Southbay Home I 2020 by Moon Tide Media

a publication of southbay magazine

SOUTHBAY.GOLDENSTATE.IS

spring 2020

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a publication of southbay magazine

spring 2020

A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE Certainty … it seems fleeting at the moment, doesn’t it? There are plenty of reasons why uncertainty is at the top of our conversation list, but let me attempt to shift that for just a moment. I am certain that grit and communion are the antagonists of fear and division. I am certain that the unknown fuels anxiousness. But I am also certain that we have the ability to navigate a global pandemic a bit lighter today than we did yesterday. Make no mistake: We are in the middle of a very unsettling time. But what if there is a slightly gentler way of going about all this? What if the headline did not lead with fear but was replaced by grit, valor and community? This may seem counterintuitive, but I am certain it can happen. Our commitment at Southbay is that no matter the twists and turns ahead, we choose to lighten the conversation through communal storytelling and buoyancy. We are not ignoring what is happening all around us, yet we are choosing to lead differently than the rest—reminding us all what an exhale feels like. Welcome to the spring edition of Southbay HOME. Life at home. Togetherness. Something we all know very well at the moment. Drawing inspiration from how others dwell—through design and architecture—can be a nice change of pace. So pour yourself a glass and rest easy while perusing, because we are choosing to lead with a different narrative. Stay healthy,

Jared Sayers Group Publisher

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

1116 8TH STREET SUITE E MANHATTAN BEACH, CA 90266 LIC# 872349 310.648.8353 OFFICE@RJSMITHCONSTRUCTION.COM

INSIDE

FEATURES

SOUL CONNECTION The Kushner family melds South African roots with California cool to create a personalized pad like no other.

ON THEIR OWN TIME A Manhattan Beach couple refreshes their residence with timeless accents, functional indoor and outdoor space, and a few unexpected design elements.

THE RIGHT MOVE

THE CASE STUDY HOUSES AT 75

A temporary residence in Lunada Bay turns into one family’s dream home.

Reflecting on the Case Study House Program’s influence on the modernist movement.

CREATIVE MINDS THINK ALIKE Lalita Koehler and Fabio Costa knew exactly what they wanted in a home. They just needed to find the right team to make it happen.

34 104

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

104

COMING FULL CIRCLE After a series of life events, a Manhattan Beach mom and business owner reinvents her home for the next chapter.

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In the gated community of Rolling Hills This amazing 8 acre estate features panoramic views, a perfectly remodeled, one level, 4 bedroom home, sprawling backyard with pool and spa, private guest house, tennis court and horse facilities including a 6-stall barn with a finished loft. $4,390,000

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Become one of the privileged few to call Terranea a personal seaside sanctuary for every season. With your very own 24-hour Owners Concierge, preferred pricing at all eight dining establishments and Spa, a masterfully designed championship nine-hole, par-three golf course and access to four distinct pool environments, owning at Terranea means everything is taken care of. Just relax and enjoy the comfort of in-residence room service, housekeeping and a professional resort management staff to care for your Villa or Casita vacation home around the clock. 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

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For a showing, please call 424-275-5750 TERRANEAREALESTATE.COM

INSIDE ALSO 31

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

100 TRAVEL

Make an Entrance

CLOSE TO HOME

ESSENTIALS Rattan Redux

When this new edition of Southbay HOME began taking shape

AT HOME WITH ... Nicole Tangen

Roadside Attraction

138

AND… 62

earlier this year, our lives forged ahead at a clipped pace. Our restaurants were bustling with patrons; our shops were busy

MEDIA

surfers and sunbathers. Now, as we go to press, that scene has speed slowed, our routines revised, our priorities adjusted.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Door to Door Cleaners

Designing Women

with retail sales; our beaches were clamoring with runners, changed. For the immediate future, we are mostly home—our

FINAL OFFER

ESSENTIALS Out of the Blue

115

DESIGN SHOWCASES The South Bay’s Top Home Professionals

As we connect to our personal spaces in ways we never imagined, we are likely thinking about our homes in new ways. What area of the home offers the most comfort? What home improvement project could I responsibly take on right now? How will my perception of home be changed after all this is over? For better or worse, we’re all intrinsically attached to our homes at this moment in our lives. The challenge is turning a sense of isolation into an opportunity for growth within our

confines. That growth may be physical, with a needed repair or enhancement. It could also be emotional, with a deeper connection to a space that creates joy and refuge. If home is indeed where the heart is, there may be no better time than now to dig deeper into that understanding.

Darren Elms

ON THE COVER The Kushner kids at home Photographed by Lauren Pressey

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

GROUP PUBLISHER

Darren Elms

Jared Sayers

CREAETIVE DIRECTOR

ADVERTISING

Michelle Villas

Associate Publisher | Amy Tetherow 424-220-6338 | amy@goldenstate.is

COPY EDITOR Laura Watts

Director of Brand Partnerships | Erika Carrion 310-897-2424 | erika@goldenstate.is

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nikki Smith

Director of Brand Partnerships | Marcie Gutierrez 424-220-6337 | marcie@goldenstate.is

WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Amber Klinck, Tanya Monaghan,

Director of Brand Partnerships | Jen Turquand

Jennie Nunn, Gail Phinney

424-220-6335 | jen@goldenstate.is

PHOTOGRAPHERS Siri Berting, Roger Davies, Joe Fletcher, Shane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell, Lauren Pressey

SOUTHBAY IS A DIVISION OF THE GOLDEN STATE COMPANY

MANAGING PARTNERS Charlie Koones

Todd Klawin

MARKETING & OPERATIONS Partner/Brand Publisher | Emily Stewart Partner/Managing Director, Media & Analytics | Warren Schaffer Director of Digital | Charles Simmons Director of Film & Video | Bryce Lowe-White Operations Director | Allison Jeackjuntra Community Manager | Natalie Long Accounting | Janet De La Cruz, Ljay Farris, Margy Way To learn more about us, visit thegoldenstatecompany.com.

No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from The Golden State Company, LLC. Any and all submissions to this or any of The Golden State Company, LLC publications become the property of The Golden State Company, LLC and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit. TO OUR READERS Southbay HOME welcomes your feedback. Please send letters to: Reader Response Department, Southbay HOME Please include your name, address and email. Edited letters may be published. SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: info@goldenstate.is or phone: 310-376-7800. Subscriptions are $29 per year. 200 N. Pacific Coast Highway., Suite 110, El Segundo, CA 90245 Tel 310-376-7800 | Fax 310-376-0200 | goldenstate.is | southbay.goldenstate.is

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

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FI R S T I M P R E S S I O N S

MAKE AN ENTRANCE WHEN DESIGNING AN ENTRYWAY AND ADJOINING BATHROOM, A DESIGNER CELEBRATES SMALL SPACES WHILE MAXIMIZING THEIR POTENTIAL. “When you walk through the front door, I wanted something that would immediately catch the eye as well as serve a practical purpose,” shares interior designer Julia Newman Pedraza. She started with a custom entry table to play off the wood elements in the home. The space was further enhanced with a chandelier to accentuate the unique moldings on the ceiling. Storage and a seating area were created with a long built-in bench, custom cushions in neutral tones and throw pillows to give an inviting touch. Behind the bench, wallcovering in soft blue with a subtle texture gives the appearance of a textile. Three antique Italian paintings—part of the client’s private collection—and Roman shades finish the look.

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

FI R S T I M P R E S S I O N S

The powder room makes more of a statement. “These small spaces need a big personality to compete,” says Julia. “As guests use this room, I wanted to make it unique and inviting.” After she found wallpaper with a foil sheen, everything else—like the gold accents—fell into place. “Even with the door only slightly ajar, this room catches the eye,” she says. n GET THE LOOK Wallcoverings: Osborne & Little, osborneandlittle.com Lighting fixture: Rejuvenation, rejuvenation.com

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

Soul Connection The Kushner family melds South African roots with California cool to create a personalized pad like no other. WRITTEN BY TANYA MONAGHAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROGER DAVIES & LAUREN PRESSEY

arren Kushner was born and raised in South Africa. He traveled the world—first as a pro surfer and later as a world-renowned commercial and film director. But his roots always

remained strong, and South Africa just felt like home. Warren’s wife, Dana, grew up in SoCal but also fell in love with South Africa on their many trips there—including the one when they got married. The couple imagined a unique space in California that would feel like a home from the motherland. They created a soulful, architectural dream—both organic and sophisticated—with an effortless charm that embraces an outdoor lifestyle. Their home invites you in with the warmth of a close friend but leaves you in awe as you marvel at the skillful blend of earthiness and high design. The Kushners and their three children travel extensively, usually following surf around the world. Their eldest son, Kai, has already made quite a name for himself in the sport. So it was no surprise that this shared love of surfing was a heavy influence on the design of their home. Once their youngest child, Josie, was a few years old, they decided to look for a larger property in Manhattan Beach and bought a two-lot teardown on a walk street. Then began the Kushners’ search for an architect who could make their dream house become a reality. Though South Africa was the source of their inspiration, they also admired an incredible house in Laguna Beach’s Emerald Bay designed by Grant Kirkpatrick of KAA Design Group. Once they met him and found out that Grant was also a Manhattan Beach local, they knew he had to be the one to build it. For more than 30 years, Grant has been creating unique homes custom-tailored to his many clients’ lifestyles. He is a third-generation Californian who learned much from his father passionately taking care of his family’s 2 acres of land in Palos Verdes. He attributes how he sees beauty to his deep connection to nature and being able to read the land. “It chose me when I was a young kid and my parents remodeled their traditional ranch house on their property,” Grant explains of his road to a career in architecture. “One night I borrowed the contractor’s plans and drew all over them. The next day, after a stern lecture, my dad introduced me to two elements of what would become my whole world: a drafting table and stool. That was it. Architecture would be my manifestation of beauty.”

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

The Kushners’ initial design process started on a scrap piece of parchment paper drawn in Grant’s office. Grant admits he was nervous in the beginning. “The South African aspect was real and authentic to the Kushners, but my challenge was how to bring that aesthetic to the California coast. My greatest sense of pride in this project is infusing the South African lifestyle into a California beach house.” With an aggressive amount of square feet but a tight budget, Grant and his partner Eric Evens got to work. Since the property is situated close to the beach, a key objective was to maximize the stunning sea views. The main obstacle was to get above the big structure sitting in front of their lot. Grant and Eric came up with the idea to boomerang the structure out to the sides so they could get better access to those coveted ocean views. The whole concept was financially, technically and structurally challenging. In need of additional expertise, they brought in structural engineer Ken Niver and executive architect Luis Murillo of LM Design & Associates to realize the plan. The street-side entrance is flanked with limestone pillars and a custom South African wood screen acting as a natural curtain. Beautiful, natural green landscaping with sprinkles of wild lavender border the stepstones to the door. Once the grand, one-story reclaimed wood door opens, you step into a modern version of a safari beach house. A rustic, woven light fixture hovers over floating stairs, with a 5-foot wooden giraffe at the base. The giraffe is a nod to the South African aesthetic carried throughout the home, and it is also sentimental—it’s the very same giraffe that Warren grew up with in his childhood home. The top floor offers a living area for the family boasting an indoor/outdoor flow and a stunning roof deck pool surrounded by real grass. Although artificial turf might have been a more practical solution, the choice demonstrates the authenticity of the Kushners’ vision of staying true to a house made completely from natural elements. Warren nostalgically remembers the welcome sensation of cool grass under his feet after walking on the hot desert sand in his hometown of Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo desert area of South Africa’s Western Cape.

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“Warren nostalgically remembers the welcome sensation of cool grass under his feet after walking on the hot desert sand in his hometown of Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo desert area of South Africa’s Western Cape.”

Many aspects tie in both aesthetically and structurally. The living area is elevated and offers its occupants an open-air penthouse living experience, with a bridge that goes across the entryway and grants access to the master bedroom. The second floor consists of the kids’ bedrooms and communal play area. The ground floor comprises a separate, exquisite suite that can comfortably board six guests—a haven for the Kushners’ visiting friends and family. It opens to an outdoor hangout area, bordering the walk street that leads down to the beach. And, of course, this tribe of surfers built an impressive surfboard room on the ground floor that houses their endless array of surfboards and surf trophies. The family’s beach lifestyle made an outdoor staircase and shower a necessity so they can easily run straight from the surf to the pool and spa on the top floor without going through the house. The materials and textures used in the home were similarly well-thought-out. The polished concrete floors anchoring the airy rooms with a perfect shade of grey complement the wood and stone elements. The concrete was poured and ground to reveal the aggregate within its composition. Safari lodge pictures inspired the bamboo that can be seen woven throughout the house. In South Africa, eucalyptus dowels are used as insulation to keep houses warm in winter and cooler in the summer. Warren still remembers the exact footage of the seven 210-foot dowels filling the containers that came directly from South Africa. The entire top floor roof is made from this

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

eucalyptus and helps filter the light that streams through. The “Nevada gold” limestone used in the design proved to be challenging, as California has restrictions with stone due to earthquakes. Because the Kushners wanted it to look raw as it does is in its natural element, Grant decided to “over-grout” it to make it look more organic. He treated the stone in a monolithic manner, not as separate pieces—going so far as to carve and taper certain areas to create movement for the eye. The stone element was also strategically brought inside in certain areas. They also chose to expose and celebrate the structural steel beams that hold up the home inside and out. Both the steel and eucalyptus columns play a role in joining the structural with the aesthetic and enhancing the authenticity of the design. Thousands of eucalyptus reeds become a blanket of natural texture, with hanging lights dropping down from the surface. The indoor/outdoor flow carries through to the couple’s sanctuary, a master suite that boasts a spectacular view of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The bedroom exudes warmth with wide white oak floors, custom-made white oak cabinetry and Caesarstone on the sink. A lone standing bathtub creates the focal point of the room. Many of the individual South African design features, including all the lights, were sourced by Dana at Malibu Market & Design, owned by fellow South African Eytan Levin. Even their Roche Bobois couch in the living room was bought in Cape Town. As the indoor/outdoor flow didn’t leave much wall space for art, they focused instead on the play of textures and textiles—all conforming to an earthy color palette throughout the home. The entire kitchen is framed in 250-year-old reclaimed white oak barn wood sourced from the East Coast. The outdoor area acts as a dining room, but when the weather is not cooperative, their custom-made breakfast nook gets plenty of use. Lovers of the outdoors, the family regularly entertains on the open top floor, and Warren in particular shines as a master on the “braai”—South African for BBQ. The house truly reflects the warm, soulful nature of the Kushner family. They care deeply and attend to every detail, while maintaining a relaxed, welcoming, friendly home that is as authentic to their roots as it is impressive to behold. ¢

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both the steel and eucalyptus columns play a role in joining the structural with the aesthetic and enhancing the authenticity of the design.â&#x20AC;?

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

E S S EN T I A L S

RATTAN REDUX

BOHO MEETS THE ISLANDS WITH THESE HANDCRAFTED WOVEN WARES. CURATED BY JENNIE NUNN

1. Flower-shaped basket, $79; Crate and

4 Hanging rattan bench, $998; serenaandlily.com

Barrel at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, crateandbarrel.com

5. Ria bookshelf, $329; urbanoutﬁtters.com

2. Melody rattan storage cabinet, $379; Urban

6 Vintage rattan dining chair, $895; jaysonhome.com

Outfitters at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, urbanoutﬁtters.com

7. Curved rattan bed, $2,098; anthropologie.com

3. Anguilla rattan coffee table, $898;

8. Avalon rattan bar, $899; cb2.com

serenaandlily.com

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

HACIENDA DE PRADO ROLLING HILLS

$18,999,000

One of the most rare & expansive ocean view properties to ever be offered on the PV Peninsula. Mostly flat 10.28 acres in one of the most private and exclusive locations featuring a newly constructed 8,900 sf authentic Spanish Revival â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hacienda Del Pradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with luxurious barn and paddocks + riding arena, enormous pool/view deck with 660 sf pergola, tennis court, 2 large motor courts & so much more. Built with custom luxury appointments throughout & designed by Architect, Michael Burch, the estate boasts 5 BDs, 9 BAs, an office, an additional 1000 SF of basement that could be a safe room or theater & an employee lounge.

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Neil Chhabria

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Neil@ChhabriaRE.com BRE: 01821437

ChhabriaRE.com

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Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed, buyer to conduct own investigations.

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

AT H O M E W IT H …

NICOLE TANGEN

STAY-AT-HOME MOM PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY STYLED BY TANYA MONAGHAN

Where?

have over 12 species of fruit trees, a vegetable

If you could change one thing at your home,

We live in Rolling Hills. It represents the best of

garden, a large swimming pool, sprawling lawn,

what would it be?

“town and country” living with a coastal, eques-

trellised patios, an outdoor fireplace, barbecue,

One thing that we miss after moving away

trian community that is still near all of the ameni-

pizza oven and riding ring.

from Manhattan Beach is having more health-

ties that Los Angeles has to offer.

ier café choices.

Did you employ any design help with

How long at this current home?

your landscaping?

If you could live anywhere else in the world,

My husband, Darren, and I both originally hail from

We were lucky enough to move into our home

where would it be?

Vancouver, British Columbia. Shortly after we were

with a beautifully landscaped property that is

We enjoy spending time in Whistler, Fiji and Cabo

married, we both moved to Southern California

currently maintained by Mike Forsberg Landscape

San Lucas, but you can’t beat Southern California.

where we spent 15 years living in Manhattan

& Maintenance. The property’s fruit trees and

Beach. Then we moved “up the hill” to Rolling Hills

vegetable garden needed some TLC, so we hired

What should every home have and why?

in 2018. We were looking for an environment for

Farmscape Gardens—the largest urban farming

Every home should have a mini-garden planter.

our girls and dogs that felt a little bit more like

venture in the country—to help redesign and man-

Growing one is challenging and requires patience,

how we were both raised in Canada: a backyard

age our vegetable garden.

but there is so much joy you receive from eating

with ample space to play sports, adorned with an

fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables. Alfred Austin

abundance of trees, vegetable garden, swimming

Do you have a favorite feature of your garden?

says, “To nurture a garden is to feed not just the

pool and surrounding open space to hike, moun-

The trees! There are kumquats, loquats, peaches,

body but the soul.” ¢

tain bike and ride horses.

plums, lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins, apple, mango, guava, passion fruit, figs, grapefruit and

Who lives here?

avocado trees. Not only do the trees provide

Darren, our “four” daughters (Gabrielle, Emme, our

us with delicious fruit but also much-needed,

Labrador retriever Akela and our Labahoula Lulu)

unexpected, calming therapy—getting your hands

and myself.

dirty, time to think while harvesting the fruit, being outdoors in nature and nurturing your garden.

How would you describe the style of your home?

There is too much fruit to eat on our own, so we

Originally built in 1952, the exterior of our home

pass along the vitamin C love to others by giving

is traditional, California ranch-style architecture.

away most of the fruit.

Upon moving in, Timme G. Designs, Inc. updated the interior to reflect a modern farmhouse décor

Do you like to entertain at home or prefer to

and design.

enjoy it on your own? We love giving our guests a relaxed escape from

Do you favor any particular color palettes?

busy Los Angeles. You can actually find a free

We favor generally neutral colors but with a pref-

place to park with no time limit! We also can

erence for navy blue.

happily and easily accommodate our out-of-town guests since we have a detached guesthouse,

What will never make its way into your home?

gym, craft cottage (displaying Emme’s and

Sadly, a cat. Not because of the dogs, but because

Gabrielle’s artwork and Nicole’s grandmother’s

I’m allergic to cats.

framed needlepoint projects), barn game room

“NOT ONLY DO THE TREES PROVIDE US WITH DELICIOUS FRUIT BUT ALSO MUCH-NEEDED, UNEXPECTED, CALMING THERAPY.”

and wine cellar. Our barn and riding arena round What do you love about your outdoor space?

out the remainder of the property, bringing happi-

We love our whole property. These 2.8 acres bring

ness to all who visit our current guest horse, Tinka.

us so much peace, tranquility and privacy. We

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

on their own time A Manhattan Beach couple looks to a South Bay design firm to refresh a residence replete with timeless accents, functional indoor and outdoor space, and a few unexpected design elements. WRITTEN BY JENNIE NUNN PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

hen Michigan transplants Eric and Cara Worley moved to California in 2001, they first landed in Huntington Beach

and later mid-city. But they yearned for a sense of community for their children, then ages 3 and 5. “We were living in mid-city Los Angeles, and we didn’t feel like we were really part of the community. And the kids’ friends were all over L.A.,” explains Cara. “We looked at neighborhoods that would give us those things that we felt we were missing, and great public schools was the main criteria.” Enter Manhattan Beach, where the couple found a Cape Cod-style home in the Hill section in 2008. “We loved the traditional style of the house [we’re from the Midwest and are fairly traditional people], and of course the location,” adds Cara. “We’ve always felt that we had the best spot in Manhattan Beach where we can walk to downtown and the beach. It’s on a quiet little street and has the absolute best view.” Although they lived in the house for a decade, they’d contemplated reinventing and updating the darker, more traditional space. They realized the house wasn’t exactly what they needed in terms of functionality and style. “After 10 years of being there, it didn’t feel like our style anymore and the layout didn’t really work,” recalls Cara, who admits they had grappled with the idea of possibly even moving. “We felt there wasn’t a better place to go. There used to be walls in the kitchen, and the back deck area was much smaller with unusable space. I really wanted it to be opened up and have more kitchen space and more outdoor space. Since we live at the beach, we wanted to make the most of it.” Through local publications and design research, the couple turned to Manhattan Beach–based designer Wendy Word of Wendy Word Design.

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“It feels like a retreat or a sanctuary.” “We really loved her style and her work, so we met with her and decided to move forward with her,” says Cara. “I basically told her what I wanted to do functionally and showed her a bunch of inspiration that I had been collecting over a long period of time. We wanted to make it more current and brighter and also at the same time create something timeless.” For the 13-month project that included frequent design meetings with the couple, Wendy and her co-designer Megan Acuna brought on expert collaborators: architect Michael Eserts and Elite Design Builders. “The exterior was a traditional Cape Cod with just a few updates needed [the gates and rails, light fixtures, color and new front door], but the interior was a triple threat: dark, drab and dated,” says Wendy. She appointed the home with white oak flooring, a calming palette of whites, blues and blacks with contrasting elements, and an artful mix of globally sourced textiles from Africa, China and India. “The Worleys were looking for an easy elegance with sophisticated yet inviting surroundings. The color palette was a strong enough suggestion of a coastal identity, and the finished home reflects this family and its lifestyle.”

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

The kitchen, once a disjointed layout lined

The subtle layering effect continues in the

and dining. “We absolutely love this space,” adds

with pine floors, is now outfitted with clean,

living room, fashioned with an updated fireplace

Cara of the refreshed area that she enjoys with

bright white cabinets, a backsplash with Grove

and shelving, and bespoke upholstered pieces in

Eric, their son and daughter, and the family’s black

Brickworks tile by Waterworks and a massive,

worldly textiles with eye-catching patterns and

Labrador retriever, Buddy.

10½-foot Calacatta marble island. “It needed to be

textures. “They wanted something timeless and

craned in and hoisted over the deck and installed

lasting but still on-trend, and we tried to find

built-ins and barbecue area, a seating zone with a

by an army of guys,” explains Wendy of the team

materials that were quiet and easy to be around,”

sectional from Restoration Hardware, an outdoor

effort to avoid a seam.

adds Wendy of the room dotted with hints of blue

rug from The Rug Company and a new proper

and black. “The ocean views and seclusion are a

staircase. “Before, the way it was laid out, it was

features a black hutch, dining chairs upholstered

rare perspective here, and you feel away from the

a very small, unusable space,” explains Cara. “We

in a shibori-inspired textile, a reclaimed French

traffic and hustle and bustle of the city. But you

wanted to have more outdoor space, so we actu-

edition farmhouse table and a vintage Mahal rug.

still have all of the benefits, so it feels like a retreat

ally ended up taking some of the interior square

“We wanted to incorporate art pieces that meant

or a sanctuary.”

footage and making it outdoor space.”

The elegant but approachable dining room

something to us,” says Cara. “We included pieces

The exterior design was also a major priority, so

The outdoor living space boasts custom teak

All settled back in, the Worleys feel right at

we bought on our honeymoon and a drawing that

much so that they allocated approximately 500

home with timeless results. “It just feels so good,”

my aunt made for me [in our office] that’s of our

square feet of the overall square footage to create

says Cara. “It’s so happy.” ¢

old home where the kids were born.”

a new designated space for lounging, entertaining

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

M ED I A

DESIGNING WOMEN

BEAUTIFUL TOMES CELEBRATING DISTINGUISHED FEMALE ARCHITECTS

EILEEN GRAY, DESIGNER

ZAHA HADID: COMPLETE WORKS

POWERHOUSE: THE LIFE AND WORK

AND ARCHITECT

1979–TODAY

OF ARCHITECT JUDITH CHAFEE

BY CHLOE PITIOT

BY PHILIP JODIDIO

BY CHRISTOPHER DOMIN AND KATHRYN MCGUIRE

Eileen Gray (1878–1976) was a versatile

Zaha Hadid was a revolutionary architect. For

designer and architect who navigated

years, she was widely acclaimed and won

Powerhouse is the first book on the sin-

numerous literary and artistic circles over

numerous prizes despite building practically

gular life and career of American architect

the course of her life. This handsome volume

nothing. Some even said her work was simply

Judith Chafee (1932–1998). Chafee was an

chronicles Gray’s career as a designer, archi-

impossible to build. Yet during the latter years

unrepentant modernist on the forefront of

tect, painter and photographer. The book’s

of her life, Hadid’s daring visions became a

sustainable design. Her architecture shows

essays, featuring copious new research, offer

reality, bringing a new and unique architec-

great sensitivity to place, especially the desert

in-depth analysis of more than 50 individual

tural language to cities and structures such

landscapes of Arizona. Chafee was also a

designs and architectural projects, accompa-

as the Port House in Antwerp, Belgium, the

social justice advocate and a highly respected

nied by both period and new photographs.

Al Janoub Stadium near Doha, Qatar, and the

woman in a male-dominated profession.

Gray struggled for acceptance as a largely

spectacular new airport terminal in Beijing.

After graduating from the Yale University

self-taught woman in male-dominated

By her untimely death in 2016, Hadid was

Architecture School, where her advisor was

professions. Although she is now best known

firmly established among architecture’s finest

Paul Rudolph, she went on to work in the

for her furniture, lighting and carpets, she

elite, working on projects in Europe, China,

offices of legends including Rudolph, Walter

dedicated herself to many architectural and

the Middle East and the United States. With

Gropius, Eero Saarinen and Edward Larrabee

interior projects that were both personal and

abundant photographs, in-depth sketches

Barnes. In addition to her architectural legacy,

socially driven.

and Hadid’s own drawings, the volume traces

her decades of teaching helped shape a

the evolution of her career—spanning not

generation of architects. Chafee’s drawings

only her most pioneering buildings but also

and archival images of her work are comple-

the furniture and interior designs that were

mented by stunning photography by Ezra

integrated into her unique and distinctly

Stoller and Bill Timmerman.

21st-century universe.

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

The Right Move A temporary residence in Lunada Bay turns into one familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream home. WRITTEN BY AMBER KLINCK PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

hen Talia and Jeff Laplant decided to relocate to the South Bay, they had two communities in mind. “My husband wanted to be in Hermosa, and I wanted to be in Palos Verdes,” Talia says.

Before committing to a home purchase, the couple decided to search for a rental property rather than rush into a decision. Six years later, their temporary residence has transformed into their forever home. Driving through Palos Verdes—not totally familiar with the area or her proximity to the ocean—Talia spotted a “For Rent” sign on a home in the Lunada Bay neighborhood. “I called the guy, and he answered the phone and said, ‘I’m not selling the house. Do not ask me if I’m selling the house.” Talia assured the owner she was only interested in renting, and soon Talia and her family of four moved in. “That was the beginning of falling in love with the area and the house,” she says. The home was nestled on a quiet street with ocean views from the main living area. Within a week, Jeff was sold on Palos Verdes. “Some nights you can hear the ocean roaring,” Talia notes. “It’s stunningly beautiful, and the weather is to die for. Sometimes you get cocooned in the fog; it’s so spectacular. I just want to sit here and take it all in.” After a year, when their lease was up, Talia called the owner again and asked him the question he told her not to ask. “I know you said it’s not for sale, but before we make an offer on another property, here’s our offer for this one.”

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“It’s stunningly beautiful, and the weather is to die for. Sometimes you get cocooned in the fog; it’s so spectacular. I just want to sit here and take it all in.”

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

It was the right time to ask; the owner was ready to sell. “I think timing is everything in life,” Talia says. The family was thrilled, but while they loved the location of their new home, there was a lot they needed to do to make it their own. “We gutted the entire house down to the studs,” she says. Guiding them through the process was principal designer and owner of KC Design Group, Kimberly Colletti. “You know, sometimes you just meet someone, and they get you,” Talia says of Kimberly. “She was so into what I wanted. She got my vision, and I got hers. It was just perfect.” “I can honestly say from the second she opened the door and said ‘hello,’ we just clicked,” Kimberly adds. The pair worked together for a year. From the beginning, Talia told Kimberly she would be a very involved client. “Talia has such great style,” Kimberly notes. “She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, and it transcends into their family home. She was very conscientious throughout the entire design process, ensuring that each family member had a place that was special for each of them.” The minute you walk in the home, your focus is pulled to the large windows showcasing ocean views. The outdoor portion off the main area serves as an extension of the living and dining rooms—another seating area for the family and guests to enjoy. Talia loves to cook and makes eating together as a family a priority—her kitchen reflects that. It’s both stunning and inviting, yet it is also a functional space to chop, dice and even spill a little red wine without worry. This blend of casual warmth and aesthetic beauty is found throughout the entire home. “I love the overall mood of the house,” Kimberly says. “The second you walk into their home, you feel relaxed and you finally get

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“The second you walk into their home, you feel relaxed and you finally get that deep breath you have been waiting for. It has such a comforting and chic vibe.”

that deep breath you have been waiting for. It has such a comforting and chic vibe.” Talia points out how much the light and the overall feel of the home change during different times of the day. The use of various textures and surface areas amplifies this transformation. “The ceiling is warmed by French white oak,” Kimberly notes. “I designed a modern version of an antiqued mirrored wall to create depth. In the evening the house glows with the fireplace reflecting from the mirror.” Coming from a larger home, it was important that every space of their new Palos Verdes residence was truly lived in—including their outdoor areas. “This is where we spend most of our time,” Talia says as she steps outside. “If the weather’s nice, we’re out here. If the weather’s cold, we grab a blanket and turn the fireplace on.” Guiding them with their outdoor design was landscape architect Robin Benezra. “A [landscape] architect is completely different than an interior designer,” Talia notes. “There is so much involved with water usage and drainage—it’s not just about making the space pretty; it’s about structure too.” Off the master suite is a door leading to another outdoor space with resort-like feel. “The kids love the pool; they always have friends over,” Talia notes. Every inch of this home is utilized and enjoyed by the Laplant family. And for Talia and Kimberly, bringing this project to fruition meant the beginning of a new friendship. “The best part of the project was working with such a wonderful family,” Kimberly says. “I hated to see it all come to an end, but in reality it has not. A beautiful friendship emerged. I think we are soul sisters.” n

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

E S S EN T I A L S

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

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THE CASE STUDY HOUSES AT 75 Models of modernism and the postwar California dream, the Case Study House Program captured the world’s imagination with the help of Julius Shulman’s iconic photographs. Now 75 years after its conception, we asked some of Los Angeles’ leading architecture and design experts to reflect on the program’s influence on the modernist movement, their own craft and what a project of this scale would look like today.

WRITTEN BY GAIL PHINNEY PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE JULIUS SHULMAN COLLECTION AT GETTY

Ray and Charles Eames at home

he story of the development of Los Angeles in the mid-20th century mirrors that of many postwar communities in America. A rising middle class sought suburban refuge and a leisure lifestyle. The Servicemen’s

Readjustment Act of 1944, known as the G.I. Bill, provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans including low-cost mortgage loans. What made Los Angeles unique was the wartime growth of the aerospace industry that brought an influx of workers from across the country attracted by the scenic landscape and proximity to Hughes Aircraft Company, Douglas Aircraft, Northrup Corporation and Lockheed Industries. As a result, Los Angeles County became the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. And with this rapidly growing population came a need for relatively affordable, replicable houses for post-World War II family living. All this set the stage for the Case Study House Program. The brainchild of publisher and editor John Entenza, the Case Study House Program was announced in the January 1945 issue of Arts & Architecture—a magazine dedicated to showcasing the best art and design of the period. The idea was simple: focus on using modern means to solve the postwar housing crisis in Los Angeles by expanding the definition of the word “house.” While Entenza was not an architect, he was a visionary champion of modernism as an architectural style. More importantly, he was passionate about supporting and promoting innovative design that would result in good housing and living in a modern way. To that end, Entenza personally invited architects to design eight houses, and the magazine would feature one each month. The initial architects included J. R. Davidson, Sumner Spaulding, Richard Neutra, Eero Saarinen, William Wurster, Charles Eames, John Rex, Ralph Rapson, Whitney Smith and Thornton Abell. It was his charge that “the house … will be conceived within the spirit of our time … best suited to the expression of man’s life in the modern world.” In fact, the program continued on and off until 1966, outlasting Entenza’s tenure with the magazine. Esther McCoy, who chronicled the program and later wrote the book Case Study Houses 1945–1962, said, “No one single event raised the level of taste in Los Angeles as did Arts & Architecture; certainly nothing could have put the city on the international scene as quickly.” All in all, Arts & Architecture commissioned 36 houses and apartment buildings. Although many of the early designs were not built, the Case Study House Program succeeded in

Charles Eames in Case Study House #8

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“The house…will be conceived within the spirit of our time…best suited to the expression of man’s life in the modern world.”

Case Study House #8

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

Case Study House #22

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

producing some of the period’s most important works of residential architecture in a style that continues to fascinate and evoke the ideals of Southern California living. If you are not familiar with the magazine, its editor-publisher

industrial materials—so innovative and influential for its time. The Case Study architects put modernism into “new clothing” with their use of glass and steel along with post and beam construction, giving residential buildings a more lightweight

or some of the Case Study House architects, you are not alone.

aesthetic after 1950. If Entenza can be credited with branding

Even in its heyday, Arts & Architecture was a professional

this new form of modernism as a lifestyle, it was architectural

magazine not well-known by the general public. What brought

photographer Julius Shulman who sold it.

the Case Study Houses into the public consciousness were the

For Case Study House #22 (1959–1960), the Stahl House

winning combination of Entenza’s singular dedication to mod-

ernism and his mastery of public relations.

of his most widely reproduced images that immortalized the

The Case Study House Program was imagined as a design-

style that came to represent the Case Study House Program

publish-build project. When completed, the houses would

and the California Dream. In a brilliant nightscape, Shulman,

be open to the public for a period of six to eight weeks. This

who photographed 18 of the Case Study Houses, captured the

was not only a practical means to measure the success of the

optimistic lifestyle of postwar Los Angeles with two women

design; it was a way for the architects to receive donated build-

casually reclining in the glowing living room as it hovers over

ing materials and product placement from high-end furniture

the sparkling lights of the metropolis below.

manufacturers such as Herman Miller Company in exchange

While Shulman would say the Stahl House was his most

for the publicity generated by McCoy’s column promoting the

successful photograph, it was actually a composite—the interior

program in the Los Angeles Times.

and exterior shot separately and the two images superimposed

Prior to the Case Study House Program, modernism was

onto one another. Architect, historian and preservationist Alan

already flourishing in Los Angeles. Frank Lloyd Wright brought

Hess reveals, “Shulman constructed a lot of his images, but he

his brand of modernism to L.A. with his 1919 textile block

was selling the story of how modern life in California was so

Hollyhock House. With him came Richard Neutra and Rudolph

appealing in its spaciousness, openness, use of nature, hillside

Schindler, both steeped in the Bauhaus tradition. Schindler’s

sites and furnishings. It is in some ways a fantasy, and that life-

1922 multifamily Kings Road House is revered for its indoor/

style is what people are still trying to recreate today.”

outdoor open floor plan, sliding glass panels and unique use of

Postwar housing was about mass production, so the ultimate

Julius Shulman photographing Case Study House #22

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

example was Case Study House #8 (1945–1949)—the Charles and Ray Eames house—because it was built with prefabricated industrial parts that were assembled. The same year Charles Eames, along with Eero Saarinen, designed Case Study House #9 for Entenza to occupy the same lot. They worked with Alexander Girard, designer for Herman Miller, to create the furnishings and fabrics for both. What Entenza succeeded in doing so effectively with the Case Study House Program was capturing and sharing the important ideas that were bubbling up in Southern California during the mid-20th century. His project was forward-thinking— bringing together the best young design talents to solve the problems of the day. Happily, most Case Study Houses are on the National Register of Historic Places, and mid-century modern homes are highly sought-after. However, there was a period when modernism and the Case Study Houses fell out of favor. As early as the 1960s, there was a movement away from modernism. Frances Anderton, host of DnA: Design and Architecture on KCRW in Los Angeles, explains it this way: “Intellectuals like Robert Venturi and Michael Graves on the East Coast were saying, ‘Bring back some decoration. We want to get away from this stripped-down, getting-everything-down-to-bare-essentials and doctrinaire approach to building.’ All these architects who looked for a breaking out of the box—what now comes under the umbrella of postmodernism—were trained in the modernist ethos at the schools they’d gone to, but they just wanted to do something different and experiment. In Los Angeles, Frank Gehry was a part of that.” By the end of the 1980s postmodernism was waning, and interest in modernism was on the upswing. Anderton believes that postmodernism was ultimately an architectural style that lived largely on paper and didn’t provide the same fully rounded building system and lifestyle as modernism. While there may have been other contributing factors, the revival of interest in the Case Study House Program was greatly influenced by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles exhibition Blueprints for Modern Living: History and Legacy of the Case Study Houses, curated by Elizabeth A. T. Smith, 1989–1990. The exhibition catalogue provides detailed information on each of the Case Study Houses, as well as illuminating Case Study House #9

thoughts by important architectural historians, including Esther McCoy’s final essay on the subject. Perhaps most interesting was The Museum of Contemporary Art’s decision to extend and update the Case Study House Program by inviting six architects and designers—Itsuko Hasegawa, Craig Hodgetts, Toyo Ito, Robert Mangurian, Eric Owen

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

Case Study House #9

Moss and Adèle Naudé Santos—to contribute their own designs for experimental housing reflecting the spirit of their times.

Both firms uphold their commitment to environmental stew-

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Case Study House

ardship as one of the paramount concerns today, with a renewed

Program. This presents an opportunity to once again consider

interest in smaller, more efficient structures that sit lighter on the

the program’s legacy and how it continues to impact architec-

land. Technology’s new role would be to sustain the house as a

tural design in 21st-century Los Angeles, as well as explore the

relationship between the people and the environment by inte-

possibility of a future Case Study House Program. For that, I

grating the design more holistically on the property.

turned to two Los Angeles firms whose practices are rooted in the tenets of modernism. Steven Ehrlich and Takashi Yanai, principals at Ehrlich Yanai

This would be a change from Entenza’s mandate to incorporate aspects of the home that were energy-intensive, because it was believed at the time that technology could improve your

Rhee Chaney Architects, point to the innovative spirit of the

life. Today we still want technology to improve our lives, but not

city that set the stage for the Case Study House Program as its

at the expense of the planet.

lasting legacy—beginning with the Schindler House that Ehrlich

With the lack of affordable housing, homelessness and density

calls, “the big bang of modern architecture.” Yanai says, “The

issues plaguing Los Angeles, it is questionable whether Entenza’s

Case Study House Program is a moment that crystallized that

Case Study House Program model of a single-family house—for a

spirit of a young, modern architect coming to Los Angeles.

nuclear family on a single plot of land—is sustainable. Most agree

Having the ability to experiment and having that be accepted

that a Case Study Housing Program would be more appropri-

was a very important aspect of the program. That spirit of

ate for the new millennium, but just as valuable to address the

experimentation has continued these 75 years.”

social issues of our time. These issues include the shift away from

Which begs the question: Would it be possible to have a Case

the suburbs back to the city by millennials who don’t share the

Study House Program today? If so, how would it be the same,

American dream of home ownership and prefer to live close to

and how would it be different?

work and mass transit; the changing definition of “family,” the

David Thompson, second-generation architect and founding

movement away from extended family living by young people,

principal at Assembledge+, believes it would require another

and the desire for communal living by singles and seniors; and

visionary champion like Entenza, who understood that archi-

perhaps most pressing: the growing sense of isolation and loneli-

tects were uniquely qualified—by virtue of their education and

ness in today’s society where people crave community.

training—to tackle the social issues of the time and allowed them to express their creative vision unencumbered. David’s father and principal of Urban Design, Richard

While architects cannot solve all these problems, which are so much a part of the culture and the economy, the effort Entenza made 75 years ago with Arts & Architecture magazine was a

Thompson, agrees that while Entenza took a progressive

worthy one. So I throw down the gauntlet in hopes that a new

approach, there was an important omission in the program that

visionary will take up the charge, because quality of life should

would need to be considered today. “From a planning per-

not be a luxury commodity for the few. Though times have

spective, it didn’t deal with neighborhoods, parks, community

changed, one thing is constant: Good design can inspire, uplift

centers, schools or any of the things we now know and need to

and shape all our lives for the better. n

address if we are going to have a similar design effort focused on how to build housing. It’s not just about isolated houses but

communities … and transportation would be a part of that.”

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“Quality of life should not be a luxury commodity for the few.”

Case Study House #22

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

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Creative Minds Think Alike Lalita Koehler and Fabio Costa knew exactly what they wanted in a home. They just needed to find the right team to make it happen. WRITTEN BY AMBER KLINCK PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE FLETCHER & LAUREN PRESSEY

here are so many factors that go into building

well-connected, longtime local brought an off-

a home: finding the right location, choosing

market corner lot to their attention, they jumped at

the team you want to work with, committing

the opportunity. “We fell in love with the location,”

to a design you’ll love as much a decade from

Lalita says.

now as you do today. It’s a lot.

For Lalita Koehler and Fabio Costa, it was a pro-

cess with ups and downs and even a little serendip-

design. Before submitting for permits, however,

ity. But they stayed true to what they wanted until

Lalita and Fabio pulled back. “I said, ‘This is not the

the vision of their dream home became a reality.

house I love,’” she notes. And just like that, they

“We had been tracking Manhattan Beach real estate for a while,” Lalita says. So when a

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

They purchased the lot in September 2014 and quickly began working with an architect on the

were back to square one. But not for long. Something caught Lalita’s eye

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

at a Dwell magazine home tour in the South Bay.

the indoor and outdoor areas and was filled

She fell in love with two designs, and they led her to

with natural light but still had privacy. “We cre-

the founder, creative director and general contrac-

ated outdoor spaces that are connected to the

tor of ras-a studio, Robert Sweet.

interiors but shielded from the public by way of

“Fabio was traveling, and I said, ‘We have to meet

the masonry wall that frames the courtyard, and

this guy. I think he’s our guy.’” And so the collabora-

tucking the pool area between the hillside of the

tion began.

house,” explains Robert. High ceilings and windows

“Lali and Fabio are creative types, and we valued their insight during the process,” Robert shares. “They have a design savvy, and we often saw eye to

at every opportunity lend to the bright, airy ambience of the home. Lalita and Fabio were also looking for a modern

eye on matters. That made the process an enjoy-

design—one that could stand the test of time. “I

able one.”

didn’t want to build anything that after 10 years

Lalita had a clear vision—her own creative process—and wanted to be involved every step of the

would look like an eyesore,” Lalita says. Creating a space that was both modern and

way. “I would spend till 2 a.m. creating mood boards

intimate took careful consideration and a little

on Pinterest,” she says. “All of my life I wanted to

compromise on Lalita’s part. “I think that’s the only

build a house. This is it.”

argument Fabio and I had,” Lalita says with a smile

The goal was to create a space that integrated

when asked about the inspiration behind the wood

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

“I didn’t want to build anything that after 10 years would look like an eyesore.”

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

ceilings on the main level of the house. “The main floor is concrete, the walls are white drywall, so the ceilings became the logical place to introduce some warmth and texture to the material palette,” Robert says. “Fabio was pretty convinced we should do it,” Lalita adds. “When we finished, I sent an email to [everyone] and said, ‘You guys were right, 100%.’” The introduction of the wood ceiling is only one facet contributing to the magnetic appeal of the home. “There’s an honesty about the design,” Robert says. “Combined with its connection to the outdoors and all of the natural light, the experience is warm and inviting.” The drought-tolerant landscaping surrounding the home was curated by landscape architect Robert Jones of Jones Landscapes. “I never wanted grass, and Robert said, ‘I haven’t used grass in a project in over 10 years,’” says Lalita. The day-to-day functionality of the house caters to the family’s unique needs. The kitchen is the hub of the home. “We cook every day,” Fabio says of his family of four. Two large sliding pocket doors open from the main living area to the courtyard and lap pool. “Fabio exercises quite a lot,” Lalita inserts. “He’s a triathlete.” The garage doubles as a cycling studio for the avid cyclists, and there’s a mother-in-law suite on the first floor. To avoid having a television consume the focus of the main living space, a hidden family room sits behind a 200-pound door designed for maximum sound reduction. “This is the only room I could say anything about,” Fabio jokingly points out. “This and the garage.” Separating a large interior plant box and the oak stairway leading to the second level of the home is a metal mesh screen—a small touch that leaves a big impression. Subtle pops of pattern come from the thoughtfully placed tile throughout the home, all purchased from Clé Tile. Everything had to line up perfectly for this project to come together. There were hurdles to overcome, including a uniquely shaped lot with building restrictions and an exceptionally wet rainy season that threatened to take out the frame during construction. But walking into the home, you would never know anything about those obstacles. It is bright and lovely and truly one-of-a-kind. ¢

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

Oceanfront Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes

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STRAND HILL | CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE LICENSE #01968431. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SQUARE FOOTAGE AND/OR ACREAGE, HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY VARIOUS SOURCES WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE SELLER, PUBLIC RECORDS, THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE OR OTHER SOURCES. BROKER HAS NOT AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE OR VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION.

Skyview Hotel XXXXXXXXXXXX

Cuyama Buckhorn

Cambria Beach Lodge (and right)

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

T R AV EL

ROADSIDE ATTRACTION PUT THE CAR IN PARK AT THESE LOVINGLY REVIVED, STYLE-CENTRIC MOTOR LODGES. WRITTEN BY DARREN ELMS

“We used to call it the Bates Motel,” says Los

Skyview Hotel (they traded in the “motel”

Alamos restaurateur Will Henry as he visits my

post-renovation) follows a common trend

table at Pico on a bustling “burger night.” He’s

throughout tourist towns in California: Turn small,

referring to the Skyview, an iconic roadside motel

dilapidated travel lodgings into shiny, design-

perched on a hill just off the 101. Built in 1954, it’s

forward boutique hotels. In Skyview’s case, the

been a fixture of the area for generations.

once foreboding property got a full makeover

In 2020 the large “motel” sign may still be visible, but this is hardly the looming, drive-up

while preserving its mid-century roots. There are 33 rooms, each with a private deck,

terminus of the past. No longer just for the

which accommodate both guests and their

weary overnight traveler, it’s become a destina-

animal companions. Next to the ’50s-style pool,

tion all to its own.

there’s the on-property eatery Norman’s (yes, as

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Skyview Hotel

in Bates), which serves up a chic retro vibe and

Sun-bleached floors and turquoise blue accents

tells you a little about the ideal customer—the

devilish libations.

brighten the surf shack ambience, and yellow

weekend traveler who wants Western romance

The reemergence of Skyview in Los Alamos

bikes await your journey into town—where you

and clear, starry skies but still prefers a handful of

helps draw a younger, hipper crowd to the once

might settle on a meal at local favorite Robin’s.

welcome amenities.

sleepy town. The main drag had already attracted

The location makes for an easy trek to Hearst

Highlights include a sparkling pool, free

the likes of Will, who is a Santa Maria winemaker

Castle. But if you’d rather avoid the crowds,

WiFi and Bluetooth radios, and The Buckhorn

in addition to owner of Pico. For him, Los Alamos

consider a bike ride along the coast or head

Restaurant and Bar. While the inn is only open on

has a bright future, and the rebirth of Skyview

to the hills for some relaxed and refeshing

weekends, the restaurant serves up hospitality

only enhances the town’s profile. (9150 US-101, Los

wine tasting. (6180 Moonstone Road, Cambria,

seven days a week, as does its sister eatery, The

Alamos, skyviewlosalamos.com)

cambriabeachlodge.com)

Buck Stop coffee shop. A local hub for more than

Just off historic Highway 1 in charming Cambria,

An even newer motel-turned-hotel offering

60 years, the restaurant brings travelers and locals

Cambria Beach Lodge was one of the first to

takes you deep into Santa Barbara County to

to one space for kick-ass cuisine and conversation.

reimagine the roadside hotel for a new kind of

New Cuyama and Cuyama Buckhorn. Located

This is the true spirit of the roadside stop. It’s nice

customer. A few steps from the ocean, the hotel’s

on historic Route 166 in the high desert, this

to see it alive and thriving. (4923 Primero Street,

overarching aesthetic reflects the “surf, wheels

1952 gem is more tucked away than the others,

New Cuyama, cuyamabuckhorn.com) n

and timber” that epitomize the Central Coast.

though they do have Tesla chargers on-site! This

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Cuyama Buckhorn

Skyview Hotel

Cuyama Buckhorn

The Buck Stop

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Coming Full Circle After a series of life events, a Manhattan Beach mom and business owner reinvents her home for the next chapter. WRITTEN BY TANYA MONAGHAN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

isa Paul-Newman is a bit of a unicorn. She is the unique combination of badass entrepreneur and mother of twoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all while being a super-fit, beautiful, grounded woman.

Back in 1996, while Lisa was at UCLA studying

business and finance, she met and started dating Greg Newman, the owner of Sharkeez in Manhattan Beach. While studying and teaching fitness classes at Westwood Spectrum, Lisa also took on the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bookkeeping. At age 22, having recently graduated, Lisa married Greg. With a passion for business, Lisa acclimated to being controller and later chief financial officer and partner of Sharkeez. Operating behind the scenes of the Sharkeez empire, Lisa is integral to the success of its growing restaurants, which now include the upscale Mexican eatery Palmilla Cocina y Tequila, Tower 12 in Hermosa and the upcoming Esperanza in Downtown Manhattan Beach. Sharkeez Restaurant Group has also grown beyond the South Bay to the reaches of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Santa Barbara. As CFO, Lisa handles all the financial aspects of running this expanding and demanding business. She attributes a lot her success to the amazing group of women who work on her team. The young, hardworking couple had two boys, and Lisa juggled motherhood, the restaurant business and her passion for fitness. Needless to say, it was difficult; after 15 years of marriage, the Newmans decided to split. That was seven years ago, and though they are no longer marriage partners, today they still operate very well as business partners. Greg has since remarried, and Lisa is in a long-term relationship with Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Eric Fonoimoana. True to her tenacious spirit, Lisa also pursued her dream of creating a fitness business and formed Fierce Lotus. She partnered with Heidi Moneymaker, one of

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the top stuntwomen in Hollywood, and co-wrote the book A Balanced Warrior about the many hats women wear. She applies this concept to her work as well, often preaching self-care and taking care of one another. Back in 2002, Lisa and Greg bought a charming Mediterranean home on Circle Drive in Hermosa Beach. Circle Drive is special because it wraps and curves down to Manhattan Avenue, revealing some pretty spectacular views from Palos Verdes across the bay. Lisa asked Kate Lester to come in and give the home a facelift. Lisa and Kate describe the original house as having a masculine quality—partly due to the huge built-in bar and the heavy notes of dark wood. The original floors were tiled in travertine, and the ceilings displayed hand-painted clouds that looked down on ornate decor. It was important to Lisa that she stay in the house where her boys had grown up, as it was filled with wonderful memories. But it needed a change—one that represented more of her style, where she could create new memories. Kate transformed the dated Mediterranean home into a Spanish-California style home that she refers to as “Spanifornia.” She explains that her objective for any client is to design a home that represents them in a more fabulous way than they could have done on their own. “For this project, we translated the Mediterranean bones pretty seamlessly into something more current without having to knock it down and start over,” she says. Kate removed the heavy columns and light fixtures to open up the space. She waved her magic designer wand over the exterior, selecting a much lighter color palette that complemented the beautiful tile. “Less is more” was a consistent theme while designing this home. As Kate explains, “There is something to be said for negative space and letting your eye rest.” The first order of business was to take out the huge bar. This opened an incredible view looking toward Palos Verdes. Kate also created a large picture window with a seat where Lisa can sit and sip her coffee or curl up and read a book.

“There is something to be said for negative space and letting your eye rest.”

The living area on the top floor is spacious and airy, capitalizing on the blue views of sky and sea. The living room offers a place for adults to relax, play pool and just chill. Splashes of terra-cotta subtly infuse the Spanish notes and bring in some earthy accents. A giant skylight pours natural light over a stunning, custom-made chandelier, filling the vast space over the entrance to the home below. Vintage rugs play off the blue-toned color themes that mimic the seascape views

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

111

seen through the frames of the windows. The interior was formerly what Kate describes as a “brown-out,” so she freshened it up with white.

through the windows. A custom-designed marble backsplash perfectly complements the charcoal quartz countertops.

in-house gym. Kate brilliantly created spaces within the home for the blended family, including a top deck and

She wanted the home to convey an understated

In Lisa’s master suite, a custom-made bed

elegance to match Lisa’s beachy and fitness-ori-

sits on a beautiful vintage rug. The design is

friends. Lisa adds, “We thought about the upcom-

ented lifestyle. Kate even went so far as to find

simple yet feminine. Kate chose subtle textiles

ing years and what would work best as they grow.

vintage hand weights, displayed on the custom

and thoughtfully sprinkled in rope accents seen

They needed a rec room where they can wrestle,

makeshift bar cleverly disguised as a cabinet in the

throughout the house.

play hoops, video games, cards, watch sports and

living room.

Lisa’s bathroom has a little more drama. A for-

yard with enough room for four teens and their

just chill. We also needed yard space where they

The new bleached-white European oak floors

merly beige room with a built-in mausoleum tub

further brighten the entire space. The dining room

now features a funky, black, freestanding soaking

went from overly ornate to calm and clean, soft-

tub and porcelain deco tile that carries all the way

decisions she made were equally timeless and

ened by falling drapes.

into the steam shower.

financially sound. “Kate got such a great feel for

The open-plan kitchen is centered around a

The 6,100-square-foot house is laid out like a

could get some exercise.” It was really important to Lisa that the design

what I wanted, and I am just so happy here. I go

super-size island, including an apron-front sink. A

playful labyrinth throughout its four levels. Winding

on vacation but often can’t wait to go back to my

second apron-front sink is positioned under a hang-

stairs wrap down to the lower floor where the

lovely home.” ¢

ing pendant light that invites the eye to look north

boys enjoy their designated play area and Lisa her

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C R E AT I N G V I D E O F O R YO U R L I S T I N G S I S O N LY E X P E N S I V E I F N O O N E I S WAT C H I N G . H o m e F i l m s i s t h e o n l y f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d , r e a l e s t a t e v i d e o p ro d u c t i o n a n d d i g i t a l distribution package. Our talented filmmaking artistically tells the story of what m a k e s yo u r l i s t i n g u n i q u e . A n d o u r t a r g e t e d d i g i t a l d i s t r i b u t i o n e n s u r e s t h a t t h e r i g h t p o t e n t i a l b u y e r s a r e s e e i n g yo u r p ro p e r t y i n t h e m o s t b e a u t i f u l l i g h t .

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2020 DESIGN SHOWCASES 116 KC DESIGN GROUP KIMBERLY COLLETTI

118 CYNDI KAY DESIGN CYNDI KAY

120 MBC INTERIOR DESIGN MARY BETH CHRISTOPHER

122 REBECCA FOSTER

DESIGN

REBECCA FOSTER

EDITED BY LAURA L. WATTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DONNELL SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

124 MAISON LUXE CARRIE QUINN

126 DIANE BARBER

DESIGNERY DIANE BARBER

128 FAIR STUDIO RYAN HELD & KELSEY FAIR

130 RAS-A STUDIO

132 ZIGRANG

CONSTRUCTION TIM ZIGRANG

134 PRITZKAT & JOHNSON

ARCHITECTS

136 LANEY LA

PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

Â»DESIGN SHOWCASE 2020

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

KC DESIGN GROUP KIMBERLY COLLETTI, OWNER 602-330-7818 kc@kimberlycolletti.com kimberlycolletti.com Palos Verdes Estates | West Hollywood

TELL US ABOUT THE FEATURED PROJECT.

high-count Italian linens. I think people often

The home was an extensive remodel in Lunada

put their bedrooms last on the list, but I believe

Bay. It was stripped bare to the studs and

they should be first. We get so wrapped up

brought back to new life in six months, due to

on making impressions on others when they

a tremendous amount of talent from the build-

visit our homes, but we are living in the spaces

er, vendors and artisans. When a family must

every day. Clear the clutter; no toys allowed.

move out of their house, displacement gets old

It’s about the adults.

really fast—not to mention costs for renting a temporary home. It is important to have teams in place that are quality-driven and know how to perform in tight schedules and deadlines.

TELL US ABOUT ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE WALL TREATMENTS. One of my all-time favorites is backing fabrics and using them in place of wallpaper. I choose

BUILD OR REMODEL?

textiles with texture; linens work beautifully.

That is a tough one, because I really enjoy

They add depth and warmth to a room and

them both. New construction takes so much

dampen sound in larger spaces. Outdoor

patience, especially in California. Remodels are

fabrics are fantastic in children’s rooms.

constantly moving, and that fits my personality

No repainting—just soap and water, and it

to a tee. I enjoy the challenges that remodeling

cleans right up.

presents, and I love the pressure of the timeline. I love giving new life to outdated spaces.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU WORKED IN THE DESIGN INDUSTRY?

WHICH ROOM SHOULD I UPDATE?

This year marks my 25th year. Shortly after I

In my home, the master bedroom is critical. It’s

started my company, I got a big break with a

my retreat. It is the first place I see when I wake

very large commercial project: the beautiful

up, and it is the place I rest and find solace.

Copperwynd Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

A beautiful bedroom can renew your spirit. It

I owe a lot of gratitude for that project; it

encourages peace, tranquility and intimacy.

definitely launched my career. I love designing

It’s easy to make seasonal updates by chang-

both residential and commercial. They are as

ing your bedding. I am very selective when

much alike as they are different, which gives

choosing bed linens. Nothing feels better than

me a constant challenge.

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY RICHARD HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Â»DESIGN SHOWCASE 2020

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

CYNDI KAY DESIGN CYNDI KAY, OWNER 310-612-7302 info@cyndikaydesign.com | cyndikaydesign.com 4733 Torrance Blvd., Suite 481, Torrance

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

our clients feel a true sense of home. It should

This coastal beachfront renovation was so much

reflect them, their ideas and their interests in the

fun to design. We really enjoyed partnering with

most beautiful and functional way possible.

TRM Construction to deliver a beautiful dream home for our clients. The penthouse is located right on the beach, and so we wanted to highlight the beautiful ocean views throughout the space. Even though the footprint was somewhat small, we came up with creative ways to bring in natural light, maximize the functionality of the space and make it feel bright and open. The focal point of the home is the solid glass spiral staircase. It’s a true architectural masterpiece that you can see through, so it does not obstruct the view. Some other incredible interior features are the indoor 12-foot waterfall, the stunning backlight, floating onyx stone shower wall in the master bathroom, an infrared sauna room and custom ceiling designs. The two-story

HOW DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR CLIENTS? During the initial design phase, we do a lot of fact-gathering and discovery into what our clients want and need in their new home. We help clients clarify their own unique style and then create a design to reflect that. We take a very casual approach and focus on simplifying the process so our clients feel confident and in control throughout the entire design process. We are experts in using the latest and greatest visual aids to help our clients visualize the design and see all their selections and choices before purchases are made or construction starts. It’s a very effective way to help them avoid costly changes and mistakes.

penthouse suite is a beautiful display of how to

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

blend modern and traditional—creating a true

In addition to my super busy interior design

transitional-style home.

business, we are also creating our new energetic

WHAT MAKES YOUR DESIGN STUDIO UNIQUE? We specialize in energetic design and creating an extraordinary home vibe—an atmosphere that makes people feel happy, tranquil and expresses the personal tastes of our clients and what they really enjoy. The most important factor is that

home décor line: CK Vibes. These home décor pieces are made of organic elements and minerals, designed to bring a healing energy into a space. Working with these natural stones, mineral specimens and organic pieces has been healing, uplifting and very exciting for our entire team. We can’t wait to share them with everyone!

SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

Â»DESIGN SHOWCASE 2020

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SOUTHBAY HOME I 2020

MBC INTERIOR DESIGN MARY BETH CHRISTOPHER, OWNER 404-245-3307 info@mbcinteriordesign.com mbcinteriordesign.com 401 2nd Street, Manhattan Beach

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT

compelling when it’s a reflection of the people

This was a full cosmetic remodel. The house

who live there—not of the designer who did it.

was only 10 years old, but it was designed and built in a very Old-World style. So even though it had terrific natural light, the finishes made it feel dark. The home was very well built, so we had a great foundation to work with—it just needed to be brought up-to-date. We wanted to create something unique where we honored the traditional bones of the home, but we also wanted to give it some Manhattan Beach style. We partnered with RJ Smith Construction, an expert at building the perfect beach house,

HOW MUCH OF YOUR JOB IS ACTUALLY SOLVING CLIENTS’ PROBLEMS? I would say this is the #1 job of an interior designer. A client becomes a client because they have a problem that they need our help to solve. For any number of reasons their space isn’t working for them, and it’s our job to fix it. The bigger the problem, the bigger the transformation. And it’s that transformation that makes this job so much fun and rewarding.

and the result is a harmonious blend of East

BUILD NEW OR REMODEL?

Coast and West Coast styles. We kept it classic

That depends! If you find a well-built home

but interpreted it in a modern way.

that has great bones and great light, it is worth

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. We are a residential interior design studio that specializes in creating modern, classic interiors. We focus on all levels of design—from a one-room refresh to full-scale remodels and custom builds. What is most essential to our design process is really getting to know our clients, their style, their needs and how they want their home to live. Our goal is to make

it to remodel. But with a remodel you have to deal with what is existing, and not everything may be exactly the way you want it. With a new build you can get exactly what you want, how you want it. I always advise incorporating design details or furnishings that have some personal meaning to you in order to prevent it from looking too sterile. HOW DO YOU UPLUG AND RELAX?

each space not only beautiful but beautifully

I get outside and enjoy this amazingly beauti-

unique to each client. We put our stamp on

ful place! I love to walk with our dog on The

every project but believe a home is most

Strand, hike and play tennis when I can.

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REBECCA FOSTER DESIGN REBECCA FOSTER 424-262-6405 | rebecca@rebeccafoster.com Manhattan Beach | rebeccafoster.com

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

with her deep industry experience, leads to

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, you

extraordinary results.

may recognize these local heroes. Kathy and Barry Fisher have been operating GROW for 13 years. They are in the grocery business, but they are also avid cooks. They wanted a kitchen that was functional and beautiful. This kitchen evokes both traditional charm and effortless cool with its coastal-minded design. The large-scale island top allows for grand preparation and presentation for hosting friends and family. The Fishers also requested an eat-in-kitchen table area for additional seating, and the custom bar area makes the space truly multipurpose. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPANY? Rebecca Foster Design is a locally owned and operated business. Our passion is creating one-of-a-kind designs that speak to who our clients are and how they want to live. Rebecca Foster not only works in the South Bay, but she lives here too. She understands firsthand the constraints of building or remodeling in the Beach Cities, where space is always a scarce resource. Her insight into what is needed to make a dream kitchen (or any other space in the home) a reality, combined

WHAT TAKES A KITCHEN OR BATH FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY? Details matter! Thoughtfulness about layout and ergonomics, interior features and utilizing the space to best match your client’s lifestyle all add up to create an extraordinary space. A skilled interior designer like Rebecca Foster can help bring a client’s vision into reality. Using beautiful finishes and thoughtful design make a project enjoyable to work on and ultimately a successful end result for the client. There is not better compliment than when a client tells you—like Kathy and Barry did—that we gave them exactly what they were looking for, and they had fun while we did it! WHAT ARE SOME POPULAR ITEMS ON YOUR CLIENTS’ WISH LISTS? Clients are tuning into technology advances that make kitchen life easier. We see a lot of smart technology that pairs with mobile devices used in appliances, lighting and interior accessories. Functional storage for countertop appliances is a must. Kitchens have become so open and viewable from everywhere in the home. People want to see beautiful objects!

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MAISON LUXE CARRIE QUINN, OWNER 310-372-5552 sales@maisonluxehome.com maisonluxehome.com 138 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

us unique is our retail store. Clients enjoy visit-

This was a fun project to work on. Our client

ing our store to look at our fabric library, sit on

had just moved to Manhattan Beach from

our upholstery and purchase candles and gifts.

Atlanta and had purchased this beautiful,

We now offer a mobile design service; we will

newly constructed, 5,000-square-foot home.

fill our design van with accessories and come

She was expecting guests and asked us to pull

refresh any room in your house.

her house together in nine days! We happily accepted the challenge. The house had a neutral palette, and the client didn’t want a lot of color. We created a serene and peaceful backdrop that plays well with the world outside and highlights the real star of the show: the view!

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN DESIGN? I have been in this industry for 35 years. I attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and then worked for other interior designers and also worked in a wholesale showroom at the L.A. Mart. Being in this

HOW DOES YOUR WORK MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE?

industry for so many years has allowed me to

With the recent pandemic, we can see how

that never goes out of style is good taste, and

important having a comfortable, harmonious

I strive to help clients create their “best style”

home can be. Our homes are becoming places

based on their lifestyle and individual tastes.

see the trends that come and go. One thing

of solace from the outside world, where we can relax and recharge. In doing this, we can

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST QUESTIONS

go back into our community as better versions

CLIENTS CAN ASK WHEN HIRING YOU?

of ourselves, which benefits everyone!

Some of the best and most obvious questions

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. Maison Luxe is an interior design company. We work with a wide variety of clients and projects, offering complete design services as well as remodels and smaller projects like refreshing a bookcase or styling a family room with new pillows and accessories. What makes

have to do with budget, timelines and design styles. Often we have clients who have never worked with a designer, and they are curious about how much involvement is required on their part. Some clients give us free reign from the get-go, and others will give us initial ideas and let us take it from there.

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DIANE BARBER DESIGNERY DIANE BARBER, ALLIED ASID 310-544-4798 | @dianebarberdesignery dbarberinc@aol.com | dianebarberdesigns.com

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

blending the beauty of art and design with the

This contemporary Palos Verdes family home

nuts, bolts, dust and mortar of the building

was fully remodeled and transformed from its

trades for all architectural styles.

original 1970s California ranch-style architecture. The ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Asian heritage and functionality were at the heart of the design process, which yielded sophisticated simplicity and open visual lightness. Walls were removed and ceilings were vaulted to create a spatial flow. Young children in the home, pool time and entertaining called for resilient materials, such as quartz countertops, porcelain tile from Spain and Italy, and easy-care cabinetry. Exceptional design elements include rich custom-milled walnut floors with a natural finish in the main living area, a Japanese-spa inspired master bathroom and eye-catching artistic lighting. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. Diane Barber Designery is a full-service design studio that specializes in redesign, remodeling and new construction with an environmentally minded approach. With great attention to detail and excellence at interfacing with architects, contractors and suppliers, I collaborate closely with each client throughout the entire design/build/installation process to ensure results that reflect their unique personality and lifestyle. I love getting my hands dirty while

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM OTHER INTERIOR DESIGNERS? I am an artist with a strong business acumen and a passion for international travel, gleaned from my former event production career with Formula One motor racing. My travels provide creative inspiration, and a keen business sense is crucial to the success of any project. I also have a degree from an esteemed design school (FIDM, Los Angeles), architectural drafting training, and I understand construction at a core level thanks to my upbringing working with my father, who was a general contractor. DESCRIBE YOUR CLIENTS. I have been fortunate to have extraordinary clients over the years with diverse lifestyles, backgrounds and project styles, including traditional, transitional, contemporary, earthfriendly and horse properties. From young families to aging-in-place adults, clients with multiple residences and single professionals, each has provided me with a unique design adventure. My greatest compliment is when a client becomes a friend, as many have.

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FAIR STUDIO RYAN HELD & KELSEY FAIR 310-701-1263 hello@FAIR.studio | FAIR.studio 2020 Perry Ave., Redondo Beach

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT. After moving from Switzerland, this family

TELL US ABOUT A CREATIVE SOLUTION YOU HAD FOR A RECENT CHALLENGE.

purchased a Spanish-style home and hired

Many of our projects have focused on an

FAIR Studio to redesign their pool, outdoor

economy of space. Our most creative solutions

kitchen and landscape areas. FAIR Studio

allow South Bay families to maximize their

presented them with multiple animated 3D

home’s square footage. Recent designs have

renderings and teamed up with Outdoor

included pool equipment concealed under-

Hardscapes to make it a reality. The pool and

ground, built-in seating that triples as storage

courtyard bookend the main living area, so

and stairs, and hidden reading nooks in other-

refreshing black-and-white tiles were selected

wise unused parts of the yard.

to modernize and unify these spaces. A lush tropical garden enhances the simple lines of the pool, and a bright limestone patio brings light into the heart of the home.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE CLIENTS TO STEP OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND TAKE A RISK? When options are presented in 3D, what was

WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FIRM?

once a risky design decision becomes a sure

FAIR Studio has a mission to enrich Southern

from almost every room of the home, but once

California living by creating engaging outdoor

the client saw the rendering they fell in love.

spaces. We strive to work with our clients in a way that brings them joy and ease through the use of highly visual presentations. These help show the proposed projects from different angles so the most creative and intelligent solutions can be achieved.

thing. For our featured project, the black-andwhite courtyard tile was a bold move as it’s seen

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER AND YOUR WORK BETTER? Technology allows our clients to experience their new space before it is built. Each client receives a customized website, which allows for smooth collaboration and exploration of new and exciting ideas.

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RAS-A STUDIO

310-937-1760 2507 W. 190th St., Redondo Beach

ras-a.studio @ras_a.studio

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

row 6½ feet from the required side yard, making

services—taking a project from conception

This project is located two blocks from the

the modest-sized footprint live larger than its

through construction.

Pacific Ocean in Hermosa Beach. The challenge

square footage. The bedrooms and study are

was the home’s tight 30’ x 70’ lot flanked on

located on the second floor, where a balcony

one end by a walk street and on the other with

offers access to a private roof terrace.

a narrow alley. Our clients wanted an open

The ocean breeze and abundance of oper-

concept on the ground floor that leads to

able doors and windows give the home passive

natural grade and outdoor areas, but zoning

cooling that eliminates the need for an air con-

mandates a large two-car garage that would

ditioning system. For warmth, in-floor hydronic

otherwise force the living spaces of the small

radiant heating is installed throughout. A solar

footprint to be split between multiple levels. The

water collector on the south roof provides the

solution was a mechanical parking lift that fits

domestic hot water and supplements the boiler

two cars stacked in the footprint of one.

for the in-floor radiant system.

A front deck doubles as an outdoor rec room. White masonry blocks form an entry wall that screens interior living areas from the front porch. A 27-foot-long pocket sliding door opens the living, dining and kitchen to a patio running the length of the lot and allows the interior to bor-

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. We are a boutique design and build studio that believes in good design and getting our hands dirty. With a multidisciplinary team of architects, designers and contractors, we provide complete

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START? At a small architecture firm in Beverly Hills almost 20 years ago. Wanting to be closer to the beach, I then went on to work at Dean Nota Architect in Hermosa for about seven years before eventually branching out on my own. HOW MUCH OF YOUR JOB IS ACTUALLY SOLVING CLIENTS’ PROBLEMS? We look at every project as a problem to solve and come up with a specific solution to that problem. The end product is a holistic result deriving from the site (physical constraints, existing structures, zoning, sunlight, etc.), the client’s program, budget and the context or locale of the project.

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ZIGRANG CONSTRUCTION TIM ZIGRANG, OWNER 310-375-3626 timzigrang@gmail.com zigrangcostruction.com 2550 Via Tejon, Palos Verdes Estates

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRM.

WHEN DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS?

We primarily are a construction company, but

I started my company in 1981 while I was a

we help clients create a team by recommend-

business student at USC. Doing small jobs

ing architects or designers who will fit well

through college helped pay for tuition. After

with the owners’ expectations. With a team ap-

school I worked in the private sector for a few

proach, we can better manage costs, schedule

years, but I always yearned to be working for

and desires for our clients. We also have many

myself doing something creative. In 1988 I

of the needed trades in-house.

started Zigrang Construction.

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT. This is a stunning, mid-century home in Palos Verdes Estates. The kitchen was hidden away, and we were tasked with opening it to the large family, dining and living room spaces. This required creative engineering, working with the Palos Verdes Art Jury and a committed client. The result is a seamless transition that looks like the original architect’s vision. The result was a new kitchen incorporating

Over the years as we grew, we took on more employees—some are still with us. We are proud that we have created an environment where our employees care as much as I do how our projects run. We believe each project is special, and these buildings are going to be around for a long time with our name attached. WHAT ARE SOME EXCITING PROJECTS YOU’VE COMPLETED? We have had the opportunity to work with

two islands, one featuring a teppanyaki grill

some great architects and designers on many

and the other a sink. The back of the main is-

styles of architecture. The home at 145 Rocky

land has an inlay of bronze that hearkens back

Point Road in Palos Verdes Estates sits on the

to the mid-century movement with a starburst

bluff above Lunada Bay and was built for a

of raised metal custom-made for this home.

client from London. This home was featured

The floors were resourced so we could per-

in House & Garden magazine. We completed

fectly match the black slate from the original

a project on The Strand in Hermosa for a New

floor. We also designed 12-foot-tall storage

York TV executive. This project had a very

cabinetry to help delineate the family room

clean, traditional beach design and was fea-

from the rest of the home.

tured in Coastal Living magazine.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREY CRAWFORD

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L to R: Miles Pritzkat, architect, Tyler Prosser, Lauren Fielder, Keith Johnson, architect

PRITZKAT & JOHNSON ARCHITECTS 310-375-7700 info@pritzkatjohnson.com | pjainc.com | 306 Vista Del Mar, Suite A, Redondo Beach

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

will possess—making it easier for clients to en-

This California ranch, originally designed by

vision their completed home. We then provide

influential architect Cliff May, was in desperate

a 3D computer model describing the massing

need of updating. While the exterior architec-

and arrangement of spaces in greater detail.

ture remained largely unchanged, the interior

We also provide budgets (including construc-

layout and volumes were reimagined with the

tion costs, city fees, school taxes, professional

help of interior designer Phil Norman. The

fees, etc.) at all stages of the design process,

biggest transformation was converting a large

enabling our clients to maintain control of criti-

indoor pool area into an entertainment space

cal project finances in a transparent manner.

with incredible views of the South Bay. An infinity edge pool was added just outside the large expanse of glass. Other projects included removing walls to open up the kitchen to the adjacent family room, creating a theatre and wine cellar out of a little-used basement area, and completely renovating the master bath and closet wing to provide more functionality.

WHAT ARE YOU PROUD OF IN YOUR WORK? When we design a home that clients don’t want to leave, we have fulfilled our promise of transforming their dreams into reality. Hearing how much family and friends love their house; the pleasure they get from pulling up to their house after a long trip; how neighbors and passersby love the architecture—that makes us

WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE SERVICE YOU OFFER CLIENTS?

most proud. All of this stems from our main

Refining and defining the project vision in the

ing it into an amazing, actual livable space.

beginning is very important. We initially use photo imagery of projects that have qualities that inspire our clients. We then refine these concepts into a specific, custom design fitted to our client’s needs and the specific attributes of their site. Often we provide hand-drawn preliminary drawings, which convey many of the intangible qualities that the finished project

accomplishment: taking an idea and transform-

WHAT MAKES YOUR FIRM UNIQUE? Partners Miles Pritzkat and Keith Johnson are both experienced, licensed architects. While one typically takes the role of lead architect, both are involved in every project from start to finish. We think this is the best way to maintain the integrity of the design.

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LANEY LA 310-870-7175 yes@laney.la | laney.la | @laneylainc 725 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach

DESCRIBE THE FEATURED PROJECT.

project, we feel inspired to explore new ways

We will now take a break from our customary

of sculpting spaces to reflect the values and

portfolio of luxury coastal homes to proudly

lifestyles of our clients. These values and

present this stunning Mammoth home. This

lifestyles are diverse in nature and number, but

dreamy winter haven was designed to fluidly

in the South Bay they become unified. Never

accommodate the family ski trip, the anniver-

has that unity become more apparent than in

sary getaway, and massive family and friend

today’s cultural landscape. It is times like these

gatherings. Guests can ski in and out at all

that make us proud to be a member of such a

three levels of this residence, and each entry

special community.

fulfills a unique function—whether one wants to grab a glass of water, join the party in the jacuzzi or retreat to more private quarters. The multiple living and entertainment spaces make this a destination home that will delight.

HOW MUCH OF YOUR JOB IS ACTUALLY SOLVING CLIENTS’ PROBLEMS? To execute a high-end home is a massively complex endeavor. Of course, unexpected roadblocks will occur. However, we do not look

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

at these as “problems.” Rather we see them as

Laney LA is an architecture and design studio

opportunities for our team to demonstrate our

dedicated to inspiring creative culture. We

value and service. We have built various inter-

aspire to create work that matters. We believe

nal systems and protocols that intentionally

in championing the dreams of our adventurous

rake up any potential issues long before they

clients by creating spaces that celebrate their

become problems, and streamline the issues

unique lifestyle and elevate the culture of

that do occur.

design in the surrounding environment. We are high-touch and high-tech. We create trendsetting architecture, and we offer a fun, passionate process.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST QUESTIONS CLIENTS CAN ASK WHEN HIRING YOU? One question might be: “What happens if we change the design?” Fortunately, our team

WHY IS THE SOUTH BAY SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME?

is able to create a highly detailed 3D model,

We are driven by a belief in the power of

design before construction even begins! This

design to create healthy spaces that foster

exciting, fast-paced process enables clients

a sense of community and celebrate all that

to feel security in their design decisions while

is beautiful. The South Bay is distinct in its

simultaneously allowing us to constantly push

sense of community. No matter the size of a

the boundaries of design.

allowing our clients to virtually explore the

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FI N A L O F F ER

— OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES SR.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

“WHERE WE LOVE IS HOME— HOME THAT OUR FEET MAY LEAVE, BUT NOT OUR HEARTS.”

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