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Sarasota's Articles

Restoring the Past The Historic Everglades City Hall Written by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Originally built in 1928, the historic Everglades City Hall was almost completely destroyed in 2005 by the ravages of Hurricane Wilma. In the winter of 2006/2007, the once stately building was lovingly restored to its majestic stature with funds raised by the dedicated citizens of Everglades City, Florida.
A Brighter Option Written by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article The kitchen is the focal point, the gathering place for the home, and according to many real estate experts, can make or break the purchase of a home. For many years, kitchens have followed a traditional path in décor, but Lube of Sarasota offers homeowners another, brighter option when designing a kitchen. Known for it’s use of high-tech materials and bold, “look at me” color palates, Lube is ready to turn boring design on its ear with eye-popping color and space-saving technology.
Bringing Warmth Back into the Home Written by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article When it’s time to choose the custom cabinetry that will set off your home to perfection, it’s important to choose the firm whose outstanding reputation surpasses all others. Cook’s Design Studio has been in business 37 years.
Kitchen Facelift Written by Rhett St. Louis See Entire Article A beautiful kitchen makes a statement and beautiful countertops put the exclamation point on that statement. Today’s homeowners are updating their kitchens to show off their personal style. A beautiful solid surface countertop or an expanse of shiny granite can give the kitchen and instant facelift. Michael Beasley, owner of Distinctive Surfaces, Inc. has over twenty years experience in the industry, following in his father’s footsteps.
High-Profile Kitchens Written by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article Talk to anyone buying, selling, or thinking about remodeling a home and overwhelmingly you’ll hear that two of the most important rooms in the home are the kitchen and the bath. Many real estate agents will tell you that those rooms can make the difference between selling a home and it sitting on the market unsold, and many buyers will tell you those are the most important areas they consider a factor when purchasing a home.
To See or Not to See? The Kitchen Question Written by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Is it a den or a kitchen? According to Bill Mullet,president of Mullet’s Appliances in Sarasota and Naples, “The trend today is that people really don’t want to see their kitchen appliances. As a direct result of having ‘open’ kitchens where the family room is in close proximity to the kitchen, they want a softer, library-like feel about their kitchens.”
Soothing Waters Written by R.P. Joseph See Entire Article Leave the stress of the world behind with an enchanted lagoon - in your own backyard. Let Lucas Lagoons take you there. The owner of Lucas Lagoons, Inc., Lucas Congdon, moved to Sarasota more than six years ago, leaving the mountains of Vermont behind. Yet the mountain influence still shows clearly in his work. His designs have been featured in Sarasota Magazine, SRQ, Home and Garden, Housetrends and The Sarasota Herald Tribune. The company is the winner of the 2003 Sarasota County Beautification Award.
Looking Good From The Ground Up Written by R.P. Joseph See Entire Article The holidays are fast approaching and guests are sure to follow. You want your home to look good, to look special - from the ground up. Unique tile flooring can help make that happen, according to Jeff Matthews, the operations manager of West Florida Distributors in Sarasota.
Outdoor Living - Enjoying Florida's Great Outdoors Written by Sam Moser See Entire Article In all of South Florida, indoor design melding with outdoor living is much more than a fashion statement. For some time now, the move to make the most of fantastic year-round conditions has been gaining ground. On the home front, the outdoors is indoors and vice versa.
Grill On! Written by Casey McCabe See Entire Article More than any other area of the home front, enthusiasm and innovation have propelled rapid change in the outdoor kitchen. With a bit of professional help, today’s outdoor kitchens can be filled with precision instruments engineered to do justice to the most exacting gourmet’s cooking skills.
Cookin’ Out Fires Up Al Fresco Dining Written by J. A. Damon See Entire Article With the archeological discovery of cave paintings, we learned that food has been cooked over fire for millions of years. Originally simply a necessary task for survival, barbequing now combines food preparation with entertaining and family fun. The past fifty years has seen grilling equipment evolve from a simple metal pan on legs to free-standing and built-in grills of extraordinary beauty and efficiency.
Creating Paradise Written by Sam Moser See Entire Article Garden architecture brings character to Southwest Florida homes, a fact well-known at Hazeltine Nurseries. Landscape professionals at Hazeltine Nurseries strive for harmoniously composed outdoor spaces to create a sense of intimacy and pleasure and to build a connection between people and their gardens.
Outdoor Living Is “In” Written by Nichole L. Reber See Entire Article There was a time when two folding chairs and a charcoal grill with flimsy legs represented a well-appointed patio. That was then. Today’s patio has multiple sliding glass doors leading to an expansive lanai overlooking a pool that often includes a waterfall and spa. The days of the folding chairs and wobbly-legged grill are gone for good.
AquaScapes Pools & Spas Designs With Customers In Mind Written by Andrea G. Rollin See Entire Article Turn your backyard into paradise - with the help of AquaScapes Pools & Spas. The Sarasota-based company will design the ultimate pool and spa for you, complete with beautiful rock and water features, stone coping aqua accents lighting, fiber optic lighting, tile and tile murals, accent tiles or mosaics.
A World of Style in Outdoor Living Written by Casey McCabe See Entire Article Elegant Outdoors adds finesse to al fresco lifestyles. Their spacious showrooms offer sofas with generous cushions, armchairs with ottomans, chaises for two, and bar stools galore – at all price points! Chairs swivel, swing, rock and recline. Designed with impeccable style and complete comfort in mind, it’s almost as though outdoor décor is synonymous with interior design.
Floors with Finesse Written by Sam Moser See Entire Article Today’s finer homes are lined with floors of stone. Travertine, Saturnia and tumbled-stone floors are an exquisite foundation for the dramatic design presentations found in custom estates and Mediterranean villas. What better than the earth’s natural surface to show off antique Oriental carpets, crystal chandeliers, wrought iron hardware, and sophisticated fabrics?
What Makes a Fine Piano Fine? Written by Sondra Black See Entire Article When asked, “What makes a fine piano a fine piano?” Gunter Manchen, owner of Euro Grand Piano Gallery in North Naples enthusiastically exclaims: “To build a fine piano, it takes the finest materials from around the world, combined with sound construction and design by the master craftsmen and technicians who build these beautiful instruments.
Premier Product Lines and Innovative Services See Entire Article West Florida Distributors Inc. (WFD), founded in 1967 by the Doyle family is now a part of a family of related product companies under the banner of H.S.K. Industries. WFD’s reputation of maintaining a large inventory, quick delivery, and unsurpassed customer service, is being continually enhanced by the addition of a new showroom and warehouse locations, premier product lines and innovative services.”
Appliances for Modern Lifestyles See Entire Article According to Chuck Proctor, West Coast business manager for Florida Builder Appliances, “Kitchen remodeling, as well as increased consumer interest in building new homes with state-of-the-art kitchens, continues to be on the rise. Consumers are more educated and informed about the newest and most up-to-date products due to the large amount of information available on appliance manufacturers’ Web sites.”
Creating Kitchens With Character by Sam Moser See Entire Article In the realm of kitchen design, Southwest Florida is fashion forward. While 70 percent of the kitchens and baths installed nationally are remodels, in our area 95 percent are designed for new homes. With everything new, harmony is possible when kitchen cabinetry melds with entertainment centers, bathroom cabinetry, library built-ins and morning kitchens in luxurious master bedroom suites.
Home Entertainment and Technology at Your Fingertips by Linda Sechrist See Entire Article Since 2000, home entertainment has emerged as the hottest trend in the home building industry. As many as 80 percent of the new custom homes and production homes in Collier and Lee Counties are now including such features as media rooms, home theatres, remote controlled web based live video monitoring and recording, whole house entertainment systems, and structured wiring systems.
Safety and Style Converge in the Bathroom by Linda Sechrist See Entire Article The hit song “Splish Splash” that topped the music charts back in the 1950s was obviously not written by anyone concerned about bathroom safety. “Splish Splash,” wrote the then yet to be labeled baby-boomer lyricist, “I was taking a bath long about a Saturday night.
Unforgettable View From The Top See Entire Article Whether you’re building your new home or simply remodeling a room, countertops are the crowning finish that can turn your room into a living work of art. At first glance, the choice of colors and materials appear to be overwhelming but when you find the right company, everything just seems to fall into place.
It’s a Jungle Out There by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article To create the perfect environment for the Southwest Florida lifestyle, landscape designers are joining the inside and outside of the home together to unite and merge the two living spaces as one.
Space Planning, Design & Decoration by Sam Moser See Entire Article Space planning, a fundamental building block in interior design, is a process often confused – by consumers, the media and unlicensed decorators – with design or decorating.