Best Colors for Kitchen with White Cabinets
Interior designers recommend earthy colors for kitchens with white cabinets. These colors have a warm and welcoming feel that makes the cook and visitors feel comfortable. The color should be bright with a blend of different colors on different parts of the kitchen. Kitchen colors serve many purposes; this includes [...]
Cabinet Refinishing Process: Quick and Easy Kitchen Refresh
Cabinet painting is the easiest way to create a major change in your kitchen without demolition, dust, and downtime. You don’t have to break through walls or change out cabinets in order to experience a complete refresh and transformation of your space. It’s also an economical and eco-friendly choice, preserving [...]
Community Spotlight: Chabot Day Camp
For the past 10 years, Ernesto and I have been sending our kids to summer camp in one form or another via the Parks and Rec Department of the City of San Leandro. Of all the camps we’ve tried for them over the years, Chabot Day Camp has been one [...]
Arana Restores an Iconic Floating Home in Alameda
Featuring a very personalized color palette… Most people know about the “Painted Ladies,” the famed San Francisco Victorians, and some may also know about the populous and sprawling houseboat and floating homes community in Sausalito, but few have heard of the tiny, eclectic Barnhill Marina in Alameda. Tucked away in [...]
Kitchen Cabinets Refreshed — Examples from our Portfolio
What a Difference Paint Makes! A question we get a lot at Arana is, “What can I do to refresh my kitchen, without going into a full-scale remodel?” Of course, our answer is, "New paint colors!" Also hanging new wallpaper (a service we provide) can add layers of interest to [...]
Save Some Green with a Kitchen Cabinet Repaint
After several years of living in that beautiful home of yours, the natural processes of wear and tear have taken a toll on some of the fixtures inside your home. Chief among these is the cabinets in your kitchen, they’re literally an eyesore, what with the discolorations and the general [...]
Unique Holiday Gifts
The holidays are a great time to celebrate those around us. But let’s just say we here at Arana would not blink an eye if you took these suggestions and applied them, liberally, to amassing your own gift pile. Succulents as art, group craft, and decor Living succulent arrangements from [...]
Staying Sane: Navigating the Holidays
Elena Skroznikova is a certified nutrition counselor, science-based health coach, and addiction survivor. Looking ahead to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and all of the holidays in December, we are sharing with you some of Elena’s holiday-preparation tips — as these may be useful for anyone seeking to not overindulge in a season [...]
Holiday De-Lights
At this time of year, no matter what culture or lineage, celebrations usually involve some version of making the darkness lighter (at least in this hemisphere). In my family, decorating for Christmas has been one of my favorite traditions! So, for our December newsletter, my team and I sought out [...]
At the Core, I’m an Idealist
This month we celebrate 14! A fourteen-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old business. The day we came home from the hospital with our new baby, we had a brand-new contractor’s license waiting for us. I didn’t mean to become a contractor. My father and my uncles were and are, builders. I [...]
