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Coto De Caza “Home of the Month 2020”

Cornerstone is an Irvine-based home remodeling and new build contractor, with over 35 years of experience here in Orange County. Cornerstone has completed over 20 projects In conjunction with Cornerstone, the homeowners designed and built a custom garage. Custom epoxy floors that look like real marble, custom black lacquered cabinets, custom lighting, car lift which allows for 6 car parking, sports memorabilia, drop- down ladder for massive attic storage, custom elec- tric lift for Jeep cover, professional Matco toolbox, and 2 televisions.

in Coto de Caza alone over the last several years; ranging from as small as a couple of bathroom remodels, to complete ground-up construction of beautiful custom homes.

The history of this home’s renovations includes a major renovation in 2003, when the entire interior and exterior of the home was renovated, including the addition of 2 bathrooms, laundry room, 1 office, a bonus room, 1,100-bottle wine cellar, expansion of the master closet, and all rooms updated. In addi- tion, major renovations of the outdoor space were completed, which included a beautiful, new outdoor kitchen with high-end appliances and a wood burn- ing outdoor fireplace. The homeowners also added a built-in spa, pool slide, children’s playhouse, and fully irrigated garden. Combined with major land- scape renovations the once “plain house” became a fabulous “outdoor oasis” for entertaining.

Along with the major kitchen, outdoor room and garage remodel in 2016, the entire home was once again upgraded with updated bathrooms, new hard- wood floors, new carpet, new paint, wainscoting Between 2003 and 2016, various modifications were made to the home, including the addition of the full half-court sport court with lighting and Bluetooth sound system, 56 palm trees, new slate pool decking, outdoor deck and staircase, 8 fully plumbed natural gas tiki torches, lighting, and hardscaping.

This home is the culmination of years of work by Cornerstone working closely with the homeowners. The homeowners continued to use Cornerstone because they learned that Cornerstone kept its word, delivered exceptional work, and was always responsive if small post-construction repairs were needed. The relationship ultimately became so strong that the homeowners, Keith and Renece Duggan, approached the president of Cornerstone, Frank Erichson, and asked if they could become partners, which they did in 2017.

In 2016, the home went through another complete major renovation where the entire home was updat- ed to give it its current beautiful and contemporary look. These renovations included a completely new kitchen/great room. The family room was raised 10 inches and was remodeled with new beamed ceilings, a huge fireplace, 85” TV/Entertainment center, home automation and completely automated “disappear- ing” glass wall doors were installed, which now open to the 2nd outdoor room which includes, outdoor

This home is an exceptional example of the type of quality work, creativity and exceptional “finished product” that any homeowner can have if they are willing to spend the time designing their “dream home.”

Backyard Summer Paradise

There are few things more pleasing than a relaxing, beautiful backyard. It is not difficult to make your dream sanctuary a reality. The layout of your fantasy is all up to you – it may be as simple or as elegant as you desire. You only need some ideas to get you started!

Your landscape is the place to start before anything else. A trimmed lawn is the key to making even the simplest backyard look attractive. Make sure the grass is cut to a suitable length and all of your dead leaves and plants are raked up. Then give your yard some appealing plant life. This could be in the form of shrubbery, flowers, or even a vegetable garden. Whatever kind of greenery you end up planting, you must now maintain it to keep it healthy and pretty. Mow the lawn regularly, prune and water your plants to keep them fresh, and use fertilizer to get the most out of them. Also, make sure that harmful insects are kept at bay. Just following these simple steps will instantly spruce up your backyard.

Once you have met these basic needs, it is easy to add details to your landscape. If you are worried about animals or trespassers entering your outdoor creation, then you may want to consider using a fence. Not only would it keep the unwanted guests out, but a beautiful fence will be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Even a vinyl fence can be pretty, especially if it is black. Another option for helping keep your flower beds safe and attractive is putting down a rock border. These are simple and also give a balanced appearance to your yard.

Other ideas for adding interest to your gardens and yard might include little bits of décor, such as garden statues, wind chimes, or birdfeeders. You don’t want to overdo these, as that could end up making your backyard look like a collection of random items, taking away from the overall natural appearance. A little is always good, but keep it tasteful. A couple of small stone animals peeking out among the flowers, a birdfeeder or two hanging from trees or a pole – these are excellent additions to anybody’s yard!

Now that you know what to do with your landscape, what about the hardscape? This is where things get a little more difficult, and you might not be able to do it all on your own, depending on what you opt for. Let’s explore some ideas for tasteful options to make a summer yard that is all your own design.

Before you do anything, think about the style you prefer. Would you like a rustic summer get-away, or do you relish the thought of an elegant layout? Perhaps you’d rather try to achieve some sort of themed appearance – anything is possible. The different features to consider may include:

  • Patios
  • Furniture
  • Walkways
  • Ponds
  • Walls
  • Gazebos
  • Paths

All of these ideas can be combined or you may pick and choose to create something that fits you personally. A patio is almost a given in most situations, or perhaps you would rather have a deck. Either way, you can choose comfortable outdoor furniture to arrange on it, such as chairs, tables, swings, or even a couch.

Ponds give any place a touch of elegance, whether it is made of stone and populated with goldfish or is more natural and surrounded by shrubbery and waterfowl. Stone walls for the pond or gardens are artistic and practical. A gazebo near the pond is impressive and beautiful, as well as relaxing. If you have gardens, a pond, or even a gazebo, you may want to consider walkways or simple paths. These tend to tie a perfectly designed yard all together.

One thing to make sure of is that you keep the manmade additions integrated with your natural landscape. You don’t want them to overwhelm the greenery. Also, keep it visually appealing by utilizing your style, textures, and placement. If this is the route you would like to take, contact us today here at Cornerstone Property Services, before proceeding so that you have a professional’s advice. This will help you go about creating your perfect backyard as tastefully as possible and also prevent potential issues that you may not have foreseen.

Anybody’s backyard can become a beautiful, private haven of comfort. Whether you keep it incredibly simple or go fancy, you can have a perfect summer getaway right outside your back door.