Several businesses profiled in this column over the past year started operations in the owner's garage, later moving to larger commercial quarters. Here's a business where the garage is and will continue to be the central focus of operations.

Practical Garage Interiors in Moorpark gives new life and creativity to garages, laundry rooms, playrooms and other much-used spaces in the home. Owner Bill Estrada consults with customer homeowners, plans most strategic improvements — then orders and installs the desired floor tiles and modular components.

Typically, the garage remake will include new tile flooring, wood cabinetry and a wall storage system. All the elements he installs are environment-friendly and are removable. They can be moved if the family relocates to a new residence, Estrada said.

"The garage deserves special attention and improvements by its owner," he noted. "After all, it's the last thing you see when leaving your house and the first thing you see when returning."

Estrada, 50, has long been a car and motorcycle enthusiast. During the 25 years he held operation management positions for several corporations, he spent much of his free time in his garage. He decided to give that space a fresh new look and enhance its efficiency. The result so impressed his friends, they asked him to help them with their own garages.

This motivated him to launch his new business two years ago. It's slowly growing in project numbers as people learn about his service, he said. Most new customers are referrals from past customers.

"Arguably, the garage's main function is to house your transportation," he said. "But you should be able to enjoy the space for hobbies, exercising and a safe play area for the kids. It's a great place for family members and friends to bond. And it's a good feeling to know your vehicles and other personal items are secure in a safe and clean environment."

Estrada does not have a contractor's license. "I don't need one because all my installed components are removable. But when needed, I assign a licensed, bonded and insured contractor to handle electrical, plumbing, drywall, garage door and painting needs," he said.

In addition to residential garages, he has handled projects at car washes, test labs, aircraft hangers and other industrial locations.

For information about Practical Garage Interiors, visit http://www.practicalgarageinteriors.com, or phone 531-1176.

Ojai Olive Oil

A highly specialized business niche has been successfully developed by a farm in the Ojai Valley.

Over the past decade, Ojai Olive Oil Inc., a business operated at the Asquith Ranch, has been raising olive trees, picking and pressing the olives, processing the olive oil, storing it in a temperature-controlled dark room, then bottling and labeling it. The Ojai firm handles all steps needed to market its product. It's sold retail at the farm and at farmers markets throughout the area as well as on its Web site. Their products are also sold wholesale to several regional outlets.

The Asquith Ranch is owned and operated by Ron and Alice Asquith. Their son and daughter often help in the business, making it a true family operation.

"In addition to the olive trees that have been growing on our ranch for over a hundred years, we have planted a selected variety of other trees from France, Italy, Spain and Greece," Ron Asquith said. "Each year, we take olives from our different tree varieties and combine them in specifically chosen ratios to create our custom blended oil. Living on the ranch allows us to monitor the trees over the course of the year. That way, we can ensure they are properly taken care of. As the harvesting season nears, we test the olives and make a decision on the optimal time for picking."

There are two primary products now produced and marketed by the firm. One is the Ojai Olive Oil Original made from younger trees only. This oil has much more sweetness and soft flavor to it while still being green and crisp on the nose and throat, Asquith said. It retails for $14 per bottle.

The other product is the firm's Ojai Olive Oil Signature oil made from older and younger trees. It has both Spanish and Italian olives. This oil has a fresh and peppery taste to it, he noted. It sells for $20 per bottle.

The owners would like to expand their business operation and sales outreach in the near future, but only on a regional level.

"We have no plans to become a huge operation. Maintaining high quality for our local and regional customers is our top priority," Asquith said.

The ranch is at 1325 Carne Road, just off Ladera Road in the northeast corner of the Ojai Valley. For information, visit http://www.ojaioliveoil.com, or phone 646-5964.

— Star columnist Jim Woodard, a Ventura resident, is a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. Fax him at 644-0790 or e-mail him at Storyjim@aol.com.