Posts in category: Blog

Scout said it best in To Kill A Mockingbird:
“I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” – Scout

These are words I live by in business and pleasure and how I approach everyone I meet through work and play.

An East Bay native by way of Philadelphia, I bring to Arana Craftsman Painters my 20 years of work in the home industry through mortgage and bathroom remodeling.

I am passionate about people and how I can help them, whether it be through home finance, construction, home remodeling and painting.

I spent my childhood in the East Bay, playing basketball in the streets of Albany and seeking escape in the solace of Indian Rock. I now raise my nine and two-year-old daughters in the East Bay and am happy to call this place my home.

When I’m not out on consultations with homeowners, you can find me playing pool in my garage or back-packing in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Traveling with my family and dog fuels my passion for people and life.

Our homes are our biggest investments not only in our wallets, but our hearts. I look forward to continually helping Bay Area homeowners protect, improve, and enhance their homes for years to come.

Be A Good Neighbor on Halloween

Many people enjoy handing out candy to their little visitors on Halloween. To make sure your visiting trick-or-treaters stay safe in your yard:

Clear away lawn equipment and any clutter from the yard, walkways, and steps so kids don’t trip over them.

If you have lighted jack-o’-lanterns, position them far enough away from where kids will stand so their costumes won’t catch on fire. Better yet, use glow sticks instead of candles.

Make sure paper or fabric decorations can’t blow into the flame of a jack-o’-lantern.

Keep all of your outside lights on during the evening.

Before sending your children on their rounds, make sure they eat so they won’t be tempted to dig into their goodie bags before you can examine them.

Check to make sure no parts of their costumes drag on the ground. Kids could step on them, trip, and fall.

If they are wearing masks, be sure they have a good field of vision. Face paint is better.

Tell them to walk, not run, stay on sidewalks, and cross streets only at intersections, not between parked cars.

Advise kids to approach only those houses with outside lights burning. Never go inside a house.

Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Older kids should travel with a group of friends.

Does Your Home Have Any of These Exterior Paint Failures?

Save money by avoiding expensive repairs.

1. Wood cracking and separation – Here we see separation between the stucco and wood window sill and cracking in the wood window sill itself. Of all the types of failure, this is the most common and can lead to larger, more costlier repairs.

The best approach to remedy this is:

• scrape out all of the failed material where the stucco meets the wood;
• sand the sill down thoroughly;
• Apply a coat of a strong, adhesive primer;
• Apply a premium grade caulking material if the gap is not too large;
• Patch the cracks in the wood with a 2-part wood epoxy;
• Patch the stucco if needed with a high grade concrete patching material;
• Sand the epoxy and prime the patches;
• Apply 2 coats of finish paint.

2. Stucco peeling and cracks – this is a severe case of stucco separating from the base of the house, but an example of what can happen when left uncoated too long;

The best approach to remedy this situation is:

• Remove all of the failed and peeling paint;
• Prime the area with a good adhesive primer;
• Patch stucco and match texture as needed;
• Prime the patch and apply 2 coats of finish paint.

3. Bare wood spots – Wood areas without coating will eventually lead to splits and rot. Wood siding replacement is some of the most expensive repairs on a home.

The best approach to remedy this situation is:

• Remove all of the failed and peeling paint;
• Sand the surrounding area to “abrade” the surface;
• Feather sand to disappear the edges of the surrounding paint;
• Prime the spot with a good penetrating primer – oil-hybrid or another strong adhesive primer;
• Apply 2 coats of finish “corner to corner” on the surface.

This year one of our favorite projects was featured in the Children’s Support League (CSL) Annual Heart of the Home tour. If you don’t know about the Children’s Support League, please take a moment to read through this article to learn about one of the finest organizations in the Bay Area.

CSL organizes and works with five generous homeowners from Piedmont and Oakland to open their homes to a public tour. The homes feature the best of the East Bay trades in Architecture, Interior Design, and Construction. The aim of the tour is to raise money for at-risk youth in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. This year CSL celebrated 30 years of implementing their vision and in 2017 donated $140,000. CSL grants money to the following organizations and areas:

Child Advocacy and Crisis Intervention – CALICO, Child Abuse prevention Council of Contra Costa, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Alameda County, Youth Alive

Special Needs – Bay Area Outreach & Recreation, Special Needs Aquatic Program, Through the Looking Glass

Educational Support – Aspire Education Project, Camp Phoenix, Community Education Partnerships, Contra Costa Youth Council and Faith Network of the East Bay

Shelters and Shelter Programs – Building Futures for Women and Children, STAND: For Families Free of Violence, Winter Nights

Therapy, Counseling and Supportive Services – Ann Martin Center

One of the featured projects of the tour was a home where we worked to assist the Interior Designer and the Homeowner in implementing a vision that curated the homeowner’s artwork, photographs and unique style. Located at 2063 Oakland Avenue, the home is a classic Jacobian Tudor designed by renowned architect Houghton Sawyer and built in 1923. In 2014 it was beautifully redecorated by LMB Interiors before the new homeowners moved in. Pictures can be found on our website.

Please consider supporting CSL’s mission and mark your calendars for the last week of April 2019 for the next tour!

Painter Spotlight, Meet our Painters

We are excited to announce that one of our long time Painters, Jonathan Barrientos, will be promoted to the position of Production Coordinator in our Company! With him we will bring even more skilled management and experience to Field Production.

This is what one of our clients had to say about him:

“Wanted to pass along that Jonathan, the painter who was here last time, was awesome! I appreciated
his craftsmanship and patience! And his dry sense of humor!

We look forward to serving you even better!

To-Do’s: Your May Home Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

1. Check outdoor lighting. Make sure all outdoor lights are in working order, including porch lights, landscape lighting and motion-sensing security lights. Replace bulbs or schedule repairs as needed.
   
2. Give potted plants some TLC. If you have potted plants that stay indoors over winter, bring them out once the danger of frost has passed. To help your plants acclimatize, find a protected spot out of direct sun for the first several weeks outdoors.
   
3. Inspect kitchen and bath fixtures. Keeping an eye on these areas can help prevent costly water damage and repairs later on. Make a plan to regrout or recaulk around counters and tile as needed. If you come across any slow leaks, have these repaired as well.
   
4. Check safety devices. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and replaced every 10 years — even if they still appear to be in working order. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if necessary.
   
5. Get ready for grilling season. Giving your grill a deep cleaning before the start of the season will help it work more efficiently and prevent flare-ups. Clean the grates and interior with a grill brush and wash the exterior with warm, soapy water. Clean and organize your grilling tools (tongs, spatula, skewers) and pick up charcoal or propane if needed. If you have a gas grill, be sure to check the fuel line for cracks and clean out any clogged burner holes.
   
6. Maintain and repair garden paths. Create neat edges, pull weeds, fill in gravel paths with fresh gravel and replace or reposition broken steppingstones.
   
7. Clean walls and touch up paint. Use a dusting attachment on your vacuum or an electrostatic
   duster to remove dust from walls, paying special attention to corners and baseboards. For a deeper
   clean, wipe down walls with warm, soapy water after dusting. Rinse with clean water, using a lint-free
   cloth. Touch up paint as needed on interior walls and trim.
   
8. Clean items on open shelves. Infrequently used items stored on open shelves can get pretty grimy over time. For items with a thin layer of dust, swipe with an electrostatic duster. If there is a thicker layer of dust, of if the items are in the kitchen (where cooking grease can be an issue), wash each piece in a tub of warm, soapy water.
   
9. Refresh bedrooms. Rotate the mattresses on all beds and flip over if possible. Dust nightstands, lamps, headboards, blinds and decor. Swap heavy duvets for lighter-weight bedding for the warmer months.

The cultural tapestry of the Bay Area is rich and varied and contains cross-sections of the many peoples and cultures that make up our America. Living here, we are privileged to have immediate access to a myriad of perspectives on the holidays we celebrate. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays; it has a multidimensional story that is complex — and important to weave into our general understanding of our world and each other.

Thanksgiving has it all: family, friends, food, and of course… football. But, I struggle with it. Its literal history is linked to the beginnings of this country when the original peoples of “Turtle Island” were not really thanked and a meal was not actually shared. During the modern celebration, I hold a space of gratitude for and pay homage to those peoples who came before us and cared for this land.

One tradition unique to San Francisco and one that gives us the opportunity to pay homage in community is the Indigenous People Sunrise Ceremony at Alcatraz. This one-day event commemorates the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by the “Indians of All Tribes.” To give you an idea of how early the ceremony starts, ferry tickets go on sale starting at 3:00 a.m. and run until 6:00 a.m.*

I’ll be honest with you, this is just too darn early for me. But, I go, in spirit.

Several thousand First Nation peoples and spectators attend the gathering each year. The dances before sunrise honor the ancestors as well as represent the various cultures present. Speakers cover the sovereign rights of Indigenous Americans. The ceremony is meant to counter the mainstream story of Thanksgiving by retelling the experiences of colonization and how First Nations everywhere have defended and continue to assert their cultural rights.

At a more reasonable hour, but still early in the day, Ernesto, the kids, and I love to sneak into San Francisco where it is so deserted, you can hear a pin drop. We enjoy feeling like we have the City all to ourselves. We go to Land’s End and take in the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Often the weather is actually warm, the last gentle sighs of “Indian Summer,” which makes sitting at Ocean Beach a rare pleasure.

We end our day at a Perez-Arana family gathering where each of us brings a dish to share — our communally-prepared meal. This year, it’s our job to bring the ham!

Whatever your feelings are this holiday season, and however you choose to celebrate, I wish you love, light, good food, family connections, and community!

*Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz is open to the public. Details: www.alcatrazcruises.com.

Creating the Setting for Thanksgiving
By Laura Martin Bovard, lmbinteriors.com

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There’s so much pressure to produce all of this food; plus, the worry over who’s coming; who will sit next to whom or who won’t; how the house will look, etc. While all of the details need attention, we can also take a wider view and ask: How do we create the memory of what we want this experience of Thanksgiving to be, for our family, our friends, ourselves?

Here Are My 5 Tips to Help Make Your Thanksgiving Amazing — for You and Your Community

1. Set the table first thing in the morning.
   I always set my table first, even before I start cooking the food. Doing this allows me to linger on the process and expand my enjoyment in creating the setting for our dining experience. Also, allowing the house to be beautiful long before my guests arrive nourishes me as I work on putting the other elements together over the course of the day.
   
2. Bring the outside, in.
   When setting the table, using elements from the outdoors for centerpieces is always a great strategy; place a tree branch, with fruit or seed pods, or dried leaves, as a centerpiece.
   
3. Try Tradish with a Modern twist.
   When a table is set beautifully, it makes people feel special. Here’s a fun, easy way to play with the traditional tablescape that gives your dinner a Modern chic vibe: Start with a white tablecloth. Get a roll of black paper to place down the center as your runner. Decorate with white pumpkins, bleached deer antlers, and turkey feathers.
   
4. Set an extra seat for a mystery guest.
   Setting an extra seat is like welcoming a surprise, telling the Universe you are open and flexible, allowing for spontaneity. Or, fill that seat! Is there someone new you could invite? Or someone on your guest list whom you could encourage to bring a friend?
   
5. Ask a question.
   Creating community through beauty is one of my favorite acts, connecting through thoughtful questions over a beautiful meal is another. Thanksgiving is the perfect time, of course, to ask your guests what they are thankful for. Try this: Put out rustic carved-wood pencils that look like twigs, with beautiful cards for writing answers. Collect the cards in a large glass bowl or vase before the meal begins — and then take turns passing the vase, picking and reading cards out loud, during dessert.

Bonus Tip: Break your own rules — or mine.
I used to think I had to make every single thing, to set every flower with my own hands. Today, I don’t exert as much control, and I like it that way. I let it be what it’s going to be. Whatever you do, what your guests will remember is the love you put into welcoming them into your home.

Holiday Recipes From Local Chef Hugh Groman
Featured on: http://www.ktvu.com/

Smoked salmon wrapped around fresh goat cheese

6 oz fresh goat cheese

1/2 lb. smoked salmon, thinly sliced

1 bunch fresh chives, sliced thin

1/2 bunch fresh tarragon

black pepper to taste

(serves 12)

Slice salmon into 1/2-inch strips. Scoop 1-1/2 teaspoon-sized balls of goat cheese. Wrap with strips of smoked salmon. Coat both exposed ends with sliced chives. Top with ground pepper and 1 leaf of fresh tarragon. May be made one day ahead.

Frittata of yams and aged cheddar with brown butter and sage

10 large eggs

3/8 cup heavy cream

2 oz unsalted butter, heated until starting to brown. Add sage and saute until just leaves just start to crisp (better to undercook than overcook)

1/3 bunch sage leaves, chopped into large pieces

1 lb yams, peeled, sliced, and roasted at 400 degrees with olive oil, salt, and pepper until cooked through

1 large red onion, diced, and roasted at 400 degrees with olive oil, salt, and pepper until cooked through and lightly caramelized

5 oz aged white cheddar, grated

1 oz grated parmesan cheese

1 stem rosemary, picked and chopped (optional)

3 stems fresh thyme, picked and chopped (optional)

1/4 bunch of chives, sliced thin

1/2 teaspoon salt (for eggs)

black pepper to taste (for eggs)

pinch of cayenne pepper

Crack eggs and mix with cream, brown butter, sage, salt, pepper and cayenne. Use a 13” by 9” (size approximate) baking dish. Sprinkle grated cheddar on the bottom. Layer in roasted yams and roasted onions. Sprinkle herbs over top and pour egg mixture over all. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake in 375-degree oven about 20 minutes or until eggs are set. Let cool and cut into bite sized pieces to serve. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Crab salad with parmesan and thyme on baguette crisps

8 oz fresh crab meat picked over to remove any shells

1/4 cup mayonnaise, or to taste

2 sprigs fresh thyme, picked and chopped

1/3 bunch fresh chives, sliced fine

1 oz grated parmesan, or to taste

Salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, to taste.

1 baguette sliced thin (1/4” thick), toasted with generous amount of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in 325-degree oven until just starting to turn golden (about 15 minutes)

Combine crab, mayonnaise, thyme, chives, parmesan, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add more salt if needed. Put a dollop of crab salad on each baguette toast and serve. Assemble crab toasts no more than 1 hour before guests arrive (and better right before they arrive) to keep baguette toasts crisp.

Even though I am not a Bay Area native, I may as well be. I visited from the East Coast in 1984 and never looked back. The Oakland/East Bay hills, San Francisco and Alameda are a Painter’s paradise, and it is here that I found the ability to work year-round doing what I love. And hey, how about the Warriors after all these years!

I got my start at 14 years old with a friend’s Dad painting houses over the summer. In New Jersey, you can only paint about 5 months out of the year, so I hopped on crews, earned some summer money and stayed out of trouble. I didn’t know it then, but that was the moment that sparked a lifelong love of the trade.

I moved to Florida and worked for larger companies painting 10 to 25-story high rise hotels and condos on the water. We battled the heat and the tropical rain as we hung from our swing stages. This is where I picked up the much-needed skill of “amateur Meteorologist.” As a painter I had to predict how weather was going to impact my projects.

I love what I do. I love the trade of painting. I love managing my painters and I love a quality outcome. I have been in the field for 45 years and I have seen a lot of technical problems in that time. I can solve almost any technical problem we face, and I love doing that. I especially love preventing problems.

For the first 15 years of my career in the Bay Area I worked in the field for a large Bay Area Contractor. After that I went out with my own crew for 13 years, and I have been with Arana for the last 6. In fact, Ernesto was a painter on one of my crews. I taught him some things back then, and then joined his team in 2012 as Production Manager.

It’s fair to say that I live and breathe my work, but I also spend lots of time with my daughters who were raised in Walnut Creek. We go to concerts, 49ers, Warriors and Giants games, and we enjoy eating our way through Oakland. For me, there is nothing more satisfying than a job well done. And here where the Bay Area is my office, there are so many jobs to do. I look forward to the next one with you!

Adapted from: Easy Self-Care Strategies That Counteract Seasonal Depression
By Harriet Randall

Seasonal Affective Disorder is not much fun and certainly isn’t very festive. There are plenty of things you can do to help yourself feel less affected by the “winter blues” this year. Here are five of the best ways to take care of yourself during winter. Try them out, see which ones work for you, and don’t be discouraged by the way you’re feeling—you are not alone!

1) Light Therapy
Light therapy is currently considered one of the best forms of treatment for SAD and the one I personally find most helpful. It is thought that exposure to special fluorescent light can help regulate serotonin activity in the brain because it encourages the production of vitamin D.

2) Exercise
Regular exercise is considered an excellent form of natural medication for all types of depression, including SAD, as it improves mood and lowers stress levels.

3) Have Fun
It’s important to find fun activities that you can enjoy and that make you feel more positive about winter. Engage in activities that get you out of the comfort of your own home and have fun with other people.

4) Sleep
Poor sleep contributes to symptoms of depression and depression contributes to poor sleep. Here are some tips for better sleep:

Keep a regular schedule
Follow a sleep routine
Make sure your bedroom is prepped for sleeping
Avoid sleeping with your phone/tablet/laptop in your room and definitely don’t use them just before bed

5) Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy works by triggering receptors in the brain and in fact, a 2007 study showed that lavender oil significantly reduced levels of cortisol (the major stress hormone) in patients suffering from depression. Many holistic health practitioners believe the best scents for alleviating symptoms of depression are lavender, roman chamomile, ylang-ylang and bergamot.

Source: https://www.mindbodygreen.com

Adapted from: 5 Awesome color resolutions for your home
By Diana Hathaway Timmons

Here’s to a new year of color! At the beginning of a new year, you may feel compelled to make resolutions and plans to do things a little (or a lot) differently in the coming year. The new year is a wonderful time to reassess your space, and plan changes and projects for the upcoming spring.

With the gorgeous color trends announced at the end of each year, there is never be a better time to to live a little more colorfully!

Lose any Color That Does Not Make You Happy
Yes, you got a bargain on that paint, and spent a lot of time putting it on the wall, but it’s never really been the right color. This is the year to finally stop regretting that color mistake, and make it right. You should surround yourself with colors that make you happy, every single day.

Take Chances With Color
Have you noticed that the best decorating decisions you’ve ever made were made without a ton of deliberation and doubt? Sure, you can carefully choose color to get just the right shade, but those other times when you found something that really speaks to you, it was more heart and less brain carrying it out of the store. Take the time you need to find the best colors for your home, but be open this year to accent colors and decor that you would have never considered before.

Learn More About Color
You don’t need to go to school to study color theory, but if you love to decorate your own home, learning a few basics like why undertones matter and how to create a color scheme, will make your decorating less stressful and more fun.

Check out the Color Trends
While you may not consider yourself the trendy type, seeing the annual color trends can spark inspiration in your decorating, and give you new ideas for making over your decor.

Paint and decor trends and forecasts are more valuable for learning new ways to pair colors, and find new color palettes you love.

Bring out the Best in Your Home With Color
The right colors can create a calm retreat in any room, or they can spur energy and creativity. When you choose colors with intention, they can transform any space. The colors in your foyer will let your guests know what your home is all about. For a guest room, creating a serene color palette can communicate to your guests that you’re happy they’re here.

For the rooms you use every day, bringing out the best can mean updating accessories, rearranging furniture, or creating an accent wall.

The beginning of a new year works beautifully for making changes at home, because often our main rooms look quite stark after the holiday decorations are put away.

This is the best time to assess what works, and what doesn’t, and formulate a plan to make your color resolutions a reality this year.

Source: https://www.thespruce.com/awesome-color-resolutions-for-your-home-797853

Our youngest child Alexi went away to sleep away camp for the first time last week. What a milestone!

Through the San Leandro School District, he and his classmates went to Camp Arroyo located within the East Bay Regional Park District and just 45 minutes south of Oakland. “Camp Arroyo,” says the Camp’s website, “is a beautiful residential camp serving children year-round as a place to explore, learn and grow in an ideal outdoor setting.”

The camp in fact is not just for children, it provides excellent programs for families and adults as well. “Nestled in the hills surrounding the 138-acre Del Valle Regional Wilderness in Livermore, California, the camp was formally opened in 2001 and serves thousands each year.”

Washington Elementary fourth and fifth grade teachers and students, parent chaperones and counselors embarked on a 4-day adventure at the Camp where the kids got a chance to unplug and spend time with their peers and teachers in a natural setting.

On their first day after a bus ride from campus, they found their cabin, dining tables and got their adventure group assignments for the next four days.

The most notable activates were the hikes and the wildlife. On day 2 the children hiked the Creek trail and after lunch they hiked the Cresta Blanca trail – a 3 miles round trip hike – where they spotted a bobcat and deer.

The camp offers an all-inclusive type set up where 3 meals a day are provided. During the Camp, they conducted team building activities, campfires and improv skits with props and all. During a night hike they got to experience the senses of sight, smell and hearing in the darkness away from city lights and sounds.

Connecting with nature is an important part of our daily life and one that keeps us grounded in community. The Del Valle Regional Wilderness is a special place that the East Bay Regional park has worked hard to preserve. To find out more about the camp, go to:

http://www.ebparks.org/activities/daycamps/parks_camp_arroyo

Trend Forecast for 2018

By Maria Killman

Yellow
The color for 2018 is yellow. The last time yellow was popular was in the 90s so it’s coming back. Strong color is here to stay, especially with black appearing on the horizon as the new grey (or trendy neutral of the moment). It’s taken time for it to come back around but I think it’s coming.

Warmer Colors
Warmer palettes are coming back too. But what makes warmer colors look fresh and current? Lots of white (or cream) of course. In recent years, cool accent colors in the green and blue range have really dominated, and it’s not surprising because blue and cool colors are statistically favored, and aren’t going anywhere, but I think we will see warm oranges, strong yellows and clear reds come back as accent colors this year.

Brass and Blush
And naturally, year to year, there are some continuous trends. A trend cycle doesn’t flip with the calendar year. In 2018, deep blues, jewel tone greens, brass/gold and blush pink will all continue to go strong.

Black Plumbing Fixtures
This is where you should definitely mix metals. If you do a search for black hardware and plumbing fixtures on-line you will see that all-black fixtures demand too much attention. The eye bounces around from one fixture to the next and makes it look too busy.

Adapted from: http://www.mariakillam.com/maria-killam-trend-forecast-2018/

7 Easy Decorating Ideas That Will Make You Love Your Home Again

By Jen Wallace

Ready to fall in love with your home again? Here are some decorating ideas that will rev up your imagination!

1. Rearrange the Furniture
   Nothing makes me feel like my space is brand new than rearranging the furniture. I do this twice a year and I plan it around my spring and fall cleaning.
   
2. Plant a Garden
   Whether you plant a decorative or functional garden, the act of creating it and enjoying it is extending the living space of your home.
   
3. Entertain
   I often find when I am down on my house that having people over can be the surest way to improve my outlook. Inevitably someone comments on how great my home is and it helps me see it through fresh eyes.
   
4. Tackle a Project
   Cleaning out a much neglected closet or repurposing a corner for a new hobby might seem more like chores than decorating ideas, but both can work wonders to reinvigorate your mood towards your home. What simple projects or tasks could you tackle that would make you feel better about your space?
   
5. Lighting
   Brightening things up can really make a huge difference. Try to take as much advantage of the natural light as you can, but don’t be hesitant to add some new lamps or fixtures to improve your home’s appeal.
   
6. Changeable Art
   I have a big print collection and to freshen things up, I swap prints in and out of use and even move them around the house. You will honestly be amazed at how adding a different piece of framed art to a dark corner can liven it up!
   
7. Candles and Flowers
   When all else fails, or you want the quickest decorating ideas, just had more aromatherapy candles and fresh flowers to your home. Doing that never fails to help me forget about those dust bunnies in the corner or those scuffs on the wall behind the couch.
   
   Adapted from: http://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/7-easy-decorating-ideas-love-your-home-again.html