LA Home Spring 2017

LA HOME /

$6.99 | SPRING 2017

HOME + LIFE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

AT HOME WITH IRWIN + HEIDI MILLER/MALLIKA CHOPRA/ ELYSE GRAHAM + LEWIS MAUK/JENNIFER JOHNSON + JEFF TIMON 1 LA HOME | SPRING 2017

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Contents

I N T ERI ORS

6/BRIEFING: COOL STUFF

What’s cool in this season’s lifestyle and home decor.

8/BRIEFING: SHOPPING New retail experiences which are worth exploring.

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Textile designer, Caroline Cecil, creates hand painted fabrics which are traditionally printed onto fine Belgian fabric.

Interior designer, Ohara DaviesGaetano, reveals an insight into one of her recent projects with builder, Rob Glass.

CAROLINE CECIL h

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CRYSTAL COVE i

28/A SURPRISING SANCTUARY FOR HOMELESS VETS Ingenuity and dedication were key in creating a new housing complex for the homeless. Donna Gallup, head of the non-profit that turned a novel concept into reality, talks about how the project came to fruition.

PH OTOG RAPH Y

32/SIGNS OF THE TIMES Capturing the energy and vibrancy of the Women’s March on 21 January in Downtown LA, through the lens of Photographer, Bryan Alano.

34/A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW Photographer, Max Wanger, takes a whimsical approach to his work, both personal and commercial.

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Millenial interior designer, Ryan Saghian, has a visionary style and the self-confidence to realize his dreams.

Five Lighting Designers choose their favorite designs.

A BOLD VISION h

FIVE FAVORITES i

DES I G N

36/STREETS AHEAD Illustrators and motion graphic artists, Paul Zappia and Colin Ozawa make information graphics fun with their elegant, intricate style.

40/TECH Technology in home design.

46/GETAWAY: BACARA RESORT & SPA Christopher Damon spends a weekend at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara.

50/GETAWAY: CASA OLIVER Finding the perfect getaway on the Mexican coast.

40/TECH Technology in home design.

53/LOS ANGELES LANDMARKS A historical LA landmark.

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LA/HOME E D I TOR I A L Publisher Andy Waldman/andy@lahomemag.com Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director Mark Castellino/mark@lahomemag.com Tech Editor/Editor at Large Jenna Atchison/jenna@lahomemag.com Copy Editor Felicia Kaplan Design Editor Britt Lovett

CON TR I B U TO R S Photographers Benjamin Ariff Joanne Garcia Jessica Isaac Irwin Miller Writers Elif Cercel Christopher Damon Heidi Miller Kelly Woyan

I N Q U I R I ES Advertising, Subscriptions, Custom Publishing and Distribution inquiries: hello@lahomemag.com Submissions: editor@lahomemag.com Events: events@lahomemag.com

LA HOME is printed 4 times a year by Focus Media Agency, ISSN 2378-5381, and is available on newsstands, retail outlets, bookstores and also strategically placed in upscale locations throughout Los Angeles.

FOCUS MEDIA AGENCY 149 S. Barrington Ave #178 Los Angeles CA 90049 All rights reserved. LA HOME is published by Focus Media Agency. No articles, illustrations, photographs, any other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without permission of the copyright owner.

Focus Media Agency does not take responsibility for the claims provided herein.

Cover photos: Chopra House by Jessica Isaac, Miller House by Irwin Miller

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cool stuff

MISTY TABLE

CHARLOTTE CHAIR

A side table inspired by iconic ballet dancer Misty Copeland, the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Edge grain, fumed oak with solid brass toes. The Misty is one of several new pieces from Studio E&R, the furniture design company created by Ryan Silverman and Eileen O’Dea. $58

A playful, rotating armchair in velvet with brass base from designer India Mahdavi, whose whimsical furniture line is now available at Ralph Pucci in LA and NY. H 75 x L 65 x P 59 cm $6120

Ralph Pucci, 1025 N. McCadden Pl. CA 90038 indiamahdavi.com

SPECKLED TUMBLER Sara Winkle creates small batch ceramics. The stoneware tumblers are hand made from high iron-content clay and fired locally in a 60 year old gas kiln. Originally, this tumbler was designed for Lodge bread company, in Culver City, to be part of their tableware.

$40

jesuissara.bigcartel.com

studioeandr.com

STICK STOOL

A new addition to the Bend Goods collection is a sophisticated, yet playful, Stick Barstool. It packs a lot of detail into its compact design, and the juxtaposition of the powder coated steel base with the glow of the honey wood top makes this barstool one of their more attractive and intricate pieces.

Available in 2 heights and in black or white. $ 380 (26”H) and $390 (29”H)

CERAMIC POUR OVER

Nick McPhail’s prodigious one man operation, Half Ceramics, produces a range of vibrant wheel thrown ceramic housewares. This White Speckle Pour Over is fired to cone 6 and comes with the option of a coral, orange, yellow, blue, or mint green base. Handmade in Los Angeles. Dishwasher and microwave safe with non-toxic glaze.

4.5”W x 3”H approx Made to order in 4-6 weeks.

48.00

bendgoods.com

halfceramics.com

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TORTUGA LOUNGE CHAIR Stunning from all angles, the Tortuga Lounge Chair borrows its smart proportion and serene sensibility from classic modern Holly Hunt seating. The Tortuga suspends lush cushions within a terrapin-like woven shell, a showcase for its exceptional craftsmanship.

38.5W x 36.5”D x 29”.5H Seat Height: 14.75”, Seat Depth: 22”, Arm Height: 21.25”, Powder Coated Metal and Woven Fiber. $4200 hollyhunt.com

DRAGONFLY TABLE

Michael Olshefski at Primal Modern fuses ancient Eastern art and philosophy, (Wabi-Sabi), with minimalist modern architecture and design. Inspired by a dragonfly at rest, its centerpiece is a highly figured black walnut with a leather spine and void symbolizing the body and wings.

Wood, steel, museum glass.

86”W x 26”D x 17.5”H $7,000 primalmodern.com

BLUR ‘SATURATION’ RUG

From the new Blur range by Tai Ping Carpets, these hand-knotted rugs include eight primary designs and four variations, which explore alternative colours, fibres, and textures. With effects like soft focus and light leaks, inspired by vintage monochromatic photos, each of Blur’s twelve pieces reveals an affinity between its generations-old hand-knotting techniques and the manual artistry of early photographers. ‘Saturation’ (left) and ‘Density’ (right), pay tribute to the sepia, monotones and experimental darkroom techniques of early 20th century photographers, such as Man Ray and László Moholy-Nagy.

Custom sizing, made to order. $105$315 per square foot. Contact Tai Ping Carpets at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Avenue, Suite B400.

T: 310 652 3058 taipingtent.com/blur

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BR I E F I N G

shopping experiences

OPENHOUSE

Current Curator (through April 2017)

penhouse is a community outpost and experience-based retail storefront showcasing a collection of home decor and lifestyle vignettes from designers, boutiques, furniture makers and artisans from Los Angeles. Launched

by Partners Trust, the Los Angeles real estate brokerage, Openhouse draws inspiration from the impeccably designed homes Partners Trust associates represent across Los Angeles. Ten percent of sales from Openhouse go to the current recipients of the Partners Trust Charitable Giving Fund.

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Ariel Fox Design - For her concept, founder Ariel Johnson is featuring artisans with a passion and a story. The collection includes her own custom pieces, as well as a unique capsule of Johnson’s favorite furniture makers, most notably, Stephen Kenn which is debuting its new Bowline furniture collection inspired by the sailing culture of Japan. arielfoxdesign.com

Past Curators

Openhouse 1728 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica Tuesday through Saturday, 10am – 5pm.

Hermosa Design - The inspiration for Hermosa Design’s installation and pop-up shop is beach contemporary featuring Scandinavian design decor pieces, original art, euro bicycles and summertime barware. Hermosa Design is a lifestyle and interior design store led by Farnaz and Steve Reneker, a husband and wife team from Hermosa Beach, California. hermosa-design.com

The Hängar - The Hängar outfitted the Openhouse space with three distinct living environments featuring home furnishings, accessories, decorative items and art made by both established and emerging Los Angeles artists. The Mar Vista-based brand was founded by Corinne Weber and embraces California living at its finest. thehangarla.com

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vondom

ondom has opened its first West Coast V location, a 3,000 square-foot showroom at The Pacific Design Center. The internationally

renowned, Spanish based, outdoor furniture manufacturer, brings acclaimed designers from around the world to Los Angeles. Fabio Novembre, Stefano Giovannoni, Eugeni Quitllet, Ora Ïto, Ross Lovegrove, Karim Rashid, Javier Mariscal are just a few of the design ambassadors who share Vondom’s philosophy of furniture made with passion – designed by and for dynamic people, innovators, curious types.

Vondom LA 8687 Melrose Avenue - Suite B114 West Hollywood, CA 90069 T: 424 777 0650 losangeles@vondom.com www.vondom.com VOXEL CHAIR

by Karim Rashid A minimal, stackable chair that is faceted just in the perfect places for comfort, just in the right angles for hyper-strength, combining to form a work of beauty, and purity.

Vela Round Canopy Daybed

by Ramón Esteve A proportionally elegant daybed with precise volumes which create the illusion of hovering off the floor. When illuminated it is transformed into a floating architecture.

WALL STREET STOOL

by Eugeni Quitllet A stool which combines a lightness, and a sensual and elegant shape to create a unique object for using inside or outside.

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DESI G N ER

S P OTLI GH T

CAROLINE CECIL PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDRE JARAS

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n her eponymous textile collections, Caroline Cecil brings together her experience designing fashion textiles for the likes of Carolina Herrera and Angela Adams, to form her distinct style of artisanally printed fabrics for the luxury interiors market.

She recently unveiled the ‘Balinesia’ collection of hand painted fabrics – ‘a modern take on the historic icons of the Southern Pacific Islands.’

The prints celebrate the rich culture of the Pacific with wide-ranging references which include the plant and animal life and historic temples. The muted color palette reflects the teal waters, peach colored sand and black and white motifs of historic textiles.

As is typical of her work, each of Caroline’s designs begins as a hand drawn india ink painting, and is translated onto heritage and premium ground cloths via hand screen printing. The ground cloths are sourced from Belgium and Scotland and the printing is completed in California.

“I have always been passionate about artisan textile techniques, and it’s invigorating to be part of the re-emergence of craft in American design today.” says Caroline.

Available at De Sousa Hughes in California

Interior Design: Kendall Simmons | Photography: Catherine Truman

Photography courtesy of REVELE INC. Interior Design: Martha O’Hara Interiors | Photographer: Corey Gaffer

Caroline Cecil Textiles carolinececiltextiles.com

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Stories in this issue:

Elyse Graham elysegraham.com/process

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S P OTLI GH T

CASE STUDY

crystal cove Interior designer, OHARA DAVIES-GAETANO, reveals an insight into one of her recent projects with builder, ROB GLASS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD MARTIN

his home overlooks the Pacific Ocean in Crystal Cove, with views that are truly mesmerizing. The architecture was inspired by Moorish and Andalusian design and the details incorporated into the home, like the ceilings you can see on the following pages, are intricate and very prominent to the overall feeling. With that being said, it was crucial that the architectural details not be too overpowering to the overall feeling of the home.

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Ohara Davies-Gaetano Designer, Ohara Davies-Gaetano Interiors

Ohara embodies a natural and artful approach to design. Growing up within a family of artists in New York City, she studied art and design at a young age and continued to pursue her real life studies through extensive travel, observing and absorbing the world around her.

Ohara was named by House Beautiful as the ‘next wave’ of design. Her designs have been featured in Veranda, House Beautiful, Luxe, California Interiors, Riviera Interiors, and Elle Décor.

She travels worldwide to find the elements used to create her designs, and her journey can be followed on Instagram at @odginteriors.

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GREAT ROOM

In the great room, which serves as both a living and family room, I was posed with a few challenges.

My clients wanted the room to look beautiful as it is, (not was), the first room you see when you walk through the front door, but they always needed the room to be relaxing and comfortable for everyday family life.

The only location for the TV was directly over the fireplace, so the decision was made to hide the TV with a commissioned piece of art. The art is connected to a motor when you turn on the TV, the canvas rolls up making the TV visible.

Another challenge to the great room was lighting.

The ceilings, although a decent height, were not tall enough to receive chandeliers that did not encumber TV viewing or disrupt the panoramic view of the ocean. Therefore Rob Glass and I had to rely on using recessed lighting. Coming up with a functional lighting plan that worked harmoniously with the intricate ceiling details was definitely a challenge.

Art over Fireplace - Nick Gaetano Bench - David Iatesta Cocktail Table - Oly, Buffet - Bliss Studio, Outdoor Furniture - Century Area Rug - Caravan Acrylic Side Table with Agate Top - Bliss Home & Design, Petrified Wood Side Table - Bliss Home & Design

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DESI G N ER

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DINING PAVILLON

The dining pavilion is located at the end of a really long and beautiful corridor. I wanted this room to be its own experience and feel like a departure from the rest of the home, almost foreign. The palette with more depth and tone, paired with the juxtaposing design elements, ended up being incredibly evocative.

Chandelier - Chandi

MORNING ROOM

True to the nature of the home, the nook embodies a soft color palette, but I wanted it to have a bit of a edge. The addition of the abstract painting over the carved chest of drawers created just enough contrast.

Chandelier - Antique Upholstered Dining Chair - Lee Industries Decorative Pillow on Upholstered Dining Chair - Bliss Studio Area Rug - Michaelian & Kohlberg

HER BATHROOM

The views from the master bathroom are amazing.You almost feel as if you are floating in the clouds, while overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The intention for the space was to work off a very neutral palette of whites and ivories to allow the focus to be on the view, and for the space to feel as ethereal as its setting.

Vanity Chair – Hickory Chair

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MASTER BEDROOM

The master bedroom is very spacious and my clients preferred sleeping in a queen size bed than a king, so scale was crucial when designing this retreat. I had to really play around with the scale and placement of the furniture so that the room did not feel overbearing or too sparse. The four poster bed was key to maximizing the presence of the bed, creating the necessary anchor to the room.

My clients wished to watch TV from bed, but there was not an opposing wall in close proximity for TV viewing, so I designed an upholstered leathered pop-up TV cabinet. When the TV is up, it can be turned 360 degrees to allow for viewing from either the sitting area or the master bed.

I designed the sitting area in front of the fireplace to allow for relaxed seating that could either be focused on the amazing view, the fireplace or for comfortable, relaxed TV viewing.

Master Bedroom: Drapery Fabric - Kravet Throw Blanket on Bed - Adrienne Landau Area Rug - Michaelian & Kohlberg

Master Bedroom Sitting Area: Cocktail Table - Lilian August Side Table - Oly Swivel Chair - Niermann Weeks Bowl over Fireplace - Baker Wall Sconce - Canopy Design Chandelier - Canopy Design

GARAGE

My clients have a very impressive vintage car collection and were fortunate to have room within their designated garage to showcase their amazing cars. The garage could not be just a garage, so we incorporated antique french cobblestone that the builder Rob Glass sourced from France, and I added black Murano chandeliers going down the center groin vault galley. To balance out the strength of the center galley, we commissioned my father, Nick Gaetano, to take photographs of my client’s cars which were then printed and framed in lucite. These details added sophistication and style without taking away from the main feature – the cars themselves.

Glass Construction glassconstructioncorp.com

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Ohara Davies-Gaetano Interiors odg-interiors.com

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DESI G N ER

S P OTLI GH T

a bold vision Millennial interior designer, RYAN SAGHIAN, has a visionary style twinned with the self-confidence to realize his dreams.

Opposite Top: This room was completely furnished during my visit to Milan for the Salone de Mobile Show. The tufted leather sofa with black chrome accents is by Loop & Co. The coffee table (my personal favorite piece in the room) is by Byford & Veronique who are actually based in Malibu. The accent chairs are by a Turkish manufacturer, ENNE, and the rug that anchors everything together is an antique Moroccan by Caravan Rugs.

Bottom: I wanted to completely hide the hood and turn that wall into a focal point. I decided to take the living room fireplace concept of book matched marble and do the same in the kitchen. We wrapped the hood in Calcutta marble slabs and created a very dramatic wall, accentuated by Italian porcelain subway tile.

This page Left: For me the ultimate dining experience is dark and intimate, and thats what I was going for with this dining room. The walls are done in a beautiful charcoal grasscloth, making a beautiful backdrop for my Windfall Lighting chandelier. The dining set is by one of my favorite Italian manufacturers, Ememobili.

Right: I wanted this room to have more of a hospitality feel. The neon sign is a personal touch added by the client and her husband. The bar is beautiful dressed in Armani brown marble and the floors are a geometric concrete tile that juxtapose beautifully with the clean lines in the walls. The sofa is by Williams Sonoma Home and the bar stools by Arteriors.

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xemplifying the new breed of talented, Millennial designers, Ryan Saghian, though still in his mid-twenties, is already making a mark in the competitive world of interior design. At the age of fifteen, he convinced Woodson & Rummerfield’s to employ him as an intern, having seen a show where Tori Spelling was shopping at their showroom.

Then followed several years as a design assistant at Modern Living before he decided to branch out on his own. He has achieved much in the four years since then, his sophisticated designs representing a remarkable self-confidence and vision.

The Los Angeles-born designer is inspired by his travels to the Paris and Milan shows, and a distinctly European sensibility is apparent in his dramatic choices of furniture and fittings. “Like many designers of my generation,” he says, “I started with a Hollywood Regency look but now my style, although glamorous, has evolved to be more European, contemporary. I love monochromatic blacks and whites, but now and then you’ll see pops of color.”

Increasingly, Ryan’s interiors are furnished with pieces from his distinctive furniture line. “I had designed $10 million houses, a fertility center, a boutique on Melrose, the hotel rooms at the Beverly Hills Plaza, and then since my office happens to be in the back of the J. Alexander showroom, the owner suggested I start a furniture line. Now, I want to continue to design residences but also be able to sell my furniture to the masses,” he says.

With participations in the Greystone Mansion Showcase house for California Homes magazine and a window design for the Legends of La Cienega, Ryan has become a staple in the Los Angeles design community. He recently completed a project at the Wattles Mansion Designer Showcase, (on show until 16 April).

Attempting to explain his 60,000 plus social media followers, he guesses that they might be inspired by his ‘follow your dream’ success. A better role model would be hard to find.

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Ryan saghian

Furniture COLLECTION In a unique collaboration with Designer Imports and J Alexander Furniture, Ryan Saghian Home is a fresh, unique, and exciting new line of furniture that embodies modernism in a playful and sophisticated approach. Polished and refined metals mixed with rich woods make up what is a bold and edgy collection. The collection can be purchased exclusively through the J Alexander showroom in the heart of the West Hollywood design quarter.

Ryan Saghian Interior Design 319 S Robertson Blvd #A Los Angeles CA 90048 ryansaghian.com

Swanson Chair $1700

Portia Cocktail Table $8700

Edge Cocktail Table $4200

Dion Coffee Table

Sinatra Nightstand

$4500

$1800

Geode Console $4875

Soho Dining Table $12500

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Photograph by Adrian Wilde

LA HOME | SPRING 2017

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FIVE LIGHTING DESIGNERS

In a regular series of Favorite Things, five Lighting Designers show us their favorite works.

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L I GHT I NG DESI GNERs

brendan ravenhill studio

Brendan Ravenhill brendanravenhill.com

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“Our Ada Sconce is one of my favorite lamps. It gets it name and inspiration from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which says that lighting in hallways shouldn’t stick out more than 4” from the wall. A lot of the products we make get their inspiration from a material property, or a study of manufacturing process, but after hearing about the ADA I got excited to try to respond to the size constraints of the law. Building upon the classic typology of Charlotte Perriand’s CP-1, the Ada Sconce is a high efficacy LED fixture made in folded sheet metal. Two fins pivot to reflect the light in endless configurations.”

/ FAVO R I T ES L I GHT I NG DESI GNER

paul ferrante

Water Lilies “The creation of this piece was influenced by the outdoor lifestyle of Los Angeles.

It has both organic and sculptural elements, with a light and airy textural finish. It is a departure from the other structural pieces in the line. Its free-form elements can adapt to any space, and the customization capabilities are endless.�

Tommy Raynor (co-founder) paulferrante.com

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L I GHT I NG DESI GNER

seth parks DESIGNS

“My Aquatico design is my latest and favorite design. It is designed to mimic movement in water whether just small ripples or a giant breaking wave. This design is perfect for the LA beach home or for anyone wanting to bring a little bit of that beach-life to their home.�

Seth Parks sethparksdesigns.com

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WESTMEN LIGHTS

William Zhu westmenlights.com

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“I enjoy seeing the combination of metal, wood, sea shell, glass and edison bulb to reveal a fantastic, industrial, modern lighting style and to bring them to your home and projects.

Everything we do is handmade, with incredible attention to detail and creativity. Good lighting not only brings light to improve your home but also represents your attitude.�

L I GHT I NG DESI GNER

LUKE HOBBS DESIGN

“It’s hard to choose a favorite piece.

The Edison-style lamps though, were one of the original designs, and really give a great feel for our vintage industrial aesthetic.”

Luke Hobbs lukehobbsdesign.com

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A Surprising Sanctuary for Homeless Vets

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Ingenuity and dedication were key in creating a new housing complex for the homeless.

DONNA GALLUP, head of the nonprofit that turned a novel concept into reality, talks about how the project came to fruition.

BY ELIF CERCEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY BONNIE LIN FITZSIMMONS

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new homeless housing development called Potter’s Lane has been causing a lot of excitement lately. The reason is this is the first time in California and nationwide that a residential project has been constructed from recycled shipping containers. The complex, located in Midway City, in Orange County was created for homeless veterans and is being touted as a smart new way to tackle the state’s homeless crisis.

“It is very exciting and we are all looking forward to being finished and to move our veterans in,” said Donna Gallup, president of American Family Housing, the foundation that owns and developed the $6.3 million project. “It’s awful rain right now and some of our new residents are still outside and need a warm home to live in.”

The 16-unit housing structure was built within a year, using steel shipping containers and it will house 15 veterans and a manager. The containers come from the Port of Los Angeles and provide a durable, strong and energy-efficient material. Each 480-square foot living space has a kitchen, bathroom and large windows. The residence was designed as a two-story structure built around a courtyard, with a fitness area and community room to encourage interaction. The building also houses offices for counselors, who are there to help residents adapt to their new living conditions.

One such resident is James Palmiter, a 60 year old army veteran who has been living in his car for almost 5 years. He is set to move in to his new apartment with his dog, Fifi.

“I think it is fantastic,” said Palmiter, who himself worked in construction before becoming homeless. “It will last longer than wood construction. They were able to use something that was already made and transform it to something useful.”

According to AFH, Palmiter is one of 450 veterans currently living without shelter in Orange County. A recent study estimates that there were 4550 homeless people in OC on any given night and that their number has gone up, while homelessness has declined in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura. (OC Commission to End Homelessness).

Gallup hopes that Potter’s Lane will be the first of many similar projects spearheaded by AFH and others to help end the crisis. Since it was founded in 1985, her organization has been specializing in providing temporary, permanent or affordable housing in the county of Orange, as well as Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

To create Potter’s Lane, AFH joined forces with Growth Point Structures, a Los Angeles-based modular manufacturer, that has been using a similar process to build schools in the region. SVA Architects in Santa Ana was responsible for the modern interior and exterior designs featuring wood and glass, that eliminate any hint of the materials’ former life as shipping crates, earning the firm an award for its work at the Pacific Coast Builder’s Conference in 2016. The project’s general contractor, who installed the units and did the finish on the exteriors, was Del Amo Construction.

AFH and its team of designers were sensitive to the issues that arise when introducing homeless housing into a new neighborhood so they paid close attention to creating a structure that was in harmony with its surroundings. Their website describes Potter’s Lane as “a sustainable environment that soothes the soul”. With this goal, they used input from the community during planning, and included elements like an outdoor courtyard area with native plants, created by landscape architect, James Dockstader. // Donna Gallup spoke with LA Home on the eve of the project’s ribbon-cutting, which was attended by dozens of media, state officials and community leaders.

How did Potter’s Lane come about?

AFH has been a portable housing developer, specifically for homeless individuals and families for 30 years. When I took over the organization from its founder and CEO, we owned a property adjacent to our administrative offices and we were trying to determine what would be the best use of that space. I was introduced to our manufacturer, Growth Point Structures, who has been using recycled shipping crates for schools and was interested in developing housing with the same manufacturing process. So we developed Potter’s Lane.

What makes this project so ground-breaking?

The number one point is how fast the product can be installed. We are the first-of-its-kind in the nation so the manufacturing and the onsite work took longer than we anticipate the next product to take.

Ideally, the manufacturing will be happening off site while the site work is being done. In this case, we went into manufacturing with Growth Point in May and all the units were complete in September but we didn’t get our building permits until August so the timeline was slightly off. It should have been happening simultaneously. The reason that’s so important is because we have a homeless crisis here in Southern California and we want to make sure we are addressing it as quickly as possible. We want those who are vulnerable, living on the streets, to move into a home as quickly as possible.

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Left: Donna Gallup, American Family Housing President, and guests at a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 8 at Potter’s Lane, the nation’s first permanent housing for the homeless made using recycled shipping containers.

“I’m mortified that anybody who has served our country is homeless.”

Center: One of 16 units at the new homeless housing complex designed to house homeless veterans.

Right: Homeless veteran James Palmiter, 60, and his dog, Fifi standing by to move in to a new unit at Potter’s Lane in Midway City, CA.

The second point that is super important is that we are a non-profit housing developer, and the long-term sustainability of this project is very significant. That is, the strength and energy-efficiency of the product and the fact that there will be very low maintenance at the site, is a very big benefit to a non-profit. It will mean that our overhead, in terms of taking care of the buildings in the long-run, will be greatly reduced compared to a traditional stick-built product.

Do you expect this concept to be repeated elsewhere in Southern California or the U.S.?

Absolutely. There are a number of neighboring cities and communities who are interested in seeing this model replicated, partially to address the homeless crisis that they face locally. We are currently having an onsite consultant to help us assess the lessons learned so that we can be sure we document them and make the product even better, and the process more efficient next time.

How cost-effective was Potter’s Lane compared to other current homeless housing projects?

Because this housing development is the first of its kind, we are not seeing a significant cost per unit savings in its development.

The savings we are anticipating are on the operating side for the long-term, in terms of sustainability and other cost savings. We are confident that the next time we replicate this project, we will be sure to save at least 30%. That’s what the cost-estimate looks like now and this will bring our cost-per-unit down. But at the same time, we are talking about saving lives, and to me that’s invaluable because we are going to be able to get housing done much quicker than a traditional housing development.

What advantages are there to using local shipping crates?

The shipping containers from the local port of Los Angeles are onetime use containers. It’s well-documented that there are thousands of these sitting in our port that are to be exported. So this is also a green project in that regard. We are recycling these crates to be used for a tremendous purpose that we have a great need for in Southern California.

What was the design approach behind this project?

In order for this type of housing to be well-accepted in local communities, people need to feel like they are increasing home values and bringing value to their neighborhoods. It’s important not to detract from whatever is happening in a local community in terms of their architecture. People want to feel that these units and the people moving in, are integrated into their community. So, if we are going to address NIMBY-ism (Not-In-My-Back-Yard) we have to bring people in to be part of the solution to homelessness. We have to

think about the elemental architecture and how these structures look and how they fit into the community.

What is the potential for this type of housing in the overall fight to end homelessness in our state?

The most important thing is to get the communities on board and to look at how this concept can be adapted to the local communities.

Once everybody sees the benefit to the local community and how this type of housing can be integrated into their neighborhood, more and more communities are going to want to do it. At our foundation, we are looking at how we can scale this model to larger projects so we can do more units or multiple smaller units at the same time. There are a number of modular manufacturers that we’ve been speaking to who are interested in replicating this model, as well as Gross Point.

We are hoping to get together as many partners as possible to address the really critical issue of homelessness.

Why did you choose homeless veterans as the recipients?

There wasn’t a project for homeless veterans in our community and there is a growing need in Orange County. When we came up with the project, we knew that the state and federal government were targeting ending homelessness for our veterans. So, for those reasons, the organization chose homeless veterans. As for myself personally, my grandfather was a veteran, my husband’s a veteran, and hopefully my future son-in-law, who is in the Navy, will be. So this is a very personal issue for me, as well.

Having devoted most of your career to solving homelessness, what is your vision for the future?

I hope in my lifetime that I can have a conversation one day where we are talking about how homelessness has been ended. I hope that every veteran who has served our country has a place to call home when they come back. That’s something that I’m very passionate about and I’m mortified that anybody who has served our country is homeless.

I would also encourage people to get involved. I feel that here in Southern California, the issue is so overwhelming that people are not sure how they can help. But they can; they can volunteer, donate or just become part of what’s happening, so we can bring people without a home into housing.

For more information on Potter’s Lane or to find out ways to become involved visit www.afh.org.

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P HOTO G RA P H Y

“I’ve always been passionate about people’s stories and being able to convey them through my photography.”

SIGNS OF THE TIMES Capturing the energy and vibrancy of the Women’s March on 21 January in Downtown LA, through the lens of Photographer, BRYAN ALANO.

A

successful commercial photographer and filmmaker, Bryan Alano’s lifestyle and fashion work is in demand from clients like Google and Nike. “I’m constantly inspired by the California lifestyle, I love to capture energetic and lively images that are playful and warm,” he says, by way of explanation.

He is also a fervent advocate of social projects, bringing attention to various causes through his imagery.

One such personal project, his photos of the Women’s March beautifully capture, through their protest signs, the humor and anger of the diverse number of women who attended the march in Downtown LA earlier this year.

“I’ve always been passionate about people’s stories and being able to convey them through my photography, which has led me to create a few projects that deeply resonate with me that strive to give back to my native homeland.”

Originally from the Philippines, Bryan’s The Moving Portraits Project works to raise awareness and help alleviate the growing problem one million amputees in the Philippines face every year without gaining the chance of a prosthetic.

Recently, he created a project, Raw DTLA, which focuses on documenting and sharing the growth of Downtown Los Angeles.

“It aims at amplifying the voices of the individuals who live and breathe the hustle,” he explains. And a distinct rawness, exquisitely filmed, is amply projected in his depiction of the work of the artisans whose studios are starting to proliferate the Downtown area and reshape the City of LA.

bryanalano.com https://www.facebook.com/moving.portraits.projects http://rawdtla.com

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/ P HOTO G RA P H Y

“Color outside the lines, don’t be afraid to fail, trust your instincts, listen to your eyes.”

a different point of view Photographer, MAX WANGER, takes a whimsical approach to his work, both personal and commercial.

How did you become interested in photography?

I was born and raised by reformed hippies. Educated in LA, Honolulu, Berkeley and the here and there of Tokyo. I made my first camera out of paper and scotch tape when I was 7 years old. The rest, as they say, is history.

Taking photographs has always been one of my outlets. From an early age, I felt like I could disappear behind the lens and observe the world. I’d imagine no one else was seeing what I was seeing. I suppose that’s the beauty of photography: everyone sees the world differently.

Today, I split my time shooting commercial/advertising work and weddings. Both offer unique challenges. Both have taken me all over the world. Both have introduced me to incredible people and provided amazing experiences.

How would you describe your style and who are your clients?

Minimalist, whimsical, romantic.

Clients include, Nordstrom, Vans, Conde Nast Traveler, Adidas, Toyota and Target.

How do you get inspiration for your personal work?

Traveling is always a big source of inspiration. It gives me perspective and it allows me to see things differently. I always come home from trips feeling renewed and refreshed. My latest Cloud series was inspired from a recent trip to Santa Fe. The sky and clouds there were unlike anything I had ever seen – the colors, the vibrancy, the shapes.

What cameras do you use and which are your favorite lenses?

Primarily the Canon 5d Mark III. But I also love my Contax G2. My favorite lenses are the Canon 35 1.4, 50 1.2 and 24-70 2.8.

What advice do you have for people who want to get involved with photography either as a career or for fun?

Do it for the love. If you love what you do, if you’re passionate enough, it’s amazing how doors will open and good things will come. It sounds a bit cliche, but I’m living proof that it can happen. Additional advice: Color outside the lines, don’t be afraid to fail, trust your instincts, listen to your eyes.

How has social media affected your business and what do you think of platforms like Instagram?

Social media is pretty incredible.

You don’t realize how many eyes are on your work. Instagram has basically become a second portfolio.

For me, it’s my blog, it’s a way to show what I’m up to, what I’m working on, what I’m proud of.

Plenty of art directors and art buyers have hired people, myself included, based on Instagram pics. So, as a photographer, you have to be keenly aware of what and how you post.

What are your goals? Are there things/people/places you really want to photograph in the next year(s)?

To continue to push myself. To never be satisfied. To travel as much as possible. To have a gallery show. As for things/people/places to photograph, here are a random handful: Maldives, Janelle Monae, Tokyo, Pharrell, Water, Clouds, Flowers, New Zealand, my kids.

maxwanger.com maxwangerprintshop.com instagram: @maxwanger

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DESI G N

STREETs ahead Illustrators and motion graphic artists, PAUL ZAPPIA and COLIN OZAWA make information graphics fun with their elegant, intricate style.

Who are your clients?

We have worked with a large variety of clients, ranging from small startups to large companies like Fendi, USA Today, and Facebook.

Though we do have a many clients in Los Angeles, we do have a fair share of them based in New York and San Francisco as well. As always, LA is a great place and very convenient to meet with our clients, however our clientele around the country has given us a great excuse to travel.

Paul Zappia and Colin Ozawa, founders of Down The Street Designs, in their Downtown LA studio.

How did you two meet, and when did you start working together?

We met in our first advertising class in the Graphic Design program at Cal State Long Beach. Our first assignment required us to pair up with someone whom we didn’t know and grab lunch, dinner, or coffee. After a brief chat, we realized we both loved ramen so we ended up meeting up at a nearby restaurant called Shin Sen Gumi. After completing our first advertising project, we realized how well our workflow and dynamic was and we pursued more collaborations together, throughout the duration of the program.

After graduating, we started the business out of Colin’s apartment in Long Beach and Paul would ride his bike ‘down the street’, (where we got our name), every morning to start the day. After gaining some traction, we moved into an office in downtown Long Beach and eventually made our way up to the Arts District in DTLA. How would you describe what you do, and do you work on projects jointly or individually?

We are both artists specializing in motion graphics, animation, and illustration. We typically will collaborate on every project that comes our way. Our process starts off with us developing a concept and style that fits the clients needs, and then we divvy up the workload to divide and conquer.

What is the general timeline for one of your projects and an average budget?

The timeline can range anywhere from a week to a couple months and is dependent upon the length of an animation and when our clients need to have everything wrapped up. Similarly, the budget is something that’s quite tough to sum up because it hinges upon just how long and how complex each animated piece will be. We’ve animated everything from 5 second GIFs to 3 minute, explainer videos. However, a note to all clients out there – we’ve found that the more concise a video, the more likely viewers will stay engaged.

Do you tend to work in any particular area e.g. environment, socially conscious projects? What is your philosophy/mission?

Most commonly - our projects have landed in the realm of tech and promoting new services they provide, or explaining what they do.

Lately, however, we’ve had a lot of inquiries for projects that are socially and environmentally conscious. These kind of projects really excite us because this is a space that, (especially given current events), we’ve been very interested in breaking into. Our philosophy has always been to keep creative, have fun, and do work that we believe in.

What’s in the pipeline that you can tell us about, and what are your goals for the future?

We’re going to be starting various projects soon for non-profit networks, smaller tech endeavors, and some personal projects which we’re pretty excited about. We’re also going to start producing some prints of our own within the next month (so keep an eye out). In addition we’re looking to modestly expand our business later in the year.

Down The Street Designs downthestreetdesigns.us

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Simple City Simple City started as a project that brings artists together to create illustrations of different buildings and landmarks in their respective neighborhoods and we were originally selected as the artists for our base-camp community, the Arts District!

However, in addition to a couple illustrations in that area we have also begun to expand our reach starting with Griffith Observatory.

LA 2050 An organization that seeks to inspire a beautiful future for the City of Angels.

Everyday LA A series of short looping animations in which we explore different scenarios we encounter while living and working in Los Angeles.

National Coffee Day The video serves as a reminder that everything we consume has an effect on the world - and more importantly; the people who live here.

The Pacific Northwest A short animation based on one of our favorite and most beautiful places in the world.

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T ECHN O LO GY

CURATED BY JENNA ATCHISON

(Top left to bottom right)

Bioo Lite A plant pot that charges your phone. Converting the naturally occurring photosynthesis from plants into usable electricity, now you can top up all of your devices sustainably via a USB cable plugged into the concealed port at the top of the planter. Bioo Lite will provide you with two to three full smartphone charges per day. bioo.tech $50 (ships July 2017)

Aristotle The first voicecontrolled smart baby monitor which includes multi-color LED nightlight, HD Bluetooth speaker, Wi-Fi camera and sound machine into one simple solution.

Aristotle provides formulas that lets mom customize automatic responses such as turn on a nightlight and play a soft lullaby when baby cries.

Outside the nursery, Aristotle focuses on child development and learning, playing mini lessons and activities as baby starts to develop and speak first words. nabitablet.com/aristotle $350

Plumen 003 Dimmable LED Pendant Set The 003 acts as two lights in one: a warm ambient light softly lights the surrounding faces and spaces, while a spotlight brightly illuminates the surface below. The central spotlight of the 003 gives an illumination comparable to a traditional 60W bulb while warm light around the sides feels like a decorative filament bulb. LED technology means the 003 only uses 6.5W and will last for 10,000 hours. plumen.com $200

Sense Sense with Voice is the insightful sleep system that helps you improve your sleep and wake up feeling great. Get a detailed breakdown of your sleep cycles, learn how the environment in your room affects your sleep, discover trends in your sleep quality, and more. hello.is $149

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Plume With Plume Adaptive WiFi™ you get the world’s first selfoptimizing network powered by the cloud that adapts to your home in real time so every room and device has a blazing fast connection. The truth is, WiFi doesn’t travel well through walls. It needs a distributed system of source points to reach every nook and cranny in your home.

With Plume, when you move from one room to the other, your experience doesn’t skip a beat. plumewifi.com $179 (3 pack)

Everlast Notebook The Everlast notebook provides a classic pen and paper experience, yet is built for the digital age. Although it feels like a traditional notebook, the Everlast is endlessly reusable and connected to all of your favorite cloud services. When you write using any pen from the Pilot Frixion line, your writing sticks to Everlast pages like regular paper. But add a drop of water… and the notebook erases like magic. https://www.indiegogo. com/projects/theeverlast-notebookcloud#/ $34

Caavo Caavo delivers a unified TV experience where devices and services come together to offer ultimate control.

Rather than attempting to consolidate into one box, Caavo connects all of the pieces: pay TV, streaming, and gaming, then unites the experience.

All media devices connect into Caavo, which is connected to the TV. It auto-detects the devices, making setup simple and intuitive.

Once logged into services like streaming and pay TV, Caavo pulls together the watchlists of recently viewed content. Caavo finds content across all services, live TV and DVR regardless of where they reside. Universal search is finally, well, universal. A simple voice command automatically finds and launches shows and movies, playing from wherever you left off. There’s no more input switching, everything just works and is in one place as it should be.

caavo.com

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Coverage of a wine store opening in Beverly Hills.

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Magazine and video coverage to make your event unique.

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getaway SANTA BARBARA

Bacara resort and spa

heaven on earth

BY CHRISTOPHER DAMON

S

even years ago, I convinced my now wife to move in with me. She was a tough nut to crack. But, my persistence and seasoned negotiation skills prevailed. Her biggest hesitation, believe it or not, was keeping our romance alive. She loved date nights. She loved the anticipation of me arriving at the door to take her out on the town. The joy we both felt when she opened the door looking amazing. And that first kiss after a long day apart. So I promised her that this aspect of our relationship would remain. And here we are seven years later.

The sun has just set. The air is still warm. And I find myself standing outside a door. My shoes are freshly polished. My tie, (a gift from my wife), falls neatly over my pressed shirt. My jacket folded purposefully over my arm. I inhale a deep breath. Breath out peacefully. Here I go. I reach out to press the doorbell.

“Hello,” I hear. “Who is it?”

“It’s your awesome date,” I reply.

The door opens. (The secret code words worked). There she is. My beautiful wife.

“Ready for our date?” I ask.

“You bet!” She replies.

Sometimes it’s the little things in your relationship that make the greatest impact. Other times, it’s the grand gestures that end up meaning the most. The doorbell I rang was not at our home, but at our beautiful hotel suite at Bacara Resort and Spa, located just miles outside of Santa Barbara wine country on the beautiful coastal bluffs of Goleta. Offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, it is a premier destination for relaxation, rejuvenation and romance. It’s a place where lasting memories, big and small, are made.

The opening of Bacara Resort and Spa in 2000 was the culmination of three decades of detailed planning, permitting, building and landscaping. The $220 million project might have never seen the light of day, if not for the determination and passion of New York businessman, Alvin Dworman and his artist wife. Alvin was an investor, not a hotelier. He came to possess the 70 beachfront acres

in 1968 and faced challenge after challenge to bring his vision for a luxury resort to fruition. Steadfast in his commitment to his dream, he held on to the land for 30 years and brought forth a stunning vision that spared no expense and defied all of the odds. Today, Bacara is a tribute to the property’s Spanish Colonial origins and stunning natural beauty, which would have never been possible without one developer’s tenacity.

Robb Walker, Meritage Collection vice president of operations at PHG, which owns and operates Bacara, tells me that Bacara is “inspired by the feeling of the Mediterranean and the architecture of Santa Barbara,” which is “eclipsed only by the convergence of the natural and beautiful Gaviota Coast lands, bluffs and ocean.” After its debut, “Bacara rapidly took its place as one of the ultimate luxury resort destinations,” he says.

I cannot argue with Robb. Back at our hotel suite, I gently close the door. Hand in hand, I escort my wife up a gently lit path to arrive at Angel Oak, the signature restaurant for Bacara Resort & Spa and the only oceanfront fine dining restaurant found along the Santa Barbara coast. Angel Oak is a collaboration between designer Sam Hatch, Hatch Design Group; Mike Savacool of Less and More; Nate Tanner, VP of food and beverage at Bacara: and Executive Chef Vincent Lesage. Our dining experience is flawless, from the Halibut Crudo to the Salmon and AAAAA Kobe Beef, which Nate reveals, is cooked in an 1800 degree infrared oven.

“It sears it so fast that it creates a hardened crust on the outside so that all that flavor is locked inside,” he shares, as I eat Alicia’s very last bite and promptly order another plate.

Throughout our entire weekend stay at Bacara, my wife and I take long walks on the beach. We ride bikes a mile up the coast to the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove, beautifully nestled among the trees.

We find ourselves standing on cliff tops overlooking the vast coastline with inspiring views. We hit some balls at the Sandpiper Golf Club next door, (something I haven’t done for years, as my shoulder and back reminded me later). We relax at the resort’s spa — one of the finest in the world. We even take a drive to nearby wine country where we purchase some of local wines we had enjoyed while dining at Angel Oak. The hectic pace of Los Angeles and the demands of our work as Los Angeles luxury real estate agents, melt away. This is by design, according to Robb.

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Photo: Jay Farbman

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“The inspiration for Bacara is to offer a world-class resort and escape,” he says. “While relaxation, luxury and ‘no decision-making’ is often the goal of a vacation, many guests also seek something else. They want to be not only pampered and attended to – a given – but also inspired, entertained, enlightened and moved.”

Each guest is different, of course, yet a constant remains.

“People are looking for something profound and meaningful – connecting with loved ones and new friends, learning something, attending to well-being and fitness, discovering a new talent, being wowed by their child’s wonder – that will stay with them long after they return home,” he continues. “It’s not that guests want to do nothing at all – though some are perfectly happy with a poolside lounge chair and a magazine – it’s that the resort’s awe-inspiring environs and offerings represent an opportunity to unplug, unwind and get present, really present, to experience something more.”

Relaxed, reinvigorated and romanced – this summed up our stay at Bacara Resort and Spa. Back home in Los Angeles, I reflect on how to best to describe my experience. In the words of Nate, “Bacara is the closest place that I’ve ever found to heaven on Earth.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s just the slice of heaven Angelenos like me need to keep the spark alive. // To learn more about Bacara Spa and Resort visit meritagecollection.com/ bacararesort Written by Christopher Damon. The Damon Group specializes in residential real estate sales throughout Los Angeles. thedamongroup.com

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Top Left: The original Chumash trail from the 1920s Bottom Left: Bacara Resort and Spa in 2001, just after the opening.

Right: Bacara Resort and Spa in 2016.

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G E TAWAY

san jose del cabo

6 BEDS 7 BATHS 11,995 SQ FT

casa oliver Casa Oliver is an architect’s seaside getaway which represents a sanctuary of luxury living through design, just minutes from San Jose del Cabo on the Sea of Cortez. “I intentionally made both the indoor and outdoor spaces similar so that the lines would be blurred,” says Oliver. “But the inside is more refined and is designed to feel like a five-star resort”.

The home site is close to 1/3rd of an acre and has direct access to the beach. Located in the gated neighborhood of Fundadores in the 2000-acre resort of Puerto Los Cabos, home to two golf courses – Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, a 250 slip marina and the new Ritz Carlton reserve.

Enter into a large limestone courtyard with a series of arches sheltered by a canopy of trees. A great room opens up to an outdoor living terrace and 100-foot long pool, mosaic tiled in glass. The kitchen is equipped with built in appliances, which will satisfy any gourmet chef, offering custom cabinetry. A large inset fireplace creates a warm ambiance in the outdoor living area. Furnishing and fixtures from Christian Liaigre, Flexform, Holly Hunt, Armani Casa, and Phillipe Starck were selected with the help of San Diego Based designer, Jules Wilson.

$9,900,000

A large master suite looks on to the ocean and features a walk in closet, fabulous poolside en-suite bath and connecting library. Four courtyard guest suites and casita with full kitchen are located on the main level.

The upper level provides entertainment, relaxation and expression with a 16-seat theater, full spa, art room and fitness room. Find a private space on one of the upper level outdoor areas to chill out under the sun or stars, and enjoy the white sand beach that goes for miles and miles.

The lower level offers a large beachside storeroom for your toys and bathroom facility for the beach or staff. A Crestron Home automation system that allows you to control lighting, thermostat, security, locks and home entertainment. The three-car garage and operations area is equipped with a Cummins generator, water purification and storage.

Contact: Janet Jensen janet@theagencyloscabos.com Bernardo Mucino bernardo@theagencyloscabos.com

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getaway SAN JOSE DEL CABO

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la

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HOME

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THE MILLER HOME

A CREATIVE CANYON OASIS Architect and artist, Irwin Miller, and writer, Heidi Miller, craft an inviting home full of art, texture, color, and space to spark the imagination and foster creativity.

BY HEIDI MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY IRWIN MILLER AND JACK JEFFRIES

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B E L

A I R

“With all of these details, spaces and magical moments, we strive to have a house that is experiential; one where creativity can flourish.”

C

arl Jung maintained that “the creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.” Our house of 15 years, our home, our refuge, our sanctuary, is first and foremost, a haven for play and creativity.

From the moment we stepped foot into the tiny, 960 square foot house tucked into the hills of Bel Air, we felt as if it belonged to us. We did our best to appear entirely disinterested in front of the realtor meanwhile shooting secret, wide-eyed glances to one another behind his back, and sometimes even flat-out, open mouth gasps, our shoulders shrugged, palms to the sky. “How could this be?” we asked ourselves. “This perfect little house, sitting here empty, waiting for us to discover it.” Where the property fell short on square footage, it was abundant it “spots”. A spot for the garden. A spot for a workshop. A spot for a chicken coop.

A spot in the corner, right there out front, to build a little writing studio. Yes, we would be able to utilize every nook and cranny of this Lilliputian estate.

Opposite Top: The main entrance of the house with our eldest son’s bedroom to the left and dining room to the right. A Hue Lighting system illuminates the space above.

Tolomeo Mega Lamp above sofa. Dining room table designed by Irwin for my 40th birthday present and custom made by American Reclaimed in Bend, Oregon.

City. Painting by Martin Mull.

Bottom: A large sliding door made of cedar fencing and painted in a Paul Smith-inspired pattern, separates the bedroom and main living room space.

Loft space is above. On the right is a large charcoal bear drawing by Dick Stroud.

Next Page Top: An outdoor art area and woodshop was added on the side of the freestanding studio space – allowing the boys to create and be as messy as need be.

Bottom: The backyard view and studio.

Irwin built a geometric patterned fence to contain our chickens.

Set in a historic and hilly neighborhood teaming with 2, 3, and sometimes 4-story houses, this was a single story on a flat lot; perfect for a young couple with, at the time, an infant child. No stairs to present danger, or detour play and exploration for our little one. With its clean lines and clear view through the house from front yard to back, the flow of the house was its biggest selling point. That was until we realized that the property also included a 560 square foot, studio guesthouse. The main house had been built as a cabin in 1926 and had gone though multiple renovations over the years. This back house, a formal stable, had been lovingly and immaculately converted by hand, in 1968, by a previous owner. It was our own little slice of heaven, right here on earth. We had a place to live and a place to play.

Since then, the house, the studio, and our family, have all grown and evolved. We now number five in total and have adjusted the layout of the house slightly in order to accommodate the growth and keeping of three young boys. A former closet in the boys room, doors removed, became the perfect site for a third bed. The rarely-used kitchen of the guest house was ousted, making way for a second workstation in which to do homework and special projects. Just inside the entrance to the studio, a loft space was built, reached via a slim wooden ladder and boasting an iMac on which to watch movies and a collection of pillows in which to flop. An existing loft space in the main house was giving a dual entry, now accessible by both a ladder in the dining room and the tree house in the boys’ room. It is these elevated spaces where the kids and their friends tend to flock – as the act of ascending provides, in part, a sense of exploration, some privacy and a birds-eye view of their surroundings.

As our eldest son, Roman, entered his teenage years a few years ago, it became apparent that he needed his own space, prompting us to convert a section of our wide and underutilized living room into a smaller, third bedroom for him. Building this to align with one of the three sets of French doors leading to the front deck, ensured plenty of natural air and light would enter the space. A heavy, sliding barn door became the main feature of this project, which Irwin milled from redwood fence pieces into a variety of slats and painted using a

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Top: A treehouse was added in the younger boys’ room – there is a hole cut in top so they can go up through the treehouse to the reading loft above.

Underneath is a small library and computer desk area. Artwork by Hayao Miyazaki and Brian Kesinger.

Bottom: Inside my writing studio; the design concept was a white, beach-like oasis with floor boards custom stained and reminiscent of a blue ocean. Brass Crown chandelier was purchased on ebay. Original 1954 Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair was rescued from from the side of the road on Mulholland Drive and lovingly repaired.

Opposite Top: Inside the studio space and the original 1927 horse barn structure, which also houses Irwin’s workspace, we have a large collection of art, architecture and design books.

Bottom: An office space and loft were added for the children. A custom ladder stair connects a play area above.

Reclaimed wood stumps by American Reclaimed. Artwork by Renée French, Faye Moorhouse and Jennifer French.

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The upper reading nook is one of the many hideaways more easily accessed by kids than adults.

It took Irwin 2 weeks to build the added bedroom in the former living room space – and the door took just as long due to the level of detail and finish. “It was worth it” Irwin said “as it gives privacy but also acts as an art piece in the main space.”

color palette reminiscent of British fashion designer, Paul Smith.

It acts as both a door and a large-scale art piece when one enters the house. On the inside, Irwin stenciled a giant, oversized “R” – for Roman’s name, which was then pointed out to the brothers, in case there should ever be a question about whose room it really was.

We added a Philips Hue lighting system above, bouncing off the vaulted ceilings and providing the opportunity to infuse an infinite variety of colorful light into the space, all controlled with the touch of an iPhone. It is here, in this setting, that Roman can spend his time reading, listening to music or practicing his ukulele without disruption.

Meals, both the preparation, and subsequent consumption of, have always been of paramount importance here at Seabury Lane. Irwin’s thirty-plus years in the kitchen began in a small restaurant outside of Boston where he was hired at age 13 as a salad boy. Over the years, he continued to foster his love of food by cooking in various restaurants while, simultaneously pursuing his Masters in Architecture. Now, visitants are treated to culinary delights such as lobster pasta in a vodka cream sauce, or possibly, a whole roasted leg of lamb with sides of parsnips and ginger carrots.

In the rest of the house, we have also done our best to create an environment where creativity could happen with minimal set up or planning. To achieve this, we have a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces that support the making of things. A long, thin darkroom in the guesthouse was converted into an indoor woodshop that can be use all year round for various projects. Outside, we have an openair art area for the kids to use and generally mess up as they like. It includes a BB gun shooting range, tools for cutting marble, a pottery wheel and kiln and some of the larger woodshop machinery, such as the band saw that they often put to use by making swords out of scraps of wood, the handles then wrapped tightly in thin straps of leather.

When Irwin is not working on design and architecture – he dedicates his time to painting, illustration and animated films. We have a workstation with a large Wacom monitor that the boys and their friends can use to digitally draw and paint. Several years ago we invested in a second generation Makerbot and have used it to fabricate toys and replacement parts for devices around the house.

Guests of Seabury Lane are often presented with some sort of 3D-printed parting gift; a bracelet or knickknack, fabricated while they wait and handed to them while still warm.

Having built so many projects over the years by himself, Irwin would often tell friends that one can build an entire house using only a mitre saw. This past summer, he proved it to be true by designing and constructing a compact, 77 square foot writing studio for me in the front corner of our lot. The location, up until that point, had sat entirely empty, devoid of life but Irwin saw the potential and now this spot serves as a getaway oasis, creative retreat and privacy nook for this sole female in a house full of boys. Upon verbal consent, the boys are allowed to enter the ‘She Shed’ to make a private phone call, watch a movie or otherwise relish in a bit of private time, provided they leave this space as they found it, if not better than.

With all of these details, spaces and magical moments, we strive to have a house that is experiential; one where creativity can flourish.

Nothing pleases us more than to have company for dinner or the occasional party and watch as our guests and friends explore the property, looks of discovery, surprise and delight on their faces, as they come across something in the house that speaks to them. A sense of play is universally within each of us, and here, we aspire to create a world were inventiveness and imagination can run wild.

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Top: When a room for 3 boys got too cramped – this room was built for our eldest son as an efficient but welldesigned respite for him, to get away from everyone and have his own space.

Middle: Throughout the house, you can find connections between the spaces which act as privacy shields, like the activity in the bedroom on the left and the living room on the right.

Lower: The 3-D printer, the woodshop and this Wacom Tablet get a lot of attention from all three boys, especially on the weekend.

Right Top: Our youngest son, Luca, sketching in the studio space. Military jacket by Stella McCartney.

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THE CHOPRA HOME

living with intent MALLIKA CHOPRA finds inner balance and comfort within the structure of her Santa Monica family home.

BY KELLY WOYAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA ISAAC

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he first question I am always asked is, ‘what was it like growing up as Deepak Chopra’s daughter?” Mallika Chopra laughs as she answers. “To be honest, that’s all I knew so it seems like a silly question – because for us it’s so normal.”

For the rest of the world, however, her father is famous for bringing mediation and mindfulness to the mainstream. Time Magazine dubbed Deepak Chopra in 1999 as the “The Poet-Prophet of Alternative Medicine” and “one of the top 100 heroes of the century”. But for the 45-year-old wife and mother of two daughters, Chopra is very much accomplished in her own right.

She has written three books, spoken at events such as TedXBerkley, The California Women’s Conference, Ideality, is the founder of a wellness website and YouTube Channel, and has degrees from Brown, Northwestern’s Kellogg Business school and is currently working on a psychology degree from Columbia. Successful and driven like her father, yet the person Chopra most wants to be is like her mother. “My mother is a very anchored, silent, and strong person. She is the nucleus of the family, our extended family, our Indian family and my dad’s entire world as well. I love that she has never, ever apologized for being a stay-at-home mom.”

Incubating at home with her family is the greatest joy and biggest priority in Chopra’s life right now. In her most recent book “Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace and Joy,” Chopra says her life was a “complete mess” a few years ago because of her busy schedule as a mom and entrepreneur, and that the book was an exploration of what balance and happiness really mean.” As the founder of www.intent. com, a global wellness website, Chopra created a platform connecting people from all over the world through their intentions to lead more meaningful lives.

“Intents are really about what we aspire to be, as individuals, as members of our families, our communities and as citizens of mother earth. That platform has allowed me to explore that more in depth. It was really an explanation of what does balance and happiness mean? What does it mean to live a life of purpose. And it is very much a narrative around that,” she says.

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Opposite Living Room: far wall, ‘Thangka of White Tara, Buddhas Mother’ by Romeo Shrestha; above mantel, ‘Bombay Trash’ by Prajakta Palav Aher.

This page Top: far wall, print of ‘Krishna and the Gopi’s’, by Ravi Varma, one of India’s greatest artists.

Left and Above: Views of Master Bathroom.

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Bust of Shiva, the Hindu God. From Bali.

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The girls’ bedrooms reflect their ever evolving different styles and personalities. Currently, Leela (12) loves monkeys and robots, and Tara (15) loves fashion and music.

Below: Accents from India and around the World: bronze bell and Ganesh statue from India, dolls from Tanzania.

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“I did struggle for a while about bringing up my kids in sort of this Hollywood world. Over time, what I realized is that it doesn’t really matter for us. As long as my kids feel a real grounding in terms of not where they are but who they are inside. And to be able to express their deepest desires to serve - then I think they will be fine no matter where they grow up.”

Though Chopra was raised in Boston, she was born in India because her parents couldn’t afford to have her in the United States, but her brother was born on the East coast. They were a young family with no health insurance. Chopra says she remembers her father as a young doctor working 24/7. But when he began studying discovery mediation and exploring the mind and body connection, he was labeled the east Asian witch doctor. “My entire childhood (memory) was of my dad being attacked by people,” says Chopra. The medical community resisted his theories as it was considered revolutionary at the time. And now the idea of daily mediation practice is becoming commonplace as the data and science behind it prove its widereaching benefits.

“In my college years my dad was not that well known. He became more so much later. Meditation was a gift, a practice that my parents gave us. They never forced us to do it but it was something that was always there. And their lives changed dramatically with these kinds of practices. And so we saw our family was just happier. Our parents were happier. We were more connected,” reflects Chopra.

Becoming a mother was a catalyst for Chopra as she began to look at her life through a new lens. Her first book “100 Promises To My Baby” and the follow up “100 Questions From My Child” was about setting intentions not just as a human being but also as a parent. It was a transitional time for her family. “Both my brother and I have never thought of ourselves as part of a “self-help” world. In fact we really resisted that world. But I think with me, in becoming a parent I had a lot of thinking about where I came from, what are the values I hold dear, what do I want to share with my children? That was really when I I started to reflect on all these gifts I was given in my life,” she says.

Chopra may not have been born into the Hollywood lifestyle but she was surrounded by it through her father’s work. She remembers the slew of celebrities and how they always seemed to seek the advice of her father after some sort of trauma or in need of spiritual guidance.

“We had so many celebrities come through our world, whether it was Michael Jackson or Elizabeth Taylor, and we had the most famous people there. But with my father they were always very real. Also, my dad did not tolerate stuff from them. There was no difference between (them) and the local students, or other patients,” she says.

Early in her marriage, Chopra decided it would be important to bring their children back to India often, in order to feel connected

to of their extended family. Her husband was raised in India and an immigrant here, and they both share the same desires in bringing up children who have pride in both their Indian and American heritage.

It’s especially important to Chopra now that they are rooted in Santa Monica. She reflects “I did struggle for a while about bringing up my kids in sort of this Hollywood world. Over time, what I realized is that it doesn’t really matter for us. As long as my kids feel a real grounding in terms of not where they are but who they are inside.

And to be able to express their deepest desires to serve – then I think they will be fine no matter where they grow up.”

For Chopra, she finally feels at home in Santa Monica, but that wasn’t always the plan. When she moved with her husband, Sumant Mandal, to Los Angeles in 2000 they never intended to stay there. “It was very much going to be a temporary thing. And now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I love it, and with this house it’s interesting because I don’t feel like I ever have to move again,” she says.

Their family home was designed and built in 2010 by Stacy Jacobsen of SJ Studio, and her husband, Jeff Jacobsen. The house was under construction when Chopra first saw it, and she fell in love immediately. Several of the main rooms are flooded with pale natural light, accented by massive raw wooden beams. The contemporary and open floor plan is sleek with a sense of naturalness throughout.

Organic accents and lush gardens make this residence an almost utopian retreat for rest, reflection and rejuvenation. Every structural and design detail was handled by Jeff and Stacy, leaving Chopra to move right in and get to know their neighborhood.

“That has been the biggest surprise. It’s such a magical little pocket.

There are such lovely people here, its quiet and close to everything.

The location ended up being as great as the house,” says Chopra.

They’re minutes from the beach but Chopra laughs off its importance and jokes that they really aren’t beach people in the first place. But this is the place that anchors them. “I have to say that when I drive, because we travel a lot, whenever we return home, and we drive down PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), immediately my heart feels settled and I know that I am home, says Chopra “Which is a really, really lovely feeling.”

Intent intent.com

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THE GRAHAM/MAUK HOME

artists in residence The artists ELYSE GRAHAM and LEWIS MAUK typify the recent emergence of a new breed of gifted, entrepreneurial artisans in Downtown LA.

BY MARK CASTELLINO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA ISAAC

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Top: An airy and bright view from the dining of the couple’s vintage rosewood bookcase where they showcase their most treasured possessions; pieces include an heirloom clock, artworks from family and friends as well as keepsakes from adventures abroad.

Bottom Left to right: A shamanistic wall piece by artist Orlando Tirado.

Prototype vessels from Graham’s new 2017 collection.

A potted anthurium atop a stool made in collaboration with LA artist and friend, Matt Jones.

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“It’s not like painting where you put things together to make a final piece.

A lot of the energy and time goes into creating a way to do something which will enable us to get to the finished piece”

Previous page Lewis Mauk and Elyse Graham in their Lincoln Heights dining room.

Vases by Graham on their vintage Danish Modern dining table with works by LA artists Clare Graham, (hanging sculpture) and Peter Shire, (print over fireplace).

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he fine art scene has been thriving in Los Angeles for a few years but recently, there has been an emergence of entrepreneurial artisans using traditional techniques to create small batches of exquisite objects and prints by hand.

One such couple is Elyse Graham and Lewis Mauk. They have individual studios in Downtown LA but live together in a 1920s, Craftsman bungalow in Lincoln Heights. The proximity to Downtown and the affordability of the neighborhood has made it a haven for artists since the 1980s, and the contents of their home, while containing examples of their work, bear testament to their various artist friends.

Trying to pigeonhole Graham and Mauk’s talent is fruitless.

Elyse Graham is a pottery designer while Lewis is a printmaker, yet they both have a hand in several other projects as well. Since graduating from Brown University in 2003, Graham has had major exhibitions across the country and abroad. They met through a friend who was an undergraduate at Brown, and who was a Teaching Assistant on a Photography program that Lewis Mauk was teaching at Cal Arts.

A collection of Graham’s vases is on display at Bergdorf Goodman in New York. Most fascinating is her technique for creating her signature drip vases, which involve plaster, a balloon, a hand pump and resin dripping like motion-frozen water droplets. Graham showcases a must-see video of her creative process on her website elysegraham.com/process. “Most of the materials that I use are not meant to be used in the way that I use them,” she says, “which can often be frustrating but I find it to be exciting,” she says. “Art making to me, has to be experimental.”

They spend most of the daytime in their respective studios, which is why their compact house amply fits their needs. Graham’s Downtown studio has a composite room, spray booth and vacuum chamber where she makes her plaster and resin vases. She designs a couple of collections a year with certain color palettes, sculptural objects, vases, mirrors and lighting. She is always trying new ideas and techniques, and is currently working on a new series of vessels and with a foundry on a bronze mirror.

Lewis elaborates that with Graham’s fine art background as a sculptor she is always conscious that sometimes, something that happens in the process might be an offshoot for another project.

They both discuss each other’s prototypes and how they can be improved. “We have this beautiful relationship,” says Lewis, “where we can talk about budding ideas – which is a vulnerable space - and critique and develop them.”

“Lewis is much more of a perfectionist,” laughs Elyse.

“I have a little more understanding of how things work,” says Lewis.

“We’re learning how to make functional pieces,” says Graham. “I never had to have that concern. Now my sculpture has to be usable.”

“The two of us got really frustrated with how the gallery system works. The gallery has become the purveyor and the gatekeeper of what is considered good and successful. We saw what we are doing

now as a way to have more control over our process and to have control of the distribution. It’s like self publishing, in a way. We do fairs and shows to get around the gallery system,” says Lewis.

“I see it a little differently,” says Elyse. “A big part of the satisfaction in making a work, for me, is sharing it with other people. When it’s in a gallery on show for a month, a few pieces are sold and the rest return to the studio. You can’t really show it again but only a handful of people saw it. I was making a sculpture, for instance the light hanging there, and people would say ‘can you make it light up?’ I could… but that’s not the concept,” she retorts, jokingly. “I came round to the idea that having a function, even though it’s not used in the everyday sense, gives people the permission they need to bring it into their home.”

As for getting a larger number of people to buy her work, does social media help? “Most of the way people see my work is online,” says Elyse. “That’s something I think about when I’m making a piece or photographing it – how is this going to read in a 2D way?”

She also likes to include a video about how it was made and to show the tools. For instance, she saw the piece that hangs in their bedroom on Instagram – which made her want to go see it in person.

“Then you see the scale and texture, and then you want to buy it!” She exclaims. “And that’s why you want it to be in stores and galleries – so that people can see them in person.”

She just shipped a new collection of her vases to Bergdorf Goodman in New York. She met the buyer at her first trade show a few years ago, and last Spring he saw her new collection at the Architectural Digest show and made an order for Fall 2016 – and now an order for Spring 2017.

“People are drawn to hand made objects in a move away from mass production,” says Lewis.

Owning something unique, like a hand made object, imparts the collector with a sense of story – the subject of collections being valuable in giving a sense of the personality of the collector.

Lewis is a collector. He picks things up off the ground. His current project is to invest all the things he has collected into blocks of resin, and there are around 400 blocks into which the objects have to fit.

He was always picking up things, interested in the entropic natural processes. His theory is that since humans are natural, the consequence of everything that they do also must be natural. He finds it fascinating to find things that have been run over several times and which have changed shape. An unnatural, natural process. “To what extent is that cultural or natural?” he asks.

Not everything is a street find. His huge collection includes 5000 rose thorns which he collected when was tending roses at Cal Arts.

“My fine art practice totally revolves around collections and I collect a lot of weird things. I come from a long line of collectors,” says Lewis. “I don’t just bring my collection into my fine art practice to justify the collection but it works both ways, where I do collect as a means for my art practice, and the art practice at the same time justifies the collection.” Like the wishbone series or his marijuana bag prints. He has a whole bag of wishbones. “They’re magical in a way, he says.” Growing up, we always pulled them apart to get a wish and so there’s a sort of power, a magic to the wishbone.”

Along the same lines, Lewis also collects fortune cookie fortunes, which he typed out verbatim for his print series. “There’s potential,

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Top: Influenced by Mauk’s background in printmaking, the couple enjoys collecting prints together. A group of works by friends and peers hang over the sofa in the living room, including Mauk’s ‘Wishbone’ series.

Bottom Left to right: Pillows by LA-based designer Wolfum under a family heirloom Picasso poster.

A lamp made by Mauk and Graham—one of the couple’s first collaborative pieces.

A bookcase in the living room holds the couple’s collection of art and photography books.

A lithograph by Mauk hangs over the Eames chair.

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and magic in a way,” he says. “Fortunes are always optimistic and about doing well, same with the wishbones.”

He also has a film can full of marijuana ‘baggies’ that he used over the years. “I wanted to have a record of a habit. An account of how much I used and spent and to give it a use value, and to bring that into the work. I scan them on a flatbed scanner and make lithographs of them.”

There’s a whole series of them, which he paired with horoscopes from the LA Times. He tore out and kept the horoscopes which he felt were personal to him. “If one collected a number of horoscopes over a number of months or years then someone could back and read those, and they would have a pretty good idea of what you were thinking about or what you were concerned about, or what you hoped for. The horoscopes are always about trying to finish a project or following through or pushing oneself to achieve something. And then the perceived effects where the type of person is a marijuana user – so there’s this push-pull between the message of the horoscope and the perceived nature of self medication.” says Lewis.

In some respect, he is a storyteller, constantly collecting ideas, but admits he has projects in gestation over a long period of time.

“Lewis taught me a lot about the longevity of an idea,” says Elyse.

“I would want to have the idea that my work was mainly making a concept that I couldn’t express any other tangible way. Once I did that I wanted to be rid of it and onto the next. If I couldn’t figure it out I would get frustrated and move on. Whereas, Lewis would say – just sit with it, put it aside, and have faith in the process.”

“For both of us, the process is almost as interesting as the finished product,” says Elyse. “It’s not like painting where you put things together to make a final piece. A lot of the energy and time goes into creating a way to do something which will enable us to get to the finished piece. My assistant is always frustrated with me because I don’t come up with a shape. She says ‘we’re making a new vessel, what’s the shape going to be?’ And I say, ‘I don’t know. Let the process tell me.’ The way that it looks is not as interesting to me as the way it is created.

And that is something that is not easy to convey across the internet. Especially when my pieces look ceramic, which I’m aware of, but the translucency of the drips and the opacity of the resin, if someone looks closely, they’ll know it’s not ceramic. They don’t know what it is, and then there’s a question. And I get to say ‘actually, it’s this process I came up with to make this weird thing that is lovely to look at, but is a by product.’”

“And making something from materials that was unintended for that purpose,” adds Lewis.

// ewis Mauk moved to LA from Knoxville, East Tennessee and graduated with an MFA from Cal Arts. To him, Los Angeles offered more opportunities for an artist.

His early photography was primarily of the Californian landscapes, which were so different from his hometown. The Los Angeles landscape was more contrived and controlled. His work became about the struggle between the natural and the cultural. Then his interests started to turn inward and the ideas he wanted to express no longer suited that medium. Printmaking became a more intuitive process for him.

Interestingly, all of his printmaking is still photo based. He uses a scanner, coats the screen with a photosensitive solution and the litho plates are exposed through negatives. It’s a different kind of imagery but still all photographic processes.

Since being with Elyse, he’s studied sculptural work and he has also started a series of paintings – works on panels with different types of colored tape, varying from 1mm to several inches. “They’re purely formal exercises using line and form and geometry. The printmaking stuff is a lot of theory and autobiography and personal weirdness but the painting is much more graphic.” says Lewis.

It’s also a departure from his stark black and white prints. He acknowledges the new work is influenced by Elyse’s fascination with color. “There are conscious and unconscious collaborations that we do,” says Lewis, “and we influence each other. She has an amazing color palette and ability to mix colors – she’s constantly looking for different color combinations.”

Currently, they are collaborating on more pieces, with ideas for furniture and light fixtures. Going forward, their goal is to work together. Towards commercial success or remain true to their art?

“Both,” says Elyse. “Some pieces I make are functional objects but they are fine enough that they could be in a gallery.”

“We’re both figuring it out as we go,” says Elyse. “It’s not like we learned how to have a design practice. We try different trade shows.

Maybe we don’t want to sell to interior designers but galleries instead.

It’s a very exciting time in LA for artists. We have a ton of friends who are doing similar things and a very supportive network where we share resources. We all admire each other’s work. Nobody I know is doing the same thing. I’d love to make wallpaper. That’s the joy of being an artist – you can float in and out of anything. We could work in wood or metal. We’re not hemmed in by any process.”

“We’re Renaissance people, in a way,” reflects Lewis.

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THE TIMON-JOHNSON HOME

A hillside haven

BY KELLY WOYAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BENJAMIN ARIFF

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Their lush home in the hills is a serene environment for JENNIFER JOHNSON and JEFF TIMON to exercise their screenwriting talent, whilst also creating a seamless space for entertaining, both indoors and outdoors.

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he renowned architect, Renzo Piano, famously said, “One of the great beauties of architecture is that each time, it is like life starting all over again.” For Los Angeles writers, Jeff Timon and Jennifer Johnson, moving out of their Laurel Canyon bungalow in 2003 was the first step in creating their forever home in the hills that they now share with their 11-year-old daughter Ingrid.

Despite a shaky first impression of the house, Jeff Timon remembers seeing enormous potential in a space that was masked in off-putting colors and obtrusive structural elements. “The house felt very 1970’s bachelor pad meets Caribbean bungalow. The windows were horrible and had all different kinds of molding around them. They were reduced in size and poor materials had been used throughout the house,” says Timon. But they fell in love with the sense of openness and opportunity, and decided to embark on a mid-century modern renovation.

“We saw this potential, but didn’t have any money to do anything about it at the time,” says Timon. The couple went room by room and started with simple finishes such as painting the walls a softer white and painting the bright orange tile floors a dark chocolate finish. Slowly but surely they chipped away and in the process found new projects, as well as new problems with things like plumbing and insulation. “There was a kitschy 1970s feel to it, and we lived with it for a while. But then we started looking at the backyard and figured we needed to do something, and that if we got the landscaping done, re-did the pool and made the outdoor living space nice, it might be more commensurate with the interior.” says Jeff. The couple didn’t know it at the time but this decision is what propelled them toward an eventual massive remodel.

Above Exterior bar stools in Peacock Blue by Bend Goods.

Previous page Landscape and Hardscape Design by Elysian Landscapes. Judy Kameon with David Ellien.

Outdoor furniture by Plain Air. Pool by Dutton Architects.

Opposite Top, Kitchen: Original Artwork by Brian Wills.

Custom Walnut Cabinetry by Ian Walmsley Design.

“Turkana” White Leather and Chrome Bar stools by Moura Starr for Kitchen.

Bottom, Dining Area: Entry Console by Dutton Architects, fabricated by Ian Walmsley Design.

Custom Kitchen Cabinetry (white) by Ian Walmsley Design. Horn cabinet pulls by Ochre. Louis XV white bronze and crystal chandelier c. late 19th Century France. Original Artwork by Brian Wills. “Eileen” dining room table by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia. Brueton chrome chairs covered in “Tiana” in Rose/Orange by Manuel Canovas. Table objets

by Skultuna. Floating steel front door designed by Dutton Architects, fabricated by Garsteel.

That’s where Los Angeles based architect John Dutton came in, who had been a good friend with the couple for years. Timon approached Dutton with a proposition to renovate the yard and replace the landscaping. However, it wasn’t a big enough project for him to personally design, so he passed it on to an associate in his architectural firm. “That was the beginning, and after a year or two had passed, we finally saved enough money and thought, if we are going to do this we should do it now,” recalls Timon. They went back to Dutton and proposed a larger project in which they’d change all the windows and doors as well as minimize the cavernous spaces in the 2,400 square foot home. The irony was that despite the apparent expansive feel of the rooms, these design choices made the home feel smaller and even unusable in some areas.

“The openness gave a psychologically unsettled feeling. You didn’t have the comfort of something permanent like a wall or structure defining the space around you. So the two mandates Dutton had was to deal with the space issue and bring the home back to its micentury glory,” says Timon. Dutton had his work cut out for him, but was the perfect expert to take on the challenge. He’s highly respected in the industry and has trained under Pritzker Prize-winning architects such as Piano, Santiago and Richard Meier. His talent lies in making the ordinary extraordinary. “John is definitely a minimalist. But for him the cleanliness of the lines is important, and he doesn’t ever want that house to call attention to itself. It’s meant to be a more neutral and pleasing backdrop to see what is inside,” says Timon.

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Left, Living Room: Original Artwork by Dwayne Moser. “Griffin” Chairs by Lawson-Fenning, covered in Pindler & Pindler Firenze velvet in Lake.

Sectional Couch by Louise Voyazis Interior Design in Pindler & Pindler Atlas Mohair in Bisque. Arco Floor Lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos. “Nador” ottoman by Missoni. “Master” ottoman by Missoni. “Pace” acrylic coffee table with brass end caps from Lawson-Fenning. One-of-aKind rug in silk woven from antique Indian saris by The Rug Company.

Right Top: Original photograph by Patrick Lakey.

Poured concrete hearth by Janisse & Son. Dragos “Pink Spider” dolomite fireplace by Louise Voyazis Interior Design Right bottom: Fireplace enclosure by Dutton Architects, fabricated by Garsteel.

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Left, Master Bedroom: Chairs by Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams, upholstered in “Toledo” in Lilas by Manuel Canovas. Bolster pillows in “Jacaranda”

by Missoni. “Grand Splendid” ottoman in grey Argentinian cowhide. “Mondo” Bed by Room & Board. Vintage bedside tables by Louise Voyazis Interior Design. “Orchid” wallpaper by Cole & Son. Rug by David Hicks

Above, Ingrid’s Room: Bedside tables and lamps

by Crate & Barrel. Blue Flannel bed frame by Blu Dot. Vintage brass and crystal chandelier from Louise Voyazis Interior design. “Luminmarja” wallpaper in Blue. “Midcentury Desk” by West Elm. Greta Grossman Grasshopper table lamp in white.

“Sherpa” chair by Pottery Barn.

Center left, Master Bedroom: Vintage stacked credenza from Lawson Fenning. Original collage by Justin Michell. Custom bathroom cabinetry by Ian Walmsley Design. Vintage bamboo wall sconces from Lawson-Fenning, shades in Kindler & Kindler Douppioni Rosewater silk by Carl’s Custom Lamps and Shades. Patchwork runner from The Rug Company in Hot Pink Overdye.

Left, Den: “Maxwell” couch in Italian Brompton Cocoa from Restoration Hardware. Vintage Moroccan wool rug. Tan and blue wool ottomans

by Louise Voyazis Interior Design. Indigo tie dye pillows from Louise Voyazis Interior Design. Stereo racks by Mapleshade. Stereo components by Jean Nantais, EMIA, and Donald North Audio. Speakers

by Audio Note. Collage by Justin Michell. Custom bookshelves by Louise Voyazis Interior Design.

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Left, Guest Powder Room: Brass and opaline glass ball chandelier by Seguso. Custom vanity by Ian Walmsley Design. Vintage round wood mirror with hammered brass rim from Louise Voyazis Interior Design. Vintage French brass wall sconces from Louise Voyazis Interior Design. Del Rio “South Beach” wallpaper in green and red. “Henry” unlacquered brass faucet by Waterworks Right, Guest Bedroom: Custom cabinetry designed by Dutton Architects, fabricated

by Ian Walmsley Design. Metal bed frame by Room & Board. Pillows in “Nikita” Cardinal and “Fiesta” Corail

by Manuel Canovas. Brunschwig & Fils Jute and Cotton grasscloth wall covering in “Natural”. Writers Guild award for Jennifer Johnson for “Lost”.

Dutton incorporated his signature modern, sleek approach in the design of every element in the house, from the push open cabinets without hardware to utilizing the simple lines on a wall to improve aesthetic appeal and functionality. But halfway through the process, the couple realized they needed to shift focus toward the interior design aspect. That’s when they asked well-known interior designer Louise Voyazis to come on board. “When Louise joined us, that’s when we sort of let our ‘freak flag’ go. It was the perfect representation of what we were trying to go for with the house. A lot of the design elements come from Jennifer working directly with Louise. She is a design magazine and book aficionado. She spends a lot of time, when she has it, looking through them and is always drawn to these particularly rich materials. When you look at our bedroom, it is impossible to figure out how the different ensemble of colors and patterns came together but to my eye it works very well,” says Timon.

Their collaboration with Voyazis helped to anchor the house with elements that are colorful, fun yet functional.

Finally, as the interior and exterior renovations were nearly complete, the couple went back to finish the project that got them started in the first place – that backyard. They began to reimagine how to further expand their overall living space. Landscape architect Judy Kameon was the name at the top of Timons’ short list of experts to handle the job. “We used to go all the time to Parker Hotel in Palm Springs, and

when it was redone I remember how much we loved the gardens, but it was still young. A few years later we went back to find the most luscious, gorgeous gardens ever. We asked at the time who did it, and they gave us Judy’s name,” remembers Timon.

Kameon worked alongside Dutton as they collaborated to design plans that recreated elements in which an indoor living area mirrors the outdoor space, so both places are functional and aesthetically beautiful. She’s an expert in color design and knows how to create an outdoor living space that often becomes a homeowner’s sanctuary.

Kameon’s designs also included furniture from her husband Erik Otsea’s Plain Air furniture line, an addition that the family loved in the finished product.

From the beginning, the Timon-Johnsons were devoted to looking past their home’s quirks and instead diligently restored it to its midcentury greatness. The husband and wife team, who are television and film writers in LA, saw a blank white page of opportunity when they first bought the house. In the end, it became a creative masterpiece that seamlessly integrated architecture, interior and outdoor design.

“We really fell in love with the home when we first saw it. We already knew it had great bones,” says Timon.

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/ ARCHITECTURAL HOUSES FOR SALE

3737 oakfield drive sherman oaks

Beds

2

Baths

2

Square Footage

1800

$1,349,000

Lot Size

23,958

Year Built

1966

A peaceful zen garden greets you as you enter this extraordinary mid-century, circa 1966, designed by world-renowned Modernist Architect, Richard Neutra. This perfect setting in the Sherman Oaks hills takes advantage of the classic Neutra floor-to-ceiling window design to offer panoramic views of the city and canyon. The home has 1,800 sq ft of open living space with two bedrooms and two beautifully updated baths.

Master bedroom with en-suite bath and built-in closets. The second master bedroom is an office or guest room with built-in

bookcases and walk-in closet with views of garden. Living room with stone fireplace opens to a private terrace balcony to enjoy the sunsets. Classic two-car carport with laundry and ample storage. This convenient location offers quick access to the Westside. A rare opportunity to own a home that showcases the elegant design of one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century.

3737oakfield.com

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Listing Agent Carol Huston t: 310-922-6509 carol@hustongroupla.com

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/ ARCHITECTURAL HOUSES FOR SALE

71049 early times road rancho mirage

Beds

3

Baths

3

Square Footage

2,270

$1,099,000

Lot Size

23,958

Year Built

1957

Now available in the renowned Thunderbird North community, which is comprised of just ten residences, four of which have retained sufficient architectural integrity to be significant, is this impressive Donald Wexler/Richard Harrison-designed property.

Originally built in 1957 using post and beam construction, this distinctive dwelling has been registered as a historical site with the City of Rancho Mirage. Key features include: gorgeous panoramic mountain vistas, private entrance gates with ample

parking options, sizable pool with spa in a private setting, terrazzo flooring, modern bathrooms, well-appointed kitchen with quartz countertops and custom cabinetry, exterior natural rock walls, fantastic exterior entertaining areas - all situated on a lot that encompasses more than half an acre.

theagencyre.com

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Listing Agent Dani Behr t: 310-623-2655 dbehr@theagencyre.com

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/ ARCHITECTURAL HOUSES FOR SALE

3580 multiview drive Pacific Palisades

Beds

4

Baths

3

Square Footage

2,873

$2,395,000

Lot Size

16,850

Year Built

1946

First offering: City of Los Angeles Cultural Historic Monument #860, The Kallis-Sharlin Residence, 1946, by architect Rudolph Schindler, with later additions by Josef Van der Kar, and L.A. Twelve architect Leroy Miller, F.A.I A. Art and Music have always flourished in this dynamic space originally designed for artist Mischa Kallis as a residence and art studio. In 1960 Kallis sold the property directly to his cousin Jacqueline and her husband William Sharlin. Jacqueline was a noted concert pianist who had actually performed at Carnegie Hall.

With the Sharlins’ love of entertaining, and a growing family, they needed more space, and commissioned Schindler’s associate Josef Van der Kar to ingeniously convert an open patio between the living quarters and art studio to an entertainment/family room. Later, they hired architect Leroy

Miller to convert the art studio to a new master bedroom and bath. These changes have not compromised Schindler’s sensibility. Today the building stands as a great space for living, and a fully resolved work of architecture.

A sheltering carport at the street level acts as a privacy screen, and the house is covered with vertical split-stake wood fencing to help the house “disappear among the trees.” The glassy residence affords dramatic vistas across the Cahuenga Pass to the distant San Gabriel Mountains, and incorporates 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 fireplaces, and original Schindler built-in furniture.

crosbydoe.com

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Photography: Cameron Carothers

Listing Agent Ilana Gafni t: 310-779-7497 ilana@crosbydoe.com

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/ ARCHITECTURAL HOUSES FOR SALE

3645 deerpass road glendale

Beds

5

Baths

5

Square Footage

6000

$4,590,000

Lot Size

3 acres

Year Built

2013

Whiting Woods is a peaceful enclave known for its natural vistas, protected trees and hiking trails. Situated here is a residence that rests on an expansive picturesque plateau with captivating vistas.

Completed in 2013, this exceptional dwelling rivals the style and detail of its mid-century counterparts.

The ascending private driveway and over three acres of land create the utmost in privacy and seclusion.

Formal entertaining and welcoming spaces include a glass entry hall, living room and great room highlighted by clerestory windows. Fleetwood doors with fully retractable panels maximize vistas and embrace the natural ambiance. Other features include radiant heated flooring and countless designer and architectural details.

A state of the art kitchen, open dining areas, central media

room and secondary entry vestibule help create ideal spaces for more intimate entertaining and living.

First floor private spaces accessed through a personal art gallery include a meditation room, four bedrooms each including their own patio spaces and access to meticulously appointed baths, a family room and craft room. A stunning second floor master retreat features unparalleled vistas from the observatory space, a study and dressing areas, and a private patio.

Offering approximately 6,000 square feet of living space, this one of a kind residence has been thoughtfully designed to create a unique harmony between sleek city living and the serenity of nature.

3645deerpass.com

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Listing Agents Armen Sarkissian t: 626-695-2808 Nicholas Cacarnakis t: 626-644-4262

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home, sweet la HOmE Every house tells a story.

We should know. Through LA HOME, we have been lucky to meet many interesting families, and to showcase the spaces, architectural details, decor, collections and memories which they have created over time.

If you’re considering selling your home this summer, and you wish that the story of your family and your home could be celebrated before you move, please talk to us. Through our alliances with leading realtors, we can help to sell your LA home whilst also preserving your memories of it in print.

Submit a couple of images of your house, along with a brief summary of your story, by 1 May 2017, to hello@lahomemag.com and we will be in touch.

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Home is wherever you ARE DIGITAL EDITION, BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIES AND VIDEO FOOTAGE AT LAHOMEMAG.COM

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L A N D M A R K S

Firestation No.1

2230 Pasadena Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90031 Architects, P.K. Schabarum and Charles O. Brittain Built in 1940

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LA HOME /

HOME + LIFE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

TEXTILE DESIGNER CAROLINE CECIL

$6.99 | SPRING 2017

AT HOME WITH

MALLIKA CHOPRA

106

INTERIOR DESIGNERS OHARA DAVIES-GAETANO RYAN SAGHIAN

+ ART, ARCHITECTURE & PHOTOGRAPHY

LA HOME | SPRING 2017