SoCal Spaces 1

MY FAVORITE ROOM LA architects & designers share their best kept secrets

HOME EC 101 Tips to make grandma (and Al Gore) proud

A ROOM OF HER OWN

This local guru has one, so should you

10 Our

Top

Neighborhood

VIEWS

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contents

southern california Premiere Issue March/April 2008

cover story

37 Top Views in Our Neighborhoods

The first annual “view” issue. Can you find your neighborhood?

By Meredith Grenier and Patt Diroll

35 Functional Kitchens

Designer extraordinare Troy Adams shares some inside tips on how to spiff up a key space in your home.

54 Home Ec 101

We do the math and come up with ways to run a more efficient home.

By Pamela Bunn

D E PA R T M E N T S

10 So Cal So Cool

Nice stuff made here

16 My Favorite Room

Two designers show their picks

24 Something’s in the Kitchen

Chef’s surprise

52 High Tech Home

Gadgets you need now

56 Unusual Rooms

Everybody’s got a special place

62 Garden Spaces

Orchids in glorious bloom

65 Cause for Applause

Party’s on for local charities

70 Historical Spaces

An old town museum nestled amid new gated communities

One of the many fabulous rooms we found in our cover home. Sleek outside and in, this house truly has angles for the angels. PAGE 37

spaces march / april 2008

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78

editor’s letter

Our homes, ourselves – welcome to Spaces

T

he sense of home is what drew me to Southern California several years ago from

New York City, where a woeful lack of space forced me to use my oven as a filing

cabinet. My neighbors and I all towed our laundry in garbage bags down three

city blocks in rain, sleet and snow.

Southern California is the first place where I had my very own washer and dryer,

where I could run outside in January and where my young children took their first dip in a swimming pool. For these reasons, this temperate, awe-inspiring place is not only my home, it is a steadfast friend.

In this, our first issue of Spaces, we hope you will share our wonderment of home.

We bring you rich stories from real people in the South Bay and Beach communities,

the Foothills and the San Fernando Valley.

Our first issue takes you into our top 10 view homes in Southern California. And if

they’re great views here, that means they’re some of the best in the world. The photos were taken from the perspective of the owners. The stories tell the history of the homes and why the owners never take these views for granted.

There is history in everything, and our exclusive columns, Design DNA and Historical

Spaces, help us remember why we have things like wallpaper and why we should visit the local museum.

Other Spaces departments include Unusual Rooms, a regular feature to show how the

neighbors came up with a unique way to showcase their sports, guitar or book collections. Something’s in the Kitchen features some of the best chefs in Southern California and gives the inside scoop on how you can recreate their favorite dishes in your own kitchen.

So if it’s your aim to continue improving your home, stay with us. We’ve got lots in

store.

A hearty welcome to Spaces!

Please feel free to share your thoughts and contact us at spaceseditor@langnews.com

spaces march / april 2008

southern california

Volume 1 • Issue 1

publisher

Steven Gellman editor

Linda Massarella

art director Lee Ann Nelson

photo editor Paul Jonason

senior editor Jackie Rothenberg

contributing editors

Patt Diroll Meredith Grenier Allan Goldstein Pamela Bunn

Contributing Writers

Troy Adams Yvette Guigneaux Patty Threlkel Stevie Wilson

Marketing Director Bill Van Laningham

Research Director Liz Hamm

creative marketing director Paul Schraeder

advertising account executives Karen Fernandes

Meaghan Miller

Los Angeles Newspaper Group president & ceo

Edward R. Moss executive vice president & cfo

James Siegrist

contact us editorial: (818) 713-3297

linda.massarella@langnews.com Advertising: (818) 713-3294 steven.gellman@langnews.com Copyright 2008 Southern California Spaces Magazine by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Southern California Spaces magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or artwork even if accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Comments?

Southern California Spaces welcomes story ideas and comments from our readers. Write to: Spaces, 21221 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills CA 91367.

march / april 2008 spaces

SoCal

so cool

We’re fortunate to be living in a locale teeming with exciting, original and distinctive interior design creations.

Many of the hottest selling furnishings in the country originate right here in Southern California. Here are some of our favorites.

Paul Ferrante www.paulferrante.com

— Allan Goldstein

Are the only antiques you can afford the ones your grandmother left behind? At Paul Ferrante, the flawless antique reproductions look like the real thing – and you’ll still be able to send the kids to college without taking out a loan.

Craftsmen at the Ferrante workshop do all the reproductions by hand, down to the rich finish, and provide attention to detail that satisfies the most discerning eye. Featured are the hand-forged iron spiral chandelier, replete with hand-

Spiral Chandelier Madison Coffee Table

dripped wax over wood, and the Madison coffee table in walnut with an old-iron finish.

Design dna

Three thousand years old and the

Bubble Wrap was

linen still doesn’t need dry cleaning?

invented accidentally in 1957,

Apparently not. When the tomb

when two engineers tried creat-

of Ramesses II, who died in

ing textured plastic wallpaper

1213 B.C., was uncovered, his

that could be easily cleaned.

linen wrappings were still

The wallpaper idea bombed,

flawlessly preserved. The

but a better idea was born –

same goes for the linen

using the product as plastic

curtains found hang-

wrapping. Now the only thing

ing perfectly intact in

left to ponder is how to stop

King Tut’s tomb.

ourselves from incessantly popping those tiny bubbles.

10 spaces march / april 2008

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Thomas Lavin www.thomaslavin.com

Michael S. Smith looks to his favorite antiques for inspiration, and mixes various styles and periods in his collection to create an inventive group of classic shapes. Among them is the designer’s featured item, the Lyon Biblioteque, a mid-century European style three-tiered bookcase on a swivel base, finished in a warm antique brown mahogany.

The elegant Madeline Stuart collection is at home in both traditional and

modern settings. The Emma Lounge chair, chic yet comfortable, comes in mahogany or walnut and is crafted with hand-stitched upholstery and a nailhead trim, hand-tacked in brass or nickel hardware.

They may be meant for the fireplace, but some collectors think of Philip

Nimmo’s custom wrought-iron fire screens as artwork and hang them on the wall. Others prefer to see them in action: Accented with colored glass and semi-precious stones such as rose quartz and agate, the screens create fascinating shapes that glisten and glow in the firelight. The featured Goccia screen is named after the Italian word for raindrop because it creates what appears to be a shower of embers when backlit by a warm, blazing fire.

Lyon Biblioteque

by Michael S. Smith Emma Lounge Chair by Madeline Stuart Goccia Fire Screen by Philip Nimmo Ironworks

Design dna Afraid those doorknobs are full of

Most people try to

Need a

germs? Actually, it depends on the doorknob

little light in your

avoid glass shards, but Louis

itself. Some can automatically disinfect them-

cave? Cave dwellers

Comfort Tiffany came up with

selves. The antimicrobial chemicals in brass,

living around 70,000 B.C.

the idea of arranging discarded

copper and silver are lethal to

illuminated their prehistoric homes with hol-

bits and pieces of remains from

many common bacteria.

lowed-out rocks and shells that were filled with

his stained glass windows. The

Glass, porcelain, aluminum

moss, soaked in animal fat and then ignited.

result: the Tiffany lamp. He later

and stainless steel don’t

These primitive vessels were considered to be

teamed up with Thomas Edison

have the same proper-

the first lamps.

to create the first electric Tiffany

ties, so keep your hand sanitizer handy.

12 spaces march / april 2008

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SoCal so cool Dan Marty Design www.danmartydesign.com

European Colonial meets California laidback at Dan Marty Design, the largest vintage textile dealer in Southern California. Here, they custom upholster furniture with vintage fabrics such as antique grain and gunny sacks, which Marty brings back from Europe. Complementing his collection is an eclectic mix of knickknacks including these vintage bottles topped with customdesigned chandelier crystals in the form of a cross. These cool folk art pieces

Bobbin Chair in Vintage Grain Sacks Vintage Bottles with Crystal Crosses

are created by a reclusive artist living in the Mojave Desert.

Beckmann MooreYaki Studio www.beckmannmooreyakistudio.com

When you want to transform your décor with an artistic

flare – and something off the shelf just won’t do – visit Micana. The Los Angeles-based custom textile design company, which creates fabrics and throws for designers and private clientele, does everything by hand; there are no machines in this workshop.

Patterns are chosen or created by the client and resident textile artists, threads are selected and the handmade dyed colors are blended. The materials are then woven on hand looms to create the distinctive fabrics

Micana Handwoven Chenille

and chenilles.

Design dna The mother of modern

The closest thing

The earliest chandeliers

interior decorators, Dorothy

to wallpaper can be

were wooden crosses adorned with

Draper, helped inspire a gen-

traced to 200 B.C., when

candles, often found hanging from

eration of home improvement

the Chinese glued rice

the ceilings of medieval churches.

devotees with her 1939 ground-

paper to their walls. Wall

Of today’s more complex, opulent

breaking book, “Decorating Is

coverings became popular in Europe during the

and elegant models, the largest

Fun!” But not everyone was a

Renaissance – the wealthy hung woven tapestries

is thought to belong to a sultan

fan of the first interior decorator,

while those less fortunate made do with printed

in Oman; it glistens with 600,000

who Frank Lloyd Wright gleefully

sheets of paper. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that

Swarovski crystals, weighs in at

described as the first “inferior

machines printed design on paper, allowing the

8.5 tons and is the size of a 5-story

desecrator.”

masses to wallpaper their homes.

building.

14 spaces march / april 2008

SoCal so cool

Magni Design www.magni.com

Walk into James Magni’s showroom and you

detail

immediately feel like you’ve time traveled back to the Roaring ’20s, when Art Deco was

all the rage. Magni’s home collection is filled with examples of timeless elegance. Sip a cocktail while sitting on the Metropolitan bar stool, finished with a high gloss ebony veneer and stainless steel footrest. Then take a nap on the Catherine Deneuve bed — fluff the pillows, rest them against the hand-carved headboard, finished in pure silver leaf, and dance the Charleston in your dreams.

Metropolitan Bar Stool Catherine Deneuve Headboard

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march / april 2008 spaces 15

my favorite room

Ever wonder what design experts think about the spaces they’ve created for their clients? Here, an architect and a designer reveal some of their personal favorites — and what it takes to be a great client.

Open

Steve Wunderlich 4C Design Group Marina Del Rey Photos: Manolo Langis

A R C H I T E C T

T

he 4C Design Group in Marina Del Rey has

an

extensive

portfolio of homes to its credit — from custom mountain cabins to condo/lofts to Mediterranean mansions. Architect Steve Wunderlich, who makes up half of the design team’s partnership, chose this freeflowing kitchen/sitting/dining/living area as his favorite room — and it’s one that shows how well the creative process works when it’s shared by designers who transform a space and the residents who inhabit it.

Steve, you’ve worked on some amazing rooms. What’s so special about this one?

This particular room is from a house we remodeled in Mount Washington. The homeowners [a young couple in their early 30s] wanted to introduce a lot of glass walls and a lot of concrete. The house was very traditional, with smaller rooms, and it felt very compartmentalized. We wanted to make the rooms feel larger, so we opened up the kitchen to a sitting room on one side and a dining room that expands into a living room on the other, which created a more free-flowing, open space.

So in your initial meeting with the clients, they knew what they wanted and what materials they wanted to use?

Yes. The good clients will come to you with a program. They know what they want and the style they want, and they trust their architect/designer to work for them and produce a great product. The clients who are difficult CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

16 spaces march / april 2008

Wide D E S I G N E R ebra Rosenbaum of Rosenbaum Design in Los Angeles knows

By Pamela Bunn

Debra Rosenbaum Rosenbaum Design Los Angeles Photos: Brian Thomas Jones

a thing or two about collaboration. After working for years as an interior designer for projects including a retail store and a casino, Rosenbaum now has a thriving commercial and residential design firm. Her favorite room is this updated kitchen in a transitional 1930s Westwood home. While Rosenbaum also revamped three bathrooms in the residence, it was in this room that she put her storage expertise to work.

Debra, what was this house like before you transformed it?

It’s an old house dating back to 1933. Before the remodel, it had a small butler pantry, a moderate-sized kitchen with a maid’s room, bath and laundry room. The architect [Kevan Lynd of Kevan Lynd Architects] opened up the space and put an addition at the back of the house including a master suite above it. We pushed out the kitchen and added a pantry and the built-in eating area, which was part of the original maid’s room and bathroom.

When you first met with the client, did she have an idea of how she wanted the space to look?

She wanted to create a two-toned kitchen with stainless steel appliances, cabinetry to the 9-foot ceiling — some with glass fronts and under-cabinet lighting — and crown molding above. Having three boys with many friends, she also wanted to include a built-in banquette.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

march / april 2008 spaces 17

my favorite room STEVE WUNDERLICH FROM PAGE 16 are the ones who will hear your opinion, but they won’t trust you.

BEDROOM

What happens if, after looking at the space, you really disagree with your client’s taste or vision?

In this business, you really have to listen to your clients, especially since it’s residential.

BEDROOM

FAMILY ROOM

DINING ROOM

LIVING ROOM

BATH MASTER SUITE EATING

KITCHEN

You have to realize that people are building these homes to live in, and they’re the end user, not you. So what I say if somebody is really against what I have shown them is,

I can transform the space. They’re paying us

into the kitchen and they wanted to ensure

“No problem. I’ll take what you have into

to design something great, and my job as an

that the person doing the cooking doesn’t

consideration,” and I’ll come back with

architect is to take the information, process it

feel disconnected when the rest of the fam-

two or three different options of how they

and produce something that’s really nice.

ily is in the living room watching TV or read-

can change or manipulate what I’ve shown initially. And most of the time it’s a success because they see that I’ve taken their input, but at the same time I have shown them how

Architect Steve Wunderlich was asked to create a modern open-living kitchen with concrete and wood. He delivered. Cumuru wood gives the space warmth, and the stainless steel appliances, including two range hoods, satisfy the couple’s specialty cooking needs.

18 spaces march / april 2008

But you had no such issues with these homeowners?

Not at all. And as I said, these clients were very specific. They wanted a modern kitchen with

ing. That’s the big thing, and that’s what I’ve done in my own home. But you have to do it tastefully. Sometimes people just go in and open things up and it’s a mess.

monolithic countertops, recessed sinks and

You’re a fan of open-living design?

high-end appliances. They wanted concrete,

Absolutely. If my partner, Solim [Gasparik],

commercial storefront glass, cumuru wood

and I are remodeling a house…we try to cre-

and steel. They wanted to bring a lot of light

ate open spaces that flow from one to another.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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my favorite room DEBRA ROSENBAUM FROM PAGE 15 Did you choose these specific colors for your client?

REFRIGERATOR

OVEN

After we designed the space, we created the color palette for the kitchen. We designed the cabinets in a painted beige finish with an antique wash, and a walnut-stained island, breakfast table and buffet to offset the light finish. This aged finish adds more significance and dimension to the newly planned kitchen.

What about some of the other details?

ditional for the house, it adds drama to the kitchen. We also designed a 6-inch crown

BROOM CLOSET

TRASH COMPACTOR

PANTRY

I also work with, and while it’s a bit more tra-

DISHWASHER

the homeowner selected Juparana granite.

She found the chandelier from a vendor who

WATER COOLER

We chose natural stone for the counters and

molding at the top of the cabinets with the same antique glaze.

At what point are such decisions made?

During the design process, all of the design features were discussed: We talked about the level of detail, the corbel support at the edge of the island overhang and where the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Above It’s hard to believe this space was once a butler’s pantry and maid’s room. Designer Debra Rosenbaum and her client worked hand-in-hand to create this warm, family friendly kitchen. Storage solutions were key to the design.

The island is used as additional counter space and houses the couple’s wine collection in style. left The traditional chandeliers and see-through pantry were the client’s specific requests, and Rosenbaum was happy to oblige.

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my favorite room STEVE WUNDERLICH FROM PAGE 18 Our architecture is not cluttered; it’s simple.

We don’t like to introduce too many tones

The kitchen looks quite professional with two exhaust hoods.

of wood. If you look at the photos, there are

Yes, one hood is for the main range and there

WUNDERLICH BUYING GUIDE appliances: Dacor and Thermador

white walls, simple tones of wood, some

is a second hood for a special grilling area

cabinetry: Cherry Euro-style, flat panel

steel and some concrete — all complimen-

next to the sink. We do this occasionally for

tary materials. We let natural materials

countertops: Pre-cast concrete

people with specialty cooking needs.

speak for themselves — let wood be wood, let stone be stone, let concrete be concrete.

And we like large expanses of glass. So the clients’ desires were very well matched

When you walk into a home like this, what gives you inspiration?

In a lot of these remodels we’re taking some-

with our own.

thing a client has an emotional connection

It’s a pretty stark space.

happy, it’s outdated, it needs new updates. I

Concrete is definitely a look that you have

love going in and just recreating something,

to want. The work we really enjoy the most

opening it up, making it something that peo-

is modern, but we like modern that’s a little

ple are excited to come home to. I really en-

warm — warm modern. Homeowners can

joyed creating this free-flowing space for this

easily introduce warmer touches, like soft

couple and feel it turned out great because

lighting and area rugs.

the homeowners knew what they wanted.

to — a property or a home — but they’re not

floors: Oak, stone and concrete lighting: Iris and Halo living room lounge chair: Charles

and Ray Eames lounge chair with ottoman by Herman Miller sitting room furniture: Charles and

Ray Eames table and LCW wood lounge chairs by Herman Miller walls: Drywall/painted; concrete windows: Pella Architectural Series

DEBRA ROSENBAUM FROM PAGE 20 different products would be stored, such as

kitchen gadgets that the client loves, like

the coffee system and kitchen towels. I sug-

the lift-up mechanism for the KitchenAid

gested the built-in wine rack at the end of

mixer, pull-out cutting boards, spice drawer,

the island, which was designed to appear as a

pull-out trash drawers and towel rack. There

piece of furniture.

is even an appliance garage that houses the

Were your storage solutions laid out in advance?

Yes. I planned the layout of the cabinetry in order to create a fully functional kitchen.

This design process determines where the silverware drawer will be, which shelves will be pullout shelves, where the microwave

BrewMaster coffee system.

Yes. Some homeowners aren’t that orga-

gadgets: Mepla lift-up fittings with single

nized, but this one is.

elevations, so when they moved in, they

Actually, I consider myself a rarity. Many

would know that everything was considered

architects and designers won’t let go of the

— even down to the broom closet, which is

control of the design, but I try to create a

not always discussed with the homeowner.

partnership with my clients and their ideas. I

This particular project was very exciting

believe it is a better collaboration that allows

because we were able to include the many

the team to create a stronger project.

22 spaces march / april 2008

KitchenAid six-burner range/oven, range hood, stainless steel backsplash, built-in microwave/oven combo, electric warming oven and dishwasher; Everpure filtration system coffee bar: Kenwood BrewMaster

absolutely everything and labeled it on the

cookbooks. We discussed the location of

appliances: GE Monogram refrigerator;

With so many things being so well hidden, the glass door for the pantry seems like a bold move.

Your client really knew what she wanted.

Does having such a hands-on client make your job more difficult?

will be located and the best location for the

ROSENBAUM BUYING GUIDE

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something’s in the kitchen

A chef – and menu – for all seasons Hold the sauce; Jason Niederkorn lets the food speak for itself

By Allan Goldstein

M

ost people generally like to know

what they’re eating. More inquisitive diners may even want to

know where their food came from. But when it comes to the extent of details served along with the cuisine at Café del Rey, well, that’s an entirely different kettle of fish.

Jason Niederkorn, executive chef of the

popular waterside restaurant on the shores of the Marina del Rey coastline, displays a daily “Day Boat del Rey Special” for his customers.

Unlike the perfunctory list of daily specials at most eateries, this one comes with data and a bit of whimsy: Alongside the catch of the day is the location where the fish was caught and the names of both the boat and its captain.

Niederkorn has fish flown in from around

the world within 24 hours of being caught.

Jason Niederkorn, executive chef of Café del Rey, lets the seasons and fresh ingredients dictate the course of his menu.

24 spaces march / april 2008

march / april 2008 spaces 25

something’s in the kitchen

Original Jewelry Design CUSTOM JEWELRY BY JAMES BUTTRAM AND SUSAN LOBUE FINE CRAFTS UNIQUE GIFTS ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS Diners at Café del Rey are treated to spectacular waterfront views of the marina, along with an imaginative, ever-changing menu of Mediterranean-inspired California cuisine.

Whatever is fresh and available is what he’ll

prepare that day.

class of the California Culinary Academy in

San Francisco and encouraged Niederkorn

Formerly the chef at Newport Beach’s

Richardson was in the first graduating

acclaimed Aubergine, Niederkorn is mov-

to follow in his footsteps. He did, and then

ing the restaurant’s menu in the direction of

trained and worked under renowned Stars

French Mediterranean, keeping in mind the

restaurant chef Jeremiah Tower. Afterward,

local produce and the tastes of his patrons.

he worked as a chef in several of the food

“I’ve learned to be responsive to my guests

capitals of Europe. He considers Tower a cor-

– to make sure the menu works for the beach

nerstone in the development of his approach

community,” he says.

He began his career when he was 18, re-

calling that at the time, “there were not many really exceptional restaurants in Big Bear except Mozart’s Bistro, run by chef John Richardson. My parents would occasionally take me there and one night I found the courage to go into the kitchen and ramble off some

GALLERY & STUDIO TUES–FRI 11-5:30 SAT 11–4 1702 S. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY REDONDO BEACH NEXT TO PALOS VERDES INN PHONE 310/316-6963 26 spaces march / april 2008

of the dishes he had made. He was surprised, but he decided to let me stand in the corner and watch. Then one day it got so busy that he hollered at me about why I was standing in the corner doing nothing. So I stopped standing in the corner doing nothing and here I am.”

“ I’ve learned to be responsive to my guests – to make sure the menu works for the beach community.”

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march / april 2008 spaces 27

something’s in the kitchen to food preparation. Tower emphasized the

quick fact

use of fresh seasonal ingredients, a concept dear to Niederkorn’s heart and palate.

“We strive to work with the seasons when

designing the menu,” Niederkorn says.

Fish is often jetted in within 24 hours of being caught.

Agnolotti, a signature pasta dish on the

Café del Rey menu, is among the ever-changing creations that embodies this approach.

Agnolotti

“I’ve probably made over a quarter of a

million of these little raviolis from Northern

Serves 10

Italy and it’s always an experience,” Nieder-

Dough:

korn says. He changes the filling to reflect

22 egg yolks

what’s in season, currently red kuri squash,

2 whole eggs

and serves the pasta with brown butter and

5 cups all purpose flour

grated parmesan reggiano cheese. The chef lets the dish speak for itself, serving it with-

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

out sauce or vegetables on the side. As he

2 tablespoons milk

blissfully describes it, “Agnolotti is very sim-

½ tablespoon salt

ple, but its taste is pure brilliance.”

Filling: 1 pound mushrooms, sautéed with minced garlic, shallots, thyme, salt and pepper; patted dry 3 egg yolks 3 ounces marscarpone 3 ounces fromage blanc 3 ounces unsalted butter ½ tablespoon white truffle oil

To make the filling, combine all ingredients except mushrooms and pureé in a food processor until creamed. Add hot mushrooms and continue to pureé until finely minced. Season with salt, pepper and truffle oil; put filling into a piping bag.

For the dough, using the “well” method, place flour on a clean work surface and form it so it has a circular barrier, leaving enough room to put wet ingredients in the center. With a fork, gradually stir wet ingredients into flour until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Using a pasta machine, roll out dough twice on each setting until pasta is as thin as possible. Carefully pipe filling about 1 inch thick just below center of the pasta sheet. Brush water on sheet just above the filling. Fold sheet over the filling and press down to seal pasta. Next, pinch the pasta

restaurant

reservations recommended? dinner for two, without wine

28 spaces march / april 2008

Café del Rey

every 2 inches to form a barrier in between filling. U sing a pasta cutter, cut raviolis along pinched

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barrier. Pinch the outside of the ravioli to ensure that it is well sealed. Dust a tray with generous

Highly recommended About $125

amount of semolina to prevent pasta from sticking.

Boil pasta in salted water for about 3 minutes or until hot. Remove pasta and toss in browned butter (unsalted butter sautéed until it is a rich brown color and has a nutty aroma.) Sprinkle with parmesan reggiano and enjoy.

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PHOTOS: PAUL JONASON

something’s in the kitchen

Sit back and relax, Tommaso Barletta’s on the job

W

hen you ask a restaurant server

for a recommendation, it’s comforting to get a response like this

one: “I just saw all the fish and I think the sea bass is looking mighty fresh.”

Right away, you know you’re in good

hands.

Warm customer service is Tommaso

Barletta’s policy at his always-packed Valley

Inspirations for his creations come from his boyhood garden in Italy

By Linda Massarella

“I teach the staff that they must make

truthful recommendations,” Barletta says.

“Of course, everything we serve is good, but it’s true that sometimes one dish can be better that day because of the ingredients we’re getting. We see back in the kitchen. Our customers can’t, and they’re counting on us to tell them.”

It isn’t surprising that when Barletta gra-

restaurants — Tuscany in Westlake Village,

ciously let Spaces into his Westlake home to

Riviera Bistro in Calabasas and Rustico in

share his recipes, we felt like plopping on the

Oak Park.

sofa as he smiled warmly, chatted in his lyri cal

30 spaces march / april 2008

quick fact

Al dente is Italian for “to the tooth” and became a catch phrase for how long you should cook pasta — just long enough to still feel texture when you bite into it.

Barletta uses a soft, Mozzarella-type cheese made in his native Bari, a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy called “formaggio burrata,” for his signature heirloom tomato salad.

something’s in the kitchen

Spring chicken, cooked under Tuscan bricks and served over wilted baby spinach in hot bacon dressing.

When preparing this dish at home, Barletta substitutes heavy cans for Tuscan bricks.

accent and worked to pull off three of his sig-

grows herbs to use in his original recipes and

nature dishes within one hour.

often eats al fresco on his back patio.

“ That is still

A native of Monopoli, a seaside town in

“My aunt taught me to respect the earth,

the Italian province of Bari, Barletta learned

how to use what is growing in that season to

the love of food from his aunt Rita, who often

cook,” he recalls. “That is still the core of my

brought the young boy over to her house to

cooking – ingredients that are fresh, toma-

the core of

help till her fresh garden.

toes that are ripe and herbs that bring out all

sorts of nuances.”

my cooking

friend and 14-year-old daughter, Barletta

– ingredients that are fresh, tomatoes that are ripe and herbs that bring out all sorts of nuances.”

32 spaces march / april 2008

Now, at the home he shares with his girl-

The small Italian town couldn’t contain

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www.friedmansappliancecenter.com march / april 2008 spaces 33

something’s in the kitchen

Chocolate Volcano with Molten Lava Center Serves 6 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

2 eggs

2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder

2 egg yolks

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

3 ounces sugar

3 ounces unsalted butter

1½ ounces flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush the inside of 6 ramekins, 2-by-2.5 inches in size, with melted butter. Sprinkle with cocoa powder, making sure the excess cocoa goes to the next ramekin. In a stainless steel bowl, melt chocolate and butter together over a pot of boiling water; let cool. Beat the eggs, yolks and sugar with a whisk until fluffy. Add the melted chocolate and flour; mix with wooden spoon until incorporated. Spoon the batter into ramekins, filling halfway.

Place on a sheet pan and refrigerate for about 15 minutes. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until the top looks cracked and the sides are opaque in color. Serve with your favorite vanilla gelato.

Barletta and he decided to travel the world.

In 1983, he joined on as a cook on a cruise ship, where his talent and graciousness were noticed. Once the ship docked in Los Angeles, Barletta was promptly offered a job at the popular restaurant Adriano’s on Beverly Glen. Within a few years, he opened Tuscany, the first of his three Italian eateries.

restaurant Tuscany

968 S. Westlake Boulevard Westlake Village 805.495.2768

“When I came here, Italian restaurants

were considered family places, not a place to go for a romantic evening with a date,” he says. “This, we changed. People know now that Italian food isn’t just red sauce.”

34 spaces march / april 2008

reservations recommended? dinner for two, without wine

Yes About $90

something’s in the kitchen

Contemporary kitchen

By Troy Adams

Spaces guest columnist Troy Adams has designed and built some of Southern California’s most beautiful and functional kitchens. Here are his top innovative tips for this most vital room.

Kitchens aren’t just for cooking anymore. Accommodating a new and widely embraced paradigm that the kitchen has replaced the living room as the “hub of the home,” here are some design tips that will ensure that you and yours will want to cook, eat, entertain and, effectively, live in the kitchen.

] The kitchen sink is an often neglected fixture.

Why shouldn’t it be as urbane as the rest of the room?

The Kohler Poise K-3158 is a favorite because of its angular construction, sound absorption technology and eco-friendly bamboo cutting board.

To add an element of “pop” to a kitchen, use an Asianinspired red paint to offset the natural materials, neutral colors and stainless steel appliances

[ Introduce an interactive element to your space. A Teppan barbecue grill in the dining room doubles as a stylish Asian-inspired dining room table. This Teppan2 table by Troy Adams Design uses a Gaggenau Teppan grill and also contains two Sub-Zero under-counter refrigerator drawers to keep food fresh while you’re cooking. It makes cooking an event that everyone can participate in.

that are so popular in today’s kitchens. A great one to try is Dunn Edwards DEA153 “Glitzy Red.” It really energizes the entire room.

] Creating a functional yet aesthetically pleasing kitchen is the conundrum of many entertainer-cooks. One solution is to create an island prep area with fully integrated side-byside cook-tops that are recessed and adjacent to the sink, thus concealing the action and creating a seamless flow between counter, sink and cook-tops. When not in use, the surfaces can be covered by a sliding cutting board.

march / april 2008 spaces 35

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10

Our top neighborhood views

After visiting legendary locales from the Greek Isles to the Galapagos Islands, Los Angeles residents often come home to find that the best views are right outside their own windows. Beauty is always subjective, but here are 10 of our favorites, seen from inside the home with the owner’s perspective in mind. These poetic vistas can be majestic or serene – a shout or a prayer. The only constant is the fleeting change as the moon shifts cycles and the sun, looming large and bright, slowly fades to intimate darkness.

Photos by Paul Jonason

By Meredith Grenier and Patt Diroll 37

South Bay and The Beaches For centuries, the South Bay area, with its sweeping ocean and snow-covered mountain vistas, was sacred to its early inhabitants, the Gabrielino Indians. Later, area land grants were coveted by Spanish dons, and in the mid-1900s it was the destination of choice for romantic Hollywood trysts.

The scenes are as varied as the viewers – from capricious Catalina to sublime sunsets, boat-laden marinas to shimmering city lights. As night descends, an ocean view can vanish into blackness, only to be replaced by a brilliant luminescence of Los Angeles and Harbor lights, followed by dawn’s pastel panorama.

Meet the owners of three of these fabulous views. What they have in common is an enduring gratitude for their role as nature’s caretakers and a commitment to sharing their space to benefit charity. And since all are builders, contractors or architects, they also share an eye for beauty, design and a sense of place.

38 spaces march / april 2008

A view from the angels in Rancho Palos Verdes In Jacqueline and William Stavi-Raines’ 8,000-square-foot

glass-encased cockpit with

contemporary home in Rancho Palos Verdes, the changing

its airplane view across Los

views dictate the retired couple’s daily routine. They rarely

Angeles to the art gallery’s

miss the drama of sienna and violet sunsets over the ocean or

alcove, the vistas beckon the

the light show from downtown Los Angeles to Malibu.

owners to choose favorite

spots for breakfast, lunch,

“In the morning, we wake up just before dawn and go to

the cockpit (lounge) to watch the sunrise. Every time we look

cocktail hour or a French dinner, prepared by Jacqueline.

at it we are in awe and my husband always says, ‘It is the dawn

The couple – she an architect and he a builder – left north-

of a new day. We have never lived this day before.’ This feeling

ern California behind and headed south in search of their

is very deep — as if we are reborn,” says Jacqueline, who is

dream house. In 2005, they found it.

French and grew up in Algeria.

Designed by Ghanaian architect Joe Addo, the house,

start at 800 feet, so we see above the clouds and also look

with its catwalks, balconies and 360-degree wrap-around

down on them,” William says. From that vantage point, Jac-

glass windows, offers many opportunities to reflect. From the

queline adds, “We feel like angels.”

“We are 1,400 feet above sea level, and cumulous clouds

march / april 2008 spaces 39

South Bay and The Beaches

They travel the world, but there’s no place like Portugese Bend Torrance architect Edward Carson Beall and

The couple moved from a house on the

his wife, Susie, have the ultimate in rustic

coast to Portuguese Bend five years ago to

charm, enhanced by views of rural Portu-

enjoy pastoral and ocean views and to have

guese Bend, the Pacific and Catalina. Add to

room to grow vegetables and fruit trees.

the ambience a French herb garden, English

Looking south over a succulent-studded

rose garden, Mediterranean terrace, swim-

terrace, where they grow prickly pears for

ming pool and a cabana area featuring a bar

margaritas, is one of the Peninsula’s premier

made from an old wooden boat.

views of Catalina Island.

It’s just a sampling of the myriad views

The house, with its stone interior walls

from their converted farmhouse.

and fireplace, eclectic collections of ele-

phants, masks, tusks and artwork, is a favor-

“People ask what style our house is, and re-

ally it depends on what direction you are look-

ite venue for charity parties.

ing in,” says Susie, an interior designer with

“Every morning Ed has his breakfast right

her husband’s firm. “Ed wanted an old Tuscan

here,” Susie says, pointing to a cozy corner of

kitchen, but we found this wonderful French

the living room. “And here in the summer-

stove. Then we found this mirror and French

time we have dinner. On a clear night, we

painted doors for the refrigerator and freezer

can see the lights from Avalon and the casino

and suddenly we had a French bistro.”

ballroom.”

40 spaces march / april 2008

On a clear day, they can almost see the entire world from Palos Verdes Carolyn and Julian Elliott took a year and seven months to build their dream house, long and narrow, in the Palladian style to take full advantage of the cliff site’s 360-degree view.

Located on an outcropped point on nearly two acres, the

estate offers a view of Catalina Island, which on some days they can almost touch. To the southwest is the Point Vicente lighthouse and to the north, a close-up view of Rocky Point and Lunada Bay, where surfers catch waves by day and light bonfires by night.

In this pristine beauty, marine life abounds.

“We see whales breaching and spouting, and pods of dol-

phins, and we can hear sea lions barking in the bay around the corner,” Carolyn says, adding that a week earlier there were 30 boats fishing for squid in the bay.

V-shaped platoons of pelicans make fly-bys while red tail

hawks and falcons search for supper. And for years, Julian’s favorite fishing hole was just off a perpendicular cliff.

“I used to bring my boat here and I’d catch bass and bar-

racuda,” he recalls.

To the northwest, the Elliotts have a view of what’s left of

the Dominator, a Greek freighter that ran ashore on treacherous reefs in 1961. And across a bay looking south is the house where the first “Lethal Weapon” was filmed.

Even after 17 years, they haven’t lost their fascination for

the site. “We never take this view for granted,” Carolyn says.

march / april 2008 spaces 41

Canyons and Valleys There’s something about the wild terrain of the San Fernando and Conejo valleys that defies the usual definition of Southern California. The way the sun dazzles brightly in the midday sky across broad stretches of mountains, you can sense a place brimming with wildlife – a place where nature takes its course and sweeps over the soul.

These

homeowners

with

magnificent views of the Valley come from various walks of life, but all share a profound gratitude that they can look out the window and see glory.

A secret lake in Agoura Hills When Mike and Lisa Olson’s real estate agent brought them to the Malibou Lake area of Agoura Hills three years ago, Lisa’s hands began to shake when she saw a tire swing hanging from a tree at the water’s edge.

Parents of three young children, the couple wanted a

place with room for their kids to grow.

Although they’re both from the area, they didn’t know

this oasis in the middle of the mountains even existed.

“The house needed a lot of work, but as soon as we saw

the view, that was it. I knew I had found home,” says Lisa, a teacher.

The view from the Olsons’ bedroom is especially breath-

taking: Through the French doors, the lake is crystal beneath the huge rock croppings. Ancient oaks dot the landscape, rolling hills abound and chaparral-covered Sugar Loaf Mountain looms over the sweeping vista.

There are only 130 homes built around Malibou Lake,

originally developed about a hundred years ago as a hunting and fishing lodge for city folks.

The best part of living here for the couple — who run an

eco-friendly school fundraising site called greenraising.com — is still that tire hanging over the lake.

“The kids live out there in the summer,” says Lisa. “They

come out muddy, but that’s what showers are for.”

42 spaces march / april 2008

Moon over Hidden Hills Hidden Hills is known for its multi-million dollar horse ranches and sprawling estates. During the day, the sun casts shadows long and large. At night, the moon rises high over the valley, oftentimes bringing out packs of howling coyotes. There are no streetlights and the night sky can be seen as it was meant to be.

“It never gets old,” says Claude Foisy, a composer and pianist who finds in-

spiration here to compose scores for film and television. “I am constantly finding new things to look at.”

For him, the landscape is aural as well as visual.

“We may not even realize it, but our senses take in sight and sound

together. This view is enhanced by the sounds,” says Claude, who has his grand piano positioned to face the sky and the valley from the living room in his family’s ranch-style home.

Claude and his wife, Kim Long, a television executive, initially wanted to

buy in the area because of the quality of the schools. But now that the kids are settled, the scenic beauty has become equally important.

“Every time I walk outside, I know why I bought this house,” Kim says.

“It’s the expansiveness of the area. It is serene. We’re right next to the busyness of the San Fernando Valley, yet it is peaceful.”

When sitting on the back patio reading, Kim says she often feels compelled

to set the book down and gaze out over the valley. After a hectic day of work and shuttling the kids around, she finds the view especially soothing.

At the edge of the pool sits a teahouse, which she uses as her personal

thinking space.

“I go into the hut with a cup of tea and look into the sky,” Kim says. “It’s

how I meditate.”

march / april 2008 spaces 43

Canyons and Valleys

Living on the top of Calabasas Park means never wanting to leave Through the many windows of David and Teresa Litt’s strate-

their home. But coyotes and bobcats roam nearby and a

gically-placed home in Park Calabasas, there are eagles to be

family of deer are frequent visitors, crossing the Litts’ drive-

seen soaring in the sky, a shimmering valley below and the

way about once a week to graze on the hillside bordering

allure of city lights.

their property.

When visitors enter their home, they often have the same

David and Teresa, owners of a mortgage and financing

first impression: “What a view!”

company and parents of three children, are appreciative of

the natural beauty that surrounds them.

The 5,600-square-foot Mediterranean-style house sits on

more than half an acre and grants pure 300-degree views of

the peaks and valleys, and the skyline of Warner Center.

of the best in the area,” David says. “I feel grateful and happy

David tends to gaze skyward when he’s taking it all in.

when I look outside. I realize how lucky we are.”

“I usually stare at the mountains,” he says. “It is purely

“I have been told by many that our view is probably one

Another plus for the couple is that they never feel bored

spectacular. The view has helped me become more spiritual

or hemmed in while at home.

and tranquil.”

David says.

44 spaces march / april 2008

There are no neighbors to the north, east and west of

“A true view means not having to leave your home,”

The Foothills True, the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys are becoming

If this Toluca Lake view could talk

infamous for their congested

If the lake outside the window of this secluded, Spanish-style hacienda could tell a tale, it

freeways and sprawling metropolitan centers. But beneath the

would surely become a best selling Tinseltown novel. Actress Mary Astor originally built the home on the secluded lake and then sold it to Frank Sinatra in 1944. In the ’60s, singer Bobby Darin and his wife, actress Sandra Dee, moved in. But for the past 39 years, it has been the

surface and a few miles away

family homestead of developer Ed Roski and his wife, artist Gayle Garner Roski. Their low-key

from the congestion, there are

lifestyle is a far cry from the party days of the previous movie star owners.

splendid havens of quiet beauty,

still untouched by development.

around the water’s edges, filled with Hollywood babes.

Here are grand vistas from

“I’m sure he tied the boat and came inside to a full bar,” she says. “Those were the days.”

Gayle, a noted watercolorist whose work is displayed at the Getty Museum, turned the

the Hollywood Hills and the San Gabriel Mountains, an easy,

As she gazes out at Toluca Lake, Gayle laughs at the thought of Sinatra’s private boat sailing

room with the best view of the lake into her art studio.

“Sitting at my easel and looking out over that lake gives me a very spiritual feeling. We

sweet view of Toluca Lake and a

travel all over the world, but we’ll never move from here,” she says. “When Ed and I were 17

vast valley scene that stretches

and dating, we were in this house for a party, and I remember telling him that this was the

all the way to the Arroyo Seco

house where I wanted to live. Years later, in 1969, we found the house available. We’ve been

Bridge.

here ever since and it continues to be our dream home.”

march / april 2008 spaces 45

The Foothills

Exotic, exciting Hollywood Hills Prominent community activist Joni Smith and her husband Clark, celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary this year, have lived in their French Regency-style aerie at the top of the Hollywood Hills since they were married. Their dramatic view stretches from the Griffith Observatory to the ocean.

Their home was originally Clark’s

bachelor pad. After serving in the Korean War, he returned to his native Los Angeles and bought the property from a philandering husband who had built the ranch-style house in 1959 as a love nest for his paramour. When the owner’s wife discovered his dalliance, the busted Lothario was forced to sell his romantic hideaway. It soon became party central for Clark, his friends and a gaggle of movie starlets.

Joni recalls attending a bash there with

a date after graduating from USC and thinking, “Gosh, what someone could do with this house. I didn’t realize it would end up being me.” Now, with their three children grown, Joni isn’t home much anymore. An irrepressible volunteer, she has chaired the first Los Angeles Library Foundation Literary Awards and the 100th anniversary of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, along with countless charity events.

The Clarks are known for their annual

trips to exotic destinations. “We’ve been all over the world, but I would never want to live anywhere but here,” Joni says. “If I wake up in the middle of the night, I open my eyes and look out at the lights of Los Angeles. Then I turn over and immediately go back to sleep. After all these years, this place is still exotic and exciting, and at night the view is my sedative. This is home.”

A magical, musical view in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco Los Angeles Opera President Carol Henry and her hus-

boy, Barry Berkus, a Santa Barbara-based architect who grew

band, Warner, say they were looking for someone to create

up in Pasadena’s San Rafael area.

magic when they set out to choose an architect to design

their home on the western side of Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco.

terviewed only one person,” Carol says. “We were seeking

“If Frank Lloyd Wright had been alive, I would have in-

The Henrys are ardent music lovers who listen to opera

Wright’s concept of capitalizing on the view and bringing the

while looking out at their spectacular view of the Colorado

outdoors in and the indoors out. Basically, we wanted a place

Bridge, the former Vista del Arroyo Hotel — now the Ninth

where we could comfortably entertain 100 people, yet have

Circuit Court of Appeals — and the San Gabriel Mountains

intimate space for our family and ourselves.” Their new home

beyond.

was completed in 1995.

Carol’s favorite opera is Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” which

“It is such a glorious location, even though we must share

is probably why magic was the mantra for the realization of

it with our arroyo neighbors – the coyotes, foxes, raccoons,

this stunning home. After interviewing more than a dozen

possums, deer and an occasional bobcat,” Carol says. “After

architects, the couple found their “magician” in a hometown

all, they were here before we were.”

march / april 2008 spaces 49

The Foothills At home in the winner’s circle in Bradbury Estates Overlooking the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, long stretch-

There was an old ranch-

es of white corral-fencing lead to the home of veteran thor-

style house on the 10-acre

oughbred trainer Hector Palma and his wife, Becky, a former

property when the Palmas

rodeo rider. From their windows, the scene is ever changing.

bought it in 1984, but in its

Whether it is magnificent racehorses grazing on the expan-

place they constructed a

sive rolling lawns or a foal taking its first steps on wobbly legs,

charming two-story Tuscan-

the view is always fascinating.

style villa, where the hall-

“I started riding when I was 13,” Hector recalls fondly. “I re-

ways are filled with photos

ally wanted to become a jockey, but I grew too big. I love being

of the couple in the winner’s

around horses. They are the reason we live where we do.”

circle along with an impressive assortment of racing memora-

bilia. Becky spent two years overseeing the construction and

Bradbury Estates is a gated community nestled in the

foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains right above Monro-

landscaping, which includes barns, a walking ring and a laby-

via. The area is named for Louis Bradbury, a mining magnate

rinth of corrals. For a time, there was even a small English-style

noted for the construction of L.A.’s historic Bradbury Build-

racetrack, lined by tall palms that were saplings Hector found

ing. He acquired 2,750 acres of the Rancho Azusa de Duarte

growing around the foothills. “I dug them up and replanted

in the late 1800s and built an elegant home on the land. But

them myself,” he notes proudly.

legal squabbles among his heirs resulted in foreclosure in the

In the courtyard, a lovely fountain is surrounded by olive

1930s, and large parcels were sold to people seeking spacious

and citrus trees and a topiary racehorse. The topiary isn’t the

sites for ranches.

only unique sculpture on the grounds; inside the gate, a bronze

Today, winding through the rustic roads of Bradbury Es-

statue of a jockey and his mount greets visitors: “A thank-you,”

tates is like being transported to the bluegrass country of

Hector explains, “from a famous jockey for the care of one of

Kentucky.

his ‘babies.’”

50 spaces march / april 2008

Mon.-Sat. 10 am-5:30 pm, Closed Sundays 756 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 • (805) 372-7545 march / april 2008 spaces 51

hiGh t ech home Liven things up at home with the latest high-tech gadgets on the market. Just try to resist the urge to gloat when your neighbors say, “I want one of those.”

— with Patty Threlkel

Something fishy Looking for the fish bowl? Face the wall and aim your gaze higher. It may look like a framed picture, but the wall-mounted AquaVista aquarium is actually home to live tropical fish. The pump, filter, heater and lighting are built into the system, so it’s easy to use.

Choose a frame and background to match your décor. Priced at $299.99. www.aquavistainc.com

Second floor, lease p

ve uphea ough th r th o g -stor y Don’t a single to g in ov irs al of m e upsta h a rid tc a C . home home -driven m u u c a v anin this y the p nd enjo a – r to e way. eleva along th w ie v king oramic istic-loo , futur k e le s The inimum up a m s e k ta be capsule nd can space a f o t n u amo e, office our hom y in d at, in installe our bo even y , s e t y and s start a o. Price tw r o y a just a d 0. $28,00 ators.com uumelev w ww .vac

52 spaces march / april 2008

Compact cam Here’s one camcorder you won’t have to lug around. Panasonic’s tiny HDC-SD5 weighs in at less than a pound, fits pretty much anywhere, stores your memories and makes a great traveling companion. And it comes with a DVD burner. Capture it all for $999.95. www.panasonic.com

El Caballero Country Club Limited Memberships Available

Valley’s Finest Golf Course

El Caballero Country Club, for the first time in our fifty - year history, is going into the community to invite new members.

Boasting a premier Robert Trent Jones Sr. eighteen-hole golf course, it’s also a great walking course with a fully staffed caddy program. Other major amenities include a tennis program, swimming facilities, men’s & ladies’ card room and an expertly staffed fitness center as well as banquet facilities and a fabulous dining room.

El Caballero is the perfect setting for social and sporting enjoyment and is available for parties and special events.

A limited number of participating memberships are available for qualified applicants. Call Tom Bernson, General Manager, at (818) 654-3001 for a tour and more information. We are a nonsectarian country club.

El Caballero Country Club 18300 Tarzana Drive Tarzana, California 91356 (818) 654-3000

hih tech home

Home Ec 101

By Pamela Bunn

Eco-living isn’t just about ecology, it’s also about economy. Try these thrifty tips around your home to help save the planet – and your hard-earned cash.

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC Did you know that lighting your home accounts for about 11 percent of your energy bills? So run out and replace your incandescent bulbs with the compact fluorescent (CFL) variety (you know, the twisty ones), which use about 75 percent less electricity. A CFL may cost a bit more (between $2 and $7), but it will pay for itself in just a few months — and prevent 450 pounds of power-plant emissions over the bulb’s lifetime. An even better way to save money and energy? Flip the switch when you leave the room.

MORE THAN It’d be great if there were a truly paperless office, but you can get a little closer to this utopia MARGINAL in your home office by simply tweaking the margins of your document before printing. Most SAVINGS office documents are pre-formatted with 1.25-inch side margins, which leave quite a bit of white space. By changing the right and left margins to .75-inch (and the top and bottom margins, too), you’ll use nearly 5 percent less paper each year.

WRAP IT UP Another way to save paper at home is to boycott traditional rolls of gift wrap and gift bags, and recycle those newspapers you’ve got piling up instead. Get creative; pick a section that best fits the recipient. Does your mom love the funnies? Dress her birthday present in Sunday’s best. Did your best friend just buy her first home? Offer up her housewarming gift in the real estate section. Wrap your grad’s gift in the job section. Your friends and family will love the personal touch and you’ll feel great about saving money while recycling.

STAR WASH The best way to save money and energy at home is to upgrade your appliances to ones with the Energy Star logo. An Energy Star washing machine uses 50 percent less water than a standard model, which translates into a savings of about 8,000 gallons a year. This washer also extracts more water from fabric during the spin cycle, reducing drying time and saving even more energy.

COLD IS Yes, we all learned that to get our whites really clean, we had to wash them in hot water. But GOLD consider this: 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes goes into heating the water.

To save money and energy, rinse your clothes in cold — they’ll get just as clean.

SCRAPE, To save the most energy and water while using your dishwasher, it’s best to scrape your DON’T RINSE plates before loading. A dishwasher uses more water to pre-rinse your dishes than it does during a full wash cycle. Better yet, use an Energy Star dishwasher, which is 41 percent more efficient than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption. Be sure to run only full loads and then air-dry your dishes by turning on either the energy-saver or air-dry switch. Or simply let nature take over and prop the door open after the final rinse.

54 spaces march / april 2008

hih tech home

Extreme viewing Whether you want to do financial trading in real time, graphic design or video gaming, enhance your view with these multi-screen displays, powered by Zenview technology and billed by Digital Tigers, Inc. as “surround sound for the eyes.” Add a portable accessory and you can drive all these monitors on your laptop. Prices range from $799 for a dualscreen model to $5,799 for the eight-screen array. www.digitaltigers.com

H2Oh! Add this LED attachment to your faucet and transform colorless water into a soothing blue stream. The color changes to red when the water temperature hits 89 degrees. This low-cost gadget from Think Geek easily attaches to most American-made faucets. Maybe now your kids will think it’s fun to brush their teeth. Priced at $14.99. www.thinkgeek.com

Unplugged Eliminate the need for all those chargers, converters, sockets and power strips. Now you can use a single charging pad for all your electronic devices. Simply plug an adapter into your laptops, cell phones, cameras and MP3 players, set them on a mat that’s no bigger than a mouse pad, and you’re ready for wireless charging. Contact the company for price. www.powermatdigital.com

march / april 2008 spaces 55

unusual

rooms

Everyone has a fantasy room, a room divided from the others to keep our favorite things. The owners of these four unusual rooms — a library, a guitar room, a meditation space and a sports bar — prove our homes can be as vivid as our imaginations.

Photos by Paul Jonason

Stories by Linda Massarella

“… it used to be a gentleman was known by his books.”

—William Faulkner, “The Sound and the Fury”

56 spaces march / april 2008

Old books last for decades because the pages were usually hand-stitched and bound in leather.

Nick Colonna what A home library where Palos Verdes we need What is the first to know book you ever read?

who

Curious George.

Room to think Enter a book and travel the world

I

then within three or four years, want to completely redo

gracefully.

Papers, and all of Leo Tolstoy’s novels. His parents are from

At the Colonna house in South Bay, the library — with its

Italy and his favorite books are the Italian-language versions

t’s odd how we can decorate a bedroom or kitchen and

tion of books, which includes first editions of Mark Twain’s

it. But a library is one room that is best left alone to age

Tom Sawyer, Charles Dickens’ Bleak House and The Pickwick

collection of first edition books — has proven to be a steady

Colonna designed the library around his vast collec-

of the classics.

companion.

space in the house.

While there’s always room for improvement in the rest

A fireplace and a cozy chair complete Colonna’s favorite

of the house, “with my library, there is no disappointment

whenever I walk in,” says Nick Colonna, a private equity in-

of family bonding or a place to meet to discuss business

“A library allows for tranquil time alone, some moments

vestor and father of three.

while not at the office.”

march / april 2008 spaces 57

unusual rooms

Orange is considered a holy color in India.

In this small space, the orange paint brightens the spirits and at the same time, calms the soul.

Three mindful breaths…

W

own.”

Karmen Marasovich, a graphic designer and meditation teacher, advises if there’s no

Toss the sleep meds: Try staring into a candle for 20 minutes to become sleepy

riter Virginia Wolf famously said: “Every girl needs a room of her

place for your very own room, take a corner, really any corner, and make it your own.

Marasovich walled off a 4-by-10 section

of her garage, painted it orange and made a private meditation room.

The simple space has an altar, a candle

and a pad for sitting. It’s where the 47-yearold mother and stepmother of four starts and ends her day.

If anything is starting to trouble her — be

it the business, the kids or some appliance breaking — Marasovich leaves it outside the room and always comes out refreshed after 15 minutes of deep breathing.

“Anybody can create a little sacred space,”

says Marasovich. “You owe it to yourself.”

Karmen Marasovich Meditation room where Calabasas we need What is your to know mantra?

who

what

“ Stop the inner chatter and drop into silence to find your bliss.”

58 spaces march / april 2008

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march / april 2008 spaces 59

unusual rooms

Rock-it room He plays the guitar market

P

eter M. Margolis, a longtime Holly-

wood stage manager and member of the ’80s metal band Stainless Steel,

concedes he’s a bit obsessed about guitars.

Since he was a kid, any time he had spare

money, Margolis would head to a guitar shop and acquire a new toy.

His collection of Gibsons, Fender Stra-

tocasters, San Dimas Charvel Stratocasters and Marshall amps, among others, is now considered “one of the rarest in the world”

by Norm Harris, owner of Norman’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana.

Margolis, who prefers to look and collect

rather than play anymore, keeps some of his now hundreds of guitars at home in his music room, yet locks most safely away in a vault.

“I spent a lot of time putting this collection

together,” he says. “For me, they are priceless because they would be impossible to ever find again.”

For Margolis, who’s directing a documen-

tary about late heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhoads, his music room is his sanctuary.

“It is a place,” he says, “where I can sur-

round myself literally 360 degrees with things that I most cherish.”

Peter M. Margolis what Music room where Studio City we need Who do you think are to know the best guitar players in the world?

who

“This is strictly my humble opinion, but I would say Allan Holdsworth and Eric Johnson.”

60 spaces march / april 2008

One of the rarest guitar collections on earth.

unusual rooms

“Well, you can just blow off the dust.”

Saberhagen’s memorabilia is showcased throughout the room, but nothing is off limits.

Invited guests are even free to swing one of the bats — providing they don’t hit anything.

To Cy for TV, trophies and drinks at Bret Saberhagen’s house

H

e’s one of baseball’s all-time best pitchers, but he can be a little blasé about his stuff.

How does Bret Saberhagen clean his World Series trophy, won in

1985 when he was with the Kansas City Royals?

“Well, you can just blow off the dust.”

The trophy, his All Star rings and mind-blowing memorabilia, including

Mickey Mantle’s signed jersey, Reggie Jackson’s batting helmet and Cal Ripken’s bat, aren’t the only interesting things in Saberhagen’s private sports bar.

Surrounding the built-in bar are stools handmade with baseball bats and

topped with baseball leather, all signed by fellow athletes such as Chili Davis.

Saberhagen, 43, actually stood on one — with boots on! — to change a lightbulb.

The affable Cy Young Award winner, who’s raising his three children

— two of whom clearly inherited his pitching arm, especially his older son, Drew, a lefty on a baseball scholarship at Western Carolina University — acts as a mentor to area kids: He’s been a volunteer baseball coach at Calabasas High since retiring from the major leagues in 2001 with a blown rotator cuff.

Not being too attached to his stuff might show Saberhagen has his priori-

ties straight.

What would he take in a fire? “My kids and my dog.”

Bret Saberhagen Home sports bar where Calabasas we need What do you think of Joe to know Torre joining the Dodgers?

who

what

“He’s one of the best managers to ever manage, (but) they’ll still need a few more players to win a World Series.”

march / april 2008 spaces 61

G arden

spaces

A split-level barbeque with a granite countertop includes a seating area for the Pinchasi family and guests.

A home transformed with hardscaping

The front yard is a treat to the olfactory senses: Jasmine, lavendar and rosemary abound, and thyme and mint are tucked between the flagstones along the fragrant path to the front door.

By Stevie Wilson

D

anny and Ferial Pinchasi were tired of their home’s

patio. The natural canopy of trees is buttressed by one that is

rectangular lawns and linear pathways, so they

man-made – an awning that dips under the cassias protects

brought in a landscaper to lay down some fresh

the family and guests from the harsh summer sun.

pavement.

heat, the family had pretty much avoided it in the past.

“We wanted to soften the appearance and replace all

those straight lines with a natural flowing garden that would

A custom fountain filled with goldfish livens up the back yard.

Since the yard had provided no respite from the blazing Now, Pinchasi says, “It’s very lush and green, like a little

complement the home’s Mediterranean ar-

piece of paradise right in the back yard.” And he says of the

chitecture,” says Danny Pinchasi.

transformation, “It kind of added another room to the house.”

The front and back yards of the Studio City

A custom fountain with built-in seating, filled with plants

house presented a creative challenge because

and goldfish, “brings the area to life and adds an interactive

they are somewhat small in size. But the

element to the yard,” Melius says.

contractor gave the home a more comfort-

In the front yard, an old wrought-iron gate now graces

able feel with a new hardscape that includes

the walkway entrance. Hand-chiseled flagstones, which were

soothing water fountains and a built-in bar-

also used to create the steps and patio area out back, line a

beque with a granite countertop, combined with a softscape

path to the front door. Thyme and mint planted between the

of hedges and heavenly smelling plants and fruit trees.

stones release an aromatic fragrance along the path. Jasmine,

lavender, rosemary and other perennials border the yard,

“We’re very proud of this one,” says Southern Califor-

nia Landscape co-owner Pam Melius, whose firm won two

which features a small fountain, bench and stonework.

awards last year for the hardscape design. “I think it looks like

a Tuscan estate.”

more space between their house and the street. The contrac-

The back yard is now an enchanting mix of fragrance and

color: The scents of lime and orange trees mingle with the

The homeowners had also wanted the appearance of

tor achieved that goal with the wrought-iron gate and rubble stone masonry walls.

perfume of gardenias, jasmine and roses; bougainvillea softly

drape the garage; an herb garden is nestled into a corner of

appreciate the beauty of their home landscape; night lighting

the yard; and four cassia trees form a shady canopy over the

affords a view long after the sun has set.

62 spaces march / april 2008

The Pinchasis don’t have to wait until dawn each day to

G arden

spaces

Cymbidium secrets

By Meredith Grenier

T

he South Bay’s Mediterranean climate is perfect for

growing cymbidium orchids. They bloom here with

little care from January through May, depending on

the variety.

That’s good news for the hundreds of cymbidium hob-

byists and casual gardeners who are smitten by exotic new varieties and old favorites.

For years, cymbidiums have had a reputation for being dif-

ficult to grow. But unlike their picky orchid cousins that need greenhouses in order to thrive, they can be left outdoors, watered by automatic sprinklers and virtually ignored. Come February, they will set spikes and then it’s show time.

Cymbidiums have soared

in popularity in the last decade, says Everett Stockstill, president of the Torrance Cymbidium

Society.

The

group has more than 200 members, including orchid show grand champions.

Not only are the plants beautiful and easy to care for, they

can produce up to 100 blooms that last two to three months.

They can stand temperatures as low as 40 degrees, aren’t prone to disease and don’t attract many pests.

…they can produce up to 100 blooms that last two to three months.

march / april 2008 spaces 63

G arden

spaces

The orchids come in diverse patterns and a rainbow of col-

ors including white, cream, yellow, green, pink, red and brown – everything but blue. They not only make wonderful patio plants, but also do fine if brought indoors when in bloom.

While potting mediums vary, the secret is a light mix

with good drainage. Most formulas include orchid bark and sponge rock, often enhanced with elements such as charcoal, peat moss, crushed volcanic rock and sand.

Fertilizing is also by personal choice, but a handful of Os-

mocote twice a year should do the trick for backyard or patio plants.

Cymbidiums can fall victim to snails; other dangers in-

clude either too much water or not enough. Near the coast, grow them in full sun most of the year and in filtered shade in the hottest summer months.

After blooming, they can be divided — just pull the roots

in half and replant. This is how cymbidium growers expand their collections. They say it’s an occupational hazard because in a couple of years, a collection can turn into a virtual cymbidium nursery.

For information on membership in the Torrance Cymbid-

ium Society, which serves the Peninsula and Beach Cities, call 310.325.0625.

Everett Stockstill, president of the Torrance Cymbidium Society, congratulates amateur orchid grower Light Matsumoto, whose yellow cymbidium captured first prize recently at a South Bay area show.

L:GC:G 8DCHIGJ8I>DC >C8# 9:H><C 7J>A9 Â&#x2122; ;^cZ 8jhidb =dbZh Â&#x2122; CZl 8dchigjXi^dc Â&#x2122; GZbdYZah Â&#x2122; 6YY^i^dch

(&% (,*",%+-

Serving the Palos Verdes Peninsula for 25 years

(&% (,*",%+) [Vm lZgcZgVcYhdch5Xdm#cZi 8dcigVXidgh A^XZchZ *-,**.

Checking out the list of live auction items at “Once Upon a Hillsides” benefit: Joan McCarthy, left, of La Canada Flintridge, and Lee and Jill Harry, of Toluca Lake.

Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart, of Encino, at the annual gala to benefit Hillsides.

Mary Dee Hacker, left, and her husband Dr. Steven Nishibayashi, of Glendale, flank Debbe Booth, center, of San Marino.

Hillsides benefit chairwoman, Kristina Lomax and her husband Chris, of Pasadena, were all smiles at the annual gala, which raised $372,000 for Hillsides programs for abused children.

Photos of Joan McCarthy and Jean Smart: Affinity Portraits. All other photos: James Carbone.

cause for applause

Spring garden blooms at annual benefit for Hillsides

By Patt Diroll

A

black-tie crowd of more than 300 braved rain-slicked freeways to attend the annual benefit for Hillsides, held at downtown L.A.’s California Club on February 23. The lavish dinner dance and auction raised

a record $372,000 for the 95-year-old center for abused children. Located on

17 acres in a quiet Pasadena neighborhood, Hillsides operates five residential cottages and three off-campus satellite treatment homes for kids referred by the L.A. Superior Court and the city’s Department of Mental Health

The stormy-weather challenge was soon

forgotten when guests entered the club’s main dining room, where benefit chairwoman Kristina Lomax and Pasadena florist Jacob Maarse teamed up to create a spectacular spring garden scene in keeping with the theme, “Once Upon A Hillsides.”

April Talton and her husband, Bishop Suffragan Chester Talton, of Pasadena, left, and Lyn Spector, of South Pasadena.

Kay and Davey Johnstone, of Calabasas Hills. Davey is Elton John’s guitarist and musical director.

Witty NBC4 weatherman Fritz Coleman

presided over the live auction, which included glamorous cruises, front row seats for Elton John’s concert in Las Vegas and a chance to sing “Barbara Ann” live on stage with the Beach Boys at their San Diego concert in June.

Jennifer and Sam Cargill, of Altadena. For the sixth consecutive year, Sam was the high bidder for the chance to sing “Barbara Ann” live on stage with The Beach Boys.

march / april 2008 spaces 65

Judy Weber and Coco

Knock, knock.

Rickey Gelb and Dave Evans share a joke.

Dr. Charles and Nancy Hanson.

A cute puppy, dinner with firemen, auctioned at Tree of Life gala in the Valley Honoree Jolene Koester with Dr. Marlene Bane, vice president of Encino-Tarzana Hospital Charitable Foundation.

T

By Yvette Guigneaux

he Encino-Tarzana Hospital Charitable Foundation’s annual fund-

raiser, the Tree of Life gala, was the place to be February 14 to bid on a bichon frisé puppy and dinner for four at LA Fire Station No. 83. Never

mind that some of the best medical and educational minds were also in the room.

Held at the Valley Beth Shalom Temple in Encino, the auction raised

money for nursing scholarships.

Jolene Koester, president of California State University, Northridge, re-

ceived the Tree of Life Award for her ongoing achievements at the university.

Sandy Goldman shares a toast and hors d’oeurves with Leah and Gerald Granof.

Great minds not only think alike, they help others. Left to right, Sandy Goldman, president of the Encino-Tarzana Hospital Charitable Foundation; Judy Weber, executive director of Tobinworld; Dr. Charles Hanson, accepting on behalf of Valley Trauma Center; Nury Martinez, executive director of Pacoima Beautiful; and Jolene Koester, president of California State University, Northridge.

66 spaces march / april 2008

PHOTOS: HARVEY BRANMAN

cause for applause

Southern California is a unique collection of neighborhoods, styles and personalities unlike any other metropolitan area. SPACES is the first magazine designed to celebrate Southern California by looking at our living spaces — both public and private — and exploring the diverse personalities and lifestyles that fill those spaces.

COMING NEXT ISSUE Summer is almost here and our favorite place, once again, becomes the backyard. In our next issue, dive into the newest trends in swimming pools — with valuable advice from the owners of some of the most beautiful private pools in our neighborhoods. We also bring you the latest in backyard tiling, spas, lighting, furniture and landscaping from top experts. Get ready to entertain in style.

Available May 14

8 1 8 . 7 1 3 . 3 2 9 4 march / april 2008 spaces 67

southern california

Southern California Spaces is available at the following locations:

In the San Fernando & Conejo Valleys…

In the South Bay…

Agoura Hills Asian Persuasion

El Segundo Sleep All

Pacific Coast StyleThe Salon

Gardenia Maxx Home Improvement

Tu Casa Furniture

Granada Hills M & M Interiors

Century 21

17722 Chatsworth St.

Maria Bella Salon

Northridge Beautiful Options Salon

5683 Kanan Rd. 5015 Cornell Rd., #D

Pool ‘N’ Spa Emporium 5011 Kanan Rd.

Zandi Rugs & Design 28710 Canwood St, Unit 100

Calabasas Magnolia

23677 Calabasas Rd.

Sperling Nursery, Inc. 24460 Calabasas Rd.

Canoga Park Westside Tile & Stone 7631 Canoga Ave,

Chatsworth Omaggio Glass

9400 Lurline Ave, Unit C

Plush Salon

10228 Mason Ave.

Rick Myers Flooring & Design

10316 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Encino Home Design Center

9155 Reseda Blvd.

Robertson’s Inc. 18217 Parthenia St.

17953 Ventura Blvd.

Velvet Hands Nail Salon & Day Spa 17143 Ventura Blvd.

Tarzana Jennifer Convertibles

18477 Ventura Blvd.

The Cherryl Alan Design Group

12232- 1/2 Ventura Blvd.

Arte Fina

13830 Ventura Blvd.

Body Lounge

13952 Ventura Blvd.

Carol Todd At Home 13950 Ventura Blvd.

Flooring America 13544 Ventura Blvd.

Furniture Etc.

18525 Ventura Blvd.

Illumination Lighting and Design 13606 Ventura Blvd.

Lene’s Place

13622 Ventura Blvd.

Light Bulbs Unlimited

14446 Ventura Blvd.

Sofa Interiors Collection

Unique Home Design

14900 Ventura Blvd.

Architexture

13736 Ventura Blvd.

Status: The Salon

17047 Ventura Blvd.

The Crystal Palace

Sit and Sleep

Mark’s Garden

The Futon Shop

12328 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks Arch Stone

17461 Ventura Blvd.

17200 Ventura Blvd.

Mother of Pearl & Sons Trading Company

12344 Ventura Blvd.

Sperling Carpet 13960 Ventura Blvd.

The Nail Shop

15030 #3 Ventura Blvd.

Studio City AQ Nail Spa

11239 Ventura Blvd.

19119 Ventura Blvd.

18734 Ventura Blvd.

Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks Fans & Lighting

1125 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

West Hills Ideal Interior Design 8201 Capistrano Ave.

Westlake Village Pacific Rim Home 31139 Via Colinas, #203

1625 W. 190th St.

Hermosa Beach Bali House 600 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Stars Antique Market 526 Pier Ave,

Lakewood Nails & Spa 2664 Carson St.

Lomita Andersen’s Decorating Center

2055 Palos Verdes Dr. North

South Bay Design Center

2413 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Long Beach 2 BD Living

6511-A Pacific Coast Hwy.

Woodland Hills De Light Ville

59001 Gifts, Home Furnishings

22766 Ventura Blvd.

5001 E. Second St.

Floor Design Center

Audio Concepts

1855 Pacific Ave.

Wall Units Home Furnishings 2198 Lakewood Blvd.

Woof & Warp Fabrics 6507 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Los Angeles Closet Factory

12800 South Broadway

Kitchen Warehouse

2149 West Washington Blvd.

Manhattan Beach Maison Luxe 1419 Highland Ave.

Supreme Paint Decorating Centers 708 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Marina Del Rey Petals N Wax Home 13455 Maxella Ave.

Greg’s Carpet One 213 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Hardwood Floor Specialties

1022 S. Pacific Coast Hwy

Le Garage Home & Garden

717 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

ML Marble, INC

1305 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Salon Constance

1215 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Supreme Paint

1002 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

V & J Stairs Corp.

1204 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Vintage Home

350 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Rolling Hills Estates Gilt Edge

707 Montana Ave.

Circle Audi

23170 Ventura Blvd.

1919 N. Lakewood Blvd.

Renaissance

Coast Cadillac

Redondo Beach 2 For 1 Frame Store

22531 Ventura Blvd.

3399 E. Willow St.

112 N. Catalina Ave.

The Headline Salon

Edgewater Spas

Bay Cities Nails & Spa

22705 Ventura Blvd.

4000 Cherry Ave.

403 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Wall Units Inc.

Friedmans Appliance Center

Clark Adams Windows and Doors

1827 E. Spring St.

2411 Artesia Blvd.

Image

Cop o Tan VII

6214 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

413 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Nona’s Gallery & Framing

Door & Deck Store

7110 Vineyard Dr.

1032 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Palos Verdes The Travel Door

13455 Maxella Ave.

Glamour Nails

Paso Robles Opolo Vineyards

Essence of Living

45 Peninsula Center

6236 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

22223 Ventura Blvd.

1702 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Spa & Skin Care Center

22736 Ventura Blvd.

4812 E. 2nd St.

68 spaces march / april 2008

6232 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Equus Gallery

31 Peninsula Center

1304 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Santa Monica American Beauty Bay Cities Kitchen & Appliances 1302 Santa Monica Blvd.

Berk’s Luxury Outdoor Furniture

2520 Santa Monica Blvd.

Designs Within Reach 332 Santa Monica Blvd.

Effandi- Decorative Antique Rugs 1210-B Montana Ave.

Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery 2202 Broadway

“ I T ’ S T H E # 1 L I V I N G R O O M VA L U E I N A M E R I C A ! ”

6

Magnolia Audio

Signal Hill Granite Transformations

2800 Wilshire Blvd.

2940 Gardena Ave.

Paykel Fireplace Fixtures

Mercedes-Benz/ Shelly Automotive

Rosemarie McCaffrey-Antiques

Torrance All Travel

Ital Design Inc. 2102 Wlshire Blvd.

1820 Broadway

1203 Montana Ave.

Santa Monica Bay Physicians 804 Seventh Street

Stone Art-Picture Framing Gallery 419 Wilshire Blvd.

Z Gallerie 1426 3rd St.

Ziv Simone & Associates

American International Tile & Stone 112 N. Catalina

Bellagio Nails & Spa 21135 Hawthorne Blvd.

Clark Adams Windows and Doors 23841 Hawthorne Blvd.

Seal Beach Art Images Gallery

Fancy Floors

130.5 Main St.

& S O FA B E D S

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304 Main St.

708 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

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Torrance Plumbing, Heating & AC

231 Main St.

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770 Pacific Coast Hwy.

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TORRANCE 3762 Pacific Coast Hwy., 310-378-4201

© 2008 Hunter Douglas, Inc. ® and ™ are trademarks of Hunter Douglas, Inc.

march / april 2008 spaces 69

PHOTOS: DON ADAMS

historical spaces

The Leonis Adobe Still the “King of Calabasas”

M

ention Calabasas and the first images that spring to mind are prob-

ably a) gated communities, b) the first citywide smoking ban in America and c) singers Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey’s former

MTV reality show, “The Newlyweds,” filmed out of their former home in a gated community.

It is only fitting to remember that the center of Calabasas is, in fact, home

to Los Angeles’ very first historical landmark building — the Leonis Adobe.

Originally built in 1844 by the wild frontiersman Miguel Leonis, one of the

most colorful figures of early Los Angeles who was dubbed the “King of Calabasas” because of his land holdings and private army, the house and grounds were turned into a museum in 1966.

In 1983, the Plummer House, known as the oldest struc-

ture in Hollywood, was also moved to the grounds, making for a cultural tour particularly rich in architectural history.

The Leonis Adobe is regarded as the center of “Old Town” Calabasas and sets the tone for the rustic stores and restaurants in the area.

The Leonis Adobe Museum 23537 Calabasas Road Calabasas 818.222.6511 Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm.

A $10 donation is suggested.

There are those who admire the extraordirary.

And those who define it.

Experience our definition.

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Outdoor Furniture

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2520 Santa Monica Blvd. 310.828.7447

S e r v i n g S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a f o r O v e r 5 0 Ye a r s