Friday, February 24, 2017

48 hours in Perth: street art, small bars, quokkas, beaches and Bon Scott

A wave of construction is transforming the West Australian capital, while Rottnest Island and Fremantle continue to delight

The first thing you notice about Western Australia is the light; light so piercing that the late David McComb, from the Perth band the Triffids, once noted that no foreign pair of dark sunglasses could ever shield you from it. It’s a dazzling place, all the more so when reflected from the glass towers of the capital’s central business district.

Perth is also isolated: once you get over the Darling Scarp, the low range of hills lying to the city’s east, the next big centre, Adelaide, is well over 2,500km away.

Continue reading…
48 hours in Perth: street art, small bars, quokkas, beaches and Bon Scott published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Luxurious Gatsby Mansion

The luxurious Palladian architecture captures the glamour of the Belle Époque and the elegant formal terraced gardens are based on the Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Inspired with modern finishes. It features the latest home and security technologies with environment-friendly specifications.

luxury-gatsby-mansion

THE GATSBY MANSION

The Gatsby Mansion provides spectacular views over the city of Johannesburg. This magnificent four-level home covers 2,000 square meters and was created by the well-known Pellerade Design Group based in Johannesburg. The property took more than six years to complete and epitomizes a… See more at Luxury Portfolio Blog

This luxury real estate is so opulent in both finish and proportion that has been named The “Gatsby” mansion, in honor of the extravagant and lavish mansion that Scott Fitzgerald’s character Jay Gatsby built to impress his lover.

luxury-gatsby-real-estate

Inside the stylish R110 million “Gatsby” home in Houghton

The 2,000sqm property includes eight en suite bedrooms, a private nightclub and its own spa as well as a library, gymnasium, conference facilities, heated indoor pool and outdoor training pool. It is being sold fully furnished with handpicked antiques and period pieces from around the… Read more at Business Tech

Top Billing steps into a glamorous home in Johannesburg

The Gatsby home of architecture and interior guru, Stephen Pellerade. Stephen personally travelled the world in search of the ideal pieces and fixtures for each space, sourcing modern furniture and combining it with… Watch it here

The blog post The Luxurious Gatsby Mansion is courtesy of http://www.arieabekasis.com


The Luxurious Gatsby Mansion syndicated from http://www.arieabekasis.com
The Luxurious Gatsby Mansion published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

Monday, February 20, 2017

New Technologies to Add to Your Kitchen Remodel

kitchen-new-remodelRemodeling a kitchen gives you a chance to revamp your decor, finding new and chic ways to showcase your creativity and your own personal style. Still, style isn’t everything, and the functionality of your kitchen is always the most important thing. Today, you can get even more out of your kitchen, integrating the latest technology into your cooking and cleaning routine.

Check out some of the latest and upcoming technologies available from select manufacturers today. Ask a remodeling contractor for more information during your kitchen remodel in Los Angeles, CA.

Smart Refrigerators with Touch Screens and Wi-Fi Ovens

One of the most advanced new technologies already making its way into kitchens today is the smart refrigerator. Samsung’s smart refrigerators have a screen that works a lot like any other tablet you may have used before, but with apps that help out quite a bit in the kitchen.

Some of the applications available on your smart refrigerator are the same things you would find on any other smart product: a browser for the web, music applications, and a note-taking app, which can come in handy. But they also have these unique features, many of which connect directly to your smart phone:

  • Built-in cameras – You can open an app on your smartphone and see what’s in your fridge. That makes a shopping trip a whole lot easier, along with synced shopping lists.
  • Recipes – You’ll find an app that makes it easy to organize and pull up recipes for reference.
  • TV mirroring – You don’t have to miss out on your favorite show while you’re preparing the next meal. Watch TV along with the family, even after you leave the room, with TV mirroring with compatible TVs.
  • Calendar sync – The kitchen is a common area for discussing the week’s plans. And now, you can sync all the family’s calendars together and view them from the fridge.

In addition, these modern refrigerators are more efficient than ever before, with plenty of storage space in both the refrigerator and the freezer.

Ovens and ranges with Wi-Fi capabilities are also coming to homes in your neighborhood. An app on your smart phone allows you to preheat the oven before you come home. You can also check to see if you left the oven on by accident, and you can change settings (using your phone as a sort of remote control).

Even More in the Years to Come

Of course, there are always new innovations, and we’re sure the best is yet to come. For example, IKEA recently introduced its 2025 concept kitchen, complete with kitchen counters that guide you when making a recipe and have built-in scales to measure food and help you make adjustments.

Still, we can’t be certain these kitchen developments will make way any time soon, and there are already plenty of ways to create the kitchen of your dreams. Start shaping the kitchen of your future now. Call qualified local contractors to help you find the appliances and technologies you need to run one of the most important parts of your home.

Call the licensed and bonded contractors at Advanced Builders & Contractors for your Los Angeles kitchen remodel!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

MODERN LUXURY HOME BUILT BY MUSICIAN CLAY WALKER

Located on the top of almost eight acres, this luxury home totals just over 3,000 sq.ft. features a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom main house. It also has a 1-bed and 1-bath guesthouse with its own kitchen, loft and huge family room and a separate office.

luxury-home-arie-abekasis

CONTEMPORARY ABODE BUILT BY MUSICAL ARTIST CLAY WALKER

Famed musical artist Clay Walker built this unique contemporary home and chose the location for its 360-degree vast views of San Diego. The home compliments the terrain and brings tranquility for those who reside here… See more at Luxury Portfolio Blog

As a musical artist, Clay Walker knew that the most creative art is in nature itself. Walls of glass creates views far off in every direction, where each is just a little bit different than the last. The entry of natural light is in abundance in all rooms and walls.

luxury-home-san-diego

Artist Clay Walker’s Unique Escondido Home

With antique Italian stone floors, granite solid surfaces that mirror the natural stone that is its bedrock, new faucets, fixtures, hand carved doors, secret sleeping lofts and soft window finishes, the home is designed to bask in the glow in beauty of its surroundings. This home is listed for $1.3 million… See more at Pursuitist

Clay Walker: Artist Rediscovered

The variety of Clay Walker’s works is amazing, only surpassed by his mastery of so many artistic mediums. As a mid-century modern artist, he found early success at international exhibits, but then turned his back on commercialization of his works. He continued to teach and produce art that challenged… Watch here

The following post MODERN LUXURY HOME BUILT BY MUSICIAN CLAY WALKER was originally seen on http://arieabekasis.com/


MODERN LUXURY HOME BUILT BY MUSICIAN CLAY WALKER syndicated from http://www.arieabekasis.com
MODERN LUXURY HOME BUILT BY MUSICIAN CLAY WALKER published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

Buying a Home in the Winter Versus Spring

By Drew Knight The winter months aren’t a time you usually see flocks of home shoppers hitting the market. However, not many shoppers are aware of the benefits that hide away during the cooler season. In fact, a recent report … Continue reading

New Home Source Blog - Buying a New Home, Working with a Home Builder, Designing Your Custom Home

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresher, Longer

When I was a kid, I thought one of the ultimate status symbols of being “rich” was to always have fresh flowers in the home. Adults seemed to complain — especially on days like Valentine’s Day — how ridiculous it was to waste money on something so frivolous and short-lived. So, with my kid brain, I assumed that only those making some serious dough could even afford to have fresh flowers on a regular basis. And it made me think of that someday in my future (as all kids often daydream about making millions and owning their own planet, right?) when a steady supply of fresh flowers would be my reality.

how to save money on fresh flowers

But as it turns out — if you know where to look — you can actually find pretty good bargains on common flowers like roses, lilies, and more (and not just on holidays). I usually try not to spend more than $5 at a time on a given bouquet, but when I’m needing something to brighten one of my interior photos or simply in the mood for a pick-me-up, flowers are an easy choice. Over time, I’ve learned that there are a few tricks for finding a decent bouquet and helping it to last as long as possible.

1. Know where to shop.

Two of the least expensive places where I’ve found pretty floral bouquets are Aldi and Trader Joe’s. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that they are both owned by the same parent company, but I tend to like the selection of Trader Joe’s a little better. I’ll occasionally pick one up at Aldi instead if I happen to be shopping there instead, but I find the bouquets are more brightly colored at Aldi when I tend to go for muted tons (like white or a soft pink). On rarer occasions I might pick up a mix of greenery instead from Kroger, which is also usually pretty inexpensive (and the variety in the leaves is pretty for photos).

2. Go for the closed bouquet.

Whenever I pick out things like lilies or roses, I go for the bouquet that has mostly closed buds that have yet to open up. They tend to last a few extra days.

3. Clean the vase thoroughly between bouquets.

Whenever I toss out a wilted bouquet, I give the vase a scrubbing and wipe it down before adding more. It may be mainly residue of old water, but any kind of existing bacteria for the vase before you put new flowers in will age the new bouquet a lot faster.

how to keep cut tulips fresh longer

4. Cut the stems at an angle & under water.

As soon as I’m home, I’ll cut the bottom of each stem off about an inch from the end.  I’m not sure where I picked up the “under water” part, but I will either use a bowl of water to submerge the ends of the stems before cutting or run the stems one at a time directly under the faucet, then cut at an angle. The angled cut gives the tip more surface area to soak up the flower food + water mix.

5. Remove any leaves that will touch the water.

In addition to cutting the stems, I also trim off any leaves or greenery that fall near or below the water line.

how to keep cut flowers fresh longer

6. Use the flower food packet (or a DIY mix) daily.

Within a day or two, the buds will begin to open up. I’m recommending to switch out the water daily, but I tend to forget after day 3 or 4. Still, it’s a good habit to mix in the powder that comes with the bouquet into the water when you switch things out. I also re-trim the ends when I switch out the water. Flower food (the stuff in the little packet that comes attached to the stems with a rubber band) has been consistently shown to last longer than other methods (like aspirin, Sprite, bleach, hairspray, etc.). If you run out and your flowers are still going strong, a mix of sugar and vinegar has also been proven to provide both the food the flowers need to open up and the vinegar helps keep bacteria growth at bay.

7. Keep the bouquet cool (if you can).

If I’m shopping and with a friend or if I am just too tired when I get home to set up the bouquet yet, I’ll stick the flowers in the fridge until I get around to it. If you ever go by the grocery store, you’re probably familiar with this trick since there always seems to be a refrigeration area nearby.

On average, I tend to keep flowers going for about 7 days… 9 if I’m really lucky (lilies seem to last a good while in particular). Some flowers continue to look kind of cool as they dry out, like hydrangeas, but no matter which ones I pick, it always feels pretty luxurious to have these beauties around.

Do you have any tricks you like to use for your flowers? And I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

how to keep cut flowers fresher longer

The post How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresher, Longer appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresher, Longer published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresher, Longer

When I was a kid, I thought one of the ultimate status symbols of being “rich” was to always have fresh flowers in the home. Adults seemed to complain — especially on days like Valentine’s Day — how ridiculous it was to waste money on something so frivolous and short-lived. So, with my kid brain, I assumed that only those making some serious dough could even afford to have fresh flowers on a regular basis. And it made me think of that someday in my future (as all kids often daydream about making millions and owning their own planet, right?) when a steady supply of fresh flowers would be my reality.

how to save money on fresh flowers

But as it turns out — if you know where to look — you can actually find pretty good bargains on common flowers like roses, lilies, and more (and not just on holidays). I usually try not to spend more than $5 at a time on a given bouquet, but when I’m needing something to brighten one of my interior photos or simply in the mood for a pick-me-up, flowers are an easy choice. Over time, I’ve learned that there are a few tricks for finding a decent bouquet and helping it to last as long as possible.

1. Know where to shop.

Two of the least expensive places where I’ve found pretty floral bouquets are Aldi and Trader Joe’s. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that they are both owned by the same parent company, but I tend to like the selection of Trader Joe’s a little better. I’ll occasionally pick one up at Aldi instead if I happen to be shopping there instead, but I find the bouquets are more brightly colored at Aldi when I tend to go for muted tons (like white or a soft pink). On rarer occasions I might pick up a mix of greenery instead from Kroger, which is also usually pretty inexpensive (and the variety in the leaves is pretty for photos).

2. Go for the closed bouquet.

Whenever I pick out things like lilies or roses, I go for the bouquet that has mostly closed buds that have yet to open up. They tend to last a few extra days.

3. Clean the vase thoroughly between bouquets.

Whenever I toss out a wilted bouquet, I give the vase a scrubbing and wipe it down before adding more. It may be mainly residue of old water, but any kind of existing bacteria for the vase before you put new flowers in will age the new bouquet a lot faster.

how to keep cut tulips fresh longer

4. Cut the stems at an angle & under water.

As soon as I’m home, I’ll cut the bottom of each stem off about an inch from the end.  I’m not sure where I picked up the “under water” part, but I will either use a bowl of water to submerge the ends of the stems before cutting or run the stems one at a time directly under the faucet, then cut at an angle. The angled cut gives the tip more surface area to soak up the flower food + water mix.

5. Remove any leaves that will touch the water.

In addition to cutting the stems, I also trim off any leaves or greenery that fall near or below the water line.

how to keep cut flowers fresh longer

6. Use the flower food packet (or a DIY mix) daily.

Within a day or two, the buds will begin to open up. I’m recommending to switch out the water daily, but I tend to forget after day 3 or 4. Still, it’s a good habit to mix in the powder that comes with the bouquet into the water when you switch things out. I also re-trim the ends when I switch out the water. Flower food (the stuff in the little packet that comes attached to the stems with a rubber band) has been consistently shown to last longer than other methods (like aspirin, Sprite, bleach, hairspray, etc.). If you run out and your flowers are still going strong, a mix of sugar and vinegar has also been proven to provide both the food the flowers need to open up and the vinegar helps keep bacteria growth at bay.

7. Keep the bouquet cool (if you can).

If I’m shopping and with a friend or if I am just too tired when I get home to set up the bouquet yet, I’ll stick the flowers in the fridge until I get around to it. If you ever go by the grocery store, you’re probably familiar with this trick since there always seems to be a refrigeration area nearby.

On average, I tend to keep flowers going for about 7 days… 9 if I’m really lucky (lilies seem to last a good while in particular). Some flowers continue to look kind of cool as they dry out, like hydrangeas, but no matter which ones I pick, it always feels pretty luxurious to have these beauties around.

Do you have any tricks you like to use for your flowers? And I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

how to keep cut flowers fresher longer

The post How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresher, Longer appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+


How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresher, Longer published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

Friday, February 10, 2017

Stay Warm, Save Money: How to Cut Heating Costs

By Drew Knight Nobody wants to add to the costs of their new home with a giant heating bill. So, before you go upping your thermostat to 80 degrees, listen up. There are plenty of ways to keep warm this … Continue reading

New Home Source Blog - Buying a New Home, Working with a Home Builder, Designing Your Custom Home

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Laundry Room Makeover: Art Inspired by Emily Jeffords

Whether they are of sunsets or cloudy storms, the rolling, calm paintings of artist Emily Jeffords are easy to get lost in. Perhaps that’s why — half a bottle of wine into a painting class — I created a similar one of my own. You may have seen it, because it’s now a part of my recent laundry room makeover.

This post may contain affiliate links.

The Backstory

However long ago, my friend asked me to join her at one of those wine and paint class things we saw on Groupon (around this area, Sips n Strokes is a popular studio). In case you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s basically an instructor-led paint by numbers class… only they let you bring in wine, because being tipsy is a brilliant excuse for why your “trees” wound up looking more like cake pops.

I thought it would be fun, but I also thought it would be kind of silly — because even there are plenty of options to choose from in terms of what you paint (you register for the class that’s going to teach the painting you want to do), most of the options are really brightly colored and don’t really match with my home’s decor. Plus, the canvas you’re provided is on the large side, so if you’re not 100% in love with your work by the end of the class, it tends to feel like a waste. I guess you can at least paint over it after, but you get what I mean.

Only, there was one little twist to this story: my friend who asked me to meet with her to do the class got the time wrong. By, like, half an hour. That may not seem like much, but each class is only about two hours long, so missing a full quarter of it can put you pretty far behind.

By the time I got into my smock (and let’s be honest, I had to get the bottle of wine open to truly feel immersed in the class), I had a choice: try to catch up with what all of the other people in the class were doing, start sipping and just watch everyone else paint (an equally good option, #nojudgment), or just start freestyling whatever came to mind.

I picked up the biggest brush I was given and just started painting — streaks of blue, white, green, and brown in a sort of ombre fashion. The more I layered and swirled the colors around though, the more it started to look like clouds, and I realized it was taking shape in a similar style to the uber-talented Emily Jeffords.

Artist Spotlight: Emily Jeffords

At this point, I can’t remember how I discovered her paintings. It could have been through Instagram, another blogger’s Instagram with her work in the picture, or stumbling onto her shop on Etsy. But no matter how, I’m glad I found her work. Her landscapes, abstract, and watercolors are all equally beautiful to me (she also does other things like ornamentsmixed media, and more… I’m obsessed, really). I don’t often have the budget for buying originals over print, but someday I’d love to own an original of hers!

I have a stack of prints I’ve purchased from shops on Etsy and elsewhere, and I one or two of hers in the mix that, shamefully, I’ve yet to hang. But can anyone every really have too much art? I think a series of her moody watercolor botanicals would look perfect in my master bedroom makeover.

Adding Color to the Laundry Room

I played around with the layers of the painting for a good half hour, but it was tough to find a natural stopping point. And since I wasn’t waiting on the instructor to keep going, I was done surprisingly early — leaving more time for sipping.

Of course, the ones from EJ herself have a little more depth and movement than mine, but I still liked it better than the assignment!

When we were all done, we took a group picture… which became instantly hilarious (humming the Sesame Street song, anyone?).

I didn’t really have a plan for what to do with the canvas when I was done (bathroom? office?), so like most people who come home from one of these painting classes… I stuck it in a closet.

But as the clock was ticking down on my deadline to complete my laundry room makeover during the holidays, I knew that the room could really use a touch of color on the wall to match with all of the greenery I’d placed along the back shelf. And it hit me: that painting! I nabbed it out of my office storage and placed it on the knob thingie I bought from IKEA (it’s a towel rack, I believe, but I got it on clearance so I think it’s discontinued now). The bar above the knobs is just wide enough to place a frame, but I thought the frameless look + leaning it against the wall instead of hanging gave it a more casual feel (coughcough, yeah, that’s totally why I was too lazy to frame it, cough).

P.S. I’m thinking about highlighting a few more artists I really admire this year… maybe you’ll find a new one you love! What do you guys think?

The post Laundry Room Makeover: Art Inspired by Emily Jeffords appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+


Laundry Room Makeover: Art Inspired by Emily Jeffords published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

Laundry Room Makeover: Art Inspired by Emily Jeffords

Whether they are of sunsets or cloudy storms, the rolling, calm paintings of artist Emily Jeffords are easy to get lost in. Perhaps that’s why — half a bottle of wine into a painting class — I created a similar one of my own. You may have seen it, because it’s now a part of my recent laundry room makeover.

This post may contain affiliate links.

The Backstory

However long ago, my friend asked me to join her at one of those wine and paint class things we saw on Groupon (around this area, Sips n Strokes is a popular studio). In case you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s basically an instructor-led paint by numbers class… only they let you bring in wine, because being tipsy is a brilliant excuse for why your “trees” wound up looking more like cake pops.

I thought it would be fun, but I also thought it would be kind of silly — because even there are plenty of options to choose from in terms of what you paint (you register for the class that’s going to teach the painting you want to do), most of the options are really brightly colored and don’t really match with my home’s decor. Plus, the canvas you’re provided is on the large side, so if you’re not 100% in love with your work by the end of the class, it tends to feel like a waste. I guess you can at least paint over it after, but you get what I mean.

Only, there was one little twist to this story: my friend who asked me to meet with her to do the class got the time wrong. By, like, half an hour. That may not seem like much, but each class is only about two hours long, so missing a full quarter of it can put you pretty far behind.

By the time I got into my smock (and let’s be honest, I had to get the bottle of wine open to truly feel immersed in the class), I had a choice: try to catch up with what all of the other people in the class were doing, start sipping and just watch everyone else paint (an equally good option, #nojudgment), or just start freestyling whatever came to mind.

I picked up the biggest brush I was given and just started painting — streaks of blue, white, green, and brown in a sort of ombre fashion. The more I layered and swirled the colors around though, the more it started to look like clouds, and I realized it was taking shape in a similar style to the uber-talented Emily Jeffords.

Artist Spotlight: Emily Jeffords

At this point, I can’t remember how I discovered her paintings. It could have been through Instagram, another blogger’s Instagram with her work in the picture, or stumbling onto her shop on Etsy. But no matter how, I’m glad I found her work. Her landscapes, abstract, and watercolors are all equally beautiful to me (she also does other things like ornamentsmixed media, and more… I’m obsessed, really). I don’t often have the budget for buying originals over print, but someday I’d love to own an original of hers!

I have a stack of prints I’ve purchased from shops on Etsy and elsewhere, and I one or two of hers in the mix that, shamefully, I’ve yet to hang. But can anyone every really have too much art? I think a series of her moody watercolor botanicals would look perfect in my master bedroom makeover.

Adding Color to the Laundry Room

I played around with the layers of the painting for a good half hour, but it was tough to find a natural stopping point. And since I wasn’t waiting on the instructor to keep going, I was done surprisingly early — leaving more time for sipping.

Of course, the ones from EJ herself have a little more depth and movement than mine, but I still liked it better than the assignment!

When we were all done, we took a group picture… which became instantly hilarious (humming the Sesame Street song, anyone?).

I didn’t really have a plan for what to do with the canvas when I was done (bathroom? office?), so like most people who come home from one of these painting classes… I stuck it in a closet.

But as the clock was ticking down on my deadline to complete my laundry room makeover during the holidays, I knew that the room could really use a touch of color on the wall to match with all of the greenery I’d placed along the back shelf. And it hit me: that painting! I nabbed it out of my office storage and placed it on the knob thingie I bought from IKEA (it’s a towel rack, I believe, but I got it on clearance so I think it’s discontinued now). The bar above the knobs is just wide enough to place a frame, but I thought the frameless look + leaning it against the wall instead of hanging gave it a more casual feel (coughcough, yeah, that’s totally why I was too lazy to frame it, cough).

P.S. I’m thinking about highlighting a few more artists I really admire this year… maybe you’ll find a new one you love! What do you guys think?

The post Laundry Room Makeover: Art Inspired by Emily Jeffords appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+


Laundry Room Makeover: Art Inspired by Emily Jeffords published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

Monday, February 6, 2017

Stop By Encino the Next Time You Visit Los Angeles

new-construction-ABC-Los-AngelesLos Angeles has lots of wonderful neighborhoods to explore, and one of our favorites is often overlooked. Encino, a Spanish term for “evergreen” or “holm oak,” was named after the beautiful oak trees found in the valley—or perhaps just one in particular. The Encino Oak Tree, also called the Lang Oak, was a 1,000 year-old tree, felled naturally in El Nino storms in 1998. However, you can still visit a monument in honor of this historic tree on the corner of Ventura Blvd. and Louise Ave.

There’s lots more you can do in Encino, though. Check out our favorite neighborhood hot spots and family hangouts, and visit Encino if you’re exploring the LA area.

The Encino Velodrome

The Encino Velodrome is a huge outdoor track where cyclists of all ages go to practice, train, or just to have fun. It is run by volunteer and kept up by donations alone, so this space means a lot to the community and the people who visit. You can find low-cost and free classes, watch races, or—once a quarter—you can go to the swap meet!

Parks and Recreation

Of course, a velodrome isn’t for everyone, but you can find a wide range of outdoor activities to do with the family in this neighborhood. Where Encino meets Van Nuys, you can find the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area. With a beautiful Japanese garden, hiking trails, tennis courts, and our favorite off-leash dog park, there’s something for everyone. The Encino golf course is within this area as well. And, it’s been a popular filming spot for many movies and TV shows over the years.

Take the kids to the Balboa Sports Complex to let out some energy. Everything you need is right here, including a soccer field, basketball court, volleyball courts, a kids’ play area, and more.

Places to Eat

You’ll find most of the best dining along Ventura Boulevard, and you’ll be glad you stopped by. There’s a diverse selection of cuisines including Mediterranean, Indian, and Japanese.

One of our favorite spots to enjoy a nice meal is Scratch Bar and Kitchen. Here, the menu changes every night, because the chefs believe in creating something just for your tastes with fresh, seasonal ingredients and meals served family style.

When we’re craving sushi, we pay a visit to Okumura, which LA Weekly voted as one of the top 10 restaurants in Encino. And if you’re looking for a trendy place to take your date, stop by Vino Wine & Tapas Room.

Homes in Encino, CA

Encino has been home to some big names over the years, but it’s a great place for anyone to build a home or start a family. With parks, plenty of dining options, shopping, a vibrant history, and lots more to explore, this may be the next step on your life’s path. If you’re considering new construction in Encino, CA, reach out to our local contractors. We would love to work with you.

Call the licensed and bonded contractors at Advanced Builders & Contractors for construction and remodeling services in Encino and throughout the LA area.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Childhood Home of Judy Garland Is Up for Sale

It was fifty years ago when two of the greatest actresses in Hollywood lived in this home. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had long successful acting careers. 180 South McCadden Place in Hollywood, the home was reportedly “respectable,” rather than “luxurious,” although it has Judy’s very first swimming pool.

judy-garland-home

Judy Garland’s Childhood Home Is for Sale—and It’s Not in Kansas

There’s no place like Judy Garland‘s childhood home, which, surprisingly enough, is located in Lancaster, CA, a good hour-and-a-half drive northeast of Los Angeles. Although the Antelope Valley town is a bit remote, and not one of the Golden State’s more glamorous locales, you just can’t brush the stardust off… Read more at Realtor.com

judy-garland-home-lancaster

Although Garland’s childhood home, built in 1915, has been expanded and remodeled, some of the original features it had when she lived there still exist. You can gaze out the same windows, brush against the same moldings, and dance across some of the same floors.

Judy Garland Home / Whatever Happened to Baby Jane House

Childhood Home of Judy Garland Is Up for Sale is courtesy of http://arieabekasis.com


Childhood Home of Judy Garland Is Up for Sale syndicated from http://www.arieabekasis.com
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