I love learning about green living. So many awesome lifestyle ideas come from our ancestors and yet, thousands of equally marvelous ideas come to fruition everyday from people of my own generation.
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....
Continue reading Kenneth Cobonpue
June 17th, 2009 in Locations
Photo credit: Diedon Co.
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:
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Photo credit: andrewr
A lot of people are asking me what’s so special about Santa Cruz lately, because I’m moving there over the weekend. After living there, in the Santa Cruz mountains, for 20 years, I’ve spent the past 7 years exploring new places -- but now I’m moving back. Santa Cruz feels like home; I’ve missed it and look forward to settling there once again.
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.
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Working with CalFinder to discover which licensed contractor best suits your needs can be easy and fun. This post is designed to show you how simple the process for getting started can be.
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.”
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Photo credit: travelmuse
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:
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.
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!
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.
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