Home + Design

Elevate Your Space

A local interior designer shares her expertise to help homeowners with large and small home-improvement projects Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Nicole Dianne Photography When Jennifer Ramsey opened her full-service residential interior design studio, which is based in El Dorado Hills, she had a mission. “After many years working in the industry, I saw a real need for homeowners to have guidance earlier in the process, not just at the decorating stage,” she says. Together with her...

Life + Culture

Tim Conway Finds His Best Inspiration in Nature

This EDH-based artist has produced local murals, paintings, and bonsai for the past 20 years Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Tim Conway “A good portion of my life has been spent enjoying nature,” says artist Tim Conway, who takes every opportunity to visit lakes, forests, tidepools, and other outdoor spots. They all inform his art. He’s a painter, illustrator, sculptor, muralist, and bonsaist; he also holds a degree in oceanography and has taught science to middle-schoolers. “I...

Home + Design

The Door That Changes Everything

A thoughtful approach to the home’s most overlooked space Article by Kristy Murdoch | Photography by Door Conversions The front door may be the most important design element you’ve never considered. For many homeowners, the front door is something you stop noticing. It opens, it closes, it locks—and that’s about it. But for Laura and Vicente Villasana, owners of Door Conversions, that overlooked threshold has always held potential. After nearly two decades focused exclusively on improving...

Home + Design

Plumbing Matters

With kitchen and bath fixtures, function is important, and so is style Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Charlene Taylor of Charm/SmackDab Studio David Dulin knows the plumbing fixture business. When he was 13 years old, he swept floors at a plumbing industry warehouse, later working his way into fixture sales and management at a Bay Area plumbing supplier—a business he later purchased. Now, as owner of El Dorado Plumbing Supply in Town Center, his focus is on providing a comfortable...

Shopping

All That Sparkles

Under new ownership, Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers, located in Town Center, continues its tradition as EDH’s full-service jewelry shop Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Charlene Taylor of Charm/SmackDab Studio Valentine’s Day is coming. What better reason for a new bauble—or to spruce up an already beloved one? At Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers, owners Brett and Adriana Sargent, who took over in 2024, bring their knowledge as well as their passion for service and connection to a...

Event Planning + Services

Local Love

Area wedding venues provide beautiful backdrops for celebrating the big day Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Provided After “yes!” comes “I do!”—and the time between can be a whirlwind of decision-making. One of the first wedding decisions to make involves choosing a venue. For El Dorado Hills couples who would like to stay close to home, lots of spots could fit the bill. With the wine country right next door, the American River and Folsom Lake right here, and Lake Tahoe just up the...

Local Services

Food on Every Plate

At Feeding the Foothills, a small but mighty team uses local and national connections to help ensure El Dorado, Nevada, and Placer county residents don’t go hungry Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Feeding the Foothills “Hungry can look like you and me,” says Laurie Rinker, Regional Philanthropy Officer at Feeding the Foothills (FTF), an organization dedicated to keeping area residents fed. FTF’s mission: to nourish families experiencing food insecurity, educate foothills communities...

Health + Wellness

Speaking Their Language

A local life coach focuses on helping people in her own generation Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Lorie Smith As a teenager in El Dorado Hills, Ariel Sonenstein faced typical teen issues: self-doubt and uncertainty, academic and social pressures, and challenges with time-management amid high academic expectations. Add to that a medical concern that sent her to the hospital numerous times within a two-year stretch, and she found herself struggling with her mental health. “I carried...

Wellness

Winter at the Beach

Explore Santa Cruz County’s coastline where elephant seals gather, forests flourish, and adventure meets natural wonder Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Visit Santa Cruz County The elephant seal bulls arrive on the beach first. They head-butt each other with bulbous, trunkish noses (it’s called a proboscis) and bash cornified chests together, grunting and roaring. They all want to be in prime position when the elephant seal cows show up. When the females pull ashore, they head right...

Health + Wellness

The Benefits of Plant-Based Eating

Fuel your body with fruits and veggies for a healthier lifestyle Article by Claudia Martin-Ayoade | Photography by Photography Janie Jones Most people think a plant-based diet is strictly for those vegan and vegetarian types, but there is no debating the overwhelming evidence showing the benefits of improved health for those who make that diet choice. Plant-based eating is more of a lifestyle than a diet—you are simply eating more foods that are closer to their harvested state with minimal...