Home Improvement Guide 2024

HOME IMPROVEMENT Guide

Save Water Save money!

UPGRADE

Turf Removal

$2 per square foot for synthetic turf only (max of 1,000 SF)

$3 per square foot regional program (max of 5,000 SF)

Pre-approval require before turf is removed

Smart Sprinkler Timers

Rebates start at $180, per timer

Save 40-50 gallons per day/home

Spray-to-Drip Irrigation

Rebates start at $1 per square foot

Save 50 gallons per day

Premium High-Efficiency Toilets

$150 per qualifying toilet

Pre-approval needed

Save 22 gallons per day

Clothes Washers

Rebates start at $85

Save 15 gallons per day And

Graber embraces the ‘dopamine design’ craze Feel-Good Trend

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Interior designers and home brands have made happiness their goal with “dopamine design.” Dopamine design empowers homeowners to use color to improve their well-being at home, according to Erica Bail, Graber’s director of creative services.

A custom brand of window treatments, Wisconsin-based Graber sells a mélange of aesthetically pleasing and whimsical designs.

“Dopamine décor is just so fun,” Bail said. “It’s something we’re focused on for 2024. We’re calling it ‘feel-good spaces’ and dopamine décor is part of it.

“This means you have control over your living environment and you can include pieces that add whimsy, color and a little touch of creativity to bring you joy and delight.

“From a consumer lens, the last few years have worn people down a little bit. We bring that joyful design into something customers are yearning for.”

When it comes to colors, Bail said the trend leans toward nostalgic designs, and retro-inspired colors made “more contemporary and more modern.”

“Pinks from the ’60s — that Pepto Bismol pink — is starting to trend again,” she said.

“It’s like a more dusty mauve, elevated in a more grown-up way that’s really beautiful. A lot of window coverings are meant to complement that dusty mauve color.

“So, we’re seeing sage green top treatments. Again, these modernized contemporized retro colors. We’re also seeing patterns coming back in a huge way. Wallpaper is a little bit scary to people, but you can inject that whimsy into window coverings as well.

“We have this fantastic pattern in our soft treatments and drapery that looks like rolling waves. It’s really beautiful and, across multiple windows, creates a ‘wow’ moment in the room. It’s new and fresh and feels really exciting.”

Bail started her career in fashion and accessories and parlayed that knowledge into the home industry. She saw the same trends in both fields.

“We’re noticing that if the ’70s or ’80s are popular in fashion, you see them more popular in

home décor as well,” she explained.

“You can keep your eye on fashion and guess how it’s going to influence home design.”

Trends have changed a lot since the pandemic, said Bail, who started with the company in 2020. Consumers focused more on their homes because they were spending time there.

“The last couple of years, I’ve seen this idea of sanctuary as a trend with an emphasis on cozy materials, warm patinas on furniture, the layering of window coverings all make it warmer and safer. We’re calling it the feel-good space.”

Bail further explained that whimsical shades often combine well with natural shades. However, the “conservancy trend” is starting to appear. That’s the desire to bring the outside in.

“It blends grasses and reeds and wood, capturing that and bringing in the look of nature into interior decorations,” she said.

“For a lot of people, getting out into nature is part of what makes them feel good and gives them a renewed sense of themselves. That helps in this regard as well.”

Bail said she loves the idea of dopamine design, and the effect it has on home owners, decorators, and those who occupy a space.

“I’ve always loved décor, but coming to Graber, I learned about custom window treatments and how impactful they can be to a space,” Bail said.

“They’re really beneficial to privacy and light control, of course. They add a lot of personality as well. That’s something that, when people add some personality with window coverings, they’re so pleasantly surprised. It’s a great way to inject personality.”

Graber Blinds graberblinds.com/find-an-expert/

The trustworthy alternative Kitchen Tune-Up:

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

LLongtime corporate executive Kim Wilbur was searching for her next challenge when she came across Kitchen Tune-Up. Wilbur accepted that challenge.

Wilbur bought Kitchen Tune-Up, Irvine and Dana Point, to offer “unmatched kitchen remodeling services and creative solutions our clients love.” After completing some remodels on her own homes, including helping friends, she knew there had to be a better way.

“I always looked at kitchens or bathrooms or any space in a house and think about what I would do if it were me,” she said.

“My career coach and I looked at 10 franchises. I knew this was a fit. It was certainly an easy decision when I was getting ready to purchase.”

Founded in 1988, Kitchen Tune-Up specializes in five ways to update kitchens and cabinetry. Services include its signature one-day tune-up; cabinet painting; cabinet refacing; cabinet redooring and new cabinets. We have also recently launched outdoor kitchens and islands.

She calls her approach trustworthy, with strict adherence to communication and professionalism. The goal? To meet and exceed expectations.

“We really want to bring collaborative passion and innovative solutions to our customers,” she said. “We strive to deliver a service — not necessarily a product. This changes your life.”

But it’s not all about aesthetics. Wilbur goes beyond that, stressing functionality and longevity. The key to Kitchen Tune-Up’s success is its commitment to making the process seamless and stressfree.

Wilbur and her staff take their clients’ projects seriously. They apply Kitchen Tune-Up’s “Trustpoints” to ensure that clients’ expectations are exceeded.

“We listen carefully,” she said. “Our locally owned team will develop an organized plan and fulfill

See KITCHEN on page 18

3 practical home improvements ideas Saving the Earth

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Making improvements around the house to curb energy usage is not only good for the environment, it can make a big impact on your utility bills, too.

Energy-efficient appliances are a good starting point as you work to reduce your home’s overall energy usage. Depending on local tax laws, you may also qualify for tax incentives for these purchases.

There are also relatively simple DIY projects you can do around the house to improve energy conservation.

• Seal air leaks. Gaps around windows, doors and other openings are major contributors to wasted energy. In the winter, they let cold air in, making your furnace work harder. Conversely, in the summer, cool air escapes and forces your air conditioner to run extra. In most cases, weather stripping or caulking can provide the necessary seal. Larger gaps may require low-expansion foam or minor drywall work. Remember to pay careful attention to the attic and basement, which can be unexpected sources of energy loss.

If replacing your door’s threshold is impractical or your threshold is not adjustable, a door bottom or sweep may effectively keep out unwanted drafts. These options install directly on the door, eliminating the need to tinker with the threshold itself or remove the door for more significant alterations.

• Update insulation. Deteriorating or minimal insulation, which is found more often in older homes, can make it difficult to effectively manage your home’s temperature. While spray foam is a tempting solution that has less of an impact on your walls, it can be tricky for a novice to install correctly.

A simple and effective alternative is fiberglass batts or rolls, which can be easily cut to size and fit between studs and beams. While this approach requires sheetrock removal and re-installation, it’s also one of the lowest cost options for insulation replacement.

• Regulate temperatures. Over time, thermostats can become less sensitive, leading to inaccuracies and wasted energy. Installing a programmable thermostat is a cost-effective, easy fix.

Choose a model that allows you to adjust temperature settings relative to your usage, saving energy and eliminating paying for cooled or heated air when you’re not home.

For example, on summer days when you’re not home, program your system to maintain a temperature 5 to 10 F higher than is comfortable when you’re present. Then set it to cool to your preferred temperature approximately 30 minutes or 1 hour prior to arriving home.

KITCHEN from page 16

all the terms of agreement.”

Clients can trust that Wilbur and her team will communicate, which is key. They promise to return calls within 24 hours.

Vowing to arrive on time, Kitchen Tune-Up’s staff vows to keep the premises clean and respect the owners’ time.

Kitchen Tune-Up was a logical move for Wilbur, who learned valuable lessons while renovating her homes. She said she was tired of contractors telling her what to do, and receiving a final bill higher than the estimate. Kitchen Tune-Up understands that dream kitchens shouldn’t be limited by a budget. That’s why it offers hassle-free financing options that make it easier to turn a vision into reality.

“Here, I found a place that values client collaboration, offering bespoke solutions,” she said.

“The balance between practicality and style, always striving to elevate a space while ensuring it remains functional and timeless. We give you a detailed proposal before we start the project, and we stick to it. No surprises, no unexpected expenses and we put it in writing, so you never have to wonder.”

Kim Wilbur – Local Owner

Kitchen Tune-Up Irvine and Dana Point 949-681-8353 / kitchentuneup.com

License No. 1118739

Photo courtesy of Unsplash