Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/14049
AUGUST 2010 SPORTS & EDUCATION 38 HOME & GARDEN : HOME TOUR arches more stylistically in line with Spanish architecture. Scott and company later painted the walls, changed the landscaping, replaced the windows, re-stuccoed the house, re-did the kitchen floor three times, added Spanish tile to the roof, installed central air and heat and re-did the electrical box. These changes were for her family, but a backroom used for her business had the concrete footings replaced before it was safe for young children. "Restoring the back room," Scott said, "was a much harder job than she imagined. We thought it was going to be dry wall and insulating the walls. It wasn't an easy job." The pinnacle of Scott's home renovation is her family's backyard, a tranquil getaway they call "the patio." Originally, the 41-year-old wanted a pool, but the cost and upkeep made her look into other options. By turning to home improvement magazines, Scott came up with a few ideas of what would work for an area that was a "dirt pit" when she purchased the property. The result is a pond with three Koi and one goldfish that sits next to a Spanish-themed outdoor living room comprised of a 42-inch flat-screen television; a tiled bar countertop with a sink, coffeemaker, blender and three chairs; a barbecue; an 8-foot bookcase; a leather couch and ceiling fan. The family uses the area to watch movies three times a week or as a place to incorporate more serenity into their lives. "It was a process of elimination," Scott said. "We figured out what we needed and what we could afford and fit in. It kind of fell into place and now it's really great." n BATHROOM