’s not surprising that some of the less prominent details can fall through the cracks. But with a little forward planning you can ensure the little details are exactly as you want them to be.

1. Skirting boards

These are not something most people tend to focus on when planning a renovation. Unless they have been specifically detailed early on in the design process, they tend to be left to the contractor to supply.

Believe it or not, there is a lot of choice when it comes to skirtings, from the very traditional to much more contemporary – all of which come in a wide range of heights. This seemingly small detail frames every room so it’s worth making sure it enhances the overall scheme. Ask your contractor to bring you samples to approve before he buys anything or visit a local builders’ supplier to look at the options available.

2. Architraves

The same goes for architraves, the timber moulding that frames your doors and, of course, the doors themselves. Prices and styles vary massively so unless you’ve agreed from the outset what you want it’s worth being specific here.

3. Ironmongery

This is another area which can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Think of the handles as the finishing touches to your doors – so again spend a bit of time making sure the style is both in keeping with your design and comfortable to use. Lever handles are a better choice than door knobs for anyone with concerns about mobility in their wrists or hands. Front doors often come with standard ironmongery so it’s important to know what you’re getting and make any changes in the early stages of placing the order. One practical consideration is whether to go for a key-operated or thumb-turn locking system on the inside of your door.

Safety with children can be an issue here – if they can reach the thumb turn it’s very easy for them to open the door, so a key would be a better option.

4. Tiles

Before your tiler starts, ask them to lay out the tiles as they plan to fit them. Think about how the tiles will flow from front to back and from side to side. In a bathroom, it’s good to centre the floor tiles on the WC and get the floor joints to align with the wall joints.

Keep grout lines as small as possible and depending on the kind of tiles you are using, think about how to finish any exposed edges. Stone, for example, can be polished or bevelled avoiding the need for any kind of trims. Ceramic and porcelain tiles, however, will need a tile trim. I would recommend a square-edge chrome trim over the plastic version; they are more expensive but absolutely worth it.

5. Junctions

Finally, when it comes to combining different floor finishes, try to keep junctions as clean as possible. A little forward planning will mean you can have a seamless joint between timber and tiles, avoiding the need for any kind of metal or timber trim. This is particularly important in an open-plan space with different floor finishes where you want to maintain a seamless flow between the different areas. Denise O’Connor is an architect and design consultant.