Beyond the Acorn - Home & Hearth - Fall 2013

Beyond

Fall 2013

The Acorn

HOME & HEARTH Chef’s Family Feast Sunday Dinner at The Stonehaus Bold is better The Skinny on Stripes Clearing the clutter Manage the Mess Before the Guests Arrive

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table of contents

Fall 2013

Features

WHERE

22 Old World Charm

28 Harmony

Colors play an inviting melody in a contemporary Craftsman-style home

24 Tuscan Style

34 Chef’s Family Feast

The Stonehaus chef cooks up a fine meal for her family—and we’re invited

26 bring peace to the process

Things are really cooking in the world of home fireplaces and the result is nothing like you’d expect

42 Fireplace Face-lift

A Camarillo shop imports the warmth and beauty of Italy for your home

WHY

38 21st Century Heat

This Agoura salvage shop carries fantastic finds brought from Europe

34

HOW

WHO

Stripes are big and they’re beautiful in this simple and wall-changing DIY project

ACORNUCOPIA

12 turning wood into art

How working with a professional interior designer can help your project

44 Go Bold

Departments

A nice-enough living room fireplace becomes an absolute stunner with an update

46 Cover Up

Whatever a client can dream, master craftsman Michel Arbaut can build

Wallpaper’s back in a big way

WHAT

14 Managing the Mess

The ins-and-outs of organizing closet clutter and one fantasy closet that will leave readers drooling

24

18 A Job Well Done

One family’s method for coping with the chaos

WHEN

20 calendar

List of community events leading up to the holidays will keep you and your family busy

12 28

8 Letters from beyond Greetings from the publisher and editor

49 Resources

Find the vendors, manufacturers and professionals featured in this issue of Beyond the Acorn

57 Final Word

Home is Where the Heart Lives

On The Cover:

Bill and Patty Hall’s Oak Park fireplace is warm and inviting

42

Letters

Welcome Family and friends—they are our soul’s delight throughout the year. However, at this time of year, from now until New Year’s Day, our time becomes a frenzied whirlwind of gatherings, food and traditions—the foundation of memories and family tales for years to come.

Whether our treasured friends and relatives come to stay for raucous visits and quiet revelry, or we invade their homes, all paths lead to new experiences. Even that odd uncle or aunt can bring a family closer together, if only in self-defense.

I love the whole process. My husband and I are notorious for using the excuse of visitors as inspiration to do those home organizing and improvement projects that have been languishing on our to-do list. We put ourselves under crazy pressure. It’s an obsession that I’m sure many of you share. And, like you, we miraculously complete the mountain of tasks just as the first guest’s finger brushes the doorbell.

I sincerely hope you enjoy and are entertained by our second issue of Beyond the Acorn. I am so very thankful for the warm response from all our communities to our first issue last April.

This month’s Home and Hearth issue takes into consideration many of the constructive suggestions that our readers and advertisers offered. Please continue to let us know what you like and don’t like. We may not be able to please all 144,000-plus households that receive the magazine, but our goal is to make this a publication you’ll be proud to display on your coffee table.

In 2014, Leslie, our creative team and I will publish Beyond the Acorn four times. The focus in January will be health and wellness; in April we’ll take you into the garden and beyond with an outdoor living issue; in July we put brides on center stage; and by fall we’re back to the Home and Hearth edition.

Six issues are planned for 2015. I hope you all will enjoy the ride with us and, as always, we welcome your input.

We here at Beyond the Acorn wish you all a happy, healthy season filled with laughter and many, many stories that will become part of your family lore.

Lisa Rule, Publisher lisabeyond@theacorn.com

It usually sneaks up on me with a breath of early morning chill in the air. Soon I start to realize the mornings are darker, the afternoons are shorter and my backyard vegetable garden has long since given up its harvest.

They are the first signs that it’s time to put away summer sunscreen and get ready for fall.

Back East, folks are pulling heavy coats from basement closets, winterizing their cars and bracing for the season ahead. But here in Southern California, autumn’s arrival means something else entirely. Because we are blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate, the most we need to do is pull out a sweater and prepare for the holidays.

There’s a change in me when the seasons start to turn. I find myself looking around my Agoura home, spotting projects that need to be finished and even more that I’m itching to begin. I want to spruce up the walls and rearrange things. It’s something akin to spring cleaning, but it’s more like prepping for winter hibernation which means lighting a fire in the fireplace and getting ready for guests to arrive.

In this issue of Beyond the Acorn we discover lots of people and places that can help us get ready for winter. We visit two great home furnishing stores and meet a fine craftsman who can bring just about any idea to fruition. In our feature “Harmony,” we see how a strong color palette can pull together a home’s interior design. We’ll also see how fireplaces are evolving in the 21st century.

Be on the lookout for our wallpaper story and our “how to” article on stripes. And, for those holiday cooks out there, we have a fabulous food feature with a meal that Chef Lisa Biondi at The Stonehaus in Westlake Village prepared for her own family.

This issue of Beyond the Acorn also introduces our new departments: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, Acornucopia and Final Word. They will appear in each edition, spotlighting various subjects on that magazine’s theme.

Which brings us to the next Beyond the Acorn, set to arrive on your doorstep in January. That issue will dive into health and wellness. As we discover how to “Build a Better Me,” we’re going to touch on nutrition, exercise and nurturing a healthy psyche. So be sure to check out the next Beyond the Acorn when you’re planning your list of New Year’s resolutions.

But for now, I hope you enjoy reading the current issue of Beyond, where we stay closer to Home and Hearth as we get ready for the most wonderful season.

Happy autumn,

Leslie Gregory Haukoos, Editor-in-Chief beyond@theacorn.com 8 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

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Who

His client list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood— His body of work is as diverse as it is stunning Written by SYLVIE BELMOND

Turning wood

INTO ART

“I can make anything people want me to make,” says European woodworker Michel Arbaut.

The 77-year-old artisan has spent the last 50 years remodeling homes and making custom furniture for clients that include Robert Redford and James Whitmore.

He’s created display cases for the Norton Simon museum in Pasadena and fashioned maple wood kitchen counters for architect John Lautner.

Frank Gehry, who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall, is another of Arbaut’s satisfied clients. “All my customers become good friends,” Arbaut says.

The master craftsman is not limited to a single style. His creations include a Formica desk depicting Einstein’s formula E=mc2 for artist Nancy Dwyer and a 7-foot-tall red-and-white wooden rocket desk for the son of Paul Mitchell, the hair care product mogul.

Client Megan Morrow of North Ranch says Arbaut did some beautiful work in her home. In addition to building a corner desk with shelves for her son’s room, the artisan made stylish handcrafted birch doors for two hallway linen closets.

“The cabinet doors are gorgeous,” Morrow says. “Everything was done by hand. He has some good ideas about how to integrate it all and put it together.”

Whatever a client conceives, Michel Arbaut can build. Top, Arbaut built this rocketship desk for the son of hair care product mogul Paul Mitchell. Right, the 77-year-old artisan still busily works out of his Westlake Village shop, taking on whatever artistic challenges his clients present.

Photograph by RICHARD GILLARD 12 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

Unlike most modern woodworkers who use prefabricated parts, Arbaut is “old school,” Morrow says. “He does everything himself by hand. He uses raw materials and can shape that wood into anything.”

Arbaut has also been commissioned to construct secret passageways, usually hidden behind a bookshelf with a concealed knob. One client was so proud of his hidden door that he showed it to every guest, defeating the purpose.

The son of a French woodworker, Arbaut learned the craft as a boy inside his father’s woodworking studio in Enghien les Bains on the outskirts of Paris.

At 10, he created footstools and flowerpot shelves, which he sold to local women for pocket money.

After finishing an apprenticeship with his father, Arbaut enrolled at the Arts et Métiers vocational school in Paris to refine his skills. He married his first wife, Arlette, in 1959. In 1962, the young couple left Europe and moved to Malibu. Arnaut was 23.

“I couldn’t even speak one word of English, and two weeks later I found a job,” says Arbaut, who quickly built a steady clientele for his unique creations.

Not long after, he built his own house and woodshop in Malibu.

After Arlette’s death, Arbaut met Suzy Bidegaray-Bailly. In 1997, they were married. Today the couple shares a design shop in Westlake Village where Suzy Arbaut creates fashion jewelry. Her business, called Mon Bijou, raises funds for the nonprofit Pablo’s Friends that helps orphaned street children in Mexico.

Michel and Suzy Arbaut live in the Cornell area of the Santa Monica Mountains. Arbaut built their kitchen out of recycled materials. He used various granite and marble remnants for the kitchen counter, crafted the drawers out of wine boxes, and made 2-by-12-foot shelves out of scaffolding boards. The end result is a unique, artful and practical space.

After nearly seven decades working with wood and other materials, Arbaut, who has two grown children and five grandchildren, is still eager to take on new, challenging projects that test his creative skills.

“I love when people come with projects that are complicated,” he says.

Arbaut built an ornate chair with animal print cushions (above left) for a jeweler in Beverly Hills. His vast body of work includes dream beds and thought-provoking wall art but Arbaut is just as comfortable tackling large construction projects and has completed whole home remodels and outdoor structures as well.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 13

What

Managing the

Mess the closet is your home’s ‘prime real estate’

Written by Ela Lindsay Photography by Michael Coons

If the top shelf of your closet has become a catch-all for old photo albums, unused gifts and the ashes of loved ones, chances are some major organization is in order.

“But it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” says Newbury Park resident Teine Kenney, founder of Organize This, one of Southern California’s largest organization companies.

Clutter can happen to the best of us, and if it’s not dealt with early it can cause frustration, anxiety and the feeling of a loss of control. Kenney says more than 50 percent of her business is related to psychological issues behind the chaos. People call her for help when they “can only walk halfway into their closets and they need the fluff cycle on their dryer to freshen wrinkled clothes.”

Rita Wolf, another pro who comes to the rescue of homeowners whose mess has gotten the best of them, says she helps clients “from the beginning to the end” of their projects. Wolf, a full-service closet space planner based in Agoura Hills, works with families moving into new homes and with “empty-nesters who convert extra bedrooms into walk-in closets or are moving into smaller homes.”

Lori Gersh of Westlake Village’s Leave It to Lori specializes in 14 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

organizing homes and moves. She describes closets as “prime real estate.”

“When I get a call, usually there’s been a trigger,” she says. “This can be anything from a new baby in the home or the loss of a loved one to the merging of households.”

People will often seek her professional skills “to feel more in control of what’s going on.”

David Harris, from Ventura’s The Wiser Organizer, says he understands folks with cluttered spaces and “admires people who invite a stranger in to see their mess.”

When to call a professional Gersh suggests people go through their closets, when the seasons change. But once closet space has reached maximum capacity and the prospect of organizing it feels overwhelming, it’s probably time to call in a professional.

Kenney says it’s important to work with an impartial person to ease the decision-making process. If budget’s a concern, a candid friend who’s willing to help out might be the answer.

Time is also a consideration. A professional can accomplish

This closet designed by Rita Wolf has

A place for

Everything Telescopic hanging rods are great for airing freshly returned dry cleaning or for pulling out an outfit while you choose accessories.

Belts and ties are tucked away behind a sliding panel.

Laundry and drycleaning hampers are also hidden behind doors that swivel out.

A his-and-hers island has drawers on both sides and is topped with a piece of marble that matches the master bath countertops.

Inset frosted glass doors hide the cabinet’s contents, keeping the closet looking in order.

Solid stained maple wood doors and side panels take front stage while concealing melamine shelves and backing.

The velvet-lined jewelry drawer has a hidden lock to discourage unwanted visitors.

A three-panel, touch-latch mirror easily angles out to give a total view of a great outfit.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 15

in hours what it might take an untrained person days to complete—or years to get to in the first place.

And an expert will ask the right questions and be nonjudgmental. “There’s a fine line between offering suggestions and listening to what a client’s style is,” says Harris.

How much will it cost?

A professional will generally charge $75 to $85 an hour. The entire cost is based on how detail-oriented a client is, says Gersh.

“Some are more particular, and others just want it ‘good enough’ or are working on a budget.”

What your closet says about you Harris credits interior designer Nate Berkus, a regular on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” with coining the phrase “People are either revealers or concealers.”

If you cherish pieces and you want to show everything off, chances are you’re a “revealer.” On the other hand, if you prefer a simpler, Zen-like look, you are probably a “concealer.”

Either way, most of us can use a little help organizing our stuff—which in turn helps us feel more organized in life.

making

SPACE work Organizing expert Teine Kenney encourages people to adopt tips offered by the guru of the organization industry, Julie Morgenstern, in her best-selling book “Organizing From the Inside Out.” First, take everything out of your closet, home office, pantry, garage or any space that needs organization. Then follow these simple steps to create SPACE:

S P A C E

ort everything into categories: shoes, sweaters, long dresses, short skirts, etc. urge: Decide what you want to throw away, donate, sell or keep. ssign a location: Know in advance where things will go. ontainerize: Install hooks, shelving and baskets to hold various items. qualize: Put things back in a way that makes the process logical so you’ll keep up the new order.

What about the old adage “If you haven’t worn something in a year, get rid of it”? It no longer applies, Gersh says. Her rule of thumb: “If it feels good when you put it on, it gets to stay—even a ratty old cozy sweatshirt.”

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dealing with clutter can be a daunting task.

Here’s how one family copes with the chaos Written by CAROL POND Illustration by WEST MAÄTITA

In the 12 years we’ve lived in our home it’s become increasingly cluttered. Decorating is less “Where should we hang this painting?” and more “Is there a corner we can shove this carton in?”

Having run out of corners, closets and wall space, we’ve started piling containers in the middle of rooms and have learned to step around them on our way from here to there.

A few months ago my son’s family of five returned to the nest—a nest that wasn’t yet empty, the economy being what it is—and they’ve brought their own cartons along.

Because we have so many people in so little space—and because the 2-year-old has taken to scaling the cartons like an experienced rock climber and the 1-year-old has begun to fearlessly follow in her footsteps—we decided it was time to turn to an expert for help.

At the library we found a couple of books that looked promising.

“Clean Sweep: Conquer the Clutter” is based on an old TV show. We never saw it because at the time we couldn’t find our TV remote. We had the remote that turned on the set and the one that changed the volume.

We had the remote for watching the VHS or DVDs, and the remote for video games. But we couldn’t find the remote that let us change the channel, and the set was stuck on TV Land for three years.

Needless to say, we didn’t watch much TV.

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The Clean Sweep crew suggests sorting everything into piles: keep, toss, sell. The whole family should help, which means every time one of us puts something in the toss or sell pile, someone else will say, “Are you crazy?!” and put it in the keep carton. So we’d have piles of the same stuff, just in a different order.

I turned to the other book, “Outwitting Clutter,” by Bill Adler Jr., which claims it will teach me how to declutter my life in one-, five- and 15-minute increments. That’s perfect because it isn’t often I can go more than 15 minutes without someone deciding mine is the time that most needs monopolizing.

Adler suggests choosing a drawer or a cupboard, setting a timer for 15 minutes, and clearing out what you can in that time period.

That seemed easy enough. When the younger granddaughters were napping and the oldest was outside waiting for the ice cream truck, I chose a kitchen junk drawer to clean.

It was full of bottle caps, wine corks and other odds and ends. As I piled the stuff on the counter, the 7-year-old granddaughter charged into the kitchen.

“What’re you doing? Can I help?” she asked. “Can I have these?” She started grabbing handfuls of bottle caps, strewing them over the counter and the floor.

“What for?”

“I have a bottle cap collection.”

She grabbed a grocery bag and swept in most of the caps, which jingled forlornly at the bottom.

“Thanks, Grandma!” she shouted and charged out the door.

I turned to the corks, figuring I’d toss them in the trash, when my husband came in.

“What are you doing with those?”

“Throwing them away.”

“I was going to use them.”

“For what?”

“I figured I’d make a raft.”

“A raft??”

“A toy one. To float in the creek.” He found a box and piled the corks into it.

Most of the drawer’s contents had been spirited away to other places in the house. Not quite the outcome I was hoping for.

I picked up an odd-looking contraption that could only be called a whatchamacallit, which Webster’s defines as a “thingamajig.”

My son walked into the kitchen.

“Where’d you find that?” he asked.

“It was in this drawer.”

“I’ve been looking for that for years!” He took it and went back down the hall, calling for his wife. “Remember that thing I was telling you about that time?”

All that was left was an old bottle/can opener, which is obsolete because all the bottles have screw tops and all the cans have pop tops. Perhaps we could donate it to a museum of antiquities.

The timer dinged. The drawer was empty.

Just then I heard the jangle of “Turkey in the Straw” from down the street. I tossed the bottle opener into the otherwise empty drawer, slammed it shut and ran out to catch the ice cream truck with my granddaughter. A reward for a job well done.

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When From halloween to New Year’s and everything in between, there’s a whole lot happening around town. Here are a few highlights: Friday, October 18

continues at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday this weekend and at 6 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday next weekend.

Cost: $10 for adults; $8 children 6-10; kids 5 and under are free.

Visit www.simihistory.com; call (805) 526-6453

Saturday, October 19 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 16th Annual Fall Harvest Festival—“Wild West” Underwood Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark Festival continues weekends with different themes through Oct. 27.

Visit www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com; call (805) 529-3690

7 to 10 p.m.: 14th Annual Reign of Terror Haunted House 197 N. Moorpark Road, Ste. B, Thousand Oaks General admission: $15; express line also available.

Open every Friday and Saturday, plus Sun., Oct. 27, Wed., Oct. 30, Thurs., Oct. 31 and Fri., Nov. 1. Extended hours on Saturdays from 7 to 11 p.m.

Visit www.rothauntedhouse.com; call (805) 492-1864 7 p.m.: Ghost Tours at Strathearn Park—“Bigger, better, more exciting” 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley Tours last about 1½ hours. Event

Hills Road (at corner of Agoura Road) Continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 20.

Inflatables, music, contests, reptile and nature shows, youth carnival games, vendors, kids’ crafts and activities, pumpkins and Halloween items, Sunday car show.

Admission: $5; free parking and shuttles.

Visit www.calabasaspumpkinfestival. com; call (818) 222-5680; email info@calabasaschamber.com 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology’s Open House Camarillo Bird Museum, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo Bird collections and art exhibit by Mamoru Suzuki.

Free admission.

Visit www.wfvz.org; call (805) 388-9944

Sunday, October 20 8 a.m.: Annual “Mud Crazy” Mud Run 5K/10K—“Introducing X80X” Dos Vientos Park, 4801 Borchard Road, Newbury Park Halloween costume contest and timed runs.

Visit www.gomudrun.com; email info@ gomudrun.com 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Calabasas Pumpkin Festival Juan Bautista de Anza Park, 3701 Lost

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 22nd Annual Thousand Oaks Rotary Street Fair Moorpark Road, in front of Janss Marketplace between Hillcrest and

BBQ Islands • Wood Burning Fireplace

Wilbur roads Artisans, Kid’s Fun Zone, entertainment stages and a public services showcase.

Visit www.thousandoaksrotary.org

Friday, October 25 6 to 11 p.m.: St. Paschal Baylon Fall Fest St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, 155 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Continues Sat., Oct. 26 from 1 to 11 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 27 from noon to 9 p.m.

Carnival rides, concessions, performances, wine tasting, live jazz, car raffle.

Visit www.spbfestival.com; email chairman@spbfestival.com

Saturday, October 26 2 p.m.: Thrill the World Halloween Zombie Dance Main lawn at Ventura Harbor Village, 1603 Anchors Way Drive, Ventura Participants compete, performing “Thriller” dance for the world record.

Visit www.venturaharborvillage.com 6 to 9 p.m.: Halloween Haunted Trail, Costume Contest, Trick-or-Treat Street Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks Hay rides, costume contest from 6 to 7 p.m.; Trick-or-Treat Street from 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Haunted trail opens at 7:15 p.m.

Tickets: $3.

Visit www.crpd.org; call (805) 381-2793

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After Dark: Star Party by Oak Canyon Astronomy Group Oak Canyon Community Park, 5600 Hollytree Drive, Oak Park Events occur monthly; next ones will be Nov. 9 and Dec. 7.

Visit www.oakcanyonastro.com

Sunday, October 27 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.: 34th Annual Roam’n Relics Car Show Fundraiser—“All pre-’74 vehicles” 233 High St., Moorpark Visit www.roamnrelics.com; call (805) 583-2965 8:30 a.m.: 39th Annual Masters and Open Track & Field Meet— Sanctioned by USATF Griffin Stadium, Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark Register one hour before start of event.

Visit www.clubwesttrack.org 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: 5th Annual HowlO-Ween Pooch Parade and Pet Expo Lemon Park, Simi Valley More than 40 vendors, pooch talent contests, carnival games and a silent auction.

Spectators admitted free. Cost to march in the parade is $20 for one person or the entire family and one dog, or $30 for more than one dog.

Visit www.howloweenpoochparade.com; call (805) 433-2156 Noon to 4 p.m.: Adolfo Camarillo’s Birthday BBQ and Fiesta Camarillo Ranch, 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo Fiesta barbecue, Victorian home tours, dancers, historical and agricultural exhibits, country store and sweet shop, and the Camarillo White Horses.

Free admission; suggested $5 donation for tours.

Visit www.camarilloranch.org; call (805) 389-8182

Thursday, October 31 5:30 to 8 p.m.: 52nd Annual Youth Halloween Carnival Rancho Santa Susana Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley Inflatable bouncers, hayride, shadow dancing, cotton candy, carnival games, trick-or-treat village.

Visit www.rsrpd.org; call (805) 584-4456 5:30 to 8 p.m.: Annual Indoor Halloween Carnival Oak Park Community Center, 1000 N.

Kanan Road, Oak Park Cost: $2 for ages 2 and over; $1 under 2.

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: FrightFest!

Community Halloween Carnival Camarillo Community Center Park, 1605 E. Burnley St., Camarillo Village, carnival games and costume contest.

Admission: free.

Visit www.pvrpd.org; call (805) 482-1996 5:30 to 9 p.m.: Trick-or-Treat Village Arroyo Vista Recreation Center, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark Cost: $2. www.ci.moorpark.ca.us; call (805) 517-6200

Saturday, November 2 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Magical Day Fundraiser Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village Hosted by Conejo Valley Guild of the UCLA/Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation.

Luncheon, magician, fashion show and boutiques.

Cost: $75.

Visit www.toaks.org; RSVP to Linda Pomerantz at (818) 225-1610 or Margarita Horwitz at (805) 499-2569

Sunday, November 3 8 a.m.: 5th Annual Mike Nosco Memorial Bicycle Ride 80-mile course starts at Borchard Community Park, Newbury Park Visit www.mikenosco.com; call (805) 418-0382 or (805) 390-5057 8 a.m.: 9th Annual SOAR Run Through the Orchards 5K/10K Tierra Rejada Ranch, 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark 10K starts at 8 a.m.; 5K at 8:30 a.m.; on-site registration at 7 a.m.

Visit www.soarusa.org; call (805) 421-9230 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Simi Valley SnowFest Arts and Crafts Fair Rancho Madera Community Park, 556 Lake Park Drive, Simi Valley Snow slides, arts and crafts fair, local entertainment Cost: $5.

Visit www.rsrpd.org; call (805) 584-4443

Saturday, November 9 8 a.m. to noon: Kids’ swap meet— Giant family garage sale, 100 vendors CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Where

Written by Stephanie Bertholdo Photography by Iris Smoot

Old World Charm Charme d’Antan carries a variety of furnishings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

This inlaid wood writing desk is just one of many finds awaiting discerning buyers.

Salvage yards may bring to mind rusty hubcaps and broken bathtubs, but today’s architectural salvage shops are akin to fine antique stores, with stunning original paintings, furniture, flooring and lighting that rival any high-end design firm.

One such “yard,” Charme d’Antan, takes its name from the French phrase meaning “old-world charm.” The quaint store, tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains in the Cornell area of Agoura, resembles a well-lived-in contemporary home brimming with ancestral treasures.

Master of the house is Jacques Marque, a French transplant whose passion for reclaiming what might otherwise be lost is evident in every nook and cranny of his establishment.

Marque says his brother, Jean, convinced him to move from Miami to California in 1985, and he has never looked back.

The expansive grounds surrounding the store also overflow with riches, including stately carved 22 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

fountains, grand fireplace mantels and a shed chock-full of vintage doors and shutters that were saved when European estates, churches—even a castle or two—were gutted or demolished.

Marque knows his inventory well and speaks of each piece with pride and reverence. He likes to describe small details that spark his imagination, such as the 17th century keys that serve a double duty. “The key has a cross in it,” Marque says.

“Each time you go to bed you could use it like a crucifix.”

Marque also has an eye for how antiques can be used in homes today. An 18th century French walnut armoire could easily be converted into a media cabinet, he says. But he will not alter the original antiques he rescues from Europe— authenticity always trumps function, at least while the piece is being showcased in his shop.

Although most of Marque’s salvage trips start and end in France, he can’t resist what other

Chandeliers from the 18th to mid-20th centuries come from French estates­—even a castle or two.

and reproductions, some designed to answer the specific needs of clients.

His artisans use techniques employed by artists from days gone by to produce pieces that rival the originals in beauty and old-world charm.

Charme d’Antan, 29963 Mulholland Hwy., Agoura Hills. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday by appointment.

For information, call (818) 889-0229.

Jacques Marque loves to tell the stories behind the salvaged items in his shop.

European countries have to offer. He has rescued stunning stained-glass windows and pews from 19th century Italian churches and has traveled to England for other interesting pieces.

One of his favorite finds, a wheel dating from the Middle Ages, was discovered in France.

“It’s wood and forged iron,” he says. “The technique is interesting. The rivets are very, very strong—they’re all made by hand.”

Exploring room after room of treasures

becomes a real adventure when Marque tells the stories behind them. There’s a desk topped by an original oil painting, a Murano glass chandelier purchased from a castle in France and several majestic fireplace mantels, some of which house secret, locked compartments.

The European antiquities Marque showcases in his shop remain in their original state. But when it comes to outdoor fountains, planters and statues, Charme d’Antan offers both original pieces

This cherub lamp is one of many enchanting accessories available. The shop features old world scales, copper pots, lanterns and other treasures.

The best seat in the house.

design studio couture fabrics top-grain leather

custom sofas sectional sofa beds

upholstered beds re-upholstery house calls

805-497-3222

2520 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

www.thesofaguy.com

design studio

Where

Tuscan S t yle Importing The flavor of Italy into California homes

Written by Stephanie Guzman Photography by Richard Gillard

The warm earthy tones of the Tuscan landscape inspire much of Italian home design.

Walk through the front doors of Great Rooms Design in Camarillo and you will feel as if you’ve stepped into an Italian villa.

Hand-painted tiles are displayed above richly upholstered couches. A wall of large clocks, each uniquely painted, looks like an art installation. Accent pieces feel as if they were shipped from a craftsman’s workshop in Tuscany.

Everything sold at the warehouse is handpicked by owners Ann Mulligan and Carol Ascione-Hilton, both interior designers, who opened their store in 2001 with the idea of offering Italian style at reasonable prices.

“We would find high-end items or (affordable) pieces at large box stores, but we thought there’s really no middle-ground place to go,” Ascione-Hilton says.

The designers buy most of their items from independent artisans, or they shop flea markets for pieces that fit their most popular interior design theme: the Tuscan look.

The look is warm with colors taken from the earth. AscioneHilton and Mulligan mastered the aesthetic during six weeks traveling through Italy in 2008. They toured private homes, small hotels and historic houses, compiling the material they needed to complete their coffee-table book, “Sapori d’ Italia” which translates to “Flavors of Italy.”

The designers—who have decorated homes, restaurants and wineries for more than a dozen years— say their goal was to figure out how the Tuscan look can be integrated into Southern California homes.

“People love the look of Italy and think you can’t get that here, but you can get this look in a tract home,” says Ascione-Hilton, who lives in Moorpark.

While visiting the iconic white homes sprinkled along the Amalfi Coast and the villas in the Tuscan hills, the designers found organic materials, unique items and an effortless style.

“Italians work with what they have,” says Mulligan, who lives in Camarillo. “Everything is organic from their land. . . . They use wood from their trees or stone they can excavate from their yard.”

Italians also treasure pieces handed down through generations of family. Many inherit much of their furniture, dishes and decorative pieces and rarely buy

a lamp or pottery piece that’s mass-produced.

“Italians don’t shop with the same zeal as us Westerners,” Mulligan says. “A lot of them like to have their treasures from the past.”

While in Italy, the designers visited an 82-year-old man’s penthouse and were surprised to find a contemporary white couch with silk pillows in the same room as a 16th century tapestry and a wood-carved statue of Mary Magdalene.

“But it all works,” Ascione-Hilton says. “You have these very heavy, dark, ornate, almost Germanic pieces that could’ve been in the family for generations, but they lighten it up with a gallery of lighthearted paintings above the piece.”

The designers also suggest taking a cue from Italians’ love of one-of-a-kind items. They recently picked up a dozen used crate boxes and paired the worn wood with glass vases. The decorative piece sold out in a month.

“Decor is the icing on the cake,” Mulligan says. “You can have nice furniture, but it can look barren until you bring in those special elements.”

Great Rooms Home Furnishings, 651 Via Alondra, No. 703, Camarillo.

Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (805) 445-9057, www.greatroomsdesign.com

Carol Ascione-Hilton and Ann Mulligan in their Camarillo showroom.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 25

Why

How Hiring a professional can help your project

Bring peace to the

design process

Written by Ela Lindsay Illustrated by Beth Thayer

“The most expensive design decisions are the ones homeowners make that are wrong,” says interior designer Pamela Sandall, owner of Pamela Sandall Designs.

She tells the story of a couple who purchased an expensive 96-inch sofa for a small room where a poker table was already set to go. The room couldn’t accommodate both pieces, resulting in a costly error, says Sandall, local chapter president of the national Interior Design Society and a member of the Conejo Association of Professional Interior Designers (CAPID).

“Brought in early to a project, a designer can help prevent you from making costly mistakes,” said Wendy Weiner from Westlake Village’s Wendy Weiner Interior Designs, Inc. “(Also), designers know reputable resources that will offer fair pricing and quality workmanship to stay within your budget.”

“It’s prudent to call a professional when there’s equivocation,” says Sandall. “Like when someone says, ‘I don’t know what to do with this space’ or, ‘what color should I paint?’ It’s like anything else in life. I

don’t know how to rewire a lamp, so I’ll call in a professional to do the job for me.”

Interior designers have access to thousands of products and lines the typical consumer does not, and they can whittle down options to a manageable number for the homeowner to consider. That can save a person time, energy and money.

They are also trained to work with other professionals, such as architects and contractors.

“There are different ways that a designer can deliver design,” says Sandall.

“Full service means someone comes out and takes measurements and talks about wants, needs and goals.” Then the designer takes it from there.

On the other hand, homeowners can also utilize just a portion of an interior designer’s services, such as simple room rearrangements or a color consultation.

“We can work with what the homeowner already has,” says Sandall. “It’s amazing how far some fresh paint will go toward creating a whole new look.”

It’s amazing how far some fresh paint will go toward creating a whole new look.

26 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

Decisions, decisions

And when it comes to cost, there are plans to suit most budgets.

Designers can charge by the hour or by the project. Some offer cost-plus, meaning the designer charges an hourly fee and then passes on a portion of their professional discount on products to the client, explains Sandall.

Homeowners can contact CAPID for referrals to experienced, vetted interior designers. Clients can also research a designer’s level of certification.

Another option and one of the newest trends in interior design is e-decorating. Perfect for hands-on homeowners on a budget, everything is done over the phone and the Internet. Homeowners take measurements and fill out documents about their particular style and goals and a designer responds with suggestions, including where to shop for items.

The end result of any job should be “a feeling of harmony and balance,” says Weiner. That applies to the finished project as well as to the process involved in arriving there. Using an interior designer can help keep homeowners feeling less stressed throughout the project.

“We can keep homeowners focused on the goal,” Sandall says.

Another advantage of hiring a designer, Weiner says, is they may have ideas that you have not considered. “A good designer will be interested in learning about your lifestyle to help make your home one you will be happy in for years.”

Most homeowners don’t even think

about some of the basic decisions interior designers are trained to make. A perfect example, designer Pamela Sandall says, is the couple who renovated a huge living room with hardwood floors, “but they didn’t think of putting in electrical receptacles in the floor. Now they have this great, beautiful space—with cords all over the place.”

These are the kinds of details interior

designers pay attention to. “We are trained to measure and design spaces from the walls in.”

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Ha r m o n y

colors combine to play a fine melody in this contemporary Craftsman-style home Written by leslie gregory haukoos Photography by Michael Coons

W

hen a home’s design works, it is something like a fine piece of music with various elements playing different harmonies that combine in a richly moving and cohesive piece.

There may be a single theme running throughout the home, but it is supported by slight variations in each room and interrupted by surprising notes that call attention to specific niches or corners with personal treasures on display.

This home’s interior, designed for a Newbury Park couple

by Monica A. Nordquist of Nordquist Design, plays like a lovely concerto—compelling, cohesive and ultimately very comfortable— which is, after all, the point of a home.

The house, not large by any means, has at its core a Craftsman theme. Colors are rich, earthy and deep, the palette inspired by two vintage movie posters in the couple’s personal art collection. The finished home beautifully harmonizes the traditional Craftsman style with a modern twist.

“They like the warmth but with a little bit of modern,” Monica says of her clients. “They wanted the house to be inviting, comfortable, cozy and warm, but still clean and sophisticated.”

Monica, a self-proclaimed “color savant” (“I can bring things home from Europe and they match items at home perfectly”), says she likes to work in strong, saturated tones.

The custom kitchen cabinets in this Newbury Park home are English walnut with seeded glass fronts. The counter is quartzite with deep variegated hues and a linear pattern reflecting the homeowner’s modern but homey taste, the designer says.

The appliances are from Dacor. “That range is one of my favorite purchases,” says the homeowner. “It cooks fantastically.”

The floor is a porcelain tile from Spain, finished to look metallic, “like it’s oxidized,” he says.

The fabric valance over the sink brings in color and texture. “When you have a very clean look you want to introduce texture for interest,” the designer says.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 29

Custom isn’t necessarily more expensive,” Monica says. “In some cases it can cost less. Also, these clients liked the uniqueness of custom.

30 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

The hardwood floor is original to the house, requiring just a “good cleaning” to look like new.

The twin red leather sofas and oversized ottomon were custom-made to fit the relatively small room.

Hanging behind the sofa is a painting by American artist Wes Hempel.

The Italian game table was from the client’s former apartment, a find he discovered buried under a pile of other pieces in the back room of an antique shop years ago. He had the chairs made to go with it.

Artist Breon Duningan created the upholstered antelope head hanging above the game table. Its antlers are vintage chair legs.

An old Gene Autry movie poster was one of two posters that inspired the colors for the whole house.

“It works when all the colors have the same intensity. . . . I usually have to dial back colors for my clients. But in this home I got to push it. They wanted the intensity.”

The designer says she knows how to read her clients.

“I have the ability to interpret people into an environment,” Monica says.

The end result is a home that reflects the personalities of those who live there.

In this case, one of the clients, a graphic designer, was involved with every design decision.

“Our ideas were very compatible,” Monica says.

Because the rooms are relatively small, making it difficult to find pieces to fit each space, much of the furniture had to be custom-made. “Custom isn’t necessarily more expensive,” Monica says. “In some cases it can cost less. Also, these clients just liked the uniqueness of custom.”

One of the homeowners loves using walnut in all of its variant shades. Every time he is drawn to a piece of furniture, a cabinet finish, even a light fixture, it turns out to be walnut. That preference translated into another theme that runs through the home.

The front door, the stair rail, the kitchen cabinets, the dining light fixture and many of the pieces of freestanding furniture are walnut. Some are black walnut, a lovely wood that looks almost purple before it is finished; others are the lighter, golden-hued English walnut. In some renditions the walnut is stained, like on the dark

The powder room is painted a bold hue and has a masculine air with the combined voices of the granite sink, hammered copper mirror and dark marble counter top.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 31

Pieces handcrafted by friends and favorite artists hold special meaning and are showcased throughout the home.

The upstairs media room is painted a red oxide. Boldly striped silk draperies pick up on the mission-style cabinet that holds personal treasures. A friend handcrafted the metal frame on a poster from “Mini Takes the States.”

The master bedroom is serene and tranquil, with subtle tones playing a slightly different variation on the home’s color theme.

Draperies are Duponi silk from Kravat.

The dresser was custom-built.

Rust-colored glass tiles run horizontally, in contrast to the vertical stone tiles on the backsplash. They are framed by narrow ceramic tiles wrapped in copper.

dining table; in others it is natural with a clear finish, as in the upstairs bookshelves.

Finally, personal treasures accent each room. The client’s collection of coffeemakers was inspired by his grandmother’s family, who had a cafe in Naples, Italy. The mantel clock was his mother’s.

“It was my job to wind the clock when I was a boy,” he says.

After the clock face was damaged during a botched repair, he designed a new one in etched brass depicting an image of flowers and vines based on a stained-glass window in his mother’s home. The clock is a very personal treasure.

Showcased throughout, pieces handcrafted by friends and favorite artists hold special meaning and memories. The exquisite ceramic salt and pepper shakers made by an artist friend; the upholstered antelope bust, custom-made by an artist in the clients’ favorite vacation spot on the East Coast; and the metal frame, made by a neighbor, to showcase a prized “Mini Takes the States” poster are just a handful of the personal treasures that make this inviting design concerto into a home.

32 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

Lesson Learned For color choices, Monica recommends living with a wall color before committing to it.

She likes to use paint cards that are at least 8 inches square. Monica tapes them to the wall and observes how the color looks at different times of the day as the light changes.

Living Room

Benjamin Moore “Affinity - Elemental AF-400”

“I learned this the hard way,” she says.

Early in her design career she painted a wall with a cathedral ceiling in a light shade of pink.

“At a certain time each day that wall looked like Pepto Bismal.”

Lesson learned.

Media Room

Monica says she usually has to “dial back” colors, but in this home she got to push it for her clients who wanted the intensity.

She used the Affinity color collection which Benjamin Moore describes as a “sophisticated palette.”

Benjamin Moore “Red Oxide 2088-10”

Master Bedroom

Benjamin Moore “Steep Cliff Gray 2122-20”

Kitchen

Benjamin Moore “Affinity - Elemental AF-400”

Monica Nordquist, a self-proclaimed color savant, relaxes in the living room. Behind her, the front entry door is flanked by windows. Monica had valances made for each window and placed twin Craftsman cabinets beneath them.

Powder Room

Benjamin Moore “Affinity - Dinner Party AF-300” fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 33

Menu Charcuterie

Grilled Radicchio Salad

Chef’s

Oven-Roasted Chicken Roasted Root Vegetables Butterscotch Pudding Hot Buttered Spiced Apple Cider

family feast

Written by Patti FedDersen Photography by Michael Coons

S

unday dinner. It’s that timehonored tradition when family and friends come together to cap off the weekend with a leisurely meal and camaraderie before the daily grind begins again. As the days grow shorter and the weather cools, what better time to rediscover the custom?

The meal needn’t be complicated, says Lisa Biondi, executive chef at Mediterraneo Restaurant and Stonehaus Winery in Westlake Village.

Instead, it should be casual and served family-style using fresh, seasonal foods thoughtfully prepared. That’s just how it was decades ago when Lisa’s family gathered on Sunday afternoons at her grandparents’ Burbank home.

“It was mostly our friends, who felt like they were part of the family, and my uncles and all of my grandma’s Italian friends,” Lisa reminisces. “We would play bocce ball outside with my uncles

and their friends while my grandma and her friends were inside preparing the meal and visiting. I look back and think how fortunate I was to be exposed to such fresh ingredients cooked with such love and care.”

Lisa’s grandmother, Nona, grew her own vegetables and raised chickens to ensure she’d have fresh eggs to make her pasta. Tortellini en Brodo, Torte de Nonce, and zucchini flowers with prosciutto are a few of Lisa’s favorite family dishes.

Her mother, Marie, fried chicken while her father, Piero, chef and owner of Piero’s Italian Restaurant in Burbank, made meat patties with ricotta stewed in fresh tomato sauce with bacon and peas. And her Uncle Olinto, a baker by profession, made “the best bread and delco cookies,” the familiar folded pastry with a fruit spread filling.

Surrounded by so much enthusiasm

Chef Lisa Biondi carves the oven-roasted chicken for her family during a traditional Sunday dinner she prepared for them at The Stonehaus in Westlake Village. fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 35

Grilled Radicchio, Pear and Marcona Almond Salad

2 heads radicchio, quartered and soaked in cold water for 1 hour to remove any bitterness

1 ripe bosc pear, thinly sliced

⅓ cup gorgonzola cheese crumbles Citrus dressing

¼ cup marcona almonds, roughly chopped

dressing is getting too thick. Season with salt. Store leftover dressing in refrigerator for up to one week.

Roast Chicken with Bacon Rosemary Root Vegetables

Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high.

1 4½-5-lb. roasting chicken

Coat radicchio wedges with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill radicchio uncovered until light grill marks appear.

Dry brine: 3 Tbsp. Kosher salt 2½ tsp. chopped fresh thyme ½ tsp. fresh ground pepper

Arrange grilled radicchio on platter with pear slices and crumbled cheese. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with almonds.

Citrus dressing

Makes 5 cups

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 shallot

¾ cup lemon juice

½ cup rice vinegar

¾ cup honey

3 cups canola or olive oil

½ cup water salt

Combine all the ingredients except the oil and water in a blender. Blend on medium to puree, then slowly drizzle in the oil. Use water to thin if 36 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

1 lemon, halved

1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise

6 Tbsp. olive oil

1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced

1 dozen fresh baby carrots (not bagged), unpeeled and scrubbed

1 celery root, washed, peeled and cut into thick planks

2 parsnips, scrubbed and cut into 2"-thick disks

3 medium turnips, peeled and cut into thick

wedges

2 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into

medium chunks salt and pepper

6 small beets, scrubbed and cut in half

2 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped

4 slices bacon, frozen and cut crosswise into ½" strips

Remove the excess fat from the inside of the chicken. Remove the wishbone, if desired, for greater ease in carving. Rub the chicken all over with the combined dry brine ingredients and place on a large plate uncovered in the refrigerator overnight. This will help dry out the skin and make it crisp.

Preheat oven to 475°. Remove chicken from refrigerator at least 1 hour before cooking to bring to room temperature. Place the halved lemon and the garlic bulb inside the chicken. Truss the chicken and place in a large roasting pan and rub the skin with 1 Tbsp. olive oil.

In a large bowl, toss the remaining oil with all the vegetables except the beets (if red). Add the rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Toss red beets separately with additional 1 Tbsp. oil, salt and pepper to avoid discoloring the other vegetables.

Arrange the vegetables around the chicken in a single layer and divide the frozen chopped bacon around.

Roast for 25 minutes at 475°, then reduce temperature to 400° and cook an additional 45-55 minutes or until done and the thickest part of the thigh registers 155-160°. Remove and let rest 1520 minutes.

Turn off the oven and keep the vegetables warm while the chicken is resting.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Lisa’s brother-in-law, Joe Claridge, left, her husband, Wayne Shearon, and other family members raise their glasses to toast the chef for a fine meal.

in the kitchen and the delicious dishes that emerged from it, Lisa was inspired to cook at a young age. She took notes on the backs of envelopes as she watched her grandmother because Nona never used written recipes. Later, while earning her bachelor’s degree in business, she worked in her father’s restaurant and found herself spending more and more time in the kitchen.

But seeing firsthand her father’s long hours and the extreme heat of his work environment, Lisa resisted the notion of becoming a professional chef. Then, one night after work while she was sitting at the bar at Piero’s with a glass of wine, she yielded to the reality that cooking was her passion. Within two weeks she was enrolled in the California Culinary Academy of San Francisco, graduating in 1996.

“Here I am and loving it. And I married a chef. What was I thinking?” she teases.

Lisa’s husband, Wayne Shearon, is executive sous chef at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks. As fellow chefs, the couple share an understanding of the dynamics of the business and the demands of the career,

including long hours and uncertain schedules.

And because they both work at places known for delicious cuisine and beautiful surroundings, the holiday season is especially busy for the pair.

But they still make spending time with family a priority. As often as they can they get together with Yvonna and Joe Claridge, Lisa’s sister and brother-in-law; their children, Gina and Michael; and Joe’s mother, interior designer Gail Claridge.

Recently, the family gathered at Stonehaus for a casual Sunday dinner prepared by Chef Lisa.

The meal began with a charcuterie plate with layers of cheese, prosciutto, salami, cornichons and crostini served with whole-grain mustard and glazed fruit. Grilled Radicchio Pear and Marcona Almond Salad with Citrus Dressing accompanied Roast Chicken with Bacon Rosemary Root Vegetables. Pinot Noir and Côtes du Rhône were the recommended wines. Butterscotch Pudding and Hot Buttered Spiced Apple Cider provided a sweet finish to a lovely family dinner. fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 37

21st Century

Fireplaces take on a whole new form Written by Leslie Gregory Haukoos

W

ith cool autumn weather come thoughts of curling up in front of a cozy fireplace. But in the 21st century that means something different than it has in the past. Modern home fireplaces are nothing like the traditional ones of yore, burning wood and spitting sparks. Today cozy means sleek, contemporary and environmentally friendly.

We’re seeing flames rising out of crystals and licking stainless steel sculptures—flames that engulf ceramic fireballs or other geometric shapes like pyramids, cubes and free-form objects. Today there are gas fireplaces operated by remote control, so you can adjust the heat intensity without getting off the sofa, and others that are actually heating units, with the fire behind a fixed glass front blowing heat into the room through a vent.

As for design, it’s all about linear-style, says Armen Aslanian, 38 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

manager of Woodland Hills Fireside BBQ & Appliances. The long, horizontal fireplace is a European design. Rather than the basic square opening, these are long, slender rectangles with fixed glass fronts.

The linear design is also popular because people want to mount their flat-screen TVs over the fireplace, which is having a major effect on the design revolution, says Bob Vartanian, owner of Thousand Oaks Fireside and Design, which has stores in Encino, Pasadena and Glendale-Burbank.

Part of the reason behind these dramatic changes is the modern aesthetic—the look is changing. Another factor is concern for the environment and EPA restrictions on burning wood. Some parts of the country have already banned wood-burning fireplaces and, according to Vartanian, it’s just a matter of time until the rest of the states follow suit.

Fireplace styles, materials and technology have changed dramatically in the last couple of years.

But the fireplace of the future which, incidentally, has already arrived, still fits with any style of interior, from traditional to ultra-contemporary.

Probably the most prominent change is the move away from wood-burning fireplaces.

Contemporary fireplace design is so exciting and artful, chances are we won’t even miss our dusty fireplaces of old.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 39

WHAT’s HOT

The days of burning wood are over

1

2

1. Fireshapes are available in eight colors and several sizes. Manufactured by Rasmussen Products.

(Photo courtesy of Rasmussen Products) 2. Fire glass comes in a multitude of colors and textures and creates a dramatic fire and ice effect.

(Photo courtesy Rasmussen Products) 3. Fireballs, 4� balls come in 8 different colors and are hand-painted with ceramic stain. (Photo courtesy Rasmussen Products) 4. River rocks, are fabricated from a heat-resistant ceramic.

5. Steel rods are another creative alternative to wood.

(Photo courtesy Woodland Hills Fireside and BBQ)

3

4

5 40 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

“Already in Nevada you can’t burn wood,” he says. “It will happen here soon.”

But not to worry. Contemporary fireplace design is so exciting and artful, chances are we won’t even miss our dusty fireplaces of old. It won’t be hard to adjust to a hearth that is free of ash or one that doesn’t require cleaning after a few evenings enjoying a toasty fire.

Instead of wood, newer fireplaces have several different interior materials. Fire crystals come in more than 40 colors—aqua, purple, scarlet—and they create a lovely, reflective light. Other options include stainless steel and ceramic shapes. Ceramic river rocks are another popular choice.

Gas logs, which now come in realistic and varied designs, are still available for those who want the look of a traditional fireplace.

For the fireplace itself, there are several different ways to go, says Vartanian. An electric fireplace gives the illusion of flame and really pumps out the heat—it’s actually a heating unit. If there’s no gas line available, an electric insert which fits inside the existing fireplace may be the way to go.

There’s also the gas insert, a self-contained unit that fits inside the fireplace. Vartanian says this option is more efficient for heating, as all the warmth goes into the room rather than escaping up a chimney.

The more adventurous can turn their fireplace into a virtual light show, Aslanian says. There are media kit units so a homeowner can orchestrate changing lights inside the fire box.

“It’s nothing at all like the fireplaces from just a year or two ago,” he says. “These are totally different than what a traditional fireplace looks like.”

To keep up with the times, many homeowners are remodeling their fireplaces.

A face-lift can cost from $2,000 to $3,000, says Aslanian. Replacing the whole fireplace, inside and out, may be closer to $10,000.

Vartanian recalls one client who spent more than $50,000 for a seamless open fireplace.

And those options are just for the fireplace itself. Choosing a hearth, mantel and fireplace facade can be just as exciting with the wide array of new materials and choices available. Precast concrete, granite, stone and tile come in all sorts of colors and textures. And if that isn’t enough to send a buyer reeling, choosing fireplace doors will do it, with choices ranging from old world style to ultra-contemporary lines.

Though the ultimate goal is the same as it has been forever—to create a warm, inviting room—there’s a whole new world in fireplace design just in time for winter’s chill. Because after all, Baby, it’s cold outside.

Some parts of the country have already banned woodburning fireplaces . . . it’s just a matter of time until the rest of the states follow suit.

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 41

fireplace

Face-lift

Written by Leslie Gregory Haukoos “After” photography by VT Fine Art Photography

The original living room fireplace in this Calabasas Oaks home featured the builder’s standard plain white composite construction with a simple framed surround and a white hearth.

The homeowners wanted to make the fireplace more sophisticated and unique. Designer Kathy Love Jarvis helped then accomplish just that, having worked with them before as their taste evolved from traditional to contemporary over the years.

To dress up the surround, Jarvis brought in her “painter extraordinaire,” Raul Campos Painting and Design. “His service is above and beyond that of a normal painter,” she says.

Campos referred her to master painter and faux finisher, artist Vasily Gladkov, who applied a silver leaf finish (yes, that’s real silver leaf ) to the fireplace surround. The silver leaf comes in thin sheets of ground metal finish. It’s applied by hand then sealed to the surface by the artist. It’s the same technique

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BEFORE: The living room fireplace was plain white composite material with a simple framed surround. AFTER: Handapplied silver leaf finish covers the mantel and surround. Flames rise from chipped glass, and a tempered glass screen sits on metal legs so as not to obscure the view.

used in Europe during the 17th through 19th centuries on architectural paneling and furnishings in grand estates and palaces.

Gladkov, who specializes in trompe l’oeil, Italian plasters and metal patinas, is a “true old world artist, trained in Russia,”

Jarvis says. Ironically, it is this very old technique that contemporizes the fireplace and the room.

Inside the gas fireplace, flames emerge from chipped glass, creating a “fire and ice” effect, Jarvis says. To showcase it, she designed

a free-standing fireplace screen made of clear tempered glass with metal legs. It sits on the hearth and is “clean, unobtrusive and very modern.” The idea, she says, is not to feature the screen but “to allow us to see the fire and ice crystal effect.”

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Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

BOLD Photography by Richard Gillard

We’re seeing stripes. Horizontal stripes, vertical stripes, BIG stripes, BOLD stripes. They’re stretching down hallways and turning feature walls into art.

And they’re the perfect weekend DIY. Here’s how to take your wall from boring to bold and have a great weekend as well.

t h g i N e t a D y a d i Fr

Who needs dinner and a movie? Take your honey to the paint store instead. Here’s what you’ll need: 3/8” nap paint roller and tray 2” paint brush 1” painter’s tape Tape measure or yardstick Level (manual or laser) Base coat paint Secondary paint color **

** Many folks choose two shades of the same color, but there are no hard and fast rules. You might want contrasting yet complementary colors. Consider using a flat finish for the base coat and a semi–gloss for the stripes.

Saturday

Bring your honey coffee in bed. Then, get ready to prep your wall for the base coat.

Make sure the wall is clean and dry. Tape the wall’s perimeter (ceiling, floorboard, etc). Use the lighter of the two paint colors to completely cover the wall. Give the base coat a full 24 hours to dry before you begin with prep for striping.

Now, take your honey to the movies. After all, you spent Friday night at the paint store.

g n i n r o M y a d n u S

Skip the kids’ soccer game. By now you’ve decided between horizontal and vertical stripes, and it’s time to measure.

We say the bolder the better. We’re seeing a lot of wide stripes—12 inches or so. And it’s preferable to plan for an uneven number.

So whether you’re looking to stripe an entire feature wall or simply send a few horizontal stripes down a boring hallway, think in odd numbers.

For vertical stripes: measure from the center of the wall outward, marking each stripe with painter’s tape.

For horizontal stripes: begin measuring from the ceiling down. That way, if the stripe nearest to the floor isn’t exactly the same width, no one will notice. It will be covered up by furniture and other odds and ends.

A laser level on a tripod will make your measuring process quicker and more accurate than if you use a manual level. If you don’t have one, borrow one if possible. Either way, get your stripes marked with painter’s tape.

44 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

Time to Stripe

There are several tips for accomplishing crisp, clean lines. One method is to seal the edges of your tape with the original wall color. Once that’s dry, paint the contrasting stripe over that.

Another method to ensure clean lines is to paint over the tape with a clear glaze to seal it. Once that’s dry, go ahead and paint your secondary color over it.

n o o n r e t f A y a d n Su

Here’s the fun part: While the paint is still slightly wet, grab your honey and take turns gently pulling the tape off the wall, revealing your gorgeous stripes.

Your lines should be nice and clean and the only seepage, if any, will be your original wall paint color, which shouldn’t be noticeable.

The final step, a personal favorite, is to sit back and gloat over your beautiful wall and a perfectly romantic DIY.

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fall 2013 Beyond_10_2013_golden.indd 1

| www.beyondtheacorn.com 9/6/13 45 8:21 AM

Acornucopia Wallpaper’s Back in a big way From temporary wall covers you apply quickly on your own to a large array available at the local paint store and right up to luxurious “to the trade” designer lines, paper is back.

Celebrity designers are even getting in on the act with their own signature lines of wallpaper.

1

46 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

1. Vela Taupe — sand. Vendor: Schumacher. Price: $144/yard.

This sumptuous paper is great for adding texture and character.

Shown here in a soft mocha, it reads much like a fabric would on a wall. 2. Sinclair Paisley — ash. Vendor: Schumacher. Price: $156/yard. This rich-toned paper gives formality to the naturalfinish furniture. 3. Edie — champagne. Vendor: Tempaper.

Price: $98/double roll. This lovely paper with a nature theme is elegant in neutral taupe and cream.

4. This printed sisal paper in a rich woody brown is a great new twist on traditional grass cloth. 5. A very traditional style, this neutral grass cloth feels fresh and new with the inclusion of fibers with a metallic sheen and a modern taupe color. 6. This modern contemporary look in a chevron pattern makes a bold visual statement, especially as shown in the gold foil finish. Don’t be afraid to put it on a wall where the windows are framed by some gorgeous drapery. 7. When it’s time for a little bling, this glassbeaded wallpaper might be the winning ticket.

2 3

4. Filigree on Sisal Vendor: Candice Olson for York Price: $238/single roll

5. Sisal Twill Vendor: Candice Olson for York Price: $119/2 single rolls

6. Zee Gold Vendor: Tempaper Price: $98/double roll

7. Squiggles Vendor: Candice Olson for York Price: $140/single roll

Special thank you to Pamela Sandall Designs for uncovering these great papers

fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 47

2

1

Feeling BLuE

Serene. Soothing. Recalling the sea.

1. Edie Frosted — teal. Vendor: Tempaper, Price: $98/double roll. A brisk winter’s eve, a calm indoor retreat. This paper’s got a bit of whimsy and a breath of elegance.

2. Marrakesh — honey jade. Vendor: Tempaper. Price: $98/double roll. This one harkens back to exotic ports and palaces. 3. Cirrus Clouds — plume. Vendor: Schumacher, Price: $100/yard. Like looking at clouds on a blustery day this paper blows freshness into a room.

4. With its angled symmetry and metered pattern, Greek Key Sisal introduces a classic harmony to a space. 5. A traditional blue grass cloth adds texture to a wall.

6. Shadow Flowers designed by Candice Olson for York is all about softness.

3

4. Greek Key Sisal — peacock Vendor: Schumacher Price: $156/yard

48 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

5. Grass cloth Vendor: Candice Olson for York Price: $114/single roll

6. Shadow Flowers Vendor: Candice Olson for York Price: $105/two single rolls

Resources On the cover

Contractor: Mark R. McCarter Construction Inc., 18419 Napa St., Northridge (818) 993-9663 Mason: Ray Soliz, RS Masonry, 585 Pueblo Drive, Thousand Oaks (805) 497-4455 Furniture: Universal Patio Furniture, 11055 Ventura Blvd., Studio City Lighting: Justice Design Group, DeLightville, 22766 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills (818) 225-9882

WHO Page 12

“Turning Wood into Art”

Michel Arbaut 31131 Via Colinas, Ste. 604, Westlake Village (818) 874-9669

WHAT Page 14

“Managing the Mess”

National Organization for Professional Organizers www.NAPO.net Teine Kenney, Organize This (805) 409-0115 www.organizethis.com

WHERE

Rita Wolf, Designs By Rita (818) 707-1937 ritawolfdesigns@gmail.com

Page 22

Lori Gersh, Leave It to Lori (818) 324-3660 www.Leaveit2lori.com, lori@leaveittolori.com David Harris, The Wiser Organizer (805) 289-9420 www.theWiserOrganizer.com

“Old World Charm”

Charme d’Antan, 29963 Mulholland Hwy., Agoura Hills (818) 889-0229 Page 24

“Tuscan Style”

Great Rooms Home Furnishings, 651 Via Alondra #703, Camarillo (805) 445-9057 www.greatroomsdesign.com

Page 15

“A Place for Everything” Rita Wolf, Designs by Rita (818) 707-1937 ritawolfdesigns@gmail.com

WHY

Door handles: Agoura Sash & Door Frosted glass: Alladin Glass Canoga Park

Page 26

“Bring Peace to the Process”

Pamela Sandall, Pamela Sandall Designs (818) 850-6268 www.pamelasandalldesign.com

Page 18

“A Job Well Done”

“Clean Sweep: Conquer the Clutter”

by Melissa Bigner (2005) “Outwitting Clutter: 101 Ingenious Space-Saving Tips and Ideas to Make Any House or Apartment More Livable”

by Bill Adler Jr. (2002)

Wendy Weiner Interior Design Inc. (805) 494-0820 Wendy@WendyWeiner.com Conejo Association of Professional Interior Designers (CAPID) www.capid.org Interior Design Society www.InteriorDesignSociety.org

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every day.

It’s hard to say which family member will love University Village Thousand Oaks more. Protected by a plan for future long-term care, couples stay together, even if needs change — and children don’t have to make difficult decisions for their parents. Everyone is able to focus on quality time together, with a campus full of amenities the whole family will enjoy — restaurant dining, a pool, auditorium with regular performances, dog park and more.

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“HARMONY”

Page 28 Monica A. Nordquist, Nordquist Design (805) 499-9685 www.nordquistdesign.net

Living Room: Wall paint: Benjamin Moore, “Affinity Elemental AF-400” Sofa, ottoman and 2 brown chairs: Custom Upholstery, Camarillo Sofa: Goliger Leather, Ventura Chairs: Donghia fabric (To the trade)** Ottoman: Kravet fabric (To the trade)** Craftsman cabinets: Cal Creations, Montebello, oak & seeded glass Door knobs: Agoura Sash & Door, Ashleigh Norton Window coverings: Burbank Drapery Workroom Vents, registers: Agoura Sash & Door Sofa pillows: Slipcovers by Stephanie, Newbury Park Antelope wall art: Breon Dunigan artSTRAND Gallery www.artstrand.com Painting: Wes Hempel www.weshempel.com

Powder Room: Wall paint: Benjamin Moore “Affinity - Dinner Party AF-300” Sink, vanity, toilet, faucet, mirror: Vic’s Plumbing Supply, Ventura Hand-carved stone sink: Stone Forest Vanity: Fairmont Shaker Vanity Toilet: Palermo Faucet & towel bar: Cifial, techno straight single faucet in weathered bronze

Mirror: Native Trails, Tuscany copper beveled mirror, Vic’s Plumbing Supply, Ventura Floor tile: Tile City, Thousand Oaks Countertop: Arena Marble & Granite, Newbury Park, rainforest brown marble Light fixture: Raiden by Minka Lavery Tiles hanging behind toilet: Motawi Tileworks, www.motawi.com Block prints: The Arts & Crafts www.artsandcraftspress.com

Kitchen: Wall paint: Benjamin Moore, “Affinity Elemental AF-400” Appliances: Dacor Ceramic salt & pepper shakers: Marie Wright, mariespottery@hotmail.com or www.etsy.com/shop/MarieWrightPottery Walnut cabinetry: J&J Cabinetry, Newbury Park Cabinet knobs: Agoura Sash & Door, brushed nickel Sink, faucet: Vic’s Plumbing Supply, Ventura Sink: Blanco Performa Faucet, soap dispenser: Blanco Corpus, in black anthracite and chrome Cold water faucet: Waterstone/Huntley Counter top: Quartzite Bamboo Arena Marble & Granite, Newbury Park Floor tile, backslash tiles: Tile City, Thousand Oaks Floor: Ocre Backsplash: Waterfall/Earth Ledge Table: La Bella Cosa, Culver City, custom table Chairs: custom leather, Custom Upholstery, Camarillo Light fixture over dining table: Maxim, grass reed

with acrylic, cherry finish Window coverings: Burbank Drapery Workroom Kitchen sink light fixture: Hubbardton Forge, “Kokomi” in mahogany finish

Master Bedroom: Wall paint: Benjamin Moore, “Steep Cliff Gray 2122-20” Upholstered bed, leather bench: Custom Upholstery, Camarillo Fabric: Kravet Bedding and pillows: Slipcovers by Stephanie, Newbury Park Rug: Davis and Davis, New Zealand wool custom rug Custom dressers: Hammer furniture, L.A. Chair: Brownstone Furniture, L.A. Nightstands: Cal Creations, Montebello Draperies and shades: Burbank Drapery Workroom Draperies: Kravet, Duponi silk

Media Room: Wall paint: Benjamin Moore, “Red Oxide 2088-10” Sofa: Custom Upholstery, Camarillo Draperies and shades: Burbank Drapery Workroom Custom media center: Cal Creations, Montebello

Guest Bathroom: Toilet, vanity, tub, faucet: Vic’s Plumbing Supply, Ventura Toilet: Palermo Tile, shower and floor: Tile City, Thousand Oaks Floor: Walker Zanger, leather finish

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“CHEF’S FAMILY FEAST” Page 34 The Stonehaus 32039 Agoura Road, Westlake Village www.the-stonehaus.com

“21st CENTURY HEAT”

Page 38 Thousand Oaks Fireside and Design 104 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (805) 496-6660 www.thousandoaksfireside.com Encino Fireplace Shop 17954 Ventura Blvd., Encino (818) 881-4684 Woodland Hills Fireplace & BBQ Shop 21140 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills (818) 999-2174 www.bbqfireplace.com Conejo Fireside BBQ Appliances 2975 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (805) 497-5881

www.bbqfireplace.com

“FIREPLACE FACE-LIFT” Page 42 Kathy Love Jarvis, CID, CAPID (805) 405-6360 kathylovejarvis@gmail.com Vasily Gladkov, Gladkov Studios www.gladkovstudios.com

Beyond

Raul Campos Painting and Design (818) 438-8266 VT Fine Art Photography www.visualmeanderings.com Woodland Hills Fireplace & BBQ Shop 21140 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills (818) 999-2174 www.bbqfireplace.com

The Acorn

Coming January 16/17, 2014

HOW

& Health Wellness

Page 44 Sherwin-Williams www.sherwin-williams.com Sherwin-Williams store 2994 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (805) 496-2394

Reserve Your Space Today!

a • Building me. better

ACORNUCOPIA

Page 46 Pamela Sandall, Pamela Sandall Designs (818) 850-6268 www.pamelasandalldesigns.com Schumacher Fabrics, Wallcoverings, Trimmings www.fschumacher.com (to the trade)** York Wallcoverings www.yorkwall.com, www.swdecorating.com Available at Sherwin-Williams stores Tempaper Designs www.tempaperdesigns.com Available online and at retail outlets ** To the trade products must be purchased through a professional designer.

• Nutrition • Nuturing a healthy psyche For advertising opportunities, please contact us at: (818) 706-0266 or: beyondsales@theacorn.com BeyondTheAcorn.com

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51

¾ with hot apple juice and stir. Top with whipped cream, ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick to stir.

CONTINUED from PAGE 36

The Heart of Your Home...

Hot Buttered Spiced Apple Cider

Add rum or whiskey if desired.

Leftover ice cream mixture can be stored in the freezer up to one month.

Serves 8

Is About to Get...

A Whole Lot Happier.

Butterscotch Pudding

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

1 Tbsp. plus 1tsp. cinnamon

1¼ tsp. ground allspice

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

½ tsp. sea salt

4 cups vanilla ice cream

4 cups unsweetened apple juice whipped cream ground nutmeg cinnamon sticks

Yields 6 ¾-cup servings

9 egg yolks 6 Tbsp.

1½ cups brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

½ vanilla bean

3½ cups heavy cream Caramel sauce (see recipe)

Whipped sour cream (see recipe) roasted peanuts sea salt

Melt the first 7 ingredients over medium heat, then allow to cool but not solidify. Using the paddle attachment on a standing mixer or using a hand mixer, beat the cooled combined ingredients with the ice cream until smooth. Freeze mixture overnight.

In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks and set aside. Melt the butter over medium heat, whisk in the brown sugar and salt, stir in the scraped vanilla bean and cook over medium heat until sugar darkens slightly and takes on a caramel fragrance, about 5 minutes.

When ready to serve, bring apple juice to a boil. Fill TOP232cup Star 1 9/5/13 each heat-proof ¼ Ad_9-13 with ice F.pdf cream mixture and

8:54 PM Turn the heat to medium low and whisk in the

THOUSAND OAKS PHILHARMONIC

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Thousand Oaks 91360

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Pasadena 626-792-2136

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Glendale/Burbank 818-246-0800

52 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

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805.376.2485

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The meal began with a charcuterie plate with cheese, prosciutto, salami, cornichons and crostini served with whole-grain mustard and glazed fruit.

cream, pouring slowly. The sugar will harden but will dissolve as you stir. Stir until it just begins to boil. Remove from heat and mix a small amount into the egg yolks before gradually adding the egg yolks to the hot liquid. Strain and pour into ovenproof ramekins.

Bake in water bath at 325° covered until custards are just set but still jiggly, about 55 minutes.

Refrigerate until cool. Serve chilled, topped with Caramel sauce, Whipped sour cream, roasted peanuts and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Caramel sauce

2 cups sugar ½ cup water 1½ sticks butter 1½ cups cream

Combine sugar and water in heavy-bottom pan and cook until deep amber. Add the butter and stir until melted and well blended. Add the cream a little at a time and stir; the sugar will harden but melt again. Stir until completely smooth.

Whipped sour cream

½ cup whipped heavy cream

½ cup sour cream

¼ cup powdered sugar

Beat heavy cream, sugar and sour cream on medium high in standing mixer with whisk attachment until thick. Adjust amounts to taste. Should have a slightly tangy flavor and not be too sweet.

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The happiest sound on earth Whole House Music • Home Automation and Control Networking/Phone Systems • Home Theater

CONTINUED from PAGE 21

Thousand Oaks Community Center 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks Kids can sell their toys, clothes and sports equipment.

Admission: free.

Visit www.crpd.org/tocswap; call (805) 381-2793

Saturday, November 16 & SUNDAY, November 17 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Galaxy of Gems Expo—“Petrified Wood” Theme Presented by the Oxnard Gem and Mineral Society Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard Displays, demos, kids’ activities, silent auction and vendors with minerals, fossils, opals and stones.

Admission and parking: free.

Visit www.oxnardgem.com; call (805) 644-6450 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Nottingham Village Renaissance Faire Rancho Tapo Community Park/Lemon Park, 3700 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley Elizabethan fair and marketplace with street performers, stage acts, craft workers and re-enactments of the 16th century lifestyle.

Visit www.nottinghamfestival.com; email info@NottinghamFestival.com

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Westlake Village • Beverly Hills 54 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013

 CXL and Intacs for Keratoconus  Cataract Surgery  Visian ICL

Sunday, November 24 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Flea Market at Ventura County Fairgrounds Seaside Park, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura Early-bird admission from 6 to 9 a.m.: $10, Regular admission: $5, Kids under 12: free with adult.

No pets.

Visit www.rgcshows.com

Saturday, December 7 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival Plaza Park, 500 S. C St., downtown Oxnard Tamales, kids’ corner, pictures with Santa, live music, eating contests and vendors.

Admission: free.

Visit www.oxnardtamalefest.com; call (805) 385-7995 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: 22nd Annual Holiday Homes Tour Westlake Village and surrounding area Presented by the Cancer Support Community/Valley/ Ventura/Santa Barbara View homes decorated for the holidays.

Continues Sun., Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Holiday boutique hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit www.cancersupportvvsb.org; call (805) 379-4777 Noon to 8 p.m.: Ventura Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair The 400 and 500 blocks of Main Street, downtown Ventura Free street fair, holiday vendors and entertainment.

Wine walk starts at 4 p.m.

Visit www.venturawinterwinewalk.com; call (805) 323-5691.

Sunday, December 8 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: 35th Annual Homes for the Holidays Home Tour Camarillo area Presented by Meadowlark Service League.

View homes decorated for the holidays.

Holiday boutiques open 10 am. to 5 p.m.

Visit www.meadowlarkserviceleague.com; call (805) 987-4095

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Saturday, December 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Santa’s Village Holiday Carnival and 52nd Annual Camarillo Christmas Parade Camarillo Community Center 1605 E. Burnley St., Camarillo Games, arts and crafts, vendors. Santa from 1 to 4 p.m.

Clifford the Big Red Dog will be grand marshal.

Visit www.pvrpd.org; call (805) 482-1996

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Friday, December 20 7 p.m.: 37th Annual Parade of Lights and Fireworks and Winter Wonderland festivities Ventura Harbor Village, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura Live reindeer, Santa, faux snowfall and fireworks display each night.

Winter Wonderland and Holiday Marketplace continue Sat., Dec. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Visit www.venturaharborvillage.com; call (805) 477-0470

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fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 55

Don’t put your family’s health at risk If you have heard noises in your attic or in your walls, chances are it’s Rats! Rats can squeeze through the hole the size of a quarter. Due to imperfections in construction, rats can find their way into your attic or crawl space with ease. Cutting trees off the roof, setting traps, and even putting out poison are only Band-Aids. According to the Center for Disease Control rats, their droppings and urine left behind can contribute to and cause allergies, asthma, bacterial diseases, hantavirus, they also carry mites and fleas. With over 16 years of experience, All Pest Pros will professionally solve your Rat problem. We will trap and remove all Rats, seal all Rat entry points from the foundation all the way up to the roof lines.

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Final Word

Home

is where

the heart

LIVes

The word means something different to each of us

For me, home is the childhood bedroom with windows too high for me to reach without climbing on the bed. It’s the backyard playhouse where I pretended to be all grown up. It’s the den where I had my first kiss and the kitchen where we baked cookies from recipes handed down through generations. Home is the place where, as a young adult, I painted the walls ridiculous colors and where, later, my children learned to walk. It’s the trees we planted and the pool we dug. And though these precious memories took place in different houses over the years, one constant remains—home is where my heart has lived.

This photograph was taken sometime in the 1950s at my grandparents’ home on 88th Street in Los Angeles. I don’t know the date it was taken or the occasion that brought these loved ones to the table long before I was born. But I know their faces, though most of them are now gone. And when I look at this faded photograph, I see family.

I see home.

— LGH fall 2013 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 57

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