Living Lavishly Volume 6

VOLUME 6

on the central coast

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c o m m u n i t y n ews • d i g i t a l p r e s e n c e • eve n t s • m a g a z i n e s

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Cover photo by Gina Cinardo

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As we were proofing this issue of Living Lavishly, our daughter saw it and asked, is “Lavishly” a word?

What does it mean? It was interesting to be faced with a simple question and be able to give her an answer. I explained that “Lavish” is when something is amazing, a little over the top and very, very special. We named the magazine Living Lavishly because we believe that we all get to live a lavish lifestyle here on the central coast. Our daughter was happy with the answer and went back to eating her French Toast. Answering this question really made me appreciate that I get to point out to my daughter that we live in a very special place, with a very special lifestyle here on the Central Coast.

We enjoyed dinner in Pismo Beach this past weekend at sunset and were astounded at the beauty of the view from the restaurant. We could see the gorgeous glassy sea while eating delicious food, with a group of fun people including a highway patrolman, a teacher, an executive at Tenet Health and a marketing professional. We felt so blessed to be right there in that moment sharing our children’s lives, our remodel stories and reflecting on memories from recent travels. Throughout our discussions, it also became so obvious how important our homes are to our children and families.

As we go to press, it is great to see the craftsman and creators of our community that are showcased in this issue. In this issue we see jewelry makers, landscapers, builders, and many more all making their way here on the Central Coast to grow their talents and connect with you to make your home more beautiful in many ways.

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Samsung Family Hub Refrigerators in Black Stainless Connect your refrigerator to your iPhone and see the items in your fridge when you are at the grocery store! Also post other aps on your phone to the screen on your fridge including calendar and others! The bottom right space can be customized for your use to either additional fridge or a freezer-your choice!

Available at Idlers. For more information, visit www.IdlersHome.com or call their San Luis Obispo location at 543-6600.

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LG Sidekick Washer Pedestal The washer pedestal gives you an additional washing machine for specific items such as delicate items or dirty diapers, etc.

Available at Idlers. For more information, visit www.IdlersHome.com or call their San Luis Obispo location at 543-6600.

Ge Café 30” Double Oven With Upper French Doors And Remote Start This double oven with French doors allows a commercial ease of access with the size and usage for the home. It can be started remotely.

Available at Idlers. For more information, visit www.IdlersHome.com or call their San Luis Obispo location at 543-6600.

Perlick Under the Counter Fridge Thoughtful design coupled with high-powered performance yields products that maximize available space and deliver ultimate functionality.

Delta Esque Kitchen Faucet and Shield Spray Technology helps prevent splatters while still powering through the toughest messes.

Available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

For more information, visit www.fergusonshowroom.com or cor call their San Luis Obispo Location at 594-5380.

Available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. For more information, visit www.fergusonshowroom.com or call their San Luis Obispo Location at 594-5380.

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Ronbow Amora Vanity: -Lots of Creative, Hidden Storage.

-Available in 3 colors and multiple sizes.

-Navy w/Satin Brass Trim is hot right now.

-Satin Brass and Matte Black are hot finishes for faucets.

On display at Pacific Coast Kitchen & Bath.

For more information, visit www.pacificcoastkitchenbath.com, 3974 Short Street, San Luis Obispo, or call 541-2786.

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Pratt & Lambert's 2018 Color of the Year

The 2018 color forecast is all about searching farther and deeper than ever before – beyond what we know. Diverge to new worlds and realities, explore boundless spirit and endless possibilities, synthesize exotic combinations of organic and robotic; and finally, set a restful intention for the mind and body.

In our search for serenity within ourselves and beyond, we find our Color of the Year, Heron. Inspired by the need to take refuge in momentary respites and simple escapes, this color creates the calmness we are seeking in our everyday lives.

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Versatile Indirect Lighting Indirect lighting is a simplistic modern technique that can be used in any style home from traditional to contemporary to highlight architectural features such as tall vaulted ceilings, long walls, or art that creates an inviting and visually captivating space.

Available at Acropolis. For more information, visit www.acrop-ltg.com or call them at their San Luis Obispo location at 543-8025.

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Hinkley Carson Use decorative outdoor lighting, such as over-sized chandeliers and multi-pendant clusters to provide functional illumination and bring a sense of warmth and comfort to your outdoor entertaining areas.

Available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. For more information, visit www.fergusonshowroom.com or call 594-5384.

Alfresco Pizza Oven This opportunity for family dining has a cooking surface measuring 24-inches wide by 19-inches deep, with an infrared hearth heating system, gas log rear burner, and is built-in capable with 6-inch diameter flue chimney top.

Available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

For more information, visit www.fergusonshowroom.com or call 594-5384.

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Modular Jenn-Air Cooking and Ventilation The modular aspect of this Jenn-Air Cook top allows a custom design for the chef in your kitchen! From grill to griddle to gas burners to an induction wok, choose your own set up!

Developed and refined by Jenn-Air brand, a downdraft ventilation system uses proximity ventilation to capture smoke, steam and odors at the cooking surface, whisking them down and out of the kitchen before they can escape. This allows the kitchen to not have a hood.

Available at Idlers. For more information, visit www.IdlersHome.com or call their San Luis Obispo location at 543-6600.

Kohler Veil Freestanding Tub Striking in form and designed for function, modern freestanding tubs take center stage as the focal point of any spa sanctuary.

Available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. For more information, visit www.fergusonshowroom. com or call 594-5380.

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TRUE Refrigeration The only residential appliances that are also rated for outdoor use. Great for outdoor living spaces. BBQ’s, Outdoor Kitchens or bars, Man Cave’s, Wine Rooms etc. Made in the US in St. Louis since 1945.

On display at Pacific Coast Kitchen & Bath.

For more information, visit www.pacificcoastkitchenbath.com, 3974 Short Street, San Luis Obispo, or call 541-2786.

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Linear Fixtures are a Hot Trend for 2018 From Hubbardton Forge Linear chandeliers are especially great over long dining room tables, billiard tables and a kitchen island. These pieces complement the shape of each area while providing ample downlighting. Many designs feature LED lighting, which helps make your space elegant and energy efficient.

This style of fixture makes a room look wider and longer and keeps it from being over-stimulated by ceiling lights.

Available at Acropolis. For more information, visit www.acrop-ltg.com or call them at their San Luis Obispo location at 543-8025.

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This is not your Grandmother's

By Mari Robeson The history of chintz (from the plural of chint) was originally textiles from India.

Typically these textiles were bright florals printed on a light background. The word chint is derived from the Sanskrit chitra for spotted or bright and hit it’s first round of popularity in the seventeenth century. They were later imported into Europe and America. Chintz also came to refer to the industrially printed textiles produced in England, as well as floral printed ceramics and wallpaper.

Fast-forward to the 1980s, when designer Mario Buatta reinvented the “English Country” look and many designers followed along making it popular once again.

Maybe you remember how the look of matching chintz wallpaper, upholstered furniture and accessories was a popular style, but as design trends go, the charm of matching everything chintz eventually declined.

Currently florals are a popular staple in textiles. With so many options available it’s easy to invite this happy look into your home décor.

Companies, such as Designers Guild, pair bright florals with solids and more simple geometric fabrics creating more balance and interest then the matching look of the 1980s.

Vogue recently asked 16 interior designers for their 2018 predictions. According to them, chintz is making a big come back. Chintz, which was once forgotten is now finding new life and I personally couldn’t be any happier.

When color is done right in any interior, it creates a sense of happiness. Why not try adding a few pops of color and florals to your décor? We all know how a bouquet of fresh flowers makes us feel.

Chintz is one of those fabrics that makes us feel good and we can all use a little of that, don’t you think?

Photo Credit: Designers Guild FRANCHINI - FUCIA

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Get The Look

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e

,

s

FRANCHINI - FUCHSIA

AMRAPALI - PEONY

BRERA LARGO - NOIR LIVING Lavishly

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This collage of fabrics show the wonderful diversity of today’s outdoor fabrics going from a Mediterranean style to a traditional beach look.

T

here is no better place than California’s Central Coast to enjoy the outdoors year-round, and outdoor living has gone beyond just plunking a patio set on a porch. In addition to just a few cushions on patio furniture or an awning, there are now outdoor kitchens, porticos, rugs, drapes and curtains to consider. With that calling comes the need to find the right furniture and fabrics to enjoy a carefree experience.

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The iconic brand name Sunbrella is probably the first name that comes to mind when thinking about outdoor fabrics, but in the last few years new players have entered the market giving consumers a wide range of options.

Once thought of as scratchy and stiff, the new fabrics are adding wonderful patterns and textures making them an important factor for indoor use as well.

Indoor-outdoor fabrics are desirable for their fade resistant, water-resistant, mildew-resistant and easy cleaning properties. Note the use of the word “resistant” not “proof!” Many people equate these characteristics with durability, which is not necessarily the case.

Fade resistance is measured by light hours under protected space. Printed solution polyesters usually give between 500-750 light hours. Woven solution-dyed acrylics can give 1500 or more light hours before showing signs of fading.

Water resistance will help fend off light moisture and mist but is not meant to withstand direct water contact on an on-going basis.

Mildew resistance is a highly desirable quality as mildew can quickly discolor and destroy the fibers. It is important to follow cleaning instructions (usually soapy water) of the fabric to remove any stains quickly so mildew cannot take its toll. continued, page 23

The very “in” cool grey color palette can tone down a hot patio setting easily.

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The ubiquitous Cabana Stripe is combined with black & white print outdoor fabrics to create this playful collage.

Outdoor fabrics can still be elegant as shown in this classic taupe and black paisley.

Nothing says Coast more than breezy spa shades of aqua.

Durability – Ah, the most common myth. If one is considering indoor-outdoor fabrics because of the perception that easy cleaning will mean a longer lasting chance against pets, kids and sloppy guests, then think again. Durability is measured by double rubs –­ – literally the number of times a seat can rub on the fibers before wear is shown.

Almost any fabric that has a rating of over 15,000 double dubs is considered “durable.” For commercial use (hotels and restaurants), 50,000 double rubs is the requirement. With the new polyesters and performance fabrics on the market durability can exceed 100,000 double rubs. Most Indoor-outdoor fabrics fall in the 10,000 – 15,000 Double Rub category. If durable is truly the goal, then explore other offerings in fabrics.

Here are some tips in selecting the right fabric for the project.

“Suzette” is a Sunbrella brand woven with stylish charcoal grey tones combined with teals and turquoises.

Its soft hand makes it a great choice for seating comfort.

•

Evaluate if indoor-outdoor fabric really is a necessity for the project. A window bench seat that gets heavy sun might require indoor-outdoor graded fabrics more than the covered patio set.

•

When considering the expense of the project, factor in expectations of the life of the fabrics. In other words, will you tire of the pattern and color before the fabric wears out.

•

Remember, it’s what’s inside that counts. Outdoor cushions require a special outdoor foam that is mildew resistant. It is often less expensive to buy new “off the shelf ” cushions rather than to have custom ones made. Spend money on getting great custom accent pillows instead.

Armed with this info you will be ready to create the outdoor living space of your dreams.

Camay Arad is the founder of the Chameleon Style Design Method and the designer of Changeable Chameleon Fine Furniture. She is surrounded by the people and fabrics she loves daily in her store located in the Village of Arroyo Grande. Visit them at www.chamelonstyle.com.

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D

uring the 1950s after a busy day at Barnes-Hind Pharmacy in San Francisco, Harry William Hind would relax by blending chemicals together in search of the most appealing scent that he ultimately would bottle as a Christmas gift for customers.

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Hind was the pharmacist and was the first pharmacist recognized by the American Pharmaceutical Association with an Ebert Prize Medal, awarded for “understanding why drugs act in the body.”

For years one of his many successful research projects helped tuberculosis sufferers in sanitariums predominantly in California and Arizona.

The spark that led Hind to his leisure-time quest to create a unique perfume was the inheritance of stock, including essential oils and fixatives worth $12,000. The perfume paraphernalia was bequeathed to him by his mother-in-law, Helen Miesse, via her gift from a French doctor who came to America to retire and make perfume.

The San Francisco Chronicle featured an extended article Sunday, Jan. 29, 1950 titled, “Circa 23: Rose Absolute in A Retort” by Evelyn Hannay.

Hind remarked, “Now that I have worked with perfumes, I appreciate their cost. The creation of a new fragrance calls for expensive ingredients, both natural and chemical, and plenty of time for a bouquet to develop.”

For example, it took a minimum of 60 days for a blend to “calm down” and the bouquet to develop. Hind would develop five before testing among friends, nurses and customers to confirm their favorite.

After much patience, Hind’s first successful blend was called Circa 23, named because it was his 23rd try. Circa 23 was then bottled for holiday gift giving for customers of Barnes-Hind Pharmacy.

After years and untold requests to sell the product, 500 half-ounce bottles were packaged for Christmas gifts and offered for $8 for half-ounce in an imported bottle from Czechoslovakia nestled on purple velvet in a gold box until the inventory was depleted. For years, customers would return asking to purchase more, but Hind never intended his career would change from research pharmacist to commercial perfume connoisseur.

In 2012, Hind passed away at 96, leaving a legacy of inventiveness, entrepreneurship and business acumen to his son and grandchildren, members of the Greg Hind Family.

Circa 23 was never to be forgotten. Jane and daughter Kirsten Hind related the updated story: “Harry had given the original formula to Greg and granddaughter Kirsten.

They decided to reproduce the fragrance and bring it to market after Kirsten graduated from college. She graduated with degrees in French and business and it was Greg’s way to teach Kirsten in real terms what starting a business was all about.

They found a French parfumier working in the U.S. who could reconfigure the scent using elements and percentages that are legal today. Some elements that Hind blended were no longer legal.

For example, ambergris, an excretion from the sperm whale had been used commonly in perfumes and was in the original formula, but it is not allowed to be used today. It took several tries to perfect the current version of the formula and then several more years to perfect the bottle design, roller top and packaging. By 2012, they brought it to market and since Helen Miesse was an inspiration for the perfume, the family decided to use her image in marketing — a tribute to her, but also recognizing the family’s French heritage and love for the French language and culture.

Circa 23 is a concentrated perfume, in a roll-on top so the product is less exposed to air and not wasted as with aerosols. The perfume is meant to be used sparingly, on special occasions. The product improves with age and has been purchased as a collectible and/or a keepsake.

Sample orders are available at GH Sports (Greg Hind Sports), 3765 S. Higuera St., Ste. 100, in SLO, or online at: http://circacompany.com/circa-23-sample-via. For more information about Circa 23 see: www.circacompany.com.

Freelance writer, columnist and author of “Colonel Baker’s Field: An American Pioneer Story,” Judy Salamacha’s Then & Now column is a regular feature of Simply Clear Marketing & Media. Contact her at: judysalamacha@gmail.com or 8011422 with story ideas.

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F

or some reason I look like someone who can paint.

Perhaps it’s my usually vibrant wardrobe and penchant for large earrings. I can’t paint — but, thankfully, painting classes of the social variety only require an open mind and willingness to try. Always game to venture out from the usual downtown scene, I discovered Art Bar at The Station.

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If you have yet to visit The Station, perhaps you’ve noticed their adorably hip exterior and vintage “station wagon” on that industrial patch of Higuera Street. More than a bar, they function as a thoughtfully curated wine and fine goods shop as well as a cultural event space. The vibe is sophisticated yet approachable; and their Art Bar was the perfect place for my first watercolor session since kindergarten.

I met instructor Andrea Olivier, born and raised in former Czechoslovakia, whose work ranges from watercolor still life to acrylic abstract. It was an international evening in a small town as my table included a fellow SLO High alum and his British wife and in-laws. We exchanged pleasantries and created our color pallets; gawking at examples of beautifully painted peacock feathers. Half the table was anxious about lack of skill, but that anxiety produced chatter and small talk, which took the edge off any reluctance to socialize with strangers.

Olivier led us through a pencil sketch of the feather, starting with the eye. She gave us easy instructions to follow: draw an avocado with an encircled kidney bean at the center. Easy enough. She encouraged fine strokes for wispy, delicate feathers. We had the option of painting one or two, and I went for the deuce. Oops, I soon realized that meant twice the work. She demonstrated the entire process and educated us on the details of watercolor paint.

I chose my colors and felt pretty good about myself. I started with the kidney bean, and my gradient was on point. Once I moved on to the “feathers,” however, my brush strokes began interpreting otherwise. We began the inevitable comparing and boy did I have peacock envy! My final product, which my boyfriend proudly displays in our home, resembles two avocados dancing on their way to Mardi Gras. I call it Avocados Gone Wild.

Art Bar is a fabulous choice for a date or fun night out with friends — and seems like a great place to bring one’s in-laws.

Serving up art and culture along with fine wine, The Station is a welcomed addition to San Luis Obispo. Learn more at thestationslo.com. Stop in at The Station located at 311 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.

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I

n the summer of 2014, Alan Vander Horst contacted Gardens by Gabriel, Inc. to design and install a landscape. The angle? A landscape that didn’t look like a landscape, and one for an entire township to boot.

Alan and his wife, Becca, had recently returned to the coast of his alma mater, Cal Poly, purchased the historic Town of Harmony, and were ready to orchestrate its rebirth. Alan enlisted Aarika Wells, the town manager, and Tom Halen, his project manager.

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“Harmony is a different creature,” said Alan. “We wanted someone who could create something whimsical, something modern but also antiquish. Even though Harmony’s a space for the public, it was important that this not look like a commercial landscape.”

Alan’s ideas resonated with Gardens by Gabriel (GBG) owner Gabriel Frank. That’s his approach to landscaping. He maintains, “Naturalize the cultivated landscape, bring it to life while keeping it wild, and create an authentic sense of place.”

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“Gabriel got the idea from the start and had a fun approach,” said Alan. “It was a natural fit between us. He wanted rusty iron antiques as well as modern water conservation — the perfect blending of old with new.”

GBG’s design team at the time was comprised of Gabriel and Landscape Architect Tom Hessel. The two labored over plans for weeks working to capture the essence of the Central Coast’s quirkiest landmark and to channel that essence into living, breathing plants and a one-of-a-kind hardscape able to withstand the foot traffic Harmony expects every week.

The combined visions of all involved wove Harmony into a tapestry of new and old, of artisanal and antiquated. Gabriel and Tom’s design highlights the industries of the town — pottery studio, glass studio, wedding chapel, creamery, recording studio — with tribute spaces throughout the garden. It showcases longstanding local businesses and honors the legacies of generations before.

GBG and Barcellos Construction carefully cleaned Harmony’s existing patio bricks. Later Barcellos’s team re-installed them in a pathway that acts as a solid current, winding the visitor past shops, garden beds, and secret vignettes.

With his sights on “old with new,” Gabriel searched for materials seasoned with age and utility. He hiked fields to handpick feed troughs from cattle ranches throughout the County. He and his team dug up old cattle gates, bought rusted pipe cylinders, and scavenged hoops from barrels of our local wine country. When hunting for plants, Gabriel looked to capitalize on the micro-zones created by Harmony’s unique footprint.

“Harmony’s a small town with a rich history and niche ingredients,” said Gabriel. “The garden is a living ribbon that ties them together through time.” continued, page 31

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At the time of this article, a tour through Harmony starts at the inviting entryway where a low cattle trough overflows with drought-tolerant restios, aloes, and other succulents. The future restaurant takes shape to the left, while a long contoured bed to the right hosts tree aloes, echeverias, kangaroo paws, specimen agaves and more. The bed is backed by silvery corrugated tin (metal from the roof of the former restaurant) and supported by a low bench, again faced with corrugated tin and capped with Barcellos’ concrete bench seats with exposed local San Simeon beach pebble on their surface.

Low-profile grooved spirals (filled with tumbled glass in honor of Harmony’s Glassworks) curve toward local artist Allen Root’s large-scale steel-plate model of the late-70s album. Local artist Stephen Plowman was contracted to refurbish the intricate wood-burning stove that had warmed the creamery building for decades. The towering stove with its Highway 1-esque flue was originally crafted by Big Sur legend Peter Fels. Too beautiful to hide inside, Gabriel relocated it to the future restaurant’s patio space for all to enjoy. continued, page 32

Bronze loquat trees offer shade with their more than 30-year-old canopies, setting a stage for Barcellos’ poured concrete patio that’s dedicated to Jehry Miller’s locally-famous album, Harmonizing in Harmony.

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At the corner, Pottery Works welcomes visitors with locally made wares. Then you’re in the historic Harmony Chapel’s zone, a shady nook bordered by lush, low-light grasses, elephant ears, and ever-blooming digiplexus. As its website states, “The famously quaint Harmony Chapel accommodates about forty seated guests with standing room for twenty more, while Harmony Gardens is an outdoor ceremony option for those who prefer their nuptials au naturel, or have a larger guest list.”

Beyond the Chapel the pathway veers both right and left. To the right, GBG installed flowering maples, native chain ferns, and groundcovers designed to blend into the shadier nooks of the creek willow grove. They’re bordered by a free-stack rock wall accented by remnants from years past: shards of pottery, chunks of brick, gears found onsite. In this zone of antiquities, 12’-tall scalloped iron streetlight poles from the 1950s frame the scene and suspend a metal heart reshaped from a wagon wheel from the Righetti Ranch.

Back to immediately outside the Chapel, a rustic gazebo and stage hold court, perfect for hosting bands and guests alike. Past the gazebo, farther down the walkway that has changed from brick to Sweetwater flagstone, Gabriel’s crew reinvented Harmony’s historical photo op stop. They reused old beams, reset the foundation for the posts, and rehung the classic “Harmony, CA” sign. Cultivated meadow weaves through this area, with perennials and grasses swaying in the beds and blending into the hillside.

Gabriel and his team welded cattle gates together to form a rustic fence that stretches behind this meadow zone from the gazebo to the parking lot. “Gabriel met us at a ranch to go artifact hunting,” said Alan. “There he was buying banged up cattle gates that I would have thrown away — but again, it’s about old and new, and I love it. It really works.”

The visitor finishes their tour at the steps of Harmony’s old recording studio, on deck to merge into the renovated Creamery building that will include a restaurant, wine bar, Dairy Shoppe, and more.

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New to You UPCYCLE AND SAVE

“One of Alan’s goals was to keep the historic storyline alive and well,” said Gabriel. “That meant reconnecting Harmony with its lineage of being a dairy cooperative. Part of our mission included spaces for projects to come like the Cow Parade and the vintage ice cream truck.”

These visions have materialized, such that four hand-painted cows now form their own small herd onsite, and the Harmony Valley Creamery Truck serves up utterly delicious ice cream around SLO County.

“Harmony is about respecting the past,” said Alan. “Respecting our forefathers and mothers, agriculture, and elements of the earth. That’s what that town stands for. Not pavement and shopping malls and fancy signs. The hard work from the people before us paved the way. When you look around Harmony today you can still see what needed to happen to survive in the 1900s. We’re breathing life into it all again.”

Gardens by Gabriel creates waterwise landscape environments throughout San Luis Obispo County www.gardensbygabriel.com.

Visit the Town of Harmony: www.harmonytown.com.

Visit the Harmony Chapel: www.harmonychapelca.com.

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O

live oil is very versatile and has become a must-have in the American kitchen. While it is most commonly used for dressings or for dipping bread, it’s also perfect for baking, frying, sautéing, and poaching. Today, with the popularity of infused varieties, the possibilities have become endless.

Unfortunately, many of the olive oils curently on the market claim to be extra virgin, but aren’t. All you need to do is Google “olive oil fraud” or “UC Davis olive oil study” to get all the proof you need. To give consumers confidence they are purchasing 100% extra virgin olive oil, the California Olive Oil Council was created. Using stricter standards than international requirements, only the very best California olive oils are certified and can be sold as extra virgin.

The next step is deciding which olive oil best suits your intended purpose. Price alone is not a good indicator of quality, since the quality of olive oil depends upon many factors, such as: the type of olives from which the oil was produced and their level of ripeness at harvest, the handling of the olives before and during pressing, and the storage of the oil by the producer. Simply put, you need to taste them.

Luckily, San Luis Obispo County is home to many olive oil producers and tasting rooms with each one offering a different selection for their guests to sample.

As you visit the various locations, you will see that single varietal olive oils are usually categorized as mild/delicate, medium, or robust based on their flavor profile. Try each one. The color of the oil indicates nothing, it’s all about the

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way it tastes. Olives are a fruit, so a good olive oil needs to have some degree of fruitiness. Additionally, a fresh olive oil also has a peppery characteristic that you will feel at the back of your throat when you swallow it. A slight bitterness is also common, so depending on your taste, You may want to find an olive oil that has a perfect balance of all three of these things.

Most producers and tasting rooms also offer a variety of flavored olive oils, such as Tuscan Herb, Meyer Lemon and Garlic, to name just a few. “Fused” varieties are made by putting fruits, herbs or vegetables with the olives at the time of the crush, while “infused” olive oil had the flavor added to them after the pressing. Don’t let whether an olive oil is fused or infused determine your choice. Both methods produce great flavored oils, and both have their own unique attributes.

Once you get your olive oil back home, it’s important that you properly store it. Unlike many wines, which improve with age, olive oil is perishable and its flavor begins to deteriorate within a few months of milling. This decline is accelerated when the oil is exposed to heat, light or air, therefore you should store them at room temperature, out of the light, and in air-tight containers. Ideally, it is best used within 18 months of harvest. Many producers will list this date on the bottle. If you don’t see it, inquire about it.

As oxidation occurs naturally over time, it is best to use the oil up once it is open within the first 6 months.

Lorraine Montello is the owner of the Montello Tasting Room in Cambria. For more information, visit www.montellotastingroom.com or call 865-4484.

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LIVING Lavishly

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Nina Seelos is passionate about inspiring women to make a special place to call their own. This is her story.

N

eeding a place to pause from my hurried, rushed, daily life of too many responsibilities, I decided to create a place (space) of my own. A place I could retreat to — a place to sit, to pause, to just be uninterrupted, a place to get away, at home!

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The result was to design and build my very own Getting Gardenyour taxes credit deserve so you get done and isn'tdeduction enough you - you need your taxes done right. That's She Shed. This shed is a simple, small, intimate structure your maximum refund. Guaranteed.¶ where we come in. We hire and train the most qualified tax professionals to built within the garden. It is where I typically retreat to ensure center myself and bring balance back into my daily life.you claim every credit and deduction you deserve so you get your refund. Guaranteed.¶ Tending to my garden, for me, is tending to my maximum soul.

This little retreat is a structure that has a strong presence in my garden. The placement of it was a key factor— turning a forgotten, neglected corner of the garden into a private haven. It stands as a centerpiece tucked under the guardianship of the mature oak trees.

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Construction began with a diversity of materials along 1066 LOS OSOS VALLEY RD LOS OSOS, CA 93402 with repurposed, discarded antique items and architectur805-534-9575 al relics. With much effort, love and passion, the arched 3230 BROAD ST,STE 110 windows became a critical element of the Garden She SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 805-543-3245 Shed. They allow a filtered light to stream into the space.

Almost a conservatory, the specific design intention was to be open, allowing the outside in; a blurring of the lines between architecture and landscape architecture.¶IfMy space an H&R Block error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund (or smaller you discover tax liability), is an expression of oneness, a whole, not a separation, an we'll refund the tax prep fee for that return. Refund claims must be made during the calendar year in which the return wasanprepared. ©2015 HRB Tax Group, Inc. ¶If you discover H&R BlockOBTP#B13696 error on your return that entitles integration of both architectural built form and an organic you to a larger refund (or smaller tax liability), we'll refund the design of the garden. tax prep fee for that return. Refund claims must be made 3230 BROAD ST STE 110 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 805-543-3245

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continued, page 39 LIVING Lavishly

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STYLE. SUSTAINABLE. COLOR Outdoor Living Pavers & Flagstone Retaining Walls Creative Planting Containers

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This retreat is completely and entirely my own. It expresses my rugged individuality. It is a place to rest, a place to remember, a place to delight in my own details. From the rustic, reclaimed entry door to the elegant repurposed chandelier, it’s a place to relax, and just be!

Each element has its own story to tell, each window looks out upon a unique aspect of the garden, each color choice has significance and meaning to me.

Looking out I see a reflection of myself.

My sanctuary is a place for me to rest and remember all that is good in my life, a place to delight in my passionate pursuits. Maybe for you this personal space might be an artist’s retreat, a home office, a craft room, a tearoom or more.

My hope is to inspire and assist other women to bring forth and create a personal environment that speaks to them — a Garden She Shed that expresses their individual voice and defines who they are — a true authentic version of themselves, to capture and to inspire, to create and to grow, to rest and to remember.

Enjoy your journey.

Nina Seelos and her husband Scott are the owners of Seelos Design and Construction, Inc. They can be reached at 489-6367. For more information, visit www.seelosdesignandconstruction.com.

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H

andmade jewelry combines the unique expression of the artist that created it as well as a personal connection for the person who wears it. Often pieces are individually designed, soldered, filed, shaped, strung and stamped in the artist’s studio or room in their home whereas mass-produced pieces are cranked out by a machine using a mold.

Looking to dress up your style with a beaded necklace, wrapped gemstone ring or intricate metal work, check out the work of these local artisans.

sweetBella Jewelry sweetBella Jewelry is a handmade jewelry line designed and created by Cindy Sassaman. Cindy draws inspiration from art, travel and the beautiful surroundings of California’s Central Coast. An avid rock hound, Cindy’s love of gemstones and crystals is reflected in her work. Cindy follows responsible manufacturing practices by using sustainable, ethical elements such as recycled metals and conflict-free stones.

“I have always been fixated on making things.

Coming from a creative family helped. My mom was a painter and glass artist. My aunt was an interior designer, jeweler, and sculptor. Both were my creative mentors! My earliest creative memory is my mom teaching me how to copper enamel when I was 6-years-old. When I was 10, I remember inheriting a box of costume jewelry from my grandmother which I promptly reassemble to create my own jewelry designs.”

Cindy studied photography at the University of Florida. After spending several years in San Francisco as a visual display designer, she and her family relocated to Cambria where she spends her days creating one of a kind jewelry pieces and planning her next adventure!

An assortment of gems and minerals showcasing a variety of different settings featuring Harper, the artist’s daughter and muse.

Leather and 14K gold-filled chokers with Peruvian Opal, apatite, turquoise and larimar, $78.

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sweetBella jewelry can be found locally at Hands Gallery (San Luis Obispo), Smoobage (Morro Bay), Artifacts Gallery (Cambria) and Viva Paso. Cindy’s work can also be found at Lumen Gallery (Capitola), Plenty Boutique (Santa Ynez) and Atomic Garden (Oakland). For the last 3 years, Cindy has been teaching metalsmithing workshops at Left Coast Art Studio in Los Osos.

Cindy can be reached at sweetbellajewelry@gmail. com and followed on Instagram and Facebook @sweetbellajewelry.

(Middle) Hand stamped “Moonrise” cuffs in brass with pink sapphire, labradorite, and turquoise, $128.

(Right) Faceted sleeping beauty turquoise with pyrite inclusions set in 14K gold-filled, $134.

(Left) Australian opal and moonstone earrings, $148.

Making Dreams a Reality.

“Shield” pendants Hand stamped brass with turquoise, aquamarine, abalone, moonstone, chrysocolla and larimar stones, $68-88.

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We Goddess Jewelry

Cara Sterling Silver Earrings $88. Tina Half-Moon Sterling Silver Necklace $88.

Delaney Nested Crescent Sterling Silver Earrings $88. Jacqueline Triple Chain Bronze and Sterling Silver Necklace $98. Grace 7-Length Adjustable Bronze with Sterling Silver Necklace $128.

Julie Knudsen is the owner/artisan of We Goddess Jewelry in Morro Bay. In her earlier life she studied fine art in Ventura and is an alumni of Cal Poly SLO in art and design/ graphic design. After 12 years in the corporate world as a graphic designer and brand identity manager, Julie felt a magnetic pull to the maker’s movement, to get back to her art and design roots and passion of making art with her hands.

She found metals to be her new exciting medium and quickly developed a love for adorning women. All of her work is hand-hammered so each piece is a one-of-a-kind. Her designs are original, timeless and unique, elegant yet rustic, and artistic with edge.

Julie’s aesthetic often involves mixing metals and she asserts that women don’t need to follow any jewelry-wearing rules.

Her intention behind her jewelry and brand is to make all women of all ages and all kinds feel a sense of power and strength when they look in the mirror.

See more work at wegoddessjewelry. com, or send and email to julie@ wegoddessjewelry.com.

Follow her on Instagram @wegoddessjewelry and Facebook at We Goddess.

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We: I and the rest of a group that includes me.

Goddess: A woman who is greatly loved or admired.

Photos in collaboration with We Goddess Jewelry, clothing by Wild Moon Collection, and photography by Richard Fusillo.

Alicia Copper and Sterling Silver Earring, $78.

Mychal Copper and Sterling Silver Long Teardrop Dangle Earrings $68.

Kristin Bronze Crisscross Diamond-shaped Necklace $74.

Briana Boxy Copper with Sterling Silver Earrings $76. Nina Double Arrowhead Copper and Bronze Necklace $78.

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Saltybabe Bangles Jessica Hesse grew up on the beaches of the California coast. Her family traveled often to Hawaii and Mexico where she learned to comb beaches for shells at a young age. She studied dance at UCSB and spent her early twenties dancing, traveling and surfing. While living in Hawaii she noticed all the babes wearing teeny bikinis and stacks of shell bangles but quickly learned they weren’t cheap. After taking a couple of jewelry courses and experimenting on her own, she began the journey of Saltybabe Bangles.

Extra Thick Moonstone Encrusted Gold Bangles 14k gold-filled bangles wrapped with hand drilled mini moonstone pieces, $65.

Agate and Crystal Mixed Metal Bangles Sterling Silver, 14k gold filled and 14k rose gold filled bangles adorned with hand drilled clear crystal quartz and agate, $50-60.

Little Treasures Necklaces Hand wrapped and hand picked sea shells, freshwater pearls, agate, crystals, sandalwood and Hawaiian lava beads on sterling silver or 14k gold filled chains 16” and 18”, $40-50.

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When she moved back to California her friends wanted some of her work and then their friends and their friends, and the fire was lit. Through suggestions of friends and needs of her customers, her line has evolved from just 1 bangle to an entire collection –– always with respect for the natural elements she uses to adorn her metal pieces.

Trying to use sustainably farmed freshwater pearls and recycled metals as much as possible as well as shells, she and her family have found themselves on the beaches. She currently makes her entire line out of her garage with her husband and 2 kids in Los Osos.

Saltybabe is available on etsy at www.etsy.com/ shop/saltybabebangles and the following retailers: Hands Gallery, Len Collective, Ambiance, Harmony House Yoga in SLO county, Ragged Point Inn in Big Sur and Plum Goods, Bonita and Blanka boutique in Santa Barbara.

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Stone Haven Pottery Amie Jimenez is the owner and creator of Stone Haven Pottery which she started in 2015. She is a self-taught, home studio potter from Shell Beach, California who makes functional pots with a minimalist design. All of Amie's ceramics are made on the potters wheel and etched by hand ensuring each piece is beautifully unique.

You can find her work through her online store at www.stonehavenpottery.bigcartel.com, locally at Len Collective, and at other collective shops throughout the United States.

Pyramid Tumbler Gift Box Wheel thrown and hand carved cup featuring a lovely triangular pattern. Glazed in creamy natural over a speckled clay body, $80.

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Herringbone Mug & Tea Infuser Set Wheel thrown and hand carved mug featuring a lovely herringbone pattern.

Glazed in creamy natural over a speckled clay body. Set Includes mug and matching loose tea infuser, $48.

Matte Charcoal Mug & Pour-Over Set Wheel thrown mug & pour-over coffee set. Glazed in Matte Charcoal over a speckled clay body.

Set Includes mug and matching coffee pour-over, $64.

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LIVING Lavishly

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L

iving on the Central Coast offers an opportunity to be outside almost all year long. Make the most of the fresh air, sunshine, or even a chilly evening with friends and family by transforming your space into an inviting retreat.

Mediterranean Modern This renovated landscape is now an ideal place for backyard entertainment. The space features a steel-framed bocce ball court below a raised planter, separated by a block and stucco retaining wall with built-in lighting. The existing concrete patio was saw-cut, inset with pavers, and resealed to create a fresh new dining patio, with string lights over-

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head and a cozy fire pit area just beyond. An angled grid of large concrete squares set in synthetic turf create a transition from the bocce court to a concrete walkway that spans the backyard, with large mixed planters that add interest and texture.

Country Club Courtyard This space was transformed from an outdated front walkway with a lot of wasted space to a functional entry courtyard with modern features. A steel and reclaimed redwood pergola frames the custom-designed and built water feature, which has steel edging to match. A stainless-steel scupper pours a sheet of water out of the horizontal Ipe backdrop and falls onto Mexican pebble, replicating the sound of a stream. A paver patio provides an open transition from the entry gate to the front door, minimal plantings soften the hardscape, and low-voltage LED lighting welcomes visitors and makes the courtyard usable for evening entertainment.

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This underutilized space in the entryway to the client’s residence was converted into a stylish and comfortable entertainment area. A steel structure with horizontal Ipe slats, built against an existing fence, creates a private outdoor room. String lights installed along cables above the seating area add ambiance, and a custom concrete, steel and Ipe fire pit finished with a transfer detail displays a set of coordinates important to the couple. Mexican pebble fills planting areas and newly cut concrete joints, and a planted cable trellis along with a bubbling water feature installed at the entry invites visitors into the space.

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continued, page 50

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Backyard Art Studio This backyard project focused on reducing a large lawn area, expanding the entertainment area, and providing a secluded space for the client to create artwork.

A 120 square-foot stand-alone structure with a shed-style single-pitch roof, built on a concrete slab and finished inside and out, collects a ton of natural light through two multi-pane sliding doors and clerestory windows. Square concrete slab pavers with Mexican pebble joints connect the existing patio to both art studio entrances. Succulent planters, modern materials and pops of color give the backyard an updated, contemporary feel.

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Deck with a View This multi-level backyard started with a small, funky concrete landing off of the house, an awkward staircase, and a series of unattractive retaining walls. After a major renovation, this space boasts a beautiful mahogany Azek composite deck that includes custom built-in seating and a gas fire pit, and capitalizes on expansive views of the surrounding valley and peaks. A new set of steps carry the composite decking from the upper to lower levels, and the clean lines of stainless steel cable railing with Ipe handrails enhances the upscale, modern aesthetic. Low-voltage LED lights bring the deck to life in the evening.

Joslyn Amato is a project manager with Landwell Design + Build Co., a licensed landscape contractor specializing in the design and construction of contemporary outdoor living spaces. Please visit www.landwellinc. com or call 305-3339 for more information.

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Your trusted contractor of San Luis Obispo County License #972578

Jack Handley Construction specializes in start to finish solutions for building or remodeling.

Contact us today for your next project!

New Construction Residential Commercial Remodels Additions

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T

he Kramers Discover California’s Central Coast Wine Country

Overlooking valleys of vineyards and olive groves The Gables at the Rockin’ K majestically rests — pondering the bountiful agricultural regions of Paso Robles and San Miguel in San Luis Obispo County. In 2009 Gary and Laura Kramer traded a hectic lifestyle in Southern California for new beginnings — repurposing their priorities in the heart of California’s Central Coast Wine Country.

They would spend a year living onsite in a motorhome remodeling their 5,500 sq.ft. homestead primed with “good bones” waiting for a loving touch. One of Gary’s first projects was intended as decorative landscaping.

Leading up to a welcoming circular drive and southern-style veranda porch complete with Amish-styled rocking chairs, he planted Syrah grape vines in the shape of a heart for Laura, his wife, sweetheart and business partner.

He would later admit he stumbled into selecting the perfect acreage with optimum sunlight to ultimately produce exquisite Syrah wine that would become the first vintage

and catalyst for establishing the Gary Kramer Guitar Cellars Tasting Room and Guitar Museum at 825 Riverside Avenue in Paso Robles. www.garykramerguitarcellars.com.

But in the Beginning.

First one needs to understand the Gary Kramer backstory—the twists and turns of his amazing entrepreneurial career. In the 1970s he was making good money selling cars when he recognized the company’s lead mechanic had engineered an all-aluminum guitar neck that could be revolutionary in the rock ‘n roll music industry. Kramer bankrolled a start-up guitar manufacturing company, Travis Bean Guitars. Groups like the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead ordered instantly, but production could not keep up. One frustrated dealer awaiting shipment was Bernie Gracin, owner of New York City’s Gracin’s & Towne Music. Ultimately, Kramer would leave the Bean company and collaborate with Gracin to develop a new guitar and partnership. It too struggled at first. Then a break-through — an endorsement from Eddie Van Halen launched Kramer Guitars popularity internationally. continued, page 54 LIVING Lavishly

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Before Kramer Guitar’s popularity, Kramer was already seeking his next career. He moved to Marina del Rey in 1977 and got his real estate license just in time to cash in on the Southern California housing boom.

“The real estate lifestyle found me smoking too many cigarettes, drinking too many cups of coffee, and doing other things that you shouldn’t do. I just got burned out.”

Kramer walked away from the business that made him rich. He spent two months reconnecting with himself in Italy, his birthplace, and visiting with his mother in Naples.

When he returned, “I had no game plan for what I wanted to do next. I had money and time, but I had no game plan.”

It wasn’t long before he discovered his next big idea: Marina Packing, which ships oversees large items like furniture and fine art. Today the company generates more than $3.5 million annually.

“Not bad for a guy whose friends said I was nuts for going into the packing and shipping business!” Kramer said.

Photo by Judy Salamacha

As both companies expanded in the 1980s, mismanagement sent the guitar company into bankruptcy. It would sell to Gibson and Kramer’s royalties stopped.

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He stayed in touch with friends in the industry by attending Kramer Conventions where Kramer guitar enthusiasts would gather once a year and share music, stories, and guitars.

“As I walked around looking at all the old Kramer guitars, I realized that there hadn’t been any real change in guitars in 30 years. And I thought everything else changes so why not guitars?”

Itching to create another guitar company, he met an overthe-top Kramer Guitar fan, Leo Scala, a Russian immigrant and “…the most creative luther — that’s one who repairs string instruments — I have ever met.” They partnered to manufacture Scala’s ergonomically correct and futuristic-looking Delta Wing guitar and called the company Gary Kramer Guitars. But after four years, Kramer was done and ready to live a new life in San Luis Obispo County. He sold the company to Scala in 2009 for a mere dollar.

“I had achieved everything I envisioned in the world of guitar building and decided to retire.”

The Road to Living Lavishly in San Miguel What Gary and Laura Kramer have created on their hilltop oasis in San Miguel is dazzling — and like his serendipitous career path, it comes with its own metamorphic story.

Once committed to leaving the hustle of SoCal they found their dream property in San Miguel. For a year, they lived in a motor home they purchased to travel the USA while remodeling their dream home. At the same time they have ultimately planted more than 4,000 decorative, fruit and olive trees and untold acres of vines producing Syrah, Cabernet, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Laura’s latest tasting room favorite, Alicante Bouschet.

Then the property adjacent to them was placed on the market. Protective of their privacy and view-shed, they purchased it and decided to convert the original homesite to an in-demand vacation rental, The Gables at the Rockin’ K (www.PasoRoblesVacationRentals.com). The rental sleeps 10 with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, offers an infinity pool and outdoor barbecue area, gourmand’s kitchen, and party-hearty game room with a pool table, wet-bar and it is all accented with classic Kramer guitars. An attached “bunkhouse“ overlooking the pool offers more living space for guests. continued, page 56 LIVING Lavishly

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Photos by Charlie Halsell Kramer Gives Up Some Toys for Laura’s Next Big Idea.

Gary has always loved to collect unique vehicles. His favorites were housed in a Paso Robles warehouse until the garage in San Miguel offered space that vacationers didn’t need. He downsized to five: his favorite Bentley, his prized ‘69 Camaro with leather interior, his 606HP Corvette Calloway with twin turbos, his 1915 Ford Hack, and his all-terrain customized Bronco-mobile, the one he uses most to check the readiness of vines and brix and Castelvetrano Olives.

It was Laura’s turn for a big idea. With a leased up empty warehouse in Paso Robles, she knew there was a marketplace need for a commercial kitchen that Farmer’s market vendors and cottage industry foodies would love to use.

The space was converted to industry standards and instantly booked up 24/7.

Meanwhile, the original Syrah vines produced 75 cases of full-body grapes. With sage advice, the couple tested their luck at winemaking, which was an instant hit. Addition-

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ally, Gary Kramer Guitars’ success had created a need to display three evolutions of an iconic guitar produced featuring Gary Kramer’s name and financial backing.

In 2016 they converted the commercial kitchen space into Gary Kramer Guitar Cellars.

Laura manages the tasting room sales and food offerings. www. garykramerguitarcellars.com. She’s also been known to sell a Gary Kramer collectible guitar. Someday they plan to schedule wine club pick-up parties at the Gables at Rockin’ K and invite musicians they’ve met over the years to come jam for a weekend. What a bonus that will be for their new wine club friends.

Indeed, Gary and Laura Kramer have found their sweetspot — loving what they do each day while snuggling into another lifetime. When asked how did you and Laura meet? With a faraway gaze and a smile, Gary will answer, “She found me.”

Thus, the story continues…

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Samantha Nason and Chanda Brown are the founders of Zest it Up Inc, a lifestyle company centered on DIY, food and celebration. As active bloggers and special event professionals, they have been “zesting” up the lives of their readers and clients through great design and flavorful cuisine since 2012. Their unique tutorials and recipes have grown their audience locally and internationally, while their homegrown approach to weddings has garnered the attention of local clients and those seeking out a destination experience here on the Central Coast. Check them out at www.zestitup.com.

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ave you ever seen a beautiful reef tank in a home or business and thought that it would be too hard to maintain one for yourself?

The biggest myth surrounding the saltwater aquarium hobby is that reefkeeping is difficult, time consuming and requires someone who is part plumber, part carpenter and part mad scientist to achieve success. Saltwater aquariums can be as simple or as difficult as each individual hobbyist wants to make it. You can have a simple, beautiful tank with just rocks and fish, or have a complete ecosystem including sea anemones, hard and soft corals, shrimp and other animals. Just like any hobby, there are different levels of care required for different types of animals. There is a system for everyone.

The key to success with any aquarium is stability, which is achieved through some simple steps. The most important step to a healthy tank is a regular monthly or bi-monthly partial water change where some of the tank water is

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siphoned out and replaced to remove waste. Daily feeding and the addition of supplements like calcium, carbonate and magnesium for coral growth are the next key to stability. These supplements can be added by hand or put under the control of a computerized dosing pump, which will add correct amounts daily on a set schedule. About once a week, water is added to replace evaporation. And finally, you’ll want to do some minor tasks like a quick algae wipe and checking the health and safety of the tank residents.

Most local aquarium stores are willing to test your water parameters either for free or for a nominal charge for more complicated tests. They can help you interpret results and advise action steps based on results. If all of this seems like more than you want to take on but you still want the tank without the work, finding and building a relationship with a reputable aquarium service company that specializes in caring for tanks in homes and businesses might be the direction for you. continued, page 65

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Not only is reefkeeping fun and easy, according to several studies, there are some health benefits. Watching an aquarium is very calming and can actually reduce stress and lower blood pressure and heart rate. Saltwater fish and invertebrates are fascinating, and your local aquarium store can help you set up a tank that fits you and your home or business perfectly.

Paul Schuldt is the owner of Tropics Aquarium Professionals, an aquarium retailer in San Luis Obispo, located at 799 E. Foothill Blvd Ste D. He has nearly 30 years of experience in fishkeeping, and loves to talk about the hobby. Tropics can supply everything you need for setting up a beautiful and also does custom tank builds and in-home or business maintenance of tanks. Stop by to see what’s new, or contact them at 595FISH(3474) or on Facebook: @tropics.aquariumpros.Check out their website at www.TropicsAquariumPros.com.

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Design Trends

Pantone's Color of The Year Of The Year Pantone’s Color

Ultra

Violet

ByBy Mari MariRobeson Robeson

P

antone always seems to shake things up when they announce their color trend of the year and 2018’s Ultra Violet is no exception. Amethyst, aubergine, plum, violet, periwinkle or plain old purple, no matter what you call it, how are you supposed to incorporate this vibrant color into your home decor?

Most designers will advise you to start small with such a strong color. You can start with accent pillows, a chair, rug or even a candle. Once you see how the color makes you feel in your space it then becomes easier to add more. Another tip to keep in mind are the colors that work well with ultra violet such as its compliment color of yellow or analogous colors (colors close to each other on the color wheel) in this case, blue, turquoise and green.

Purple is a combination of earthy blue and fiery red and is often associated with luxury, creativity, nobility and grandeur. Ultra violet with more blue in it will feel cool and ultra violet with more red in it is warm. It’s helpful to know when you are designing your space which feels best for you.

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scaping to the tranquil setting of Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres is comparable to spending time surrounded by the sounds of beautiful, soul-engaging music. Peace, harmony, and joy — all within minutes of downtown Paso Robles — await out-oftown visitors and locals at this multi-cultural-inspired oasis.

The architectural design and the elements found throughout Allegretto all work together, and that’s of utmost importance to proprietor and visionary Douglas Ayres. So, what exactly does music have to do with proportions, dimensions, patterns, and angles when it comes to building and design?

“The design of Allegretto reflects the architecture of music,” Ayres said. “Basically, I am creating a musical composition through the architecture. There has to be a

harmonious feeling that the guests encounter going from space to space. I deal with proportions and dimensions, but when I create, I hear the music. When it’s singing, when it’s right, when all the little angles and lines and heights of every little detail are right, I feel it and I feel at peace.”

Allegretto Vineyard Resort is situated on 20 acres of vineyards and fruit-bearing orchards. It boasts 171 guest rooms and suites, some with fireplaces and optional balconies or patios, a 12,000-square-foot piazza, ballroom and event spaces, full-service boutique spa, pool and cabanas, manicured gardens, and walking paths. In addition, there is a French-inspired Abbey, hundreds of globally-curated artifacts, antiques, and collectable art. continued, page 70

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The term allegretto, according to the resort’s website, comes from a blend of Italian terms that technically describe a pace of music composition with cheerful or joyful tempo of 112-120 beats per minute, slightly faster than the human heartbeat. In English, allegretto means “with joy,” and that is one detail all who enter Allegretto Vineyard Resort are sure to experience. continued, page 72

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Utmost Attention to Detail “The dimensions, the widths, of every single area and space, is of the utmost and critical importance,” Ayres continued.

“Again, the design and décor of Allegretto is no different than when one tunes the strings of a musical instrument, or tunes a piano; I am tuning the art on the walls, the placement of the pattern of tiles and stone on the floors, how the crystals are hung on each chandelier. It’s about having the utmost depth of attention to every detail, beyond what you can even imagine, and it is pure joy.”

Every facet of the architecture, décor, and artwork including paintings, photos, sculptures, and fountains, has a distinct role and place at Allegretto. Each was inspired, according to Ayres, by the places he visited during various travels and reflect a touch of different cultures.

“So, as people come to Allegretto from various cultures — we have guests from all over the globe — there is something here for everyone,” Ayres said.

Honoring The Local Community In addition, there are walls and walkways throughout the resort dedicated to the people of Paso Robles featuring historical moments, black and white photographs, and art in various mediums created by local artists. Ayres stresses the importance of honoring the local community and its people, and says being part of the community is essential.

“The property is not just for the guests who stay with us or visit from out of the area,” he said, “it’s for the community. We have a lot of people that regularly eat at our restaurant, tour our grounds, bring their visiting guests to see our property and share a meal together. Allegretto is something special, unique, unusual — it’s absolutely what I had envisioned — and the people of Paso Robles have embraced us.” continued, page 75

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And why did Ayres decide to build in Paso Robles? He explained, “I fell in love with the landscape of the hillsides, the vineyards, and all of its elements. To me, when I visited the area, it felt very comfortable and I felt at home. Paso Robles is not far from the coast, it’s close to my favorite places and, most importantly, it resonates with me and blends with my own heartbeat, I knew Paso Robles was a place I was going to end up at some point, there was just no question in my mind. I just knew; it was so clear to me and, now, here I am.” continued, page 76 LIVING Lavishly

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Keeping the lavish feel of Allegretto, yet making it be inviting and welcoming to people of all walks of life is something Ayres and the attentive staff manage to do on a daily basis. Again, it’s all about ratios and proportions, according to Ayres, and it begins with the intention that visitors can feel comfortable to walk through the doors dressed in jeans and cowboy boots or something a bit more elegant. Allegretto is a place where all cultures can come in, feel at home, and leave with a feeling of bliss. It’s something Ayres said he hears over and over, “It just feels good here.”

Stop by Allegretto Vineyard Resort, located at 2700 Buena Vista Drive in Paso Robles, and stroll the gardens and grounds, enjoy a meal at Cello, do some winetasting, or perhaps book a room and stay awhile. For more information, see www.allegrettoresort.com or call 369-2500.

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veryone has a few items that they must have in their kitchens at all times. They are all extraordinarily personal and depend upon the style with which you create. We queried local top chefs to get a list of the top five must-have ingredients in their kitchens. Five items they would take if stranded on a deserted island, things they can’t live without when they enter the kitchen. Their answers were revealing, as each chef ’s style shows through.

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Doug MacMillan

Owner and Chef Rosa’s Italian Restaurant Pismo Beach

1. Butter - Butter is love. It goes with everything and makes it all taste better.

2. Garlic- Garlic is like the phychiatrist of food.

It mellows everyone while making the guest feel wholesome and pampered.

3. Salt- Every dish needs salt. It brings out the hidden flavor. It will make a dull chicken breast a work of art. Salt even makes chocolate taste better.

4. Yellow onions - Sweet onions can be transformed into five different flavors. Raw steamed, roasted, sautéed to caramelize. Each version enhances the food essences. With a sweet yellow onion, any dish can be transformed using a version of onion.

5. iPhone - With this amazing technology in my pocket, I can look up anything. Never have recipes or solutions been so easy to find.

Chris Beckett Executive Chef Fish Gaucho Paso Robles 1. Kosher Salt 2. Chive Oil - My blend of chive oil, I use for my garnish. It is extra virgin olive oil and chives blended up in a Vitamix then filtered out and placed into a small-tip squeeze bottle.

3. Microgreens - My microgreens collection is large and varied. I use arugula, sorrel, amaranth, radish, mustard greens, and sprouts.

We use a local grower from Los Osos.

4 Eggs - I love, love, love eggs. I feel they are the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen.

5. Tuna - Yellow fin tuna. I use this fantastic fish in most of my preparations at the restaurant. I love cutting it up. It’s fascinating.

Such a marvelous fish. One of my favorite dishes at Fish Gaucho is the Ahi Tuna Toast with the Morro Bay Avocados.

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Steven Smeets Jacob Town

Executive Chef and Owner The Spoon Trade Grover Beach, CA 1. Salt - Kosher Salt

2. Acid - Vinegar. Good vinegar adds a longer finish and makes things mouth watering.

3. Fat - Butter adds richness and mouthfeel.

4. Onions - Yellow onions add savory flavor.

5. Garlic - Jumbo garlic adds umami.

Why? You can make anything taste good with these items. They are the basics of seasoning and flavor. At The Spoon Trade we make all the spice blends and sauces, and breads, with our own panache. We create everything on the menu from scratch. We specialize in exceptional comfort food for people who love food.

We also source everything we can from local producers and farmers.

Executive Chef The Apple Farm San Luis Obispo

1. Onions - Onions are the foundation of almost every significant dish. If you are wondering why something tastes so good, the answer is almost always onions and garlic. One of my favorite parts of an onion is when they blossom. They make a beautiful garnish and have sweet onion flavor.

2. Salt - It’s amazing what a pinch of salt can do to ingredients. It’s even more amazing how many types of salt there are and how each one has a different flavor. I love Maldon salt. The sharp flakes look like crystals and have a clean flavor that will enhance any dish.

3. Butter - Of course butter is one of the most important ingredients in my kitchen. It’s in almost every dish, and if it isn’t it should be. Some would argue a good quality extra virgin olive oil is better, but no, everything is better with butter! My favorite butter story was when my mom was a kid they always had butter on the counter, and when no one was looking, she would run by the kitchen and steal a scoop with her finger.

4. Eggs - I feel like I’m almost choosing two ingredients here, the yolk and the white.

The egg is so versatile. It’s a simple ingredient that with the proper technique can be transformed into something mind-blowing.

5. Wine - On the Central Coast we are surrounded by fantastic producers of wine. The complexity of a fine wine can add that indescribable umami flavor to your dish and acidity is a key element in making food taste great and sauces even better. Plus, if your recipe fails you can always drink the wine.

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John Carswell

Executive Chef and Owner SLO’s Finest Catering & Culinary Education San Luis Obispo

1. Dijon Mustard - I use it as my little secret ingredient in most my dishes, just a tablespoon.

When I create, most every salad dressing, casserole, sandwich, and rub has a bit of it in it. It is truly an ingredient that turns a meal that has “something missing” to just perfect.

2. Garlic - I use garlic in many of my dishes, and I find that everyone likes it in certain doses. It is used in many dishes along with the spices created out of it like garlic salt, garlic powder, etc.

3. Chile Powder - Try adding this to your ranch dressing (Baja Ranch), guacamole, chicken, carne asada, or in small touches to your other meals. It adds an element that is flavorful. It has that chili flavor but eliminates the spice that usually draws people away.

4. Organic Greens - They work not only for salads, sandwiches and other dishes but are essential for garnishing appetizer plates and making the presentation look beautiful. Greens are a must have at all events to make the platter display attractive.

5. Salt - Unfortunately the whole world loves salt. I use a lot less than most, but I cannot say it isn’t important. I try to use no salt or hardly any and let the customer apply their own levels. Be careful with kosher salt versus iodized. Kosher salts are used more for brines, and when they are used for seasoning, it can quickly overwhelm the flavor of your dish.

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f you are about to put your home on the market and are living in the home, it would be beneficial to get a home stager to re-arrange, declutter, and perhaps add some

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finishing touches. If your home is empty, even more reason to get a home stager to help make that first impression unforgettable.

Staging to sell is not the same as decorating to live. The psychological approach to staging is much different than any other design strategy. Stagers look at the first impression furniture placement will make on a potential buyer,

and not necessarily at functionality. They work to declutter and depersonalize a space, and then arrange and add décor that is pleasing to the eye to finish it off. continued, page 85

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will not understand the value of staging immediately.

“Often a home will be on the market for several months before a stager is called upon” said Karen from Modelhom Staging, “yet once the home is staged, the property generates more interest and after just a few weeks of being staged the home will sell.”

Staging a home on the Central Coast can cost as little as .005% of the asking price of the home.

Potential buyers need to be able to project their future life into the house they are walking through. They need to be able to imagine this house as their future home. That becomes difficult if they are distracted by the current owner’s memorabilia. Stagers endeavor to highlight the selling features of the home, creating a blank canvas — pleasant “neutrals” for a potential buyer to “paint” on.

A stager strategizes with furniture placement. Perhaps they will put a queen size bed into one of the smaller rooms because a subconscious question that might run through a buyers head is “How big is this room?” or “Can this be a guest room?” In addition, strategic furniture placement skillfully guides potential buyers through the home, encouraging them to linger at particular spots that the stager wishes to highlight.

Furthermore, the strategy for a stager entails looking at the demographic of homebuyers. Should they mock up a nursery for the young families looking to buy? Or is the market heavy with retired couples who might appreciate seeing a home office with a fantastic view? Stagers will look at who is purchasing and they will gear their staging for them.

Staging is a very small price to pay to get that house sold quickly. If done correctly, more potential buyers will be interested, thereby driving the competition and decreasing the chances of low counter-offers. Sometimes homeowners

Local real-estate agent Kristen Balbier-Gentry of Richardson Properties said that when her team meets with sellers who are hesitant to pay for staging services, they discuss the importance of nailing the first impression with prospective buyers.

“As a real estate professional primarily operating in the luxury real estate world, I believe staging is an essential part of the selling process,” said Kristen. “There are varying degrees of staging, and we are almost always able to find a service level and price point that works well for the seller and property.”

Additionally, real-estate agents are big proponents of staging, as it enhances the photos of the property.

“Great photos help lure prospective buyers to view the home,” Kristen said. “Once prospective buyers are inside the home, staging helps [them] visualize themselves living in and enjoying the home.”

Karen Deering of Modelhom Furniture and Design has been staging homes on the central coast for 10 years. Call her for a bid to stage your home 489-4277, or visit www.modelhom. com for more information. Modelhom Furniture and Design is located at 1030 Huston St. suite E in Grover Beach. Article written by Rachel Brockett of Modelhom.

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pdating the cabinetry in a home can cause a dilemma.

With home design trends constantly changing and personal tastes evolving, it seems easy to be sipping your morning coffee and realize, My honey colored wood cabinets are not cutting it for me anymore!

Complete replacement of cabinetry is pricey. But, a way to make a big impact while refreshing your home is to paint and refurbish the existing cabinetry. One can update the look of a dated golden, oak wood cabinet to a fresh, crisp, modern colored cabinet. After all, your cabinets are probably in great shape otherwise because they are most likely solid wood. It is just the look, not the structure that could use the change. This makes cabinet painting a smart and effective use of your remodeling budget.

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Generally, cabinets make up a large visual area of your kitchen and bathroom. Painting them is easier and more budget friendly than tearing them out and replacing them.

Plus, you avoid the cost of replacing counter tops and reinstalling appliances. Cabinet hardware such as hinges and knobs can also be updated. Your cabinets will feel like new.

Ryan Browder, of Browder Painting, said that for many clients, it is a much more feasible amount of time to have your house being worked on versus a full kitchen cabinet replacement, which will take many weeks.

“Projects like the average sized kitchen surprisingly only take 2-3 days to finish with our cabinet painting system,” Browder said. “That leaves the client with a beautiful new kitchen look with minimal disruption and inconvenience to their lives and a significant savings versus a full cabinet replacement.”

Steps for refinishing a cabinet include cleaning a good cleaning. Over time cabinet finishes get scratched and softened by hand oils. These hand oils, dirt or food particles must be fully removed from the surfaces prior to painting.

Personalize the look of the cabinet to your taste with your color choice and new hardware. According to bobvila. com, strong saturated shades are poised to dominate interior design in 2018. Experts are seeing red, blue, black and gold emerging as hot for the upcoming year. Whether is the modern sleek cabinet colors of grey tones with sleek hardware to a more traditional spin with glazed for an antiqued or rustic look. The opportunities to customize the look of your existing cabinets are as endless as you can imagine them.

Jennifer Browder is the owner of Browder Painting Co, Inc. She can be reached at 305-5540 or at jennifer@browderpainting.com

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fter seeing the transformation of this fun beach bungalow, you’ll never look at a typical, out-dated Central Coast home the same again.

It takes vision to see beyond the drab reality of an older home to see the potential to create a true gem.

This ‘70s-era home featured flimsy wood wall paneling and an uninspired two-bedroom, two-bath interior in a single-story home.

A second story was added to the structure to capitalize on the beautiful views of Morro Bay. The new space includes a second living room, private bath and an additional bedroom.

The added height of the home gives it an impressive presence on par with the rest of the neighborhood.

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No corner of the existing home was overlooked in this topdown transformation. The interior facelift includes new siding, new paint, as well as new decks and glazing to reconnect the user with the beautiful outdoors. The interior was completed with new flooring, kitchen and bathrooms, along with raised ceilings and faux wood beam details to revive the original charm of the home.

Breathing new life into this charming home was a satisfying journey for our company. Our clients were great to work with, even as they spent a 6-month “vacation” in a

mobile home before moving in to their new space to create new memories.

Since its inception in 2010, Ferreira Inc has continued to grow professionally expanding to be one of the central coast’s premier design build companies. Ferreira Inc is known for being on the cutting edge of business innovation and finding ways to improve and streamline the design and building process. For general inquires contact info@ferreirainc.com 242-1281.

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he fourteenth annual Vellum/College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) Furniture Competition & Exhibition was held in beautiful downtown San Luis Obispo. Architecture students from Cal Poly, rated number one in Top Public Schools by U.S. News and World Report, competed with one another to produce exceptional furniture designs.

The grand prize — an all-expense paid trip to the International Furniture Fair in Milano, Italy, the Salone di Mobile, where the winner will display their award-winning design.

The 2017 grand prize winner was Josh Miller for his futuristic two-tier desk.

Paul Abbott, a Cal Poly alumnus and owner of Vellum Build Design, a commercial and residential building company, started the competition in 2004.

“I wanted to create a design competition, if Cal Poly was willing to participate, to get architecture students in front of the public [to] showcase talents of the school,” said Abbott.

“This competition provides a forum for students to expeditiously exhibit their design passions with alacrity and with a facility for craft,” said co-organizer Tom di Santo, a professor in Cal Poly’s Architecture Department. “It is amazing to see so many brilliant examples of ‘learn by doing’ that the students achieve in such a short period of time.”

Piece by Josh Miller

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Piece by Griffin Chierici

Simons said that the competition awakened an interest working with different materials.

This year’s Dr. Daniel Lewis 100% Pure Design award was granted to Marcus Simons for his convertible chair. To be eligible for the award all parts and pieces of the furniture must be created by the designer and not outsourced to professionals like upholsterers or painters. Simons utilized wood, metal and concrete to create the transforming chair.

“This piece was not meant to do anything other than sit in my mom’s living room when it’s done,” said Simons. “By the time I started to get further and further into the design, I was having a lot of fun learning all the things, so this piece actually got me into woodworking, and steel working and concrete pouring.”

Cal Poly alumna and previous winner of the People’s Choice Award Aly Rodgers said that architecture and furniture design goes hand in hand.

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“It comes down to details,” Rodgers said, “in both situations and you might be talking about details whether it is a joint of a frame or how a floor is going to be held up, you have to detail through that whole thing and on a smaller scale you have to detail how a leg is going to come together in a chair.” She went on to explain, “There are a lot of architects that ending up building their own furniture because they are pushing their brains to think in all those different scales and can’t do one and let the other one go.”

Currently living in the Bay Area, Rodgers continues to work on receiving her architectural license while exploring different aspects of designs on a smaller scale and different materials. Her interests in design are geared to more storytelling than simply recycling or repurposing material.

Piece by Marcus Simons

“Custom furniture for me is a way to build a piece specifically for someone that wants to pass on certain stories or a memory or part of their own life to the rest of their family or the next generation,” said Rodgers, “That is my interest in Vellum because a lot of their pieces end up being pieces of a larger story.”

Her award-winning design was a desk, which of course, is still at home since there is not enough room for it in her San Francisco Apartment.

Piece by Alu Rodgers

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Racheal Recksiedler, a fifth-year architecture student, designed modular desks with kindergartner through third-grade kids in mind.

The adjustable desks, made from birch plywood, were stained and included chalkboard painted tops.

Recksiedler added the paint to give children an opportunity to express themselves and was pleased to see patrons of the exhibit drawing on her desk.

Piece by Rachel Recksiedler

“They are made to be super modular so that they are easy to move around the classroom, easy storage, so the classroom can be made to be their own,” said Recksiedler.

Recksiedler said that her interest in child development and how choice or lack thereof can influence children inspired her piece. It was her desire to create a desk that would give kids a little more choice in their daily school routine.

“I am really interested in childcare and education. I think that it is really, really important, and if I wasn’t learning to be an architect, I would definitely be a teacher and help children grow up. I have huge passion for children and I want them to be able to express who they are and figure out who they want to be, and that inspired this.”

For the list of all the winners and photographers of their work, visit www.architecture. calpoly.edu/current/exhibitions/vellum

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LIVING Lavishly ©2018 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.7283695

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A

nyone who has been to a spa can appreciate the appeal of transforming a space in your home into a zen-like oasis that awaits when you return from a hectic day of work. That’s just what Susan and Mike Dier of San Luis Obispo accomplished when they decided to update and custom design their master en suite bathroom.

After deciding on the general layout, they began by choosing an underlayment that would protect their investment from moisture or leakage. Using a Wedi Shower System and epoxy grout from TileCo in SLO allowed them to construct a 100 percent waterproof and mold proof bathroom.

This was important to their design as they wanted to be able to move seamlessly from tub to shower without drying off or worrying about water damage.

Silver travertine tile from Totally Tile in Paso Robles was chosen to surround the spacious soaking tub in 200 square feet of 12x24 tiles spread across the walls and adjoining walk-in shower. To add contrast, 12x12 tiles were used on the floor that stretches out into the powder room hous-

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ing two sprawling corian vanities. A sharp and modern looking Wedi linear drain was installed and a Hansgrohe double showerhead from Ferguson Showrooms adds style and a luxurious rain-shower feel.

The Diers chose a bold glass with metal inlay tile to accent the wainscoting. Based upon suggestions by their tile installation team, they decided to incorporate the tile on the steps leading up to the tub and on the back wall of the shampoo niche, which gives the room a pleasantly well-balanced feel.

Wanting to add warmth and preserve the light in the room, textured glass was installed between beautiful cherry wood beams atop the half-wall shower enclosure.

Anyone who has walked barefoot across a tile floor can understand why the Diers decided to install a Wedi radiant heating system. The warmth and comfort emanating from the floors enhances the overall experience and avoids the “quick tip toe” morning walk from bedroom to shower.

The Diers also chose Miller Tile & Stone to install silver travertine in their entryway. This time a “hopscotch” pattern of 6x6 and 12x12 tiles was used to create a sophisticated yet fun and interesting walkway. Susan handpicked paint from Sherwin Williams for the walls. She lightened their Tidalwave blue to achieve a light and airy feel on the 23 ft. high facade and the wainscoting was painted a beautiful and serene Refuge blue.

Susan and Mike Dier worked with Luke Miller of Miller Tile & Stone to achieve their vision. Their next project together will be the outside entryway leading up to the front door. Ledger stone from AirVol Block in San Luis Obispo will be used for a feature wall that will flank the entryway and surround an accent planter box.

Luke Miller is the owner of Miller Tile & Stone. He can be reached at 65-9595 or online at www.tileslo.com. Follow the next project @millertileandstone on Instagram and Facebook.

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