Lucky Magazine December Issue with Carrie Underwood (and Me!)

Welcome Lucky Magazine readers! What a pleasure it is to finally be able to reveal my experience meeting the West Coast editor of Lucky, having a shoot at my house with the supremely talented Amanda Friedman, and landing in Lucky Magazine this month.

Shall we start by mentioning the emotions one goes through on hearing the editor of Lucky Magazine is coming to your house? In three days.  With a crew! I’m not sure there’s anything more exciting — and my designer/ project manager brain immediately kicked into overdrive.  Glee. Delight. Pride… and back to overdrive.

Overdrive- colored with purpose- is a comfortable state of affairs over here at LMD — (with admittedly more personal primping and detailing than a normal week demands of us.)

The Lucky feature is called “Insider Picks” and it gives readers an opportunity to climb into the mind of cool hunters spanning several industries — and get their favorite tricks and products – with a little girly beauty advice peppered in for fun.  This was a perfect fit for me, since daily my work straddles the line of what is often deemed more masculine pursuits – from solar panels, plumbing, roofing, and electronic home-geekery straight through to the more feminine — custom fabrics and upholstery, curtains and artwork, and design elements.

The shoot was exuberant — fast paced, fun, and full of conversation about my business model, how I help my clients take care of their homes and shop, and little touches that make everybody feel luxurious in their own home.

Lucky Magazine polaroids -- shot by Amanda Friedman

We talked at length about the way women live in their bathrooms, apply makeup, and some simple things I like to address with my clients about this under-served and overworked space.  With packed schedules and task juggling at an all time high, the time devoted to ourselves often gets cut first in a crunch.  Small touches in the home can keep you sane!

Check out the feature below.  Happy Reading!

Lucky Magazine December Issue Insider Picks featuring Laurie March Design

Stay tuned to take a peek at my recommendations, some funny out takes,  and online shopping.

A windy weather day in LA leads to lots of debris in the pool.

Living in Los Angeles, we experience some of the more interesting weather and geological patterns on the West Coast.  Anyone trying to get anywhere this week got blown away (and not in a good way) by strong wind gusts zipping across town.  Power lines went down, 1920′s windows rattled, and shrubbery everywhere shook in their roots.

Dramatic, you say? Yeah, a little. Until I peeked at a pool.

This is a seriously unhappy pool filter.

The popularity of life here makes efficient property useage a big deal. To stake our claim, we often take every inch of our properties and use them in the most creative ways. Many city and valley homeowners add in large hedges for privacy — especially around outdoor living spaces like backyards and pools- (hello, bikini and swim trunk prancing BBQ, anyone?)

Over time, and with good watering, these hedges can add huge property value and privacy, but can have some unknown consequences. Back to the weather. 35 mile per hour winds unexpectedly shaking these hedges can throw off some serious leaves and dust.  This week was no exception. Peering into a lovely backyard with tall ficus hedges, I saw a very unhappy pool and filter – and a lot of potential problems too.

Lovely ficus hedge is the messy pool filter culprit.

Many people have a pool man that comes to take care of their pool and spas– Pools can be a serious investment.  If not, send your teenager (or husband? dog?) out to do the job.  We all run the risk of expensive equipment repair and service when we don’t also ‘self-police’ the condition of the pool, and request a little TLC when needed– i.e. call your pool guy if you think you need a professional cleaning job, people!

When a pool filter is full of leaves and debris, it can’t properly continue to filter the water- causing the pump to continually run.  It sounds distressed (grumble grumble, cough) and sucks a lot of air through the system.  A sign of a full filter basket in your pool is lots of little air bubbles coming to the surface.

Air bubbles on the surface mean it's time to clean the filter!

Needless to say, burning out a pump is NOT a fun home repair expense!

It’s the little things that keep home systems in operating order, and save us all big bucks in major repairs.  Have a question? Email us here and we’ll help.  Oh, and go clean your filter!

Leah Thayer of Remodeling Magazine and I have a serious chat about where remodeling as an industry is going, and who seems to be rising to the top.  Check out my secret sauce for keeping homeowners happy, and the little stuff we all hope contractors will do when they’re working in our houses.

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=lthayer_blog&PostId=89936

Hmm... this can't be good.

I’ll admit- I’m insanely curious about homes. When I’m at friends houses, I ask the kind of questions that earn me blank looks, head-scratching, and an occasional eye-roll over my obvious enthusiasm for the things many people overlook. But nobody beats out a Home Inspector when it comes to an eye for detail…

If you’re a realtor in LA, you probably know David Salvato- with DHI Home Inspection. He’s one of those people that seems to magically be everywhere, a featured Home Inspector on Active Rain, and I love his juicy updates on Twitter describing conditions good and bad in homes all over LA.

Today I grill David in honor of first time home buyers- and giving them some sound advice, with a quick Q & A followed by some of David’s Home Inspection Deal Breakers.

@EvangelistaLA: David… I’m guessing you either have to be OCD or majorly methodical to be a home inspector. Where’d you get your patience?

@FollowDHI: I get my patience by remaining focused on the task at hand. I inspect every home as if were one I was buying for myself. As the owner of David Home Inspection my name is on every inspection and I take that very seriously.

@EvangelistaLA: How do you feel about buyers who want to be present for your inspection?

@FollowDHI: I love it! I guess I must have been a teacher in another life or something. I truly enjoy sharing the details of the home inspection with the potential buyers.

@EvangelistaLA: Gimmie the dirt. What’s the worst thing you’ve seen on an inspection?

@FollowDHI: I would have to say by far the worst thing I’ve ever seen was a complete cutaway of a roof truss system to make room for a non-permitted bonus room. The roof could have collapsed on the occupants. The Home was deemed uninhabitable by the local building department. It took an investor to remove all the damaged trusses and rebuild it.

@EvangelistaLA: Woah. I’m guessing with banks taking ownership of so many homes you’re seeing some crazy conditions in REO properties. What’s the deal?

@FollowDHI: Conditions vary with location- and the amount of time the home is left unattended. It’s not uncommon for a Home Inspector to find things like the Heating and Air Conditioning systems removed. Vinyl doors and windows missing. Copper plumbing and electrical wires pulled out. I recently inspected a home where the $6,000 pool equipment had been stolen!

Your bonus: DHI’s Top Ten Reasons Homeowners Tend to Walk Away:

1. Foundation cracks that are beyond normal. Small hair line cracks are considered normal – caused by the shrinking and settlement of the concrete itself. Larger cracks are sometimes caused by large tree roots or poor soil conditions.
2. Mold. At times mold will come up on the report. Mold in large amounts can be caused by long term roof leaks, plumbing and irrigation damage- and the health effects attributed to major mold exposure may be serious.
3. Asbestos. Any home built before 1978 will contain asbestos of some type, unless it’s been removed already. In older homes where the new owner wants to renovate, it is best to know where the asbestos laden products are and call a pro to remove them. This can impact a renovation budget heavily.
4. Lead. For young families with small children a home with lead paint can be a big issue. Many times I find paint peeling or flaking off- leaving small bits of paint that can be ingested by children. The lead paint removal process is a expensive, and takes time.
5. A Bad Roof. The roof system is one of the most important parts of the house. Replacing a roof can cost thousands and in some case even over ten thousand. Wood damage under the roof will cause the replacement price to escalate quickly.
6. Wood destroying insects and organisms. Subterranean termites are the most common termite in the United States. A mature colony has from 80K to 400K workers. (eek! Something tells me they’re not lazy either…) The average colony can consume a one foot length of 2×4 in 118 days. Other unfriendly suspects inclue the Powder post beetle, the Carpenter bee, and the Carpenter ant. Long term infestation by any of these pests can lead to the loss of structural integrity.
7. Household pests. (uh. Yuck…) Rats and mice are the most common finds in Southern California homes. This is especially true in homes that have a lot of fruit trees and date palms. Rodents can cause thousands of dollars in damage to the homes systems and equipment. They can eat the insulation off electrical and control wires, can nest in and destroy HVAC ducts as well.
8. Missing or damaged systems and equipment. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC equipment are some of the first things taken. Many homes are being sold as is- Bank Owned. When homes are left unattended they are subject to thieves removing HVAC equipment appliances, copper wire and plumbing.
9. Signs of past fire damage. Even after repairs have been made many people can’t get past the feeling of bad luck that comes with a home that’s been involved in a house fire.
10. Death or Murder in Home. (major eek!) We saved the worst for last. Everyone has seen Amityville  Horror. Never meet anyone who went through with the purchase of a home after this kind of disclosure.

Seen something wild? Bought or sold a house somebody died in? Shoot us a comment!

We hope at a time like this, that everyone has taken safety precautions for their property, including good homeowners’ insurance coverage and an up to date photographic home inventory.  If not, and only where safe, in areas that have not been evacuated yet but are threatened, we suggest taking two minutes to photograph your home before you leave.

Steps to Photograph your Home In an Emergency:

• Start in the rooms where you have the most expensive belongings, like your living room. Stand all the way against one wall and photograph the opposite wall. Repeat from every wall, taking a photograph of every wall.
• Shoot kitchen, bedrooms, laundry room. Capture your closets, both storage and clothing, so that you can remember what you own.  If your home is damaged, you will not be in a state of mind to try to remember what you have-these photographs will be invaluable to you in an insurance claim.
• If you own a valuable collection of china, silverware, art, or wine, this is a good time to photograph that as well.
• If you have time and it’s safe, shoot pictures of the actual structure of your home, including all exterior walls, landscaping, garages, and carports.
• Anything that can be considered an architectural feature of your home, like large pillars or a stone stairway should be photograhped as well, to show the quality of home you have.
• Shoot close up shots of anything over $500. TV, furniture, electronics, jewelry, antiques, cars, appliances.
• Photograph valuables that you are packing to take with you, as time allows, in case items are damaged as you are evacuating.

Keep your camera and battery charger with you as you prepare to leave. You will want to be able to print pictures as needed for an insurance claim.  It goes without saying that human and animal lives should come before your belongings in these situations. These steps should be taken only if you have time and are not being called to evacuate. Those being called to evacuate need to leave immediately.

Here is a link to an excellent list of what you should bring with you in case you are being evacuated.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/WEB-Evacuation_Guideline.pdf

By taking these steps,  you protect your investments and your family can return to normal faster after a natural disaster or wildfire. A good photographic home inventory, combined with proper homeowners’ insurance coverage can save you considerable heartache in the event of a disaster.

Simplifying remodels, upgrades, shopping, and repairs for the home. Designing our way through it!

Friends.

You are fascinating and cool! And everyone is reallly busy.

So…  tell me here what the point of your blog is- in 100 characters or less. Leave room so that we can tweet out to anyone who may not have met you yet, or may not know why you’re you.

I’m sure I will link to this list when someone new gets on Twitter! (imagine the time you’d save explaining to someone who they should follow, and why you like them?)

I’ll go first.

@EvangelistaLA Simplifying remodels, upgrades, shopping, and repairs for the home. Designing our way through it!

Your turn …

Ever feel like you’ll never get to the bottom of something? Like you are always plugging away at your projects and goals, always stressed about things on your To Do List?

Don’t forget to take a minute to keep calm, and keep going. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and envision what you’re working toward, and why you’re working so hard!  Whether it’s redoing a room, taking on a major organizing project, or just trying not to get mauled by life on the way by, you will always be better at whatever you do if you enter the task with a fresh eye.

Incidentally, this escalator was in the subway system in Prague, where I traveled this Summer. It was the longest escalator I’ve ever seen! At first, I felt a little claustrophobic, a little panicky, and like the end was incredibly far off (and the lighting really green!)

It took what seemed like forever to get to the bottom, but along the way I grabbed my camera and took a few shots, and I closed my eyes. I felt a strange sense of calm, of quiet. When I hopped off to Flea Market in the country, I felt good. Really good.

Over time, I’ve felt that same feeling, in an American Apparel store, seeing a full range of T-shirt colors, with a set of samples from Ceasarstone, a rainbow pack of Sharpie markers, and most recently, with a fan deck of Farrow & Ball paint colors (yum).

What I think I am really responding to in each of these situations is the wide world of Possibility. Beautiful options stretched out before me, simply awaiting my whim to decide what direction I will venture in next…

I felt that same punch of adrenaline and the whirring wheels of my brain about halfway into my lovely visit with the gang at Soicher-Marin. Dirty little secret of interior designers large and small, Soicher-Marin makes designers look impossibly cultured, smart, and well-sourced. Similar to my company, Soicher-Marin has so many diverse abilities and resources, it takes a few minutes for the scope of their possibility to settle into your head. During a lengthy tour of their massive showroom and  factory, I tried to think of something to stump them with. Every request that I fired off was met with a smile and a story of the wonderful path they take to accomplish just about everything relating to art. Shesh!

CEO Ed Marin, is the personable, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable Captain of the SM ship. Yes, they woo you with coffee, chocolate bagels (Tracy!) and easy conversation, but I immediately felt at home talking with Ed about his team and what they can do for interior designers across the world. And it’s a lot…

Ed, Jennifer, and Tracy agreed to let me ask them some hard hitting questions while I guzzled their coffee. Here are some of my favorite parts of our energetic morning:

@EvangelistaLA: What role does a frame play in custom artwork?

@MarinCeo: Framing exists to let the art tell its’ story. It’s like a little black dress on a woman- sure it has to fit right, but its’ job is to show a woman in her best light, to frame her. In framing, less is actually harder to do than more.

@EvangelistaLA: What is your view of the future of art? (heavy, I know…)

@MarinCeo: There is a shakeout happening in the industry. Success means being more customer-minded. You can’t force feed junk into the market anymore, people want quality work at a good value. Value is the key, and you really have to do your due diligence to determine what kind of artwork you want. The consumer has to know going into it, if they are looking for a piece that they will outgrow in three years, or if they want something meaningful that their kids are going to fight over after they are gone.”

@EvangelistaLA: I know just what you mean. In my family we have a running joke about writing our names on the back of things we want when someone dies. It’s a little morbid, but we laugh hysterically over it, and who has scratched someone else’s name out, or beaten you to it. Speaking of family- your team here at Soicher Marin seems like a very tight knit crew. What does that feel like, knowing you fostered that?

@MarinCeo: It’s really gratifying. We all worked together recently on a project  that required everyone to collaborate and problem solve together. We created a collection of oversized canvasses that required custom stretchers to accommodate the really long span of walls in the building. Watching people I’ve trained for 14 years work together on a project like this is like being a proud parent of kids who are getting along in public.

@EvangelistaLA: I love that! Now that I’ve got you feeling all warm and reminiscent, I’m going to see if I can’t catch you off guard. Tell me a secret!

@MarinCeo: Hmmm…..(At this point, Ed seems to be sorting through several thoughts in his head, and several fascinating accompanying facial expressions) Want to know a good one?  I’m actually an introvert. I’m generally an anti-social person. I’ve found being on Twitter to be very cathartic, and enjoy the relationships that have grown there.

@EvangelistaLA: Uhm…. After spending the morning with you, I just don’t know if I believe that! I follow you on Twitter, too, and find you to be very friendly. What gives?

@MarinCeo: I promised my wife and staff that I’d learn how to be charming this year. We’ve also grown quite a bit in the past years- with over 30 people here, I’m really enjoying learning more about our team.

@EvangelistaLA: Ok… now I’m going to bug the Art girls. Tracy and Jennifer- what have been your favorite pieces lately?

@TracyHiner: I loved working on the big wallpapers…(http://www.soichermarinsays.com/index.php/archives/878) I think a lot of people don’t understand the full range of possibilities when creating a custom wallpaper. You really can do ANYTHING and I love to try to push the boundaries of what can be done with fabric and wallpaper. I get excited just thinking about it!

@JenniferBalest: Definitely the collection for the Spa at the L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel. (http://www.soichermarinsays.com/index.php/archives/136) Working on that project we found a wonderful photographer and not only did we use her work there, we added her to our line this last season. It’s great when that kind of stuff happens!

@EvangelistaLA: Being a little excited about Twitter and social media myself, what does the online community mean to you guys?

@TracyHiner: Posting online is a wonderful way to explain all of your ideas, and to test things that you have on your mind. I get excited about new ideas, so having somewhere to share that is great. I also love seeing what other people are up to and what is inspiring them.

@JenniferBalest: It’s wonderful to show we can be anywhere and find anything.

@EvangelistaLA: After seeing some of the wide range of art in production today, I can believe that! One last good question. Where do you get your inspiration from?

@TracyHiner: I love listening to Requiem for a Dream soundtrack. Dark? Yes, but it always works and keeps me focused when I need to finish things. I also adore Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I can’t believe you’ve never seen it!

@EvangelistaLA: I’m putting it on my Netflix after I leave you…

@JenniferBalest: My best inspiration comes from the 405. Seriously. I’ve got more Post It notes on my dashboard with ideas I’ve gotten sitting in traffic… Thank goodness Tracy can translate it all. Oh, and you have to get the extra sticky kind so that they don’t fall off!

@EvangelistaLA: (laughing) I always trust hanging tips from an art gallery!

I loved spending time at Soicher-Marin, and know I’ll be using their deep collections of artwork for my clients.

With all the things going on in our lives, how can you truly protect your home on a daily basis from the darker side of life? I highly recommend all of my clients take steps like activating an alarm system on their doors and windows.  This is a major deterrent for most burglars- a blaring alarm or a barking dog can scare off all but the most determined. But what if the danger is more insidious? This week we will examine some of the worst threats to your home, your family’s safety, and your biggest investment.

Earthquake:

Getting your home ready for an earthquake involves some effort. Recent rumblings have reminded me that it’s a sure thing to experience an earthquake if you live in Los Angeles. There are ways to be prepared for “the big one.” Find a corner or a closet in your home and begin to prep the most important elements of a survival kit, including a gallon of water, per family member, per day.  This is incredibly important!

Emergency organizations remind us that our water line from the tap could be contaminated from ruptured sewer lines, and undrinkable in the aftermath of an earthquake.  A two week supply is a great start.  You can use normal bottled water containers from the grocery store, but they tend to leak, so camping gear water containers are suggested for their size and true storage capacity.

Other important things to prepare include items for avoiding infection. A good First Aid kit, medicines, handy-wipes, and personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, tampons, and toothpaste will go very far in the event of a serious disaster, and could mean the difference between your family surviving comfortably in rough conditions long enough to get medical attention. Also consider prepping a small toolkit and clothing for everyone in the family, as well as blankets, diapers, glasses, and anything necessary to life for children and elderly family members.

For homes built before 1935, making sure the house has been properly bolted will protect your investment through shaky times. This is a job for a contractor. Securing large furniture, artwork, and water heaters to the walls can keep things from falling on you.  Another thing that may save your life is learning how to shut off your gas valve, water line, and electricity in case the lines are damaged.  We can help with all of this!

During an earthquake, remember to move as quickly as possible to interior walls and doorways, protecting your head and avoiding glass windows.  If you have more than one child, consider making a plan regarding which parent will secure which children if possible to avoid confusion.

In the aftermath of an earthquake of some magnitude, you should be prepared for aftershocks.  Immediately check to see if anyone is injured and might need first aid.  For your safety, you should also check on your gas appliances, water lines, and electrical lines.  This is where it really helps to know where your shut off valves are! Shut off anything that might have a leak and DO NOT use matches, or appliances with electrical switches, or light a cigarette until you have been cleared by the gas company or emergency services to do so.  Stay away from damaged buildings and broken glass. Knowing the closest fire, police, and medical assistance locations could save your life!

This is a good time to check on your pets, neighbors, and anyone in your near vicinity.  Experts warn against using your phone for anything but emergency calls at this point. Select a family member out of town for everyone to contact, because long distance phone services are often the first to be returned to working order.  Get to know your neighbors, and consider sharing equipment like backup generators and large tents in case of long term emergency.  Who knows… one might be a doctor or a nurse!

The first 72 hours after an earthquake of magnitude are the most critical. Things you assume are readily available and safe for use may be compromised! Spend a few hours preparing your home and family for the worst, and you will weather the storm in better condition than most.

We work with our clients to safeguard their homes against damage in case of emergency, and educate them about some of the most confusing and obscure systems in their house.  Do you know where YOUR gas shut off valve is? Sprinkler shut off? Give us a call and we can empower you to properly protect your domain.

A wonderful resource for more information is this site:http://www.mygreathome.com/safety/earthquake_preparedness/index.htm

LA Fire Department Earthquake Preparedness Handbook: http://www.lafd.org/eqhbtext.htm

Southern California Earthquake Data Center: http://www.data.scec.org/