CREG 2.16.24 by Times Media Group

Stunning Coastal Cottage in Desirable Lower Bluebird Canyon

Located on an expansive lot, this stunning coastal cottage boasts a functional layout spanning three levels, complete with 5 bedrooms (currently configured as 6) and 4.5 baths. Meticulously remodeled by renowned architect Gregg Abel, the picturesque interior exudes the timeless charm of a Laguna Cottage while incorporating contemporary elements of today. The spacious living room boasts an inviting fireplace, beautiful built-ins, and a wall of windows and doors leading to an expansive deck running the length of the home, perfect for seamless indoor/outdoor living and enjoying the serene views. The updated gourmet kitchen is a highlight, showcasing Carrera marble counters, high-end stainless appliance package,

Property: 994 Bluebird Canyon Dr, Laguna Beach

Offering Price: $3,775,000

farmhouse sink, walk-in pantry, and an adjacent formal dining room for entertaining ease. The upper level hosts 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths, including a master bedroom complete with a walk-in closet and access to a second private deck. The lower level of the home offers an ideal setup for a mother-in-law suite or au pair, encompassing 2 additional bedrooms and full baths, a bonus room, and a flex space that could serve as a home gym or oﬃce. Sitting on a 9,035 square-foot usable lot, the private backyard is surrounded by lush landscaping and offers a yard with plenty of room to play. This sought after location offers close proximity to popular Bluebird Park and is less than a mile to the beach!

Agent Info: Andrea Ballesteros; 949.690.5159 andrea@ballesterosgroup.com; ballesterosgroup.com

HIGH-TECHHAVENS

HOMEOWNERS ARE INCORPORATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR OUTDOOR SPACES TO MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS.

By ASHLEY PROBST/ COURTESY OF LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE

“In

In our modern world, technology is woven into virtually every aspect of our lives, so naturally homeowners are incorporating it in their outdoor areas.

From long-range Wi-Fi for those working from home to wireless speakers and movie screens for alfresco entertainment, technology helps make any type of outdoor activity more convenient. This is because everything can be controlled from homeowners’ electronic devices, including lighting, sound systems, fire pits and more.

“A smart home is controllable by your phone,” says Julie Laughton, CEO of her eponymous Laguna Beach-based custom

home building company, Julie Laughton Design Build. “I just think that technology makes our lives much simpler and more carefree because it can save us time.”

With technological advancements readily available, it’s easier than ever to customize one’s backyard for any mood or event at the tap of a finger.

THE BARE NECESSITIES

Regardless of how deep homeowners want to get into the technological world, there are a few basic features that anyone needs to fully enjoy their outdoor area: heating and lights. When it comes to heating systems,

Laughton says that “infrared is safer in general.” This is, in part, because electric heaters help prevent fires that have previously been caused by old-fashioned gas heaters.

“[Infrared heaters] can be mounted on the ceiling or the walls … and they cover a large area of 200 square feet,” Laughton says.

Lighting is also imperative for outdoor gatherings, especially at night, and some digital programs allow users to save their preferences to suit different moods like soft light for a romantic dinner or brighter light

for an evening workspace. All of these can be controlled through an app.

“All the lights, for example, come programmable in your phone in any color, so you can change the theme of your backyard,” Laughton explains. “… You can have it preprogrammed so you just push a button and don’t need to adjust a dimmer switch on the wall.”

Outdoor technology is also typically waterproof and wireless for both safety and convenience.

OUTDOOR OFFICES AND ALFRESCO

KITCHENS

With more people working from home than ever, opting for an outdoor oﬃce has become an increasingly popular exterior design trend. A weatherproof table and chairs make for the ideal place to set up a laptop and, with the right connection, homeowners can tap into their Wi-Fi network from anywhere on their property.

“[Most properties include] a central location in the house where everything is hard-wired. Then

a wireless box in that central location is used to communicate with every device in the house— [and outside]—including TVs,” Laughton says, noting this may require the installation of Wi-Fi boosters depending on the size of one’s property. “… The days of the cable wires being run to every room are over.”

Not only are homeowners working outdoors, they’re also cooking in the open air. For these types of kitchens, Laughton says the most important piece of technology is proper lighting that’s placed strategically. She recommends smart LED light bulbs, which make great accent lighting and can be controlled with an app on your cellphone. Lighted barbecue tongs may also be helpful.

When it comes to outdoor appliances, these may include everything from smart dishwashers to stoves, grills, electric pizza ovens and more.

Laughton also notes that the home-tech industry is dramatically shifting to include artificial intelligence. One example that fascinates her is a refrigerator that tracks your food and drink supply to

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Chris Mattingley, Carol Josepher, Dawn Lindeman, Mara Hertel

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DESIGN/MARKETING

CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Tracy Powell

Tiffany Thompson

Steve Zepezauer PRESIDENT

Scott Sanchez

alert you when something runs out, or even add it to a virtual grocery list.

OPEN-AIR ENTERTAINMENT

Homeowners would be remiss not to incorporate technology in their outdoor play. One must-have item that Laughton suggests is a smart TV, which is wireless and powered by the internet instead of traditional cable.

When it comes to smart TVs, Samsung is the leading vendor worldwide with the electronics brand accounting for more than 25% of the global smart TV market.

The Terrace is one of Samsung’s TVs that’s designed specifically for outdoor spaces, according to a Samsung spokesperson. This premium outdoor home theater experience uses a quantum dot lightemitting diode (QLED) display for better picture quality. The Terrace allows for high-quality images even in full sunlight, which is possible because of a

TVs like The Terrace by Samsung (above) offer great picture quality even in full sunlight due to a weather-resistant, anti-glare screen.

Discover the epitome of coastal living in this chic 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom retreat located in the heart of Laguna Beach. Be the first to enjoy this newly renovated exquisite property that seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with beachside tranquility, offering a captivating experience. As you step inside, you're greeted by a thoughtfully designed interior that seamlessly connects the living, dining, and kitchen spaces. The open-concept layout enhances the sense of space and invites a natural flow throughout. The kitchen, equipped with brand-new stainless-steel appliances, serves as a stylish hub for culinary adventures, all while basking in the abundance of natural light pouring in through well-placed windows. Venture outside to your private oasis—a charming patio space ideal for both relaxation and al fresco dining. Here, you can immerse yourself in the coastal climate and enjoy the gentle ocean breeze, creating a perfect setting for outdoor gatherings. Additional features include a dedicated laundry and storage room for convenience, one reserved parking spot, and proximity to nearby beaches, dining options, and shopping for daily needs. Scenic views enhance the allure of the Laguna Beach landscape. 529 Catalina isn't just a residence; it's a lifestyle that embraces modern comfort while immersing you in the natural beauty and coastal allure of Laguna Beach. Don't miss the chance to make this retreat your new home. Schedule a showing today to experience firsthand the elegance, comfort, and convenience.

Brandy Faber is a lifelong Laguna Beach resident having lived in every area of this quaint seaside town. Brandy’s integrity, honesty, and customer

Tech Havens

weather-resistant, anti-glare screen that has been verified for its outdoor visibility performance by safety science company Underwriters Laboratories.

For an even bigger production and fun weekend activity, especially for those with kids, an outdoor movie screen can be installed virtually anywhere, though Laughton recommends placing it on a wall or under a canopy to help protect it from harsh weather. Screens can be as sophisticated as a motorized version that comes down at the push of a button to one that can be pulled down manually, or something even simpler.

“You can just hang a sheet and get the proper projector—you don’t have to get that fancy,” Laughton says, noting that portable projectors can even be stored indoors and only brought out for screenings.

No entertainment center would be complete without stellar speakers. Laughton’s go-to brand is Sonos, which specializes in wireless home sound systems and also serves as a Wi-Fi network. Speakers can also be hidden among rocks to maintain a natural aesthetic.

Overall, Laughton emphasizes the way technology makes homeowners’ lives essentially effortless, and recommends prioritizing that ease when integrating it into their daily routines.

“With tech, the simpler the application, the better because no one wants a complicated way to turn on your lights,” Laughton says. “… That’s what I enjoy about modern technology because, in the old days, it took a lot more work.”

And when this technological ease extends outdoors, it increases usable living space, making a home feel that much larger.

“A SMART HOME IS CONTROLLABLE BY YOUR PHONE. I JUST THINK THAT TECHNOLOGY MAKES OUR LIVES MUCH SIMPLER AND MORE CAREFREE BECAUSE IT CAN SAVE US TIME.” — JULIE LAUGHTON

From outdoor TVs (above) to speakers for music (below), the addition of technology outside helps homeowners to expand their home’s living space.

This week the median list price for Laguna Beach, CA is $4,425,000 with the market action index hovering around 32. This is an increase over last month's market action index of 28. Inventory has decreased to 91.

Slight Seller's Advantage

Home sales have been exceeding new inventory for several weeks. However prices have not yet stopped falling. Since the market is already in the Seller's zone, expect prices to level oﬀ very soon. Should the sales trend continue expect that prices could climb from there.

Med ia n List Price

Ma rk et Segments

Each segment below represents approximately 25% of the market ordered by price.

LAGUNA BEACH | SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

NEWPORT BEACH | SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

NEWPORT BEACH HARBOR 20 Harbor Island

6 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms

3,600 SF | 17,726 Lot SF

2 Lots | 100’ Frontage

Offered at $64,000,000

20HarborIs.com

This landmark Newport Beach Harbor Island home, situated on two of its most extraordinary view lots, is available for sale for the first time in over 70 years. Favored for its timeless classic style, impressive private dockage, magnificent stately grounds, and beautifully manicured specimen trees, this gracious residence, built circa 1937, presides over Newport Harbor’s central turning basin and anchorage, the hub of the harbor’s yachting activity. This offering comprises two independent lots (numbers 20 and 21), each fifty feet wide. Their combined one hundred feet of frontage, found on the most desirable island in Newport Harbor, represents the last opportunity of its kind. Surrounded by Southern California’s most impressive and expensive waterside residences, this property can be restored, expanded, or wholly reimagined to build the waterfront home of your dreams. The existing private dock can accommodate several boats to 78’, and reconfiguration could allow for a yacht to 100’.

BOLD MOVES

Five of the region’s most prolific real estate professionals join Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty

Formerly partners of Villa Real Estate - EVAN CORKETT, KIM BIBB, JON FLAGG, STEVE HIGH, and TIM CARR have brought their collaborative energies, experience, and connections – along with an average of over $6 billion in career sales – to the Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty family of associates. Joining an already influential and accomplished ensemble of real estate professionals, they recognized the value and dynamic opportunity the Sotheby’s International Realty network brings to their clients and the properties they represent.

“The reputation and expertise of these individuals is a powerful complement to our company of associates,” said PSIR Chairman Gavin Swartzman, “We have a growing momentum in the market as the consumer continues to embrace the true importance of a professional network with significant resources, that facilitates nearly $200 billion annually in luxury property sales worldwide. Together, Pacific Sotheby’s, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, and the individual businesses of Corkett, Bibb, Flagg, High, and Carr are positioned to chart another record-making decade in this coastal arena.”