Designer Kenneth Cobonpue creates furniture that is just beautiful to look at. I wouldn’t even need to use it – just having it around to marvel at would be enough for me. He uses locally sourced organic materials for his collections, as well as innovative modern techniques to create furniture that is practical and functional. Plus, it’ll become the most interesting art you could possibly have in your home.

As far as his “locally sourced” materials go, it’s hard to say exactly where Kenneth calls home. Born in the Philippines, he studied and worked abroad in glorious places like Italy and Germany. The designer has offices in Washington, D.C. (yay – local to me!), Portugal and the Philippines, not to mention distributors all over the world. You can find his creations in 12 states, including Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, DC, California, Colorado and New Mexico.

One of the things I like best about Cobonpue’s innovations is that his materials consist of a few common, pronounceable and mostly natural items. Remember that ice cream commercial where a little girl tried to read the list of ingredients from a competitor’s label? That’s what most products are like today. Compare that to Cobonpue’s list: abaca (Manila hemp), aluminum, bamboo, buri (Philippine palm), fabrics, polyethylene and rattan (climbing palm).

You’ve got to check out the Noodle collection. It may sound limp and lazy, but it’s bold and swirly and fun to look at. The furniture is made from rattan vines wrapped around a metal frame and it comes in a deep, rich brown.

Give me a cup of coffee and leave me there in the morning, and I’ll be the limp and lazy noodle, for sure.

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Oakland, CA, is 400,000 people strong, and since its founding in 1852, it — like so many other major cities — has earned its way to the need for urban renewal over many years and chapters of modern history. Oakland’s Redevelopment Agency, with its focus of development and renewal, is forging ahead with many projects despite budgetary constraints related to the general economic climate. Exemplary of many urban renewal programs, projects for Oakland include:

• New housing
• Home rehabilitation
• Expanded retail
• Beautified parks
• Attractive streetscapes
• Refreshed commercial buildings
• New businesses inside once-vacant storefronts
• More opportunities for neighborhoods

Photo credit: JDog Construction

In other words, there’s a whole lotta remodeling and construction goin’ on!

Interspersed throughout this article are photographs of remodeling and construction projects done by a few of the many CalFinder-certified Oakland contractors.

The Redeveloping Oakland Newsletter offers quarterly updates about projects as diverse as the city, with Accomplishments and Goals for large-scale undertakings. Some of these big projects include sub-sections such as:

1. Neighborhood improvement and initiative programs
2. Construction of streetscapes
3. Building or renovating affordable housing developments
4. Construction of new public parks and associated facilities

Photo credit: Mara Construction

Urban renewal is a big job, but there’s no shortage of interest and professional expertise from citizens and government officials who are at the ready. Significant contributions to the overall redevelopment of Oakland are also being made by the people who live in the city’s residential areas and who have the wherewithal to effect their own remodeling and construction projects.

CalFinder recommends many Oakland contractors who serve the area. This section of CalFinder’s website talks about the city with enthusiasm: “A new Oakland is emerging… as a homeowner, you feel the energy and transfer it to your home improvement projects. Just as the city around you becomes revitalized, so does the potential for your own yard, hallways, rooms, and living spaces.”

I don’t know about you, but as a Bay Area resident myself, after discovering all these exciting things about Oakland, I’m looking forward to a visit there some weekend soon. I want to experience some of this renewal myself!

For a great selection of impressive contractors and their galleries of project examples, visit the Oakland Contractor page.

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I suppose the most significant factor in making any place special, as far as where we choose to make ourselves at home, is the people. Friends, family, the culture, and community “vibe” — all these elements are of major importance. Ultimately, those are the things that are drawing me back to Santa Cruz. But what else makes it special? There are lots of things that stand out.

Location, location, location! Santa Cruz is situated on the northern part of Monterey Bay, about 74 miles south of San Francisco and 30 miles from San Jose. Its population is relatively small, at about 60,000 people. It is home to the University of California, Santa Cruz, and about 10% of the land area of the county is devoted to State Parks. The climate is mild, with average highs of 69 degrees Fahrenheit and average lows of 44. Rainfall averages 32 inches per year.

Photo credit: Wonderlane
So much for basic statistics, which give you an idea about the environment, but don’t really tell the tale. The wonders of the place start to come alive when you stand at Pleasure Point and watch the surfers — surfing is a popular pastime in Santa Cruz. There’s also the Boardwalk, the West Coast’s last remaining seaside amusement park. When you drive into town and then to the coast, the festive view of roller coaster, ferris wheel, and flags fluttering in the ocean breezes gives the instant impression of being on holiday. How great is that?!
Photo credit: mk94577

The median price for a home is $600,000, so it’s a pricey place to live. And I’ve heard many stories about the challenges and expense surrounding the whole building code and permit arena. But does any of that stop people? No. The area is thriving, and people come from all over the country to buy houses and land.

It’s such a beautiful place! And so convenient to other great places, too. In addition to easy access to San Jose and San Francisco to the north, when you head south around the Monterey Bay, you have Monterey Bay Peninsula treasures including Carmel, Pebble Beach, and then, further on, Big Sur. The vistas over the Pacific as you drive south are truly incredible.

Among my favorite places in the area is Big Basin State Park. It’s California’s oldest State Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of over 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering redwood forest. The old trees are so majestic and enormous!

Santa Cruz benefits from its close proximity to Silicon Valley and thousands of residents commute to the high tech companies “over the hill.” This sophisticated technological flavor permeates the environment, adding vitality and creativity to the whole area.

As the Mayor of Santa Cruz, Ryan Coonerty, says, “Exceptional people, world-class resources, a creative environment, and great natural beauty; Santa Cruz has it all. On behalf of our entire community, we welcome you.”

CalFinder-certified Santa Cruz Area Contractors:
Torres Construction
Kitchen Remodeling Contractors in Santa Clara
Bartholomew Construction

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Let’s say you live in or near Sausalito, CA, and you need some remodeling done. I picked Sausalito as an example because I drive past it on Highway 101 from time to time, and I’m always struck by the beauty of this unique Marin County town on the Bay.

The first thing I did was enter the keyword “Sausalito” in the Search box, found in the upper right corner of every page on CalFinder’s website. This took me to a page featuring a variety of different contractors, each with its designated link for learning more about that particular company. From here, you can explore the different contractors. Here are a few that attracted me — see what you think!

Celtic Construction

Photo credit: Celtic Construction

Celtic Construction does kitchen, bathroom, and general remodeling. There’s a slide show featuring examples of their work — clearly high quality. A customer comments, “I was a single woman and was totally taken advantage of by the workman and the unlicensed contractor I hired. Celtic Construction came in after I fired the original contractor and rescued me. Superior workmanship and they did twice the work in half the time. I was never talked down to when work to be done was explained to me.”

Lobao Construction

Photo credit: Lobao Construction

You’ll find a gallery of examples of Lobao’s kitchen, bathroom, and general remodeling projects. (There’s a wine cellar that’s quite fabulous in the gallery collection!) “Here at Lobao Contruction we have been helping residents of the Bay Area since 1975… whether you are ready to remodel a bathroom, install foundation bolts, remodel a kitchen or a complete addition.” A customer says, “Extremely honest and trustworthy, I’ve been a client of Jim’s for the last 30 years, but each time he does work for me he still continues to amaze me. Very high standard of craftsmanship.”

Marin County Construction

Photo credit: Marin County Construction

Their company description tells you a lot: “Marin County Construction specializes in residential green building of kitchens, baths, and room additions. Marin County Construction is one of the few “certified” green builders and is the only firm in Marin who practices deconstruction instead of demolition of existing work. Deconstruction is the art of removing existing materials from your home and reusing them during a remodel. The remaining materials that are not usable are 100% recycled.” The photo gallery shows a wide range of projects, including some fabulous bathroom tile work.

This simple tour should get your juices flowing, wherever you live. Try putting your own town’s name in CalFinder’s search box and see what turns up for your area.

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Palm trees, luxurious hotels, movie stars, and an unparalleled 354 days of sunshine annually are just a few of the features that have made Palm Springs, California a world-renowned destination. A destination that just happens to have been my home for the last six months. They say I’m too young to be a “snowbird,” and maybe that’s true (although these sore remodeling joints sure didn’t miss Oregon’s winter rains), but Palm Springs has a heck of a lot to offer a new-to-the-desert remodeling and renewable energy enthusiast.

Sadly, as all trips go, my time here in greater Coachella Valley must end. Home, an Oregon summer (and spring rains), and the roar of rivers and mountain streams calls me once again. And, as any Internet writer knows, the only way to say goodbye to anything is with a bold-faced numerical list. So here, and in no particular order, are 10 things that I shall miss about southern California’s sunniest corner:

1. Sunshine. So obvious I had to get it out of the way first. It was actually a little unsettling, this being the first winter I’ve ever “skipped.” Still the climate is near perfect and rain, when it actually comes, is a blessing unlike any other.
2. Solar panels. With over 350 days of sunshine I can only hope that someday this town will be made of solar panels. In the meantime, however, and thanks to California’s ongoing commitment to solar energy, I have thoroughly enjoyed the many glimpses of solar panels adorning homes, businesses, and commercial spaces. Keep up the good work Palm Springs solar contractors!
3. Architecture. Many of those solar panels sat atop some very unique architecture (at least for a Midwest and northwestern man). Mid-century modern architecture rules the day here in Palm Springs. Even on the most basic Spanish or French style, stucco-sided, tile-roofed home, the interiors and facades are decked out in modern fashion.
4. Culture. Being a world renowned destination, Palm Springs brings in people of all types and from all countries. Also home to a large Latino and LGBT community, Palm Springs has a brand of diversity all its own — something I am proud to have played my small, intermediate part in.


Photo credit: Omar Omar

5. Flora. My stay in Palm Springs is my longest stint in a desert climate so far, and I must say it has been fascinating. The plant life is incredibly unique, including all the desert landscaping I’ve seen, from agave to aloe vera to Joshua trees to yucca, not to mention the many varieties of palm tree that grace city avenues and the canyons nestled into Mount San Jacinto, at whose base lies the city proper.
6. Fauna. It may not seem like it, but the desert is home to a wide array of creatures. Unfortunately many are nocturnal and very good at staying out of sight. Nonetheless I greatly enjoyed seeing or just looking for — and sometimes avoiding — coyotes, rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, mockingbirds, owls, hawks, bighorn sheep, and all kinds of lizards.
7. High Desert-Off the Grid. The high desert is a beautiful place all its own, where massive rock formations abound and Joshua trees thrive. I had the incredible experience of touring some off the grid properties up there away from Palm Springs a bit, seeing simple, green living firsthand. One home was powered by a single 200-watt solar panel and a small battery bank. Other sights were so fascinating they cannot be relayed by words alone.
8. Joshua Tree. I just can’t mention life in the Coachella Valley without bringing up Joshua Tree National Park. This place really is a blessing; to walk among groves of trees that are well over a thousand years old, not to mention world-renowned rock climbing. One night at sunset, as I looked over one of the valleys in the massive park, it felt as if a brontosaurus or T-rex might walk out from among the distant rocks at any time … truly spellbinding.
9. Night Life. I’m not much of a night person, although I don’t know what I’d do without a local pub to patronize, but Palm Springs is rightly recognized for its bustling night life. Now I’m not just talking about spring break destinations, the quality of food and service here is excellent. Imagine a highway truck stop, only it’s 10 times bigger and full of fine dining and clever cocktails.


Photo credit: respres

10. Wind power. We always think of the desert as sunny, but the Palm Springs area is also home to some very constant winds which come through the San Gorgonio pass, channeled by the high peaks on either side. That has made this area a huge reservoir of wind energy, which is why you’ll see literally thousands of wind turbines as you drive west from Los Angeles on Interstate 10. I could even see a few from my backyard.

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Photo Credit: Randy Son Of Robert

The More the Green, the Lower the Crime Rate

Doctors, politicians, and civil servants are all starting to find correlations between green and health and safety. In their scenarios, though, they are talking lush vegetation and actual verdant appearance on the landscape. A study conducted by Texas A&M University discovered that the more greenness found in an area, the lower the crime rate in that area. Researchers took color-infrared aerial photographs around Austin, Texas and overlapped their geographic findings atop a map of crime areas for the city and found that “83 percent of all crimes occurred in areas with greenness values below 34 percent.”

Higher Health Rate Linked to Greener Spaces

On the health front, living in a heavily vegetated area is also related to lower stress levels and lower child obesity rates. Medical studies have found that children living in greener spaces had a slower rate of increase in body mass than children living in inner cities.

Newer studies are using satellites to look at geographic areas to determine the greenness of an area, not just how much vegetation is present in a location, but also how healthy it is. Plant life has so many benefits to humans when it’s healthy, including reducing pollution, keeping things cooler and more attractive, as well as providing great areas for exercise and outdoor activity. All of these things contribute to a healthier life.

Eco-Friendly Neighbors Are Friendly Neighbors

On the other hand, though, when you’re moving into a new area, you’ll want to know what the current residents are doing to keep their community green. How are they helping to save their part of the planet?

One way to check on the eco-friendliness of your new town is to check it out on the Internet. See what type of sites pop up when you Google it – you may find some data about events and activities going on there that could clue you in as to what your new neighbors are into. Also, if you check out Green Eco Communities, they have tons of stories and articles about cities and towns across the nation – yours might be there!

Photo Credit: Mo Kaiwen

The best way to find out if you’re moving to greener pastures is to just go there and visit. Do you see recycle bins out at the curb on trash day? Are the grocery store check-out lines lined with shoppers using canvas totes or paper bags? Check out the schools and see if they have recycling programs. Although you may be more shy than I am, my personal favorite for finding out what an area is like is to find a spot where people go to just sit and hang out (like a busy park, the coffee shop, even the book store) and just start striking up conversations. You’d be surprised at the amount of information people are willing to share with strangers and here’s a tip: if you meet a bunch of uptight, tight-lipped people then you might not have found the friendliest place on earth. Most eco-minded people are very outgoing with their environmental views and will embrace the idea of community involvement, information sharing, and having others who care as much as they do in their home town.

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Project 3.0/The Roosevelt made it on the list because Rudy Arnauts, Steve Francois, Joe Redner, and Bryan Roberts came up with the bright idea to turn one of the area’s old buildings into something new. The 100+ year old brewing company structure was remodeled using different, sustainable, modern architecture and construction styles. The building also features A/C that runs off of well water circulating through a concrete slab, which doubles as a canvas for artwork. The building itself is a showcase of green talent, but will also be used as an event hall and artist think tank.

Photo Credit: Creative Loafing

Eckerd College also made the list as the greenest campus in town – and we’re not talking about the lawn on the quad. The school has implemented several campus-wide initiatives to get students thinking not only of their future but the future of the world upon which they are about to embark. Eckerd has a student-wide bike share program, a student-run recycling program, and environmental film festival and a partnership program whereby the students donate used items at the end of each year that they might otherwise throw away to local charitable organizations who recycle the items to new users.

McDonald’s paved the way for other fast food chains like Burger King, Wendy’s, and KFC, but now there’s EVOS to challenge their ways. Three guys decided they loved fast food, just not how un-green the food, cooking methods, and buildings are in those places. Dino Lambridis, Alkis Crassas, and Michael Jeffers created Evos, which now has 11 locations, as a more sustainable fast food restaurant. Evos features humane meat, no-oil cooking, wind-energy usage, and no-VOC paints.

Photo Credit: reviewjournal.com

Tampa Street Market sounds like a place I would love to shop in. This green boutique, run by Amy and Charles Haynie, offers salvaged and recycled items, custom made furniture, and other green products. They even have a blog about their shop and the stuff they do and sell there.

REAL Building sounds like a really great company. It stands for responsible, efficient, attainable, livable, and it’s a consultation firm that assists builders and homeowners with planning, designing, and building sustainable homes. The company’s VP of business development, Taylor Ralph, was the first Florida resident to have a LEED certified home at the gold level.

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New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment: Home to arid deserts, Rocky Mountain peaks, and all the majesty that lies in between. Many outsiders think of New Mexico as arid desert, sort of a continuation of dryness that begins in California and ends in Texas, but New Mexico (which was once part of old Mexico) is as diverse geologically as it is culturally.

The first homeowners (to meet Europeans) in New Mexico were Pueblo Indians. Their oldest surviving village, the Taos Pueblo, still rests — and is inhabited — at the foot of New Mexico’s most majestic mountain peaks. Those peaks are just the top of New Mexico’s geology. The state shares a good portion of the high Colorado plateau, averaging 1.3 miles above sea level and home to the Four Corners Monument.

From these elevated forests you can also travel to the Rio Grande and the colorful deserts and mountains that in fact do connect eastern California to Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas. Now take all this geology and add to it a culture rich in Pueblo, Navajo, Ute, Hispanic, and European culture, including a thriving art community. Artists and writers such as Georgia O’Keefe and D.H. Lawrence have called New Mexico home. This Land of Enchantment is even home to its own Spanish language dialect.

Photo credit: curt

Homeowners in New Mexico enjoy some very special views, such as gazing through the light crimson desert to the verdant mountains beyond. New Mexicans share a long history that is still very alive for many residents. The Taos Pueblo, for example, has been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. Just imagine the remodels!

Speaking of remodels, CalFinder is happy to recommend several New Mexico contractors. For an example check out Humbert Construction, a remodeling contractor serving much of northern New Mexico with expertise in everything from decks and patios to house painting to solar energy.

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Residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, and parts of Canada have been scrambling over the last few weeks to stem the tide of the icy and unforgiving Red River. Ice jams have been backing up the river, compounding already rising water levels. In truly amazing acts of teamwork and organization, area communities have become sandbag factories in an attempt to save their homes, businesses, and livelihood. As the region braces for yet another Red River crest this week, the future of residents’ homes is already in question.

While many homes have been saved, no community can completely avoid damages when flooding and an icy northern winter join forces. Still, even those homes successfully saved by sandbagging will face significant cleanup challenges due to layers of dust formed in the process. Even as a second crest approaches in the coming weeks, city and state leaders are scrambling to find answers to housing issues in the impending aftermath.

The first line of financial defense for flood-affected communities will be the federal government, and more specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the President himself. The possibility of aid to individual homeowners for home repair is very real, but it requires a declaration of disaster from President Obama, a prospect that has brought FEMA investigators into the area currently to assess the damages.

The future of local homes depends largely on this help. FEMA will pay cities up to 75 percent of the cost for repairs to roads, municipal buildings, schools, and the like, but without federal aid the cost of individual home repair will likely have to come from the homeowners themselves. With a struggling economy and the existing cost to homeowners for prevention, that leaves the very real possibility that many homes will not be repaired, at least initially.

In addition to potential federal funds, the Red Cross offers local homeowners free cleanup kits to help them get their homes back into working order. One possible bright side for affected Minnesotans is a state public works bill that will provide (borrow) money to repair and upgrade preventive infrastructure such as permanent levees. The bill is also expected to create thousands of jobs in the region.

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San Francisco Beautiful’s awards program is a great example. Since the early 1970s, the Beautification Awards have recognized individuals, organizations, community groups, and businesses that improve the quality of life in San Francisco. Nominated projects have improved the City’s physical environment and have enriched the life of the community. To be eligible for the award, projects must be located in San Francisco and be visually or physically accessible to the general public.

The Alvord Lake Gardening Work Party is a prime example. Alvord Lake, located at one of the entrances to Golden Gate Park, was created in 1801 but fell into disrepair. “It has been lovingly taken under the wing of the Alvord Lake Gardening Party, which meets every fourth Saturday to plant, weed, trim, pick up litter, and sweep.”

The New Hampshire Arborists Association gives awards that include tree planting. This project shows Gov. John Lynch celebrating Earth Day with Association members and children from the Boys & Girls Club, planting a native tree, a red maple, at the Governor’s official residence. The tree was a gift to the State of New Hampshire donated by the New Hampshire Arborists Association.

An award winner in Bend, OR includes a 95-year-old train depot station that was meticulously restored into a popular restaurant. This photo shows the “before” of this 2007 winner. The awards program is managed by Bend’s Arts, Beautification, and Culture Commission.

Here’s how the city of Ferndale, MI, goes about encouraging community participation in making the environment more beautiful:

“Have you ever wondered how you get a beautification award? How a neighborhood is selected for a block award, or who determines who gets a holiday lighting award? It’s easy. You decide. You simply nominate a friend or neighbor for an award and the Beautification Commission does the rest!”

For community beautification programs in your area, contact your local chamber of commerce – a likely source of information. Other possibilities for starting or participating in community projects include your local gardening and horticulture associations and community action groups.

Ready for your own, personal beautification project? Let us connect you with 100% free, no obligation estimates from certified remodeling contractors in your area!

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