Ventura Blvd May/June 2020 by Moon Tide Media

VENTURABLVD.GOLDENSTATE.IS

HOME & GARDEN ISSUE

Now More Than Ever SIX DOLLARS

MAY/JUNE 2020

From our heart to yours,

thank you.

In this challenging time of COVID-19, we thank all our caregivers for their unwavering dedication to our patients and community, from the front line clinicians to those that work behind the scenes, focused on dayto-day operations. They truly are rising to the occasion, providing care with compassion, excellence and poise. Our community is in this together and we will persevere by working side by side.

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The cancer experts you trust, now closer to you. Cedars-Sinai Cancer Care Available In Tarzana

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MAY/JUNE 2020

14 MATCH MAKER The Encino-based company GreatBuildz takes an innovative approach to finding a contractor.

16 THE RIGHT TOUCH Step inside the exquisite home that Michele Kater, founder of Murchison-Hume, created for her family in Sherman Oaks.

26 DIG THIS Urban vegetable gardener Whitney Wade shows us—step by step—how to grow veggies in the Valley.

30 THE FRONT LINE

Meet the Osticks—married physicians with three kids—working to stop the spread of COVID-19.

AND THEN SOME...

OFF THE GRID

REAL ESTATE

He’s a photographer; she’s a writer.

Spectacular local listings.

Together they take us glamping in the wilds of Joshua Tree.

66 LAST WORD

An image to remember.

THE CASE STUDY HOUSES AT 75 Reflecting back on a program that

showcased models of modernism and the postwar California dream.

COVER One of the Katers’ two whippets in the master bedroom, photographed by Shane O’Donnell

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF CALIFORNIA

goldenstate.is

@ourgoldenstate

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PUBLISHER

Linda Grasso

Robin Sanders 424-220-6340 | robin@goldenstate.is

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Michelle Villas

ADVERTISING

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | Darren Elms

818-625-3515 | sue@goldenstate.is

DIRECTOR OF BRAND PARTNERSHIPS | Sue Williams

COPY EDITORS | Bob Howells, Laura Watts

GROUP PUBLISHER Jared Sayers

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nikki Smith VB’S THE SAUCE ENEWSLETTER EDITOR Karen Young CONTRIBUTORS Staness Jonekos, Gail Phinney, Susan Spillman PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Becker, Tameka Jacobs, Shane O’Donnell

VENTURA BLVD 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 SOCIAL/COMMUNITY MANAGER | Natalie Long ACCOUNTING | Janet De La Cruz, Ljay Farris 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. SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: info@goldenstate.is or phone: 310-376-7800. Subscriptions are $29 per year. TO OUR READERS Ventura Blvd welcomes your feedback. Please send letters to: Reader Response Department, Ventura Blvd at address below. Include your name, address and email. Edited letters may be published. 200 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 110, El Segundo, CA 90245 Tel 310-376-7800 | Fax 310-376-0200 | goldenstate.is | venturablvd.goldenstate.is

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EDITOR’S LETTER

When I took the job as editor of Ventura Blvd 10 years ago, I knew there would be challenges. I never could have dreamed of this one, though. When LA shut down in mid-March, VB was wrapping up this Home & Garden issue. Interviews and photography were complete. The question arose: How much should we alter the issue to reflect the pandemic? We discussed scrapping the Home & Garden content and instead covering how people were coping with COVID-19. Ultimately, we thought our readers would appreciate an escape. So here you have it: our first publication in the face of a pandemic and our slimmest ever. (Understandably, a number of advertisers needed to pull back.) Ironic, too: an issue focused entirely on being at home when there’s no other option. We did quickly swap in one story related to the crisis: a profile of married doctors Aimee and Brian Ostick working the front lines of the virus while living with their three children in Woodland Hills (p. 30). For all of us, the danger looms large. For them, it’s at their doorstep. I constantly hear from people that their saving grace is getting outside. For me, it’s been working on my vegetable garden. In recent years I’ve been frustrated and puzzled by lower yields. This spring I turned to urban gardener Whitney Wade of Plant Grow Eat for help. In part 1 of our 2 part series, Whitney transforms my existing space into a multitiered terrace filled with galvanized bins, sun-loving veggies, cross-pollinating flowers and rodent–repelling shrubs (p. 26). My husband and I have lived in our neighborhood for 20 years, and lately I’ve noted a change. As we walk our dogs, we are meeting many neighbors for the first time (at a distance, but still…) and having more meaningful conversations. It’s not simply a cursory hello as we pass by, but rather, “How are you … really?” Recently we ran into our friends David and Maira Garfinkle, who were out walking with their two college-age daughters. As we chatted, our son Nick noted that pop star Joe Jonas and his wife, the actress Sophie Turner, were walking toward us. We’d all watched their house being built but had yet to actually see them. We glanced at the pair (clad in their sweats just like us; her hair unbrushed, just like mine) and then quickly looked away. That’s protocol in our neighborhood. Most of us respect celebrities’ privacy. As they neared us, though, they stopped. “Hi, I’m Joe.” And, “I’m Sophie. We just moved in up the street.” More introductions followed, and it felt so throwback, and so … well … normal. Two Valley families and two Hollywood A-listers, all of us just humans in the same unsteady boat. For me, that brief interlude underscored a silver lining. Maybe when all of this is over, we’ll have a stronger sense sion and deeper relationships. After all, what else is there?

Linda Grasso Editor-in-Chief

Follow me on Instagram @she_sez

PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS

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MAY/JUNE 2020 Max Kater in her home office in Sherman Oaks. Wait until you see the rest of the chic digs she created for her family. Head to page 16 for more.

Match Maker AN ENCINO-BASED FIRM TAKES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO FINDING THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR. Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

Anyone who has ever built or renovated a home knows how hard it is to find an experienced, trustworthy contractor. That’s why Paul Dashevsky and Jon Grishpul founded GreatBuildz, a free online service (greatbuildz. com) that connects homeowners with reliable, thoroughly screened general contractors throughout LA County. The Encino-based firm connects clients with up to three contractors, selected for their specific type of project, typically within 24 hours, and stays by the client’s side from the initial call through the finished job. VB Editor Linda Grasso sat down with the duo to discuss the vetting process and to get some tips for homeowners planning on renovating and building. WHY DID YOU LAUNCH GREATBUILDZ? PD: I spent 10 years flipping homes in LA. Working with a good contractor made the process smooth and enjoyable. Working with a bad contractor was a nightmare. So I teamed up with my nephew, Jon Grishpul, who has a background in technology and marketing, to create GreatBuildz. JG: Most people make a contractor hiring decision based on the cost estimate and their gut feeling after just one meeting. That’s grossly insufficient to tell the good guys from the bad guys. The price tells you nothing about whether they are a quality contractor. And reading reviews isn’t totally reliable anymore. You need a thorough vetting process. WHAT STEPS SHOULD A HOMEOWNER TAKE BEFORE EVEN TAKING MEETINGS WITH A CONTRACTOR? PD: Have some idea of a budget and find out what your neighbors are paying for similar projects. Create a list of the items you want included and hand it to every contractor who bids. You want to be comparing apples

Jon Grishpul and Paul Dashevsky

with apples. Finally, have some idea for the finish ma-

requests in writing, and that you want one to two days to

terials you want to use. Say you want a quartz full-slab

investigate that the cost is fair. If you determine the price

Caesarstone countertop, instead of simply saying you

unreasonable, show your research to your contractor and

want a white countertop.

negotiate a better price. Finally, discuss upfront that you expect change orders to be fairly priced.

ADVICE FOR FINDING A CONTRACTOR— AND ANY RED FLAGS?

A FINISHED JOB CAN LOOK PRETTY AND COMPLETE

PD: One potential red flag is if the contractor sends a

FROM A VISUAL STANDPOINT, BUT HOW CAN ONE

salesman to meet you. This contractor will most likely not

MAKE SURE THAT THE INTERNAL STUFF—PLUMBING,

be involved in your project. You’ll need to interview and

HEAT, AC, ELECTRIC—IS ALL DONE CORRECTLY?

vet the person who will supervise your job. Another flag:

PD: A good contractor would never cut corners to save a

a contractor who takes longer than a week to meet with

buck; they put too much value on their reputation. A bad

you or respond with an estimate. That typically means that

contractor doesn’t care about results and just wants to get

contractor is either too busy or has poor follow-up.

paid and move on. The safest way to ensure your contractor performed top-notch work is to hire a home inspector

ON YOUR WEBSITE YOU NOTE THAT 50%

to check the work before final payment to the contractor.

OF HOMEOWNERS WIND UP DISSATISFIED WITH

It might cost you $250 to $500, but this person will give

THEIR CONTRACTOR. MOST COMMON ISSUES?

you a thorough assessment of the quality of the work.

JG: Invariably, a homeowner’s negative experience with a contractor involves one or more of the following issues:

SO MANY PROJECTS DRAG ON. SOME DAYS THE WORKERS

Increased Costs: Sometimes contractors will submit a low

SHOW UP; OTHER DAYS THEY DON’T. THOUGHTS?

bid to win the job and make up the profit with change orders.

JG: There is no way to completely avoid this because

Delays: Some delay is inevitable, but some contractors

emergencies do arise, and workers aren’t always totally

will take on too many jobs simultaneously. Other

reliable. But you can protect against this issue. Most im-

contractors don’t manage their crews properly or get

portantly, hire the right contractor who respects your time

stretched too thin and will pull workers off one job to

and the schedule they have committed to. Express your

work on another.

expectations upfront. At GreatBuildz, we require all our

Quality: The idea of a quality finished product can vary between the client and the contractor. Some contractors

contractors to sign a 20-point Code of Conduct describing our expectations of their behavior with our customers.

will notice an issue with quality and say nothing. Then at the end of the job, the client notices, but now it’s difficult

TOWARD THE END, THE HOMEOWNER WANTS IT TO

to address because the job is completed.

BE OVER AND THE CONTRACTOR WANTS HIS FINAL

Communication: Contractors sometimes fail to keep

CHECK. THINGS CAN GET SLOPPY…

clients updated on the progress of the job, or they are

PD: Sometimes the contractor’s impatience stems from

unresponsive to calls and emails.

the fact the homeowner hasn’t completed choosing the finish materials (lights, faucets, doorknobs, etc.). So

HOW CAN CHANGE ORDERS BE MITIGATED

choose these in a timely manner. Another issue can be

OR AVOIDED?

the punch list—the items that the homeowner wants the

PD: Be realistic. Plan for changes and issues along the

contractor to repair or change when the project is com-

way and budget another 10 to 20% to prepare yourself for

plete. Bring up any quality concerns as soon as you see

upticks in cost. Discuss your expectations of the change

them and let the contractor address them immediately

order process upfront. Tell them you expect change order

instead of waiting until the end. ■

the right touch MAX KATER, FOUNDER OF MURCHISON-HUME, SHOWS OFF HER EXQUISITE TASTE AND REMARKABLE RESOURCEFULNESS AT HER SPRAWLING, NEWLY RENOVATED 1930S HACIENDA. Written by Susan Spillman Photographed by Shane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell

“MY INSPIRATION WAS A WESTERN MOVIE STAR, LIVING IN SANTA BARBARA IN THE ’30s. SUPER CALIFORNIAN AND CASUAL, BUT WITH LITTLE TOUCHES OF GLAMOUR HERE AND THERE.”

If Max Kater’s spectacular deco-style Spanish hacienda looks like it took decades of meticulous planning, it’s because it did. Though Max and her husband, Peter, purchased the 6,800-square-foot ranch in Sherman Oaks’ coveted Chandler Estates in 2017, its impeccable aesthetic and blend of furnishing styles reflect a lifetime of study. “I’ve been tearing magazine pictures and making look books for my dream home since I was 7,” says Max. Max and Peter decided to upsize from their small residence in Beverly Hills after inviting Max’s mother, who was living in Texas, to move in. The family also includes sons Charlie, 16, a student at Bridges Academy, and Ben, 20, who attends Syracuse University. During their home search, the couple was not wed to a specific zip code; they just needed space. They toured houses from Pacific Palisades to Toluca Lake before instantly falling in love with their six-bedroom, six-bath abode situated on a 30,000-square-foot lot. Built in 1936, the home had a functional floor plan and maintained some of its original charm, including traditional exterior arches and exposed interior ceiling beams. But the overall vibe was 1980s, with dark wood cabinetry,

The home’s decor artfully weaves in design inspirations from the Katers’ life of living abroad. Max had the mustard-hued, art deco/Italian-style chairs made and upholstered with fabric she discovered in downtown LA. The oil painting in the background was done by an artist in Singapore, where the couple once lived. The dual light fixtures are from the online retailer Wayfair.

shag carpet and a wonky family room addition. “I was never that attracted to the Spanish Colonial style, because it’s so everywhere here,” says Max, who

In the end, they simply couldn’t resist all the potential of the property, which they now fondly refer to as

married life in Asia. “Once we bought the house, though,

“the Ponderosa.”

was a Western movie star, living in Santa Barbara in the

of glamour here and there.”

grew up in the Valley, but spent the first few years of her we decided to go all in and embrace it. My inspiration

’30s. Super Californian and casual, but with little touches

“It was renovator’s dream,” says Peter, a native of Australia who works for a company based in Belgium

“We always lived in small apartments and I never had storage space. The architects wanted to make a window here but I insisted on making a walk-in pantry. This was in my Pinterest boards forever!” Max laughs.

that sells construction materials for laminated glass. “It was big and flat.” In addition to providing everyone privacy, the property

The couple settled on Koffka/Phakos Design to do the architectural plans and The Resto Group to do the renovation on the home. Despite the horizontal expanse, Max and

also included space for the couple to run Max’s busi-

Peter decided to add a second story for her company’s office

ness, Murchison-Hume, an attractively packaged line of

in order to have a separate exterior entrance for employees.

plant-based cleaning products, personal care and home fragrance available in home stores and online.

Other major renovations included raising the roof in the unharmonious family room add-on, ditching the septic

tank system and hooking up to the city sewer line, and removing a wall between the kitchen and the eating area. The latter turned out to be a game changer that transformed a dark, dated room into an expansive, light-filled family hub that looks out to the lavish, verdant backyard. Other brilliant touches by Max in the kitchen: converting a breakfast alcove into a glass-framed pantry, and designing a stunning white wall cabinet that displays a collection of pottery and other artifacts on the glassfronted shelves, with storage for large cookware and serving pieces underneath. “It’s a copy of one I saw at the kitchen store March in San Francisco. El Arca Iron Works in Bellflower made it for me.” She got bold with the built-in kitchen cabinets, choosing Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green, paired with a decoinspired black and white hexagon patterned porcelain tile for the floor, “accented with a little stripe just to keep it interesting—kind of like you’d see in a bistro,” she quips. A complementary, classic black and white herringbone pattern tile covers the entry hall. Both are from Floor & Decor in Woodland Hills. “They were super cheap,” she confides about the tile. “The house is so vast, and I didn’t have a large budget, so I had to be really careful and clever with what I bought.” Central to that cleverness was Max’s flair for seamlessly mixing curated bargain finds with high-end splurges. Nowhere is that talent better displayed than in the dining room, where a massive custom-made maple table is paired with 10 black cane chairs from Design Within Reach. They sit opposite a large picture window that, like the rest of the home’s many windows, is framed with “puddling” curtains from Target. “Mixing high-low, that’s my jam,” the petite brunette laughs. The secret, she explains, is “you do it and have to commit to it, and make sure the store has a generous return policy.” Other bargains: Every light fixture is from Wayfair or Pottery Barn, the family room sofa and patio furniture were purchased at CB2, and many area rugs were found on Etsy.

The Kater Family in their backyard, left to right: Charlie, Ben, their whippet Zeus, Peter and Max

In the living room, the game table is made by the trendy design team Simple Geometry, but Max scored it on sale at 1stdibs.com. She then spotted a pair of pricey Italian art deco-style chairs while shopping in San Francisco, had a furniture maker make copies, and then upholstered them in a daring mustard hue, which became the room’s accent color. The overhaul outside was equally extensive. The mature avocado, citrus and massive eucalyptus trees stayed, but the grass was replaced with native, drought-tolerant plants, and the red brick and concrete patio was swapped out for travertine. The oversized pool’s update included the addition of a Jacuzzi. An outdoor shower was added too. Combine the lovely interior and resort-like grounds with a home gym and attached guesthouse, and it’s easy to see why the couple never wants to go anywhere. “My friends say, ‘Why don’t you leave? We love the Ponderosa but you have to get out,’” shares Max. “I think it’s still so new that we’re in the honeymoon phase.”■

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Dig This CREATE YOUR OWN SLICE OF PARADISE WHILE MINIMIZING TRIPS TO THE MARKET. FOLLOW ALONG AS URBAN GARDENER WHITNEY WADE TRANSFORMS VB EDITOR LINDA GRASSO’S GARDEN INTO A BOUNTIFUL OASIS. Written by Linda Grasso Photographed by Tameka Jacobs

I’ve been an avid gardener since moving to the Valley 20 years ago. Six or seven years ago, as a Mother’s Day gift, my husband built me a picket fence-enclosed area on our back hill to grow vegetables. In recent years, I’ve experienced lower yields and haven’t been able to figure out why. Point of fact: Tending a veggie garden is a lot of work. And, for me, it just wasn’t worth it if I couldn’t grow enough produce. I considered scrapping it altogether—until I stumbled into an incredibly bountiful garden in Studio City while at a dinner party. I asked the hostess what her secret was and she replied, “Whitney Wade.” Whitney plants gardens for homeowners and schools with her firm Plant Grow Eat (plantgroweat.com) based in Valley Village. So instead of giving up, I decided to up my game by hiring Whitney to help me with this summer’s garden. At our first meeting, Whitney was able to pinpoint several problems. The roots of surrounding trees had inched their way through my planting bed, hampering the root growth of veggies. Another problem was the soil. “Valley soil, which can have limestone, sand and clay in it, is not ideal for growing vegetables. Even though Linda worked in store-bought amendment, it just wasn’t enough. Plus there were too many uncontrollable variables with pests, rats and other varmints.”

WHAT IT TAKES* (4) 2 x 4 x 2 galvanized tank bins**

$500

Bricks, Â˝-inch chicken wire, (4) full-circle irrigation bubblers, (6) redwood posts

$200

(12) Â˝ x 36-inch rebar, staple gun, irrigation hoses and assembly parts

$365

Flowers and shrubs

$140

Vegetables, herbs and bag of starter fertilizer $130 Gravel (for base of chicken wire), pathway bark, concrete mix, cedar boards

$242

Organic soil and amendment

$280

Total

$1,857

*Existing wood picket fence and labor not included. **Our bins were purchased from a local feed supply shop. Note: Use truck or large SUV and pick them up yourself to avoid the hefty shipping fee. Two bins can be nested together.

Whitney’s solution was to grow in 100-gallon galva-

WHITNEY’S PLANT SUGGESTIONS

nized bins. “The bins aren’t cheap and it takes a lot of soil to fill them. But if you amortize the cost over several

Tomatoes

years of great yields, it’s worth it. And you just have more

Choose the ones with thickest stalks and the

control over the environment, and that’s a key to getting

most leaves (new growth) on top. When you

lots of produce.”

plant, you’ll pinch off lower leaves and put that

The first task: to clear, stabilize and secure the area.

thick stalk 6 to 12 inches deep into the ground.

The three existing terraces had been weakened by soil

Thicker stalks do better underground.

erosion and buckled boards. The soil was re-leveled and

I prefer classic, standard varieties rather than

redwood posts were cemented in to support new cedar

heirlooms, which can be susceptible to disease

boards, and the interior of the picket fence was lined with

and pests. Early Girl, Beefsteak, Big Boy and

galvanized chicken wire. As an extra step to deter pests,

Celebrity tend to have bigger yields. Look for

lavender and upright rosemary were planted around the

“non-GMO” marked on the tag.

perimeter. “Both of those emit a scent that repels thiev-

Plant carrot seeds (the idea is not to eat the carrots, but to leave them in the ground) and

ing critters,” says Whitney. Holes were drilled in the bottoms of the bins before

marigolds around the tomatoes. They’ll help the

they were placed atop red bricks, allowing for proper

tomatoes grow, plus marigolds emit a scent that

drainage. Then Whitney began the meticulous task of

keeps bugs and critters away.

weaving the irrigation system through the area and up through the backs of the bins. She placed a few inches of

Lettuce

potting soil in the bottoms of the bins, and filled the rest

Get a variety of types and keep in mind when you

with planting amendment. Irrigation bubblers went on

select a planting spot that lettuce likes a little

top of each bin.

less sun than the rest of the veggies.

Once we’d made our trip to the nursery, Whitney’s strategy was to group the plants by theme. “One bin, for

Cross-Pollinating Flowers

example, is Mexican-themed with various peppers and

I like marigolds, milkweed, salvias, lemon verbena

cilantro; one is Italian with San Marzano tomatoes, pars-

(this can get 3 to 4 feet high) and basil. Choose

ley and basil; one is filled with lettuces and one is filled

something that will flower, like Thai and African

with heartier veggies that might carry over to the next

blue basil. (You can eat some of this, too.)

year, like eggplant and artichoke. Whitney also bought a few annuals and perennials. “Plants like salvia, milkweed

General Tips

and African basil help the vegetables grow by attracting

Plant a couple different varieties of vegetables,

cross-pollinating birds, bees and butterflies. Plus they

because every garden is different. What grows

just help make a garden look pretty. Who doesn’t want to

well in one may not do as well in another. For

work in a beautiful space?” ■

example, choosing two cucumber varieties—say, a bush variety and a Persian—hedges our success

Don’t miss part two in the July issue of VB: harvesting

in case one doesn’t do well.

and care of a summer garden. To watch our how-to video series on the creation of Linda’s garden, go to @ourventurablvd on Instagram and Facebook.

the front line WITH THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK, PARENTS ARE FOCUSED ON CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND KEEPING THEIR FAMILIES HEALTHY. BUT FOR INTERNIST AIMEE OSTICK AND HER ER DOCTOR HUSBAND, BRIAN, THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING THE FAMILY SAFE ARE MUCH MORE COMPLEX. Written by Linda Grasso | Photographed by Shane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell

Internist Aimee Ostick opened her medical practice in Woodland Hills just seven months ago. Before the virus hit, it had been growing; 167 people had signed up. In early March, the 38-year-old was monitoring information from the World Health Organization

Brian has been closer to the virus. On a sunny day in late March, he shared that Valley Presbyterian (where he works) had tested 50 people, with two positive results—although, he added, “We still have a lot of test results pending.” When we asked Brian for an update in mid-April, he declined to reveal the exact number of COVID cases. The good news is that the swab test results that used

and the Centers for Disease Control, and wasn’t overly

to take seven days to get now come in 48 hours. And

concerned. “By nature, Brian [her ER doctor husband] and

now, Aimee is administering the new, rapid antibody

I aren’t worriers. We try to take evidence-based approach-

blood tests for her patients, which can detect whether or

es.” There were few COVID-19 cases domestically at the

not you’ve had the coronavirus in the past and if you’ve

time. This was all before the massive outbreak in Italy.

developed antibodies. Both Aimee and Brian did the 10-

She remembers the moment everything changed. “Brian was working a swing shift at the hospital and

minute test and received negative results. In addition to treating people who might be infected,

was there until late evening. He texted me and said,

the ER staff at Valley Pres also has to deal with every-

‘Can you wait up for me?’ When he arrived home he re-

day emergencies. Much to the relief of the staff, those

ally needed to debrief and decompress. He had been hit

numbers are down. “This time last year we had around

with a lot of worry from hospital administration and the

220 patients a day in the ER. Right now, we’re down to

ER group. We had an hour-plus conversation trying to

100 a day.” People, he concurs, just don’t want to go to a

determine what our strategy would be. When school shuts

hospital ER unless they have to.

down, what will that look like for us as a couple? What will that mean for me and my practice? If he contracts

THE SPACE BETWEEN US

COVID-19, how should we isolate him and what does all

Brian and Aimee met and fell in love while both were at-

that look like? We went through it as calmly as we could.”

tending medical school at Sydney Kimmel Medical College

The next day Aimee had a meeting with the principal

in Philadelphia. At the time, they figured having their

at St. Mel’s Catholic Church, where the couple’s three

profession in common would be a good thing. Never in

children attend school. “She asked me what my thoughts

their wildest dreams could they have predicted that what

were. I said my husband is not a worrier, but he has this

drew them together might one day force them apart.

impending sense of doom.” Forty-eight hours later, all LA schools were shut down

Brian, 39, is chief of staff and the emergency room medical director at Valley Pres. The couple’s three kids,

and the couple found themselves struggling with child-

ages 10, 7 and 5, are now doing online coursework at

care. Aimee started doing telemedicine from the family’s

home. Amy’s parents ordinarily help out with childcare,

Woodland Hills home and her office, giving virtual exams

but the family is quarantined from them.

over the phone and communicating by video, text and

“I never could have imagined we’d be in a situation

chat. Wearing her lab coat and gloves, and armed with

like this—with Brian and me both at risk—and knowing

some of the protective N95 masks she got during the fires

that we could ultimately have to be apart,” says Aimee.

this past fall, Aimee began administering swab tests in

“Having one of us get really sick is my biggest fear at

the office parking lot. At press time, in mid-April, Aimee

this point.”

reported that out of 30 tests she’d administered, three were positive.

Brian, tall and lanky with a warm smile, admits it’s been challenging. He mitigates stress by concentrating

on the tasks at hand. “At work, everyone has a job to

care. Taking care of the kids is a constant juggle. “I’m

do. I went into emergency medicine to treat the sickest

trying to do as much as I can from home with telemedi-

patients, people at their most vulnerable. Now is the time

cine. I can’t use my parents for childcare, and that is my

to step up and do the work.”

biggest challenge right now. We are getting some help

It’s often said that during a crisis, people show their

from neighbors, and I have a few babysitters. If this turns

true character. People have stolen masks, gloves and

into prolonged situation, we’ll have to think of something

sanitizer from the hospital, but Brian counters that with:

more permanent.”

“We’ve also seen doctors volunteer to pick up extra

The kids are taking it all in stride. “We try to minimize

shifts, and we’ve had nurses who typically work doing

stress and thoughts of Mom and Dad getting sick. We talk

routine tests in GI volunteer in the ER. They’re scared,

more about the preventive steps we can take, focusing on

but they show up day after day.”

handwashing and social distancing and the reasons why

Because Brian comes in contact with more patients,

we are doing this,” says Aimee.

Aimee is concerned about his getting COVID-19. She takes solace in the fact that her husband is really good at what

A WING AND A PRAYER

he does.

Although each passing day brings new challenges, the

“He has a calm demeanor. When there’s a code—

couple’s biggest concern remains constant: avoiding

someone comes in with cardiac arrest, for example—

contamination. “At the hospital we have limited supply of

Brian knows how to delegate and control the scenario.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), but I do use it when

That is the kind of person you need in a high-stress

seeing patients. I’m taking every precaution. I am also

situation,” she explains.

trying to eat right and exercise to keep myself fit so that I can be my best when at work,” shares Brian.

LIFE UPENDED

If Brian contracts the disease, he’ll move into Aimee’s

Brian’s schedule over the past month has been rigorous.

parents’ guesthouse. As for the worst-case scenario, Amy

On a typical day, he wakes up at 4:45 a.m., leaves the

admits that they’re still working on a plan. “If we both

house at 5:40 a.m., and arrives at the Van Nuys hospital

get it, we will self-isolate and if our kids are OK, we’ll

at 6 a.m. He works in the ER until 3 p.m. Then comes

probably ... um … I don’t know where we’ll send them.

an hour-long virtual review to update the physician as-

Some family member who is not high-risk will probably

sistants and nurse practitioners, followed by a COVID-19

have to take care of our kids.”

planning meeting with hospital officials. He leaves the

In the meantime, the couple says they will continue

hospital around 6:30 p.m., arriving home around 7 p.m.,

trying to reduce stress. “We’ve been taking turns going for

before undergoing a meticulous decontamination process.

runs, meditating and talking to other health care profes-

He takes off his shoes and leaves them in the garage,

sionals. We are both practicing Catholics, and we can’t go to

strips off his scrubs, throws them into the washing

mass right now. But we can pray together—and we do.” ■

machine immediately, and takes a shower. He has dinner with the family, and then it’s time to prepare for his 6

For more from Aimee on the Ostick’s story, go to the SheSez

a.m. shift the next day.

with Linda Grasso podcast at shesez.com.

Aimee owns a primary direct care practice. Instead of the hefty thousand-dollar-plus fees most concierge doctors charge up front, patients pay a nominal fee to sign on, and then $89 a month for personalized, integrative

“I WENT INTO EMERGENCY MEDICINE TO TREAT THE SICKEST PATIENTS, PEOPLE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE. NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP UP AND DO THE WORK.”

The Osticks with their children: Siena, 10; Maddie, 7; and Luke, 5.

off the grid A COUPLE ENGAGES, RELAXES AND RECONNECTS WHILE CAMPING UNDER THE STARS IN A MERCEDES RV IN JOSHUA TREE. Written by Staness Jonekos | Photographed by Michael Becker

After a solid year of work without a break, my photographer hubby, Michael, and I desperately needed a vacation. While we often enjoy urban experiences, this time we decided to embrace Mother Nature and go off the grid. We zeroed in on Joshua Tree National Park and its 800,000 acres of wild desert landscape. We reserved our spot at Jumbo Rocks campground, which has zero cell signal, water, or electrical hookups. Just to take the edge off, we decided to make this a “glamping” trip and rented a luxurious camper—a 25foot Mercedes RV. The RV was delivered the night before by ChillRV (chillrv.com), and as Michael and I inspected it, we marveled at its many features. It was essentially a high-end condo on wheels and surprisingly easy to drive, handling much like a minivan. We loved the roomy full-size bed tucked in the rear, and the fully equipped kitchen that

Within minutes of arriving at Jumbo Rocks, we were

had two burners, a refrigerator and even a convection

climbing the piles of giant boulders and ended the day

oven/microwave.

with a spectacular sunset.

Our provisioning list included champagne, ingredients

thought I’d try), Michael got the campfire going. The

books and movies.

temperature dropped with the setting sun. I knew the day

After the three-hour drive from LA, we entered the

turned on the RV’s generator, brought the microwave to

the Mormon settlers called the signature plants Joshua

life, and dinner at our fingertips! We giggled as we ate;

trees because they were reminded of the biblical story of

eating in the RV “salon” was fancier than many restau-

Joshua reaching his hands to the heavens. But we thought

rants in the area. After dinner we stepped outside and discovered stars

main character from Dr. Seuss’s environmental best seller

exploding out of the vast darkness. Being hours from a

The Lorax.

city, the sky was pitch black and the hunter constellation,

Joshua Tree comprises two arid ecosystems: the veg-

Orion, was shining in full glory next to the Big Dipper.

etated high Mojave Desert with an elevation above 3,000

I was surprised at the massive Milky Way that spread

feet on the northern side where our campground was, and

across the black sky like a nighttime rainbow.

the lower, hotter Colorado Desert to the south.

would be a busy one, so I’d packed some frozen meals. I

park through the west entrance off Highway 62. Some say

Joshua trees (a type of yucca, not a tree) looked like the

After hunting for a cell signal without success (just

for one exotic “cookout” dinner menu, favorite tunes,

We curled up in our cozy RV bed and watched the lat-

est Star Wars movie on a high-tech DVD/sound system.

pile, Skull Rock. It was an easy hike, choreographed by

While enjoying the music during the end credits, we went

the park with signs that identified the desert vegetation.

outside to take a final peek at the stars. We could not

This trail can get busy, so go early or late in the day.

figure out why we could still hear the movie’s music so loud, until we discovered the RV had exterior speakers!

paid off with an ample campfire. We devoured messy

Oops! The entire campground apparently also got to enjoy

marshmallow s’mores, and fortunately enough fire was

the audio of Star Wars for two hours. (At least it was a G-

left to keep us warm during another stargazing spectacle,

rated film.) We were mortified, but tried to make amends

replacing our regular evening routine of checking elec-

in the morning with offers of espressos with hot foamy

tronic devices after dinner.

cream to our tent neighbors. Michael was up early photographing the majestic sun-

for daily showers, but that was pretty much it in terms of

Gambel’s quail scratching the soil looking for seeds and

running our campsite.

It was a windy day, and we saw tents blown off their

Turns out that a cell signal could be found just eight minutes by car from the campground heading toward

campsites, but those Jumbo Rocks boulders kept the fab-

the park’s east entrance. So if you had to be in commu-

ric homes close as their owners scrambled to reassemble

nication, it wasn’t far. But we and everyone else we met

their temporary shelters.

at Joshua Tree—particularly the families—felt it was a

Our biggest decision of the day was what to do in this

RV camping meant we had to keep things charged by running the generator once a day and check water levels

rise. After potato pancakes, we were greeted by a covey of insects outside the RV door.

Michael’s childhood aspiration to be an outdoorsman

treat to go without it. After that first day, we kept our

rocky paradise. The boulders seemed to be calling our

cell phones packed and our hearts open—for the day, the

name again, and off we went to conquer the next rock

moment and the sheer beauty of nature. ■

NATURE IMMERSION A checklist for planning an RV trip •

Joshua Tree is popular: 2.8 million visitors a year. At Jumbo Rocks, reservations are required from September through May. Reserve a campsite at recreation.gov.

•

Search online for suggested RV camping checklists for your destination. You don’t want to arrive and spend time hunting for essentials.

•

Create a menu. If you are going to cook meals over a campfire, keep it simple. Bring frozen meals in case weather conditions make fire challenging or unsafe.

•

Download an astronomy/star chart app such as Star Walk before you leave, so you can identify stars, constellations and satellites.

•

If you have a DSLR camera, bring a tripod for long exposures.

YOUR CRIB •

Chill RV Rentals offers a terrific selection of fully equipped Mercedes RVs.

•

Free home delivery and pickup; in-person, comprehensive training. chillrv.com

COMFORT CARE LIVING YOUR FINAL DAYS WITH DIGNITY WRITTEN BY LAURA L. WATTS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY MATTHEW COOKE

o one wants to think about end-

urinalysis; physical therapy; 24-hour phar-

physicians to prescribe end-of-life medica-

of-life issues. But when a friend

macy services; and transportation to/from

tion to an eligible, terminally ill adult who can

or family member is terminally

hospital. But their offerings extend beyond

choose to self-administer the drug.

ill, hospice can make the process

the medical, in an effort to treat the whole

“Participating in MAID feels very natural for

easier by helping the patient live their final

person and his or her family. Patients are also

me,” shares Olympia Hospice Care’s medical

days with dignity. That’s the goal of Olympia

provided pet and music therapy and spiritual

director, Cary Nelson, MD. “I believe in the

Hospice Care, Inc. in Sherman Oaks, which

services, while their families receive emotional

human spirit and the gift of life, but when

serves patients and families throughout Los

support throughout this difficult process.

disease strikes and infirmity and pain set

Angeles County.

“We focus on respecting the patient’s rights

in, the quality of life can be diminished too

and wishes,” says administrator Ana Safarian.

much. Each minute of each day is spent trying

services for patients with a terminal condition

One way the organization does that is by sup-

to figure out how to decrease the pain and

include visits from doctors, nurses and home

porting the Medical Aid in Dying Act (MAID),

end the suffering—for just five minutes, or an

health aides; medical procedures such as

which was legalized in California in June

hour. Day after day, the patient goes through

mobile X-rays, ultrasounds, bloodwork and

2016. This act allows Olympia Hospice Care’s

the same routine—until the compassionate,

Olympia Hospice Care’s full range of

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

I N G O O D H E A LT H

thoughtful voters in California enacted the

the hospice experience as pleasant as pos-

OLYMPIA HOSPICE CARE, INC.

‘death with dignity law’ in 2016.”

sible,” says Dr. Nelson. “I like to sit and talk with

15315 W. MAGNOLIA BLVD. #403

patients, holding their hand or offering them

SHERMAN OAKS

the most out of the time they do have on this

a sip of water. It’s the little things that most

747-222-8525

earth. “I try to promote ‘living’ to my hospice

people forget doctors are capable of, like

OLYMPIAHOSPICECARE.NET

patients while they are alive and able to do

compassion, empathy and sympathy.”

The doctor also encourages patients to get

so. For example, I suggest to the housebound or chairbound patient to go outside, sit under the sun and warm their bones. Or they can make a smoothie out of their Boost or Ensure supplements for better nutrition and taste!” Dr. Nelson joined the Olympia Hospice Care team in 2015. He received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and attended medical school in Guadalajara and at New York Medical College. Today he has a diverse practice, ranging from aesthetics to family medicine to hospice. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine and has owned and operated The Aesthetic Center and Medical Wellness in Torrance since 2014. The experienced professionals at Olympia Hospice Care strive to ensure that your loved one is receiving personalized care, staying comfortable and maintaining their quality of life as much as possible. Under the guidance of physicians such as Dr. Nelson, hospice staff assist patients with their spiritual, physical and emotional needs—wherever the patients reside. Hospice services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Doctors and nurses are on call after hours and over the weekend. Olympia Hospice Care makes an effort to alleviate stress for the family when it comes to choosing hospice care for a loved one. “We understand there are a lot of questions and concerns,” says Ana. “We can schedule a private consultation with family members to answer any questions or concerns regarding hospice care.” And she adds that hospice care is a 100% benefit covered under Medicare Part A. “Our staff is sincere in their approach and dedicated to providing exemplary patient care and compassion in their service—making |

as seen in

In every issue, we are sharing one story across our media network that explores topics beyond the limits of the Valley. These California stories speak to the meaningful impact our state and residents are making on the global stage. To learn more about Golden State and discover more stories like this, visit goldenstate.is.

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

“QUALITY OF LIFE SHOULD NOT BE A LUXURY COMMODITY FOR THE FEW.”

Julius Shulman photographing Case Study House #22 Case Study House #22

The 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

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 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

a range of benefits for returning

apartment buildings. Although many of the early designs

World War II veterans including

were not built, the Case Study House Program succeeded in

low-cost mortgage loans. What made LA unique was the wartime growth of the aerospace industry, which brought an influx of workers

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. The Case Study House Program was imagined as a

from across the country attracted by the scenic landscape

design-publish-build project. When completed, the hous-

and proximity to companies like Hughes Aircraft and

es would be open to the public for a period of six to eight

Lockheed Martin. As a result, LA County became the fast-

weeks. This was not only a practical means to measure

est growing metropolitan area in the United States.

the success of the design; it was a way for the archi-

And with this rapidly growing population came a need

tects to receive donated building materials and product

for relatively affordable, replicable houses for post-World

placement from high-end furniture manufacturers such

War II family living. All this set the stage for the Case

as Herman Miller Company in exchange for the publicity

Study House Program.

generated by McCoy’s column promoting the program in

The brainchild of publisher and editor John Entenza, the Case Study House Program was announced in a 1945

the Los Angeles Times. Prior to the Case Study House Program, modern-

issue of the magazine Arts & Architecture. The idea was

ism was already flourishing in LA. Frank Lloyd Wright

simple: Focus on using modern means to solve the post-

brought his brand of modernism to the city with his 1919

war housing crisis in LA by expanding the definition of

textile block Hollyhock House. With him came Richard

the word “house.”

Neutra and Rudolph Schindler, both steeped in the

While Entenza was not an architect, he was a vision-

Bauhaus tradition. Schindler’s 1922 multifamily Kings

ary champion of modernism as an architectural style.

Road House is revered for its indoor/outdoor open floor

More importantly, he was passionate about supporting

plan, sliding glass panels and unique use of industrial

and promoting innovative design. Entenza personally in-

materials—so innovative and influential for its time.

vited architects to design eight houses, and the magazine

The Case Study architects put modernism into “new

would feature one each month. The initial architects in-

clothing” with their use of glass and steel along with

cluded J.R. Davidson, Sumner Spaulding, Richard Neutra,

post-and-beam construction, giving residential buildings

Eero Saarinen, William Wurster, Charles Eames, John Rex,

a more lightweight aesthetic after 1950. If Entenza can

Ralph Rapson, Whitney Smith and Thornton Abell.

be credited with branding this new form of modernism

as a lifestyle, it was architectural photographer Julius

from modernism. Frances Anderton, host of DnA: Design

Shulman who sold it.

and Architecture on KCRW in Los Angeles, explains it

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

this way: “Intellectuals like Robert Venturi and Michael

House designed by architect Pierre Koenig, Shulman

Graves on the East Coast were saying, ‘Bring back some

created one of his most widely reproduced images and

decoration. We want to get away from this stripped-

immortalized the style that came to represent the Case

down, getting-everything-down-to-bare-essentials and

Study House Program and the California Dream. In a

doctrinaire approach to building.’ All these architects who

brilliant nightscape, Shulman, who photographed 18 of

looked for a breaking out of the box—what now comes

the Case Study Houses, captured the optimistic lifestyle

under the umbrella of postmodernism—were trained in

of postwar LA with two women casually reclining in the

the modernist ethos at the schools they’d gone to, but

glowing living room as it hovers over the sparkling lights

they just wanted to do something different and experi-

of the metropolis below.

ment. In Los Angeles, Frank Gehry was a part of that.”

While Shulman would say the Stahl House was his

ing, and interest in modernism was on the upswing.

ite—the interior and exterior shot separately and the two

Anderton believes that postmodernism was ultimately an

images superimposed onto one another. Architect, his-

architectural style that lived largely on paper and didn’t

torian and preservationist Alan Hess reveals, “Shulman

provide the same fully rounded building system and

constructed a lot of his images, but he was selling the

lifestyle as modernism.

story of how modern life in California was so appealing

Program was greatly influenced by the Museum of

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

Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, exhibition Blueprints for

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

Modern Living: History and Legacy of the Case Study Houses,

Postwar housing was about mass production, so the

which provides detailed information on each of the Case

ultimate example was Case Study House #8 (1945–

Study Houses, as well as illuminating thoughts by impor-

1949)—the Charles and Ray Eames house—because it

tant architectural historians. Perhaps most interesting was the museum’s decision

sembled. The same year Charles Eames, along with Eero

to extend and update the Case Study House Program by

Saarinen, designed Case Study House #9 for Entenza to

inviting six architects and designers—Itsuko Hasegawa,

occupy the same lot.

Craig Hodgetts, Toyo Ito, Robert Mangurian, Eric Owen

What Entenza succeeded in doing so effectively with

Moss and Adèle Naudé Santos—to contribute their own

the Case Study House Program was capturing and sharing

designs for experimental housing reflecting the spirit of

the important ideas that were bubbling up in Southern

their times.

California during the mid-20th century. His project was

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Case Study

forward-thinking—bringing together the best young

House Program—for some, an opportunity to once again

design talents to solve the problems of the day.

consider the program’s legacy and how it continues to

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

The revival of interest in the Case Study House

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

was built with prefabricated industrial parts that were as-

By the end of the 1980s postmodernism was wan-

most successful photograph, it was actually a compos-

impact architectural design in 21st-century LA.n

Case Study House #9

Home is Where the Hope is…

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©2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

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SO LD

15227 Valley Vista Blvd. – SO-$2,750,000 5Br+7Ba in 4,180 SqFt on a 8,498 SqFt Lot – New construction home in Sherman Oaks! It features a bright open floor plan, chef’s kitchen & a 1,200 sq ft rooftop deck. The entertainer’s backyard offers a pool, spa, bbq, pool cabana, & much more.

3835 Alomar Dr. – SO- $2,750,000 4Br+4.5 Ba in 4,000 SqFt on a 16,641 SqFt LotContemporary modern home with amazing views is located in the highly exclusive Longridge Estates and designed by the famed Southern California architects, Buff & Hensman. This two-story modernist custombuilt home features a chef’s kitchen, wine room, and much more. The backyard has a grassy area and a sitting area.

SO LD

12985 Galewood St. – SC - $3,500,000- 4Br+2.5Ba in 3,916 SqFt on a 22,287 SqFt Lot- FEATURED- Fabulous gated farmhouse in the Longridge Estates. This home offers an open floor with two bedrooms downstairs. In addition to the main house, there is a recording studio/ guest house, pool, spa, and putting green.

© 2019 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

WORKING FROM HOME AND

GETTING IT DONE! Wondering how to go about selling or buying a property? We are commited to our clients every step of the way

• Over a decade of experience in the industry • Committed to 100% client satisfaction • A proven track record of success

STEPHANIE PAYAB 818.827.3400 Lic# 01394407

CAROL

OLFE

Nobody does it better...

active

16908 Bosque Dr., Encino $5,500,000 Encino South Brand New Modern

sold

17515 Embassy Dr., Encino $2,349,000 Amestoy Tennis Estate

sold

17516 Margate St., Encino $4,100,000 Amestoy Estates

sold

3937 Vista Linda Dr., Encino $1,999,000 English Manor View Estate

in escrow

3345 Wedgewood Ln., Burbank $3,388,000 Burbank Hills

sold

3623 Green Vista Dr., Encino $1,999,000 Encino Hills Mid-Century w/View

4688 Alonzo Ave., Encino $1,799,000 Encino South of Boulevard

active

sold

15525 High Knoll Rd., Encino $1,499,000 Royal Oaks Mid Century Modern

4212 Grimes Pl., Encino $1,399,000 Lake Encino

818.285.3688 www.CarolWolfe.com 19050 Wells Dr., Tarzana $1,299,000 Tarzana Gem with Privacy

sold

10430 Wilshire Blvd., #904, Los Angeles $1,800,000 The Mirabella - Wilshire Corridor

in escrow

sold

4734 White Oak Ave., Encino $1,799,000 Rancho Estates

sold

4926 Louise Ave., Encino $2,669,000 Encino South

#1 AGENT RODEO REALTY ENCINO OFFICE

COMING SOON 3955 Westfall Dr., Encino $1,799,000 16612 Oldham Pl., Encino $1,599,000

The Agency Congratulates Craig Knizek IN 2020, CRAIG CONTINUES A TRADITION OF RECORD-BREAKING SALES, RECENTLY ADDING THE TWO MOST VALUABLE PROPERTIES SOLD IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY TO HIS IMPRESSIVE PORTFOLIO

2020

2019

Two Off-Market Encino sales totaling $21,375,000

4701 Bolboa Avenue $8,995,000

2019

2017

16144 High Valley Place $10,800,000

17085 Rancho Street $8,418,000

2019 17100 Rancho Street $20,000,000

The Finest Representation of the Finest Estates Craig has closed 33 San Fernando Valley sales over $4M

$6M - $ 7 M

3 Sales

4 Sales

$8M - $ 9 M

$ 5 M - $6M

3 Sales

5 Sales

$ 7 M - $8M 3 Sales

CRAIG KNIZEK CKnizek@TheAgencyRE.com 424.230.3718 | LIC. #01377932

REAL ESTATE WITH REAL VISION THEAGENCYRE.COM

Over $ 10 M

13646 Valley Vista Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA Offered at $1,211,000 • 2 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • Approx. 1,452 Sq. Ft. Home • Private 8,600 Sq. Ft. Lot “Mellenthin Birdhouse”

∂

www.13646ValleyVista.com

FOR SALE

14120 Dickens Street, Sherman Oaks | $925,000

4474 Sherman Oaks Circle, Sherman Oaks | $1,359,000

15033 Rayneta Drive, Sherman Oaks | $1,659,000

FOR SALE

JUST SOLD

3850 Rock Hampton Drive, Tarzana | $2,050,000

3831 Hilton Head Way, Tarzana | $1,899,000

19011 Ashurst Lane, Tarzana | $3,950,000

BARRY DANTAGNAN 818.426.8677

barrydantagnan@gmail.com

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

©2020 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned By a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. Cal RE #01020477

16801 Oak View Drive

3451 Loadstone Drive

ENCINO, CA 91436

BEDS

B AT H S

DENNIS CHERNOV CHERNOVTEAM.COM 818.432.1524 DRE# 01850113

10,400

SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91403

20,473

SQFT LIVING

SQFT LOT

BEDS

ADI LIVYATAN ADILIVYATAN.COM 818.919.4060 DRE# 1892750

2.5

B AT H S

DENNIS CHERNOV CHERNOVTEAM.COM 818.432.1524 DRE# 01850113

2,563

14,440

SQFT LIVING

SQFT LOT

YOAV ASTMAN THEASTMANGROUP.COM 818.674.6156 DRE# 01906234

*Available to show via 360Â° virtual reality tours & FaceTime. COMING SOON

OFF MARKET

4444 BELLINGHAM AVE | STUDIO CITY

OFF MARKET

4212 TEESDALE AVE | STUDIO CITY

OFF MARKET

4463 WOODLEY AVE | ENCINO

ACTIVE

1400 N. FULLER #8 |

ACTIVE

W. HOLLYWOOD

ACTIVE

1 1 1 1 0 DO N A P E G I TA D R | S T U D I O C I T Y

SOLD BEFORE PROCESSING

5108 SOPHIA AVE | ENCINO

OVER

$287 MILLION

SOLD IN 2019

4319 IRVINE AVE | STUDIO CITY

11560 DILLING ST | STUDIO CITY

SOLD OVER ASKING

3737 MONTUSO PL | ENCINO

1 9 1 0 1 G AY L E D R | TA R Z A N A

ACTIVE

4215 ALLOTT AVE | SHERMAN OAKS

SOLD OVER ASKING

14377 MILLBROOK DR | SHERMAN OAKS

OFF MARKET

16700 BAJIO CT | ENCINO

ACTIVE

16742 PAGEANT PL | ENCINO

IN ESCROW

15501 BRIARWOOD DR | SHERMAN OAKS

SOLD WITH MULTIPLES

3606 CAMINO DE LA CUMBRE | SHERMAN OAKS

818.432.1524 INFO@CHERNOVTEAM.COM WWW.CHERNOVTEAM.COM DRE #01850113

#1 TEAM IN THE VALLEY | #6 IN LOS ANGELES | #16 IN CALIFORNIA

Each office is independently owned and operated. If your property is listed with another broker, this is not a solicitation. Keller Williams Realty does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records or other sources and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection with appropriate licensed professionals.

STUDIO CITY

3768 Berry Dr $3,995,000

Craig Strong 818.930.4050 DRE 01450987 Modernist masterpiece set high in the hills of Studio City.

ENCINO

5359 Oak Park Ave $3,499,000

SHERMAN OAKS

Arman Grigoryan 818.444.7700 DRE 01711745

14257 Chandler Blvd $3,195,000

Kristin Neithercut 323.397.0800 DRE 02003278

STUDIO CITY

3001 Dona Nenita Pl $1,995,000 BURBANK

610 E. Grinnell Dr $1,995,000

VALLEY VILLAGE

Craig Strong Kristin Neithercut 818.930.4050 DRE 01450987 | 02003278

SHERMAN OAKS

3527 Stonehill Pl $1,599,000

12645 Tiara St $1,635,000

Michaela Cadiz Joan Duffy 310.795.6715 DRE 01803838 | 00525687

STUDIO CITY

Alan Taylor 818.650.1603 DRE 01369255

4548 Wortser Ave $1,300,000

Eric Lieberman 310.849.4900 DRE 01008206

Stunning pool home just north of Mulholland Drive at end of cul de sac in the Studio City Hills.

GRANADA HILLS

Gary Steinberg 818.642.9927 DRE 01240073

11923 Susan Dr $1,149,000

Michael Bergin 310.600.0715 DRE 01845572

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate.

We hope you & your family are staying healthy & safe during this unprecedented time. We will ovecome this together! “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” - John Lennon

COMING SOON

4335 Ponca Avenue, Toluca Lake | $3,495,000

3684 Wrightwood Drive, Studio City | $1,095,000

9918 Toluca Lake Avenue, Toluca Lake | $5,695,000

4411 Arcola Avenue, Toluca Lake | $2,495,000

CRAIG STRONG VP, Luxury Home Sales Top 1 % Nationwide

ACTIVE

#1 Individual Agent Companywide Sold Over $125 Million in 2019

4540 Beck Avenue, Studio City | $3,495,000

PENDING

4338 Laurelgrove Avenue, Studio City | $2,295,000 Compass does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records and other sources and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. CalBRE 01450987

Oren David Mordkowitz ESTATES DIRECTOR | REALTOR ÂŽ

818-933-5866

CalDRE License #01246402

oren@orenestates.com

We want to thank the first responders, medical workers, grocery store employees, teachers and all those who have tirelessly continued to service our communities. Although real estate has taken a back seat for many, know that buyers and sellers are still in the marketplace facilitating business in these temporary times. During the period of March 15th through April 7th between Calabasas and Toluca Lake along the 101 corridor, 87 residences went into escrow, 175 properties closed escrow and 150 properties were newly listed. Online searches are at an all-time high as buyers wait to jump back into business! It is important now to take a step back, staying safe and healthy. We are keeping a close eye on the real estate market for you and have great confidence with record low interest rates our market will continue thriving. Cherish your family and know this too shall pass, we will be here for you when it does and are here now to consult with you on any of your real estate matters.

4915WoodleyAvenue.com

4230ValleyMeadowRoad.com

17437OakCreekCourt.com

PENDING

SOLD

Curious what your home is worth? Contact Oren for a complimentary home analysis!

OrenEstates.com

A home that exceeds expectations deserves a mortgage to match.

• Up to 89.99% financing on a primary residence may be available on loan sizes up to $2 million1 • 80% financing on loan sizes up to $3 million-loan sizes up to $8 million available to well-qualified buyers who meet Citi’s High Net Worth2 requirements • Dedicated support every step of the way

Let’s find a mortgage that fits your needs. Call me today. John Musso Home Lending Officer 818-518-1008 john.musso@citi.com citi.com/johnmusso NMLS# 448606 Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, products and services are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Certain restrictions may apply on all programs. Offer cannot be combined with any other mortgage offer. This offer contains information about U.S. domestic financial services provided by Citibank, N.A. and is intended for use domestically in the U.S. 1

A minimum FICO score of 740 required. Must be primary residence. 1-unit properties only including condos, co-ops and PUDs. Borrowers must have a minimum of 12 months reserves. Mortgage insurance required. The property must be located in a stable market. Refinances are limited to rate/term refinances of an existing CitiMortgage loan. Refinances can result in cash back to the borrower. Properties in any MSA depreciating 5.01% or more per the Citi seriously declining market list or information found on the appraisal are not eligible. A Citibank deposit account is required for this action. A minimum of $50,000 in eligible post-close balances must be in place no later than 10 days prior to your scheduled closing loan. The anticipated post-close Citi eligible balances are based upon the balances you are anticipated to have following the closing of the mortgage loan and taking into account any down payment and/or closing costs you will be paying out of pocket at closing. Citi eligible balances include your personal account balance in your Citibank deposits accounts (checking, savings, certificate of deposit and money market). Balances from Citibank N.A. business accounts and retirement accounts other than IRAs and Keoughs (except Keough Plans with participants other than the account owner and spouses, or partners and their spouses) are excluded. Conforming loans are loans that are up to $510,400 or up to $765,600 in certain high cost markets. Jumbo loans are loans that exceed those conforming loan amounts. A Citibank Mortgage Representative can inform you what the conforming loan amount is in the area where your property is located. A minimum FICO score of 720 required. Available for clients with a minimum of $500,000 or more in investable post-close assets, and at least $50,000 in traditional assets must be on deposit with Citi at least 10 days prior to closing. This amount may be part of the $500,000 eligibility requirement. Real estate, loan proceeds, stock options, restricted stock and personal property will not be counted as part of the $500,000 or more investable post-close assets or the $50,000 in traditional assets. Net cash value of life insurance can be counted as part of the $500,000 but not part of the traditional assets. Investable assets are defined as deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit), unrestricted stocks, non-vested stock and restricted stock, bonds and retirement accounts held by the individual who is personally liable on the loan. These asset types held in revocable trust may be used provided the trust document meets the Trust Policy. 100% of the face value of all assets, except non-vested stock and restricted stock, may be used to calculate the amount of funds available to meet the eligibility criteria. For non-vested stock and restricted stock, the borrower must be 100% vested within 1 year of closing and a maximum of 70% of value may be used to calculate qualifying equity. Additional conditions apply.

©2020 Citibank, N.A. NMLS# 412915. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Citi, Citi and Arc Design and other marks used herein are service marks of Citigroup Inc. or its affiliates, used and registered throughout the world.

LAST WORD

Alone, Together Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

The clasped hands of internist Aimee Ostick and her ER doctor husband, Brian, in their Woodland Hills backyard before each physican begins their arduous workday— an image that reminds us that we are all in this together. ■

The Spitz | Cameron Group Selling A Lifestyle S P E C TA C U L A R VA L L E Y H O M E S C

SU GO N RG SE T EO V US IE W S

N E IO W N

16658 Adlon Road Encino $3,999,000

3949 Vista Linda Drive Encino $2,775,000

T SI

FA G

T LE AS ST TIC O RY

16905 Bosque Drive Encino $1,549,000

N Q ED UI -À L T -T RE ER ER TO E P

3801 Benedict Canyon Lane Sherman Oaks $1,089,000

The Spitz | Cameron Group,

your Luxury Real Estate Specialists AndrewSpitz.com

HarrietCameron.com

FranChavez.com

DRE#924610 Realtor®

DRE#675971 Realtor®

DRE#01013357 Realtor®

818-817-4284

818-380-2151

818-517-1411

©2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. DRE #01317331

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Choosing a Facey doctor for your care is easy.

Picking the right color to paint your world with? Not always easy. But if you’re looking for convenient, compassionate care that’s there when you need it, we’re your team. Facey offers both in-person and telehealth appointments, plus the ability to manage your health online with MyChart. We accept most PPO and HMO health plans. And thanks to our affiliation with Providence, chosing a Facey doctor means a seamless experience at our clinics and Providence’s award-winning hospitals. Ask your insurance company or broker how you can switch today. For a list of the health plans we currently accept, give us a call or visit our website at: facey.com/insurance

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