Think Ahead: Smart Design can Reduce your Work
Your beautiful yard can become a pain without a little forward thinking. First, create a designated area for pets to prevent damage to your lawn area and reduce "pick up" chores. Choose plants and trees that aren't known for excessive growth or leaf drop to cut back on clipping, pruning and raking. Attractive ground covers should be planted to keep weed growth down. Don't over water - our SCV soil is mostly clay, so you'll likely end up with rot and mosquitos if the hose or sprinklers run too long. Deep, infrequent watering is best and so are plants that can happily survive our extreme climate changes. Make sure your contractor uses a high-quality sealer on masonry and decorative concrete and reapply as needed, powerwashing occasionally to avoid mineral deposit build up.
MHB Landscape Construction 297-5169


Be a Gracious Host
Refined accessories and a collection of Gracious Goods serveware add essential luxurious touches when homeowners Tom and Paula Nichols entertain outdoors.
Bella Venezia Home & Decor 254-2246





Meet the SunPower X-Series Solar Panel
These babies will make your roof look good - and your electric bill look great! Check out these stats...

Most energy from less space: SunPower X-Series solar panels deliver 44 percent more power per panel, which means you can create more power, in smaller spaces, with fewer panels - and you can position them on the sunniest parts of your roof.

Most electricity: Simply put, SunPower X-Series panels produce more electricity than conventional panels. They convert more sunlight to electricity, producing 75 percent more energy per square foot over the first 25 years.

Most beautiful: X-Series panels are offered in SunPower Signature Black, designed to blend harmoniously into your roof. Built using all-black solar cells and anti-reflective glass to reduce glare, the premium aesthetics can accommodate a variety of architectural styles.
Green Convergence 294-9999

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Take a Breath of Fresh Air for your Home
Enjoy the best of summer with superior insect protection and enhanced natural ventilation. Legacy retractable screen doors by Phantom won't spoil the aesthetics of your home or your views. Legacy features an integrated "Latch & Release" handle that gives you ultimate and smooth control. Durable, quiet and easy to use, Legacy will bring a breath of fresh air to you - and your home.
Phantom Screens 347-1243

Make your Backyard more Inviting
Crescent sofas, loveseats and cuddle chairs make a cozy entertaining space. The same atmosphere can also be created with sectionals and corner units, depending on your yard's configuration. Pair them with a fire pit and it becomes a year-round gathering space. Have fun customizing your design with an amazing array of Sunbrella fabrics from which to choose. You can't go wrong with quality manufacturers like Alu-mont, OW Lee, Hanamint, NorthCape and Patio Renaissance.
Oasis Garden & Patio 255-9909

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Don't Forget Fall Reseeding and Sod
Fall is a good time to reseed grass that suffered under the summer sun. A quicker solution, though, to dead and dry spots is a sod transplant. You'll want to fill in empty areas now before fall and winter rains create erosion and mud puddles.
LandscapePros 510-8867





Plan for a Lifetime in Paradise
Our social-media streams were filled with friends' summer vacation photos, but the images that turned us most green with envy were the taken-at-home shots of our pals relaxing, playing and entertaining in their outdoor pool area. Evidently, it was "5 o'clock somewhere" at all hours in the SCV; there were enough "Margaritas poolside!" posts to fill a Jacuzzi! Our faves, though, were the pics of children and grandchildren smiling widely, having the time of their life in their own backyard. It's not too late to build your new pool! You could be going for a late-summer swim in 2013 - coordinating Facebook photo optional.
Valencia Pool Designs 406-2267




Choose Custom Fabrics that Fit your Style
Did you know that you can customize your OW Lee furniture with over 100 stock fabric options and countless special-order fabrics and trim options - or bring your own fabric to create a truly unique piece? These samples are selected from the OW Lee Sedona Collection, but there is nothing better than feeling and seeing the fabric in person. Stop by today to select the fabric that best suits your life.
Green Thumb 259-1072