Readers’ Choice 2012: Home

Bed/Mattress Store
Ortho Mattress
Multiple area locations
www.orthomattress.com
Ortho Mattress has been providing beds (and bedding) to Southern California residents since 1957. Now, with more than 70 locations, the company continues to offer national brands at exceptional prices. But what really sets this mattress retailer apart from the pack is the service. Ortho’s knowledgeable staff isn’t pushy or intimidating, which is nice. You spend a third of your life on your mattress, after all. Better make sure you pick the right one.

Contractor/Handyman
Alonzo Construction
11556 Barman St.
Culver City, 90230
(310) 391-2611
www.alonzoconstruction.com
Founded in 1985 by Ernesto Alonzo, Alonzo Construction specializes in custom residential and commercial projects. The Alonzo team works closely with architects, designers and decorators in order to bring their creative visions to life. High-quality construction begins with superior craftsmanship and a keen attention to detail, both of which Alonzo has in abundance. It’s a refreshing business model in a town where “on time and under budget” is a phrase scarcely uttered.

L.A. Central/Hollywood: United Roofing Co.
Orange County: Tennyson Construction
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Air-Tro, Inc.
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Mersola Construction

Garden Center/Nursery
Rolling Greens Nursery
7505 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90036
(323) 934-4500
www.rollinggreensnursery.com
Rolling Greens, located in a space previously occupied by a tire shop on Beverly, is the coolest garden center you’re ever likely to visit. The shop caters to both the public and the trade with thousands of unique items for home and garden. The quality of the flora, too, is exceptional — as fresh as you can get without traipsing through the jungle. Born without a green thumb? Rolling Greens’ custom garden design service will have you tiptoeing through the tulips in no time.

Orange County: Armstrong Garden Centers
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Green Arrow Nursery

Hardware Store
Virgil’s Hardware Home & Garden
520 N. Glendale Ave.
Glendale, 91206
(818) 242-1104
“Eclectic” is probably the best way to describe the selection at Virgil’s, where you can find everything from hammers to termite-devouring nematodes. This is a place built for the public, not for contractors, so you won’t wander the aisles for ages, staring at $4,000 table saws in befuddled wonderment. The staff here is friendly, sure, but they’re also helpful. They’ll take the time to walk you through your project from beginning to end, even if you don’t know a flat-head from a Phillip’s.

Multiple regions/locations: Home Depot
L.A. Central/Hollywood: Koontz Hardware

Home Furnishing and Decorations
City Life Home Furnishings
720 E. Imperial Highway
Brea, 92821
(714) 255-9696
www.citylifehome.com
Cutting-edge designs that help save the planet? Sign us up. City Life Home Furnishings showcases fashion-forward and genre-bending styles, marrying contemporary furniture with reclaimed wood and vintage industrial pieces, accents and lighting. Owner Joe Maguire takes pride in obtaining unique pieces you’d never find at department stores. It’s the perfect place for people who want their living rooms to look like no one else’s.

L.A. Central/Hollywood: Rolling Greens Nursery
Orange County: Flags With A Flair
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Salutations Home
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Ikea
South Bay/Southeast: Magnolia and Willow
Westside: Elizabeth Shutters

Housewares and Appliances
Sewing Machine Warehouse
16214 Nordhoff St.
North Hills, 91343
(818) 332-7777
www.kneedle.com
If you’re going to sell a specific kind of appliance, you better know that appliance better than anyone else. Kudos, then, to the staff at Sewing Machine Warehouse, where you’ll find expertise and competitively priced products in equal measure. Founded by Scott Goodman some 36 years ago, SMW is still located on the same corner in North Hills. Their customer service (and their prices) are unmatched.
L.A. Central/Hollywood: Mush
Orange County: Pacific Sales
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Sears

Plumbing
MOE Plumbing
830 W. Doran St.
Glendale, 91203
(818) 572.4200
www.moeplumbing.com
Herb Moe founded his plumbing business on four main principles — integrity, quality, punctuality and customer service. More than 80 years later the family-owned company still upholds these values, requiring each technician to complete a five-year apprenticeship and ensuring every customer’s needs are handled quickly and efficiently. Moe’s commercial construction division serves some of L.A.’s best-known landmarks, including Staples Center, Griffith Observatory and several Disney projects.

Inland Empire: Klaus & Sons
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Century Rooter

Pool Design and Landscaping
Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture
1223 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #874
Santa Monica, 90403
(310) 907-5066
www.ecocentrix.com
According to the experts at Ecocentrix, quality of life is a direct reflection of the quality of the landscape. When the Ecocentrix team approaches a new design project (say, the concrete abyss that surrounds your pool), they attempt to first discern “what is” in an attempt to understand “what is wanting.” The results are spectacular, exemplifying great stylistic range and restraint.

Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: So. Cal. Pool Companies