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Canyons & Valley Edition

Make an Entrance

Must haves made here p68 Piano maker Steinway releases a gorgeous new sound p43 Exclusive look into the private estate to be added to the Huntington Library p68 July/August 2008

Jules Seltzer Associates presents

THE LIFEWORK PORTFOLIO ™

by

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WHERE THE TEMPO OF YOUR LIFE IS SET… In our daily lives, there is a rhythm, a pattern of activity – from popping in to check email to planning family activities. It’s your Lifework. Finding the harmony of work, play, chores and family can be challenging. There is now a hub that connects it all.

No longer isolated to the home office, the desk has moved to center stage in today’s living spaces. It has become a hive of activity – a space to organize, a place to play, a station to schedule life.

For over 70 years, Jules Seltzer Associates has recognized the iconic pieces that soon become classics. The Lifework Portfolio by Herman Miller is no different. This impressive new collection of desks and companion storage pieces for the home, balance the buzz of activity with the beauty of design.

Six unique styles that resonate with your residence. Designed with purpose and function, they’re ideal instruments to orchestrate your life.

Visit us online at julesseltzer.com to view the complete collection.

8833 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90048 / 310.274.7243

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info@julesseltzer.com

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www.julesseltzer.com

contents

southern california July/August 2008 spacesmag.com

cover story

40 Enter Here

It’s not just about curb appeal.

These entryways reflect their owners’ personalities.

36 Today’s Kitchen

Top Valley kitchen designer Shai Zion, owner of Designer Kitchens LA, shows his favorite modern look.

D E PA R T M E N T S

12 So Cal So Cool

Furniture and accessories you’ll want to see.

20 My Favorite Room

Guest designers show us their best work.

30 Something’s in the Kitchen

Why Northridge’s Brent’s Deli is such a hit.

52 Unusual Rooms

Homeowners let us in to their special – and private – spaces.

56 Home Ec 101

Get back to basics with these eco-friendly tips.

58 High Tech Home

Steinway wows our ears – and eyes!

60 Cause for Applause

The night is young at benefits for Valley Presbyterian Hospital and KCET television.

64 Garden Spaces

A lush outdoor canvas in the South Bay.

68 Historical Spaces This xeriscape (a Greek word meaning landscaping that doesn’t require extra irrigation) completes the modern, eco look of our cover shot. The plants include bromo, string of pearl, horsetail and succulents.

Styled by REV Design of Los Angeles. PAGE 40

spaces july/august 2008

An exclusive peek at an estate that will one day be a part of the Huntington collection.

Š 2007 Cartier

18K yellow gold 42 mm case and bracelet.

Self-winding mechanical movement, Cartier calibre 049 (21 jewels, 28'800 vibrations per hour), date aperture.

Blue sapphire cabochon set on a fluted crown. Silvered opaline guillochĂŠ dial.

Rounded scratchproof sapphire crystal.

Green Design

Sustainable furniture handmade in Southern California.

The Urban Woods collection available now at Wall Units, Inc.

The distinct beauty of vintage reclaimed wood is the perfect way to Go Green.

Discover a style that looks amazing while incorporating a deeper meaning.

Custom Design Be creative with your space, bringing your home’s true potential to life.

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editor’s letter

The pathway to our inner sanctuary

T

his is our third issue of Spaces and it has been a rolling and wonderful ride. We’ve had the pleasure of entering some of the most gracious homes imaginable as our So Cal

friends invite us in to show their places and tell their stories.

In this issue, we visit homes with startling entryways. My own quest was to see if a door-

way truly is a window into the owner’s personality and now I can say without a doubt, it certainly is.

The neighbors you’ll meet in this issue have entrances that reflect their character. Our cover

is a perfect testament to this: It is the entryway into the Huntington Beach home of Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks. Kelly’s chemist father, Van Vlahakis, is the creator of Earth Friendly Products, a line of eco-detergents and soaps that are toxin free, and Kelly, a passionate environmentalist, works right alongside him in their Gardena headquarters.

“I want my home to reflect my passion,” she said during the photo shoot. “The door, the

glass, the flooring, all of it is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.” Even the plants on her patio are xeriscape, another way to save the planet by using less water.

We hope you enjoy going through these doors as much as we have, and invite you to keep

reading as we continue to explore our neighborhoods. Do you have a special place, a charming garden, or a smashing way to hang fabrics? Let us know!

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

contributors

M

eredith Grenier, one of the most

S

paces photo editor and West Hills

P

amela Bunn has worked as a writer

accomplished journalists in the South Bay

resident Paul Jonason uses his always magical

and editor for nine years on such varied titles

during her 22-year career with the Daily

camera to photograph our doors and entry

as Teen, Real Fighter and Motorcycle Cruiser.

Breeze, spins her word power in our cover

issue, as well as the shots for our Unusual

Bunn happily channels her inner decorator

story on doors and entryways. Grenier lives

Rooms section. His favorite is the picture of

during interviews with two designers for

in Rancho Palos Verdes with her husband,

Linda Cappello in her closet (p. 52), where

this issue’s My Favorite Room. She lives in

Lou, a former Los Angeles assistant district

the So Cal socialite graciously agreed to take

West Hollywood with her husband and

attorney.

off her shoes to pose.

young son.

10 spaces july/august 2008

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 1 • Issue 3

spacesmag.com

publisher

Steven Gellman editor

Linda Massarella

art director Lee Ann Nelson

photo editor Paul Jonason

senior editor Jackie Rothenberg

contributing editors

Pamela Bunn Patt Diroll Allan Goldstein Meredith Grenier

contributing writers Holly Berecz Merrill Shindler Howard Stier contributing photographer Howard Stier

marketing director Bill Van Laningham research director Liz Hamm

creative services manager Paul Schraeder

advertising account executives Karen Fernandes

Meaghan Miller

office manager Mary Anne Rozinsky

Los Angeles Newspaper Group president & ceo

Edward R. Moss executive vice president & cfo

James Siegrist

contact us editorial: (818) 713-3297

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

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

Comments?

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

july/august 2008 spaces 11

SoCal

so cool

First impressions count, and entranceways can go unnoticed unless decisions are made as to their overall function and décor. The soft glow of a chandelier and a well-matched elegant bench can provide a relaxing spot to chat. A pair of inviting chairs with a classic pedestal table in between can create a formal space for afternoon tea. As you feast your eyes on this month’s So Cal creations, imagine how they could help transform your entryway from an unused, forgotten spot into one of your favorite and most talked-about spaces in your home.

— Allan Goldstein

Table, occasional chairs, credenza and bench Classic furniture is created when design transcends the fashion of the moment in order to create a balance between line and proportion. A. Rudin custom furniture designs attain this timeless style with this pair of chairs, credenza, bench and pedestal table. Each piece shares in a quality of quiet grace. The great simplicity of the credenza, the superior craftsmanship of the bench, the elegance of the table and the wonderful formmeets-function of the chairs make these excellent candidates for any entryway. Have fun – mix and match!

Design dna

Did deliverymen

out on the comfort of old, worn T-shirts,

way back when? Well, it

but they still may have experienced the

depends on whose door they

softness of cotton. No one knows exactly

were knocking. The House

how long the downy substance has been

of the Tragic Poet, a second-

around, but scientists searching caves in

century B.C. home in Pompeii,

Mexico found pieces of cotton cloth that

features a picture of a chained

were at least 7,000 years old. Eli Whitney’s

guard dog on the mosaic floor

invention of the cotton gin in 1793 paved

in the entryway. Underneath is

the way for mass production of cotton in

written “Cave Canem,” meaning

America.

“Beware of the Dog.” 12 spaces

Ancient civilizations missed

have to worry about dogs

Maura Daniel Lighting Couture www.mauradaniel.com

A. Rudin www.arudin.com

Luna multi-colored bead and rectangular raindrop chandeliers Without proper lighting to accent and complement the entryway of a home, its fine design details cannot be fully appreciated. Maura Daniel custom fixtures, such as the rectangular raindrop chandelier, create illumination that embodies beauty, mystery and attention to detail. The 2008 ready-made Luna multi-colored bead chandelier is also a perfect touch for an entranceway, lending it a wonderful vivacity and a sense of style and panache.

Knock on wood

You can never find one when you

– carefully. Medieval

need it, but safety pins often save the day. Credit for coming

castle doors were made of

up with the tiny fastener goes to inventor Walter Hunt, who

two layers of oak planks

twisted a single piece of wire, coiled it in the center and

with the grain running

shielded the clasp to cover

horizontally on the back

the sharp pin. Hunt came up

and vertically on the front

with the safety pin in 1849 as a means

– a precursor of plywood,

of paying off a debt. He quickly sold the patent

but with an added twist:

for $400 and was then able to repay the $15 he owed

pointed metal studs pro-

a friend. New York’s Museum of Modern Art has one of

truding outward. This kept

Hunt’s pins in its collections.

the layers together and attackers at bay.

july/august 2008 spaces 13

SoCal so cool

Castelia www.casteliausa.com

Castelia custom windows Windows are a key design element of any home. The craftsmanship of Castelia custom windows, made of either high quality woods or aluminum, combines state-of-the-art robotic production with Old World attention to detail. This night shot puts the spotlight on the cohesiveness of design between the custom-made wood windows and the flowing architectural lines of the home.

Whether for an entryway, living room or the entire house, the window design can create a synthesis of simplicity, form and function that will showcase each home’s distinctive character and unique beauty.

Design dna Who ruined Sundays by inventing

Smile and show your pearly

the lawn mower? First William Kent, who

whites. Nowadays, there are countless

some consider the father of modern gardening,

gadgets and products to keep teeth clean

introduced the world to the English landscape

and healthy. But in ancient Babylonia and

garden – a style that revolutionized the laying

Egypt, so-called chew sticks – aromatic twigs

out of gardens and estates. Then with all that

with frayed ends – were used to freshen

grass to tend to, British engineer Edwin Beard

the mouth. The bristle toothbrush, invented

Budding built the first lawn mower in 1830.

by the Chinese in 1498, was fashioned from

While it sure beats cutting the grass by hand

stiff boar hair embedded in bone or bamboo

with a sickle, it would be nice to go back in

handles. Today’s toothbrush got its start

time and just let the animals graze.

in 1938, when DuPont replaced the coarse animal hair with nylon bristles.

14 spaces july/august 2008

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SoCal so cool Martin Pierce www.martinpierce.com

Hedgerow, Lizard and Willow bronze door pulls More art than hardware, Martin Pierce Hardware gets its inspiration from the plant and animal world. Pierce hand carves each design and then casts it in solid bronze or stainless steel. The Hedgerow, Lizard and Willow, to name but a few of his lyrical lines, add an organic and whimsical element that’s sure to surprise and amuse your guests.

Pierce captures the textural reality of nature in the Hedgerow and Lizard collection when he uses the coarseness of bark and slate to create stylized back planes for the lizards to rest on. The Willow collection, with its bronze leaves swirling and bending in the wind, is a nod to the beauty of movement in nature.

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my favorite room

Rooms with a view

Adrian Koffka Koffka/Phakos Design Hollywood Photos: Werner Huthmacher

F

or designer Adrian Koffka and his partner, architect Cynthia Phakos, sustainable living is a key element

to their designs. So when they joined forces six years ago and founded Koffka/Phakos Design, they were thrilled when their very first clients were a family of a similar mindset. But there was a big challenge: How to transform this dysfunctional U-shaped home into a free-flowing family friendly abode with

For these two designers, walls of windows (and the intentional lack of draperies)

as little renovation – and waste – as possible.

Mission accomplished.

Adrian, tell us about this house.

This home was built in the early 1940s and

ensure that the outdoors

is located in Santa Monica, about 22 blocks

always stays in.

from the beach.

By Pamela Bunn

What were the family’s goals for the redesign?

There was a big functional issue with the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

20 spaces july/august 2008

Philip Nimmo Philip Nimmo & Company West Hollywood Photos: Roger Davies

D

esigner Philip Nimmo says a love of design is in his blood. After

obtaining a business degree

from USC, Nimmo worked for years as the

director of banquets and catering for Ritz- Carlton. When his artistic passions became too strong to ignore, he bypassed formal training for an opportunity to restore furniture for a famed antiquarian. Twenty-odd years later, Nimmo has a thriving design firm and a bustling ironworks business. He didn’t have a hard time deciding on his favorite space – it’s the one he wakes up in every morning.

Philip, when asked to choose a favorite room that you’ve designed, you immediately picked your own bedroom. Tell us why.

It’s one of the most classic rooms, and not because I’ve done it and not because I have a big disassociation from the work that I do CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

july/august 2008 spaces 21

Photo: Art Gray

my favorite room ADRIAN KOFFKA FROM PAGE 20 house – mainly, this little den that had been added on in the center of the house that was badly constructed. The house is U-shaped, with two bedrooms and a bathroom (one

What was once a dingy den was transformed into this bright family room, thanks to Adrian Koffka’s and Cynthia Phakos’ brilliantly designed wall of windows.

The outdoorsin approach allows in natural light, which is perfect for viewing the family’s art collection.

being the master and the kids were sharing the other room) on one side and a third bedroom on the other side of the house, behind the kitchen. At the time, their twin daughters were 5 and ready for their own rooms, but the parents were not going to split them up and put one daughter behind the kitchen in this stranded room. So the question was how to solve that problem and not completely redo the entire house. What we came up with was this one-room solution.

How did this one room solve the functionality problems of the house?

Because it extended out far enough, this new family room allowed us to create a shortcut from the stranded bedroom and the bedroom wing on the other side. So instead of being behind the kitchen, the extra bed-

room, now taken over by one of the twins, is

stylishly

AF FORDA BL E.

tied into the flow of the house. And what was a small kitchen and dining room, we combined and made into a larger kitchen and opened it up to this new main space. And everything happens there.

What’s the purpose of the loft?

We created this small loft upstairs because the stranded bedroom was previously used as an office. We replaced that office upstairs and also brought it into the flow of the whole life of the family.

Did the homeowners have any other requests?

They’re both very artistic, so they definitely wanted to be able to hang their art. We designed this two-story wall of glass, which faces north, so it doesn’t contribute to any heat gain but it brings in a lot of north-

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ern light, which is great for viewing art.

The windows dissolve the barrier between indoor and outdoor, which brings much CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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my favorite room ADRIAN KOFFKA FROM PAGE 22 natural light and air into the house. And having windows in different directions brings in a different quality of light at different times

Yes. It was extremely hard and expensive,

of the day, so the space really lives.

and that was another reason why we did

How does all of that natural light affect heating and cooling of the space?

The windows in the upstairs loft open, so during the summer when the air warms up in the house, it rises and can be ventilated out through these top windows. And,

an approach of being sustainable by design rather than by the materials or the technical equipment. And since there was virtually no demolition, there was no waste. It was structurally designed with four posts and one big beam.

ily doesn’t have air conditioning and they

Was sustainability and efficiency important to your clients as well?

don’t need it, and they’ve never missed it in

It was very important to them. The mantra was

luckily, they get ocean breezes. This fam-

six years. This is an example of a very low-

no waste – whether it was no wasted space, no

tech sustainable feature.

wasted energy, no wasted material.

Are there any other noteworthy eco-friendly elements to your design?

Have you kept in touch with this family over the years?

We used the space as efficiently as we could.

Oh, yes. They’re such a lovely family, and

For example, there are built-in shelves beneath

whenever we talk with them, they tell us,

the stairs, and from the hallway side there’s

“We love our house, and we had another

access to a small California basement and a

party and everyone tells us it’s the perfect

linen closet. Every inch is used, which allows

party house!” It’s really the perfect family

them to keep the big open space uncluttered.

house – and it was one room!

KOFFKA BUYING GUIDE: Ceiling: Structural birch

plywood with water-based polyurethane finish Coffee table: Recycled

construction lumber, designed by architects Exterior decking:

Trex composite Floors: Oak to match the

existing spaces Kitchen counter: Granite

and recycled rubber Stair railing: Custom-built

stainless steel Windows: Double-glazed

wood windows, painted

24 spaces july/august 2008

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my favorite room PHILIP NIMMO FROM PAGE 21 and where I live. It’s just that when I wake up in the morning I think, This is just a beautiful room. But it’s not just the room; it’s the whole experience.

What do you mean?

There’s a fabulous garden that wraps all the way around the room, so when I’m in my bedroom, I see the pool and my garage, but the way it’s positioned on the property, it looks like a true carriage house. And then there’s an 18-foot hedge that goes all the way around the property. And there are no draperies in my house.

How long have you lived in this home?

I’ve lived here for about four or five years. I call it a 1940s bungalow, but it’s not like the typical West Hollywood bungalows that are so tight up against each other.

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What was the condition of the house when you bought it?

It wasn’t in awful condition, but just like any house, the colors just weren’t of my liking.

The first thing I did was take all the draperies down and get rid of the hideous colors that were on the walls. If they had been the right tone they would have been beautiful, but they just weren’t. A gold color can be absolutely beautiful, but if it’s wrong it takes you way back to the ’70s.

How did you approach the renovation?

Was your renovation strictly interior design, or did you add on?

My intention was to bring contemporary

I didn’t add on space, but the biggest changes

into a rather traditional setting. You can

I made were replacing the windows, which

see by way of the crown molding and the

was so important because my whole philos-

picture-frame molding on the walls and the

ophy on the house is “indoor/outdoor.”

baseboard that it is rather traditional. But by painting the room dark brown with the

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ed, but it did go through a few renditions.

white trim, the contrast really created a nice contemporary feel.

What can you tell us about the furniture?

I designed the little slipper chairs on either side of the bed, which have a very graceful little wood frame around the back. They’re

Did you do all of the interior work before you moved in?

done in white linen, but to add a traditional

No. The moment I got the key is the moment

designed the headboard to match. Then I

I moved in. I needed to experience this house

brought in that contemporary chrome and

for a little bit. I was very clear on what I want-

cowhide chair.

note to them, I added the nail heads. I also

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Art is created

with brick and mortar

Look for your copy of offerings in the next issue of Spaces magazine.

Every now and again

my favorite room PHILIP NIMMO FROM PAGE 26

NIMMO BUYING GUIDE:

What about that great fire screen?

Art above fireplace: Jimi Gleeson’s

That’s my own design from my other busi-

Bantam Edge (2002)

ness, Philip Nimmo Ironworks. I first started making fire screens because my options were

Bed linens: Chaz Stevens Design

really limited. So I made one for a client, then

Chrome and marble bedside tables:

1970s vintage

other clients would inevitably want one, and it just kind of blossomed into not only fire screens, but also furniture and lighting.

Cowhide lounge chair and ottoman: 1960s vintage

Is that business really taking off?

Fire screen: Fuoco Fire Screen,

I tell you, in spite of me, it works!

Do you have animals?

Yes, I have a Jack Russell terrier named Peggy.

She loves to play in the garden, and as you

Philip Nimmo Ironworks

Designer Philip Nimmo’s best selling Fuoco Fire Screen — with the word FIRE in bright red — is the perfect finishing touch on his classically designed bedroom.

Floor lamp: Rose Tarlow

Do you have a TV in the room?

Nude artwork: Flea market find Paint: Philip Nimmo custom color

can see, my house is mostly white and dark

Yes, and it’s on the wall you can’t see. It’s a

brown, so she goes and plays in the garden

big plasma that’s on a bracket, so it swivels

and then jumps on the furniture.

and pulls out from the wall. I can open the French doors and sit outside and watch TV

Don’t you worry about the white furniture getting dirty?

from the patio.

Everything is easy to clean. And I’m just one

What’s your favorite show?

of those people who’s like, I don’t care.

Anything by HBO.

Flooring: Sea grass carpet

Vases on mantle: 1930s Murano glass

vases White linen side chairs and headboard: Enos chair and matching

headboard, Philip Nimmo Design

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something’s in the kitchen

Corned beef and comfort Sunday morning at LA’s best (and busiest) deli

A work of art, a work of love — corned beef on rye, hot, juicy and ready to go.

PHOTOS: PAUL JONASON

By Merrill Shindler

B

y 9 o’clock on Sunday morning, they’re already lined

up at Brent’s Deli in Northridge, waiting for a table or take-out order. An hour later, the crowd has turned

into an affable mob of couples and families, all daydreaming of bagels and smoked fish, omelets and matzo brie. Forget

“Eat at Joe’s” — at Parthenia and Corbin, it’s “Eat at Brent’s.”

Brent’s founder Ron Peskin, left, with son Brent.

30 spaces july/august 2008

Since 1994, without missing a year, Brent’s has ranked as

Southern California’s No. 1 deli in the Zagat Restaurant Sur

I wanted passion.

I found it at Ferguson.

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FIXTURES

OUTDOOR GRILLS

something’s in the kitchen vey. There isn’t another restaurant in town, of any kind, that’s run up a record like that. Indeed, it’s been argued that Brent’s isn’t just the best deli in Southern California, but in America, a notion that doesn’t sit well with New Yorkers. And yet, there’s truth in it — where the delis of New

“ You wouldn’t believe how many

York are a dying breed, Brent’s has prospered and grown; the new Brent’s in Westlake Village is nearly as busy as the original. And it has a full bar to boot. (Have some Ketel One

people order a

with your knish!)

corned beef or a

in 1969. As luck would have it, his son, a

pastrami on rye

Brent, so it turns out the sign didn’t need to

for breakfast.”

Ron Peskin bought Brent’s Deli for $1,800

youngster at the time, was also named be changed. The eatery that once had room for 60 diners now seats 180. By the ’80s, Brent’s was a culinary phenomenon, on its way to becoming an institution as beloved as

Deli manager Luis Melchor, one of the many Mexican-born workers at Brent’s, who try to live up to the motto, “Se Habla Yiddish.”

Philippe the Original and Pink’s.

diners and prepares catering for another thousand; several

Brent’s remains a family business. Ron Peskin shares the

On an average Sunday, the restaurant serves a thousand

workload with wife Patricia, son Brent and daughter-in-law

hundred more drop by to pick up something to go. By closing

Dori, daughter Carie and son-in-law Marc.

time, diners have consumed an estimated 150 pounds of lox, 200 dozen bagels and countless eggs.

“You wouldn’t believe how many people order a corned

beef or a pastrami on rye for breakfast,” says Brent Peskin. “If it’s on the menu, we serve it all day long.”

It takes about 50 workers to keep things running smoothly

on a Sunday, including three deli guys who never stop moving.

quick fact

Where the deli meats give the eggs a sense of purpose, and where no order of bagels and lox is right without a side of onions, olives, tomatoes and cream cheese.

The word “delicatessen” comes to us from both the German “delikatessen” and the French “délicatesse.”

Either way, it refers to delicacies or delicious things to eat. So enjoy.

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something’s in the kitchen To stand behind the counter and watch them is to be in the presence of perpetual motion – human jugglers who can hold half a dozen conversations at once, while carefully slicing beef brisket for a customer who wants his meat cut … just so.

Running it all is longtime deli manager Luis Melchor,

a native of Mexico. Most of the workers at Brent’s are also Mexican and had never seen a deli, never even heard of one.

Chopped liver burritos are not a dish found anywhere south of the border. But, Melchor says, “I’m thinking about opening a Jewish deli down there. I think people would like it. And I’d have the only one.”

restaurant Brent’s Deli

18565 Parthenia Street Northridge 818.886.5679

The crowd grows steadily. The orders spin on the wheel,

with Brent Peskin keeping an eye on the ebb and flow. The family patriarch arrives to see how things are going. “Watching this makes me hungry,” says Ron Peskin. “But where will I sit? All the tables are taken. The counter is full. There are

reservations recommended?

breakfast

for two

For parties of eight or more only About $40

people waiting. I’d never bump them for myself.”

Brent’s Deli doesn’t give out its recipes, but don’t worry — we won’t leave you hungry. There’s a book called America’s Great Delis by Sheryll Bellman, filled with wonderful recipes. Here are some of my favorites:

Second Avenue Deli (New York) Chopped Liver Serves 8 1½ pounds beef liver 1 pound chicken liver corn oil for drizzling 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons corn oil 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons chicken fat 4 cups yellow onions, coarsely chopped 4 hard-boiled eggs 2 teaspoons salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Heat broiler. Rinse beef and chicken livers thoroughly and cut away

Carnegie Deli (New York) Matzo Balls

membranes and extra fat. Cut the beef liver in 1-inch pieces; chicken livers can remain whole. Place beef and chicken livers in a large baking pan; drizzle with corn oil. Broil 8 to 10 minutes. Turn liver

Serves 20 30 eggs

5 pounds matzo meal

2 ⅓ cups liquid shortening

salt and pepper

2 cups water

pieces and broil for another 5 minutes. Liver should be fully cooked and lightly browned on both sides. Chill in the refrigerator.

In a large skillet, heat corn oil and 1 tablespoon of chicken fat. Add

In a large bowl, mix eggs, shortening, water, matzo meal, salt and pepper. The mixture

onions and sauté until well browned. Place in refrigerator to chill.

should be thick but manageable. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. This makes the mix-

Meanwhile, in the bowl of a food processor combine liver, onions,

ture easier to handle. Remove from refrigerator and form round balls about the size of a

hard-boiled eggs, remaining chicken fat and salt and pepper; blend

billiard ball. Add matzo balls to chicken soup and boil for 45 minutes.

until smooth. (You’ll have to do it in batches.) Chill before serving.

34 spaces july/august 2008

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something’s in the kitchen

Today’s modern kitchen

By Shai Zion

K

itchens have come a long way from the gingham-

checked patterns and cookie jar look of yesteryear

to today’s uncluttered, sleek designs, filled with

technological wonders and the greatest of gadgets. Whether modern or more traditional, your kitchen can provide both a comfortable place for the whole family to gather or a func-

At TruSource, we’re committed to doing our part toward safeguarding your home by doing business with cabinet manufacturers whose high quality products, industry policies and practices benefit the environment — and society.

Whenever possible, our companies use domestic lumber from forests that are replanted for use by future generations.

Plato Woodwork utilizes formaldehydefree MDF board, as well as water-based hot melt glues which are solvent free.

Waste wood is not dumped into landfills; it’s ground into sawdust and recycled by farmers to use as cattle bedding.

Our manufacturers are certified for the Environmental Stewardship Program from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers of America. We also donate used cabinetry and parts to Habitat for Humanity for reuse by the less privileged.

We can provide innovative eco-friendly custom cabinetry, while offering professional and creative design — cabinetry for every need in any style, wood, color, finish and size.

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36 spaces july/august 2008

tional culinary space for the most discriminating chef.

This very contemporary Pedini Italian kitchen design

combines gray glass and oak, along with white lacquered cabinetry, for a stunningly sleek, polished look. Pedini’s Integra line is featured here.

A vertical movable table extension that slides back and

forth on a track is a special feature of the Integra model. The extension serves dual purposes: it can provide extra seating space or increase the size of your buffet table when you’re entertaining.

Whether entertaining for a small group or at holiday

gatherings, a must-have dream appliance is the Gaggenau 30-inch double oven, available in stainless steel or aluminum. The ovens can be set separately, using one LCD display, so you can cook multiple dishes effortlessly. There’s even a rotisserie spit in the lower oven.

Shai Zion, owner of Designer Kitchens LA, is an interior designer who has been providing homeowners, architects, builders and developers the resources to create cutting-edge modern and contemporary designer kitchens for more than 25 years.

A first impression, a scene setter, a glimpse of what’s to come

By Meredith Grenier Photos by Paul Jonason

w

hile a person’s eyes may be the

windows to his soul, a home’s entry offers a revealing portal to the sanctuary within. It sets the tone for the interior and helps inform the architectural design. Doors and entrances also speak volumes about their owners. As varied as human nature itself, entryways can be open and inviting or private and secretive. They can relax or invigorate, create harmony or tension. They may be dramatic, commanding attention, or subdued, blending in with the landscape. They can recall historical English castles or romantic Mediterranean villas, California missions or exotic contemporaries. Add the surrounding accessories

making an – lighting fixtures, plants and furniture – and an entryway evokes not only time and place, but mood.

40 spaces july/august 2008

A door as décor The entranceway says it all, says South Baybased real estate broker and developer Raju Chhabria, who personally designed the elaborate front doors to his 10,000-square-foot Mediterranean villa in Palos Verdes Estates.

After scouring through many months of architectural design magazines, he fashioned his own wrought-iron design and had the doors fabricated by Antique Ornamental Iron Works in the San Fernando Valley.

His idea was to create a formal floral and scroll theme that would be repeated in his home’s grand vestibule, flanked by twin

circular staircases, a stately entry table and a crystal chandelier.

Chhabria says the front entryway

offers a great chance to make a favorable first impression, which is crucial in real estate.

“Whether it is a small house or a large estate, the entryway is vital,” he says. “In fact, I can tell you what the interior of a house will be like from the street just by looking at the entrance. If the front door is not attractive and well maintained, you know what to ex-

Above: This classic lever, made

by Neoporte, integrates with any

pect inside.”

modern door or cabinet. Like

the company’s stainless steel

As one of the top real estate professionals

in the country (currently No. 26 in the nation in sales), Chhabria understands properties well. While primarily focusing on residential real estate, he has ventured into the com-

doors, they’re endorsed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Below: Precision cast from solid

mercial market with the recent purchase of

stainless steel, we like these

a major Torrance corner property at Haw-

pulls because not only do they

thorne and Pacific Coast Highway, which he

make a bold statement, the

is developing into 25,000 square feet of retail stores and offices set to open in spring 2010.

Chhabria adds that part of the notorious

company that makes them is based in Santa Monica.

“curb appeal” aspect of successful real estate sales comes from the integrity of the architect. When replacing doors, he says, it’s best to consider the original design: “If you have a Spanish design, you might choose wooden doors, but if you have a Mediterranean you would probably require wrought iron, which The ornate floral scroll pattern provides a hint of the grand entryway and majestic home to be found beyond Raju Chhabria’s front doors. They were custom made for the developer by Antique Ornamental Iron Works, based in Sun Valley.

is becoming very popular.”

Torrance architect Edward Carson Beall

compares the entryway of a house to a symphony overture. “The entry sets the CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

entrance july/august 2008 spaces 41

temperament for the house,” he says. “It can be soothing or climactic. I have always thought that entryways, and architecture in general, can cause any kind of emotion in people – make them feel serene or heighten their expectations. It is an architect’s job not just to provide space in which to live, but also to evoke an emotional response.”

A grand opening As accountants Eva and John Simpson were renovating their 1920s Spanish Revival in San Marino, they searched the Internet for appropriate doors. They found some gorgeous, hand-carved doors that would be perfect. The problem? They were thousands of miles away in Spain.

The couple traveled to Barcelona and met

with a local artisan who had refurbished a treasure trove of antique wooden doors taken from castles and grand old Spanish homes. They bought several, including an 18th century hand-carved door for their front entrance, and shipped them back home. A few months later, John Simpson started a company called Portera, based in Pasadena, so he could sell the doors here.

Hand-carved antique wooden doors homeowner John Simpson picked up in Spain. He loved them so much, he helped start a Pasadenabased company that now imports them to our region.

PHOTO: ROBERT THIEN

“I felt I had to bring the doors to the U.S. market, especially in this time when people are excited about using reclaimed architectural elements,” he says. “In Southern California, especially, we have such an appreciation for Spanish architecture.”

“The right door can be a piece of art, which you can touch and experience.”

Aluminum, steel and glass are key to modern homes Judd Weiss is a busy 27-year-old owner of a real estate company who doesn’t have time for nonsense. When he purchased a prop-

We’re especially wowed by this

erty with a direct view of the modern Getty

look, made with Oceanside Glasstile

Center, his main concern in renovating what

Tessera 1-by-1-inch fields in Amber

was once a small ranch-style house on a hill

Iridescent. It doesn’t hurt that the

in Bel Air was finding the right door. “I knew what I wanted – I wanted steel, like a vault,” Weiss says. “I like modern. It’s clean and it makes a strong statement.” Weiss purchased CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

Aluminum and glass are especially great for the bachelor pad real estate investor Judd Weiss set up in Bel Air.

tile is handcrafted with many colors made from recycled glass. The company is based in Carlsbad.

Also, shown below, are new fields in the Oceanside Glasstile Casa California Collection.

july/august 2008 spaces 45

A playful red door is surprisingly warm and seems to say, “welcome!”

Malibu artist Carl Gillberg handcrafts these vases, a majestic way to finish off any portal or room. The Camelot Jardinaire, above, in cast bronze and the Octagonal Jardinaire, below, in antique copper finish. www.gillbergdesign.com

front door from a local company, Neoporte

Nithyananda, a meditation teacher in Cala-

Modern Doors in Santa Monica, founded by

basas who believes any door can be revital-

sculptor Ken Hepburn. To complete the en-

ized with a personal touch. Nithyananda

trance, Weiss added a wall of glass tiles and

lives on a quiet street off Mulholland High-

a modern aluminum wall sculpture that he

way and when passers-by approach, they

found online.

wish they would be invited inside. Crowning the outside entranceway of the home’s sage

In a pinch, take a plain door and add a poppy color

means abundance,” she says. “It is a very

“An entranceway is essential; it is as impor-

good color for the outside of a door – it brings

tant as the smile on your face,” says Narthana

luck and it makes people eager to come in.”

48 spaces july/august 2008

stucco exterior is a cherry red door. “Red

buy yourself a little breeze

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unusual

rooms

A closet from the goddesses

L

inda Cappello’s taste in haute couture may resemble

Carrie’s, but that’s where the fashionista image ends.

Linda, a former hotel marketing executive, lives

in a Tuscan villa in the Santa Monica Mountains overloo-

king the Pacific Ocean. When asked which of the many rooms in her home she likes best, she answers quickly, with a wink, “my closet.”

You don’t always have to leave home to get away. Some-

times, you can be transported simply by staying right

suite, is every woman’s fantasy. The design includes glass

where you are – as long as it’s in a room like one of these. The owners of these unusual spaces – a collec-

cases so she can instantly locate the perfect sweater or pair

A couple of

tor’s room and a closet, belonging to a husband-andwife duo, and an artist’s studio – have found sanctuary within their own four walls.

Her spacious dressing room, located off her bedroom

Photos by Paul Jonason

of shoes; drawers for accessories; closets for long gowns, with

“ I like my money right where I can see it – hanging in my closet.”

more space above for jackets and furs; full-length mirrors and, best of all, a long marble shelf for folding clothes.

The closets are filled to capacity with Chanels, Lanvins

and Valentinos and row upon row of stiletto-heeled Pradas, Fendis and Manolos. However, Linda says she is happiest dressed in jeans, riding her horse in Agua Dulce, or in a caftan sitting by the pool with her two young daughters

— Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

and three dogs.

Along with their children’s activities, Linda and her husband Alex are actively involved in Southern California philanthropies including Las Floristas; Augie’s Quest – the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s research initiative to find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease); the International Medical Corps; and the Children’s Burn Foundation. Therefore, Linda has numerous occasions to wear her glamorous garb. But, she insists, “I still prefer riding duds and my old Frye boots.”

Linda Cappello what Closet where Pacific Palisades we need Great shoes! Do you feel like to know Carrie in Sex and the City?

“We may have some of the same shoes, but that’s the only similarity. She must lead a much more exciting life than I.”

52 spaces july/august 2008

who

A worldly retreat

I

nvestment banker Alex Cappello is an irrepressible collector. As chairman and CEO

of The Cappello Group, an enterprise he

launched while a student at USC’s Marshall School of Business, and international chair-

man emeritus of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), he has traveled the world and found treasures for his collection.

Cappello’s penchant for fine arts began

early on, when his mother, an art teacher

collectors

By Patt Diroll

and sculptor, introduced him to the Renaissance and the works of Leonardo da Vinci, whom he cites as his lifelong inspiration.

“ I do have a passion

Friends characterize him as a “Renais-

for quality things.

sance man.” While perhaps an overstatement, he says, “I do have a passion for qual-

The rare and collectible

ity things. The rare and collectible item can be as valuable as a stock or bond. As for the

item can be as valuable

‘Renaissance man’ reference, my professional philosophy is that there isn’t a busi-

as a stock or bond.”

ness that doesn’t benefit from a rebirth.”

His collector’s room is mind-boggling,

with elaborate boiserie from a castle in the south of France and a Belgian limestone fireplace that once warmed one of Napoleon’s homes. The eclectic mix includes stained glass doors from a church in Tuscany, opening into a wine cellar, books stacked on the floor in ziggurats, and a Tiffany-style skylight rescued from a New York mansion. Cappello has also amassed an amazing array of canes, globes, singing birdcage automata, glass dome clocks and an armada of ship models.

With success and the wherewithal to ac-

quire material things, Cappello, who once contemplated entering the priesthood, has never forgotten St. Luke’s caveat: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” He serves

Alex Cappello what Collector’s room where Pacific Palisades we need What is your to know favorite acquisition?

“My wife, Linda.”

who

on the USC Board of Trustees and has led the local YPO chapter in establishing a scholarship fund for students at USC and UCLA.

july/august 2008 spaces 53

unusual rooms

In the pink Colorful surroundings inspire artist’s playful work

By Linda Massarella

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPACES

DESIGN DNA

DIVE INTO THESE SPECIAL SPACES

7 bits of home history you need to know p12

MY FAVORITE ROOM

For singer Jewel, it’s her closet p20

WHAT’S COOKING?

Chez Mélange chef reveals his best meatball recipe p28

CAUSE FOR APPLAUSE Mudcrutch, Plácido Domingo jam for charity p 62

CANYONS & VALLEYS | MAY/JUNE 2008

Dive in

…to the latest trends in swimming pools and outdoor furniture May /June 2008

54 spaces july/august 2008

A lot of readers wanted to know more about the mysterious woman standing in her pool, looking toward the ocean, who graced our last cover. Well, here she is again, this time showing her face in her home art studio.

A

rtist Chris Hartunian admits to be-

ing a chameleon. Her favorite colors

often change and her style of decor

and method of painting are always evolving and going off in different directions.

One thing that’s solid in her art – and life

– is her home studio. In a small room with

head office of Mary Kay Cosmetics. “They let

wide windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean,

me play with them,” she notes. “I made the

Hartunian created a poetic space where her

women a little prettier and the dresses a little

imagination can take flight.

more colorful.”

“My room is where I’m inspired. I am in

Her favorite colors of the moment are or-

there every day, as much as I can be,” she

ange and pink, and she has throw pillows all

says. These days, Hartunian has been work-

over her room in those hues. “I change the

ing on tie-dyed prints and papier-mâché

pillows and the color combinations all the

models. She’s known, however, for her cop-

time, depending on what I’m working on,”

ies of the masters.

she says. “Right now I’m into contemporary,

and orange and pink pop out.”

An interior designer trained at UCLA,

Hartunian turned to painting copies of the

masters – most of which hang in museums

also unusual because it’s mine.”

and private collections and aren’t for sale – when she decided she wanted them in her own home. She has sold dozens of her reproductions – which include John Singer Sargents, Van Goghs, Modiglianis and Renoirs – to private individuals and companies.

Hartunian had the most fun copying eight

Sargents – an early American painter – for the

“I love my room,” Hartunian says. “It’s

Chris Hartunian what Art studio where Pacific Palisades we need Who do you prefer painting, to know men or women?

“Women. Men are fun to paint if they have a nice body, but a woman’s body is always more beautiful.”

who

Home Ec 101

By Pamela Bunn

With gas prices going through the sunroof, there’s no better time to find ways to save money and gain peace of mind. Read on for easy ways to spend less so you can get more out of life.

HOMEGROWN

NEWS FLASH

Do you feel a twinge of guilt when you buy scrumptious black grapes from Chile or vine-ripened tomatoes from Mexico? Those juicy treats sure traveled a long way from home. From now on, stroll through your local farmer’s market, get to know the vendors and buy their products.

You’ll feel good knowing you’re supporting California growers as well as cutting down on pollution and the cost of oil. Summer fruit never tasted so good.

Are your newspapers piling up while you put off a trip to the recycling center? Put them to use in cost-efficient ways around your home. Use shredded pages as packing material for breakable items – papers are more eco-friendly than Styrofoam peanuts. Instead of mopping a spill with paper towels, use newspaper – it’s more absorbent than you think. It’s also great at ridding the fridge of unpleasant smells; try lining a shelf overnight to absorb odors. You can also place a sheet in the vegetable crisper to keep produce dry.

GO PAPERLESS Cut back on the arduous task of sorting through your bills, then sitting down and paying them with paper checks. If you haven’t signed up for online banking, what are you waiting for? Be sure to take advantage of online bill paying options whenever possible, and order online statements. This way, your payments will never be late and you’ll save on stamps and check printing – and trees and fossil fuel to boot.

SIGN OFF Forget what you learned in the ’90s: There is absolutely no need to keep a computer on 24/7.

While sleep mode helps, you can save energy and wear and tear on your processor by shutting it down altogether when not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends turning the monitor off if you won’t be using it for more than 20 minutes, and shutting the whole system if you’ll be off for more than two hours. That can save you an average of $90 in electricity costs per year. In you own a laptop, unplug the charger, as that zaps energy, too.

56 spaces july/august 2008

CARRY ON By this time, most of us have invested in reusable grocery bags (though, even with the best intentions, they’re often forgotten in the trunk after a weekly shopping trip). But what about that quick dash to the store, when there’s not enough time to go digging through the trunk? A better bet is to carry along a small sack in your purse, or for the guys, a bag that folds up nicely in your pocket. So for an easy way to help save the environment, simply tote your own.

THE ’BUCKS STOPS HERE Indulging in a morning coffee fix is a must for most, but do you really need to stand in line to get yours?

We all own a coffee maker, so there’s no reason to pay top dollar for a gourmet cup on the way to work, or to waste all that time, money and paper.

Brew your own and savor the flavor of your storebought, fair-trade organically grown blend. If you just can’t shake that coffeehouse experience, at least bring your own mug.

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www.granitetransformations.com july/august 2008 spaces 57

hiGh tech home More than just providing shelter, your home should reflect your unique personality and stimulate you with pleasant sights, sounds and sensations. Here are some of the latest products designed to enhance the home and delight your senses.

By Holly Berecz

A sound investment

Captivating copier

For music lovers who desire the purest sound at any expense, the Steinway & Sons Model-D Music System offers the unprecedented pairing of Steinway with audio legend Peter

Finally! The answer to our aesthetically pleasing home

Lyngdorf. Revolutionary technology enables the system to

office prayers … a printer with sex appeal. The sleek, sophisticated Samsung

adapt to the acoustic characteristics of any environment,

SCX-4500 does something few others can do – turn heads. The combination

ensuring unsurpassed performance. It works with most

laser printer-copier-scanner is more than just a pretty printer, it’s fast, quiet

home tuners, DVD players and TVs. And with its sumptuous

and offers great color print and scan quality. A black high-gloss finish adds a

styling and a luminescent finish echoing Steinway’s timeless

little sparkle to an area in dire need of style. Priced at $299.

aesthetic, it looks fabulous. Prices start at $188,000.

www.samsung.com

www.steinwaylyngdorf.com

Making waves

Be Extraordinary.

A bath can ease tensions and melt stress to a mere memory. But the Fountainhead VibrAcoustic™ bathing system from Kohler offers an unprecedented level of relaxation in the

home using waves – sound waves, that is.

The key to the revolutionary new system is a combination of sound vibrations, color therapy and music choreographed to slow your

Land Rover South Bay 900 N. Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach, CA 90277

58 spaces july/august 2008

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breathing and heart rate, guiding you into a profound state of bliss. Prices range from $8,000 to $10,000. www.kohler.com

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Somewhere beneath the children’s art projects, family snapshots and vacation photos is a sleek refrigerator longing for the light of day. Whirlpool Brand Refrigerators and digital photo frame inventor CEIVA have come up with a way to showcase family memories without a single magnet. Refrigerators with the centralpark™ feature, priced at $1,999, are compatible with a wi-fi-ready digital photo frame featuring an 8-inch LCD screen.

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cause for applause Gala honoree David W. Fleming, of Studio City, joins the band in singing the doo-wop classic, The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

Albert L. Greene, president and CEO of Valley Presbyterian Hospital, greets guests at the Broad Contemporary Art Museum.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, second from left, and guest Viviann Henderson, belt out a tune with two members of the oldies band Side Effect, far left and far right.

Fifty years of healing in the Valley Story and photos by Howard Stier

U

nseasonable breezes, the new

William C. Allen, president of the L.A. County Economic Development Corp., with his mother, actress Jane Meadows.

Katherine Hollingsworth, the first baby born at Valley Presbyterian, with her husband, Sierra County Superior Court Judge John P. Kennelly.

Renzo Piano-designed open-air

pavilion and the sweet sounds of

doo-wop provided the perfect backdrop for Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s 50th anniversary gala dinner at LACMA’s Broad Contemporary Art Museum on May 21.

Gala honoree David W. Fleming, chair-

man of the hospital’s board of directors for

whose ties to the hospital are lifelong – literally. Katherine Hollingsworth was the first baby born in Valley Presbyterian, which was founded in 1958. She now lives in Northern California with her husband and works as a pharmaceutical lobbyist.

The gala was part of a yearlong celebra-

tion commemorating the non-profit hospital’s half-century milestone.

more than 20 years, was the target of some affectionate razzing at the bash emceed by actor Jason Alexander. Fleming took hits for championing the failed drive for Valley secession and for being a member of the L.A. County MTA board when the city’s traffic is often cited as the worst in the nation.

Kidding aside, hospital president and

CEO Albert L. Greene paid tribute to Fleming, a civic leader and former chairman of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Left to right: Attorney Tony Canzoneri; Ford Roosevelt, president and CEO of North Hollywood-based education philanthropy Project GRAD; and Billie C. Greer, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Los Angeles office director.

60 spaces july/august 2008

whom he characterized as “a San Fernando Valley icon.”

Among the roughly 450 guests was one

British artist Ann-Marie Buss designed a children’s playroom at the hospital where family members can relax in comfortable surroundings.

El Caballero Country Club Limited Memberships Available

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

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cause for applause

Above, left to right: KCET 2008 Visionary Award recipients Timothy and Bernadette Leiweke, of Brentwood, with emcee Mary Hart and Burt Sugarman.

Left: Special guest Lionel Richie brings audience members to their feet at the new Event Deck at L.A. LIVE.

KCET gala draw superstars and visionaries

G

honoring Timothy J. Leiweke, president and

for their numerous philanthropic activities

CEO of AEG, and his wife, Bernadette. KCET

and the role AEG has played in the revitaliza-

uests were wined, dined and treat-

Jamia Simone Nash and Greg Phillinganes,

ed to star-powered vocals at KCET’s

who performed along with a choir, and KCET

Visionary Award Gala on May 27

President Al Jerome, who lauded the couple

Board Chairman Scott Edelman announced

tion of downtown with the creation of the

that the gala – the first-ever to be held on

STAPLES Center and now L.A. LIVE.

the new private Event Deck at L.A. LIVE in

downtown Los Angeles – broke two records:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Police Chief Bill

Attendance – which topped 1,000 – was the

Bratton, Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and

highest in the event’s nine-year history, and

City Controller Laura Chick, country singer

By Patt Diroll

Among those in the crowd were L.A.

$1.7 million was raised for KCET, the West

Trisha Yearwood, who is married to Garth

Coast flagship station of PBS.

Brooks, former NHL pro Luc Robitaille, Jean-

Staged in a huge tent decorated in black

ie Buss, Jane and Terry Semel, the Rev. Jesse

and white with crystal chandeliers, the fes-

Jackson, Carol Leif and KCET personalities

tivities featured surprise appearances by two

Val Zavala and Elmo.

Elmo, center, gets between KCET President and CEO Al Jerome and his wife, Michele.

Los Angeles Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman with wife Cathy.

Grammy winners – country music star Garth Brooks, who presented the award to the Leiwekes, and Lionel Richie. Wolfgang Puck created the lavish bill o’fare, complemented by premium wines from the Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery.

The gala, emceed by Mary Hart, was chaired

by Maritza and Frank Newman and the Wachovia Corp., and co-chaired by Nancy and Philip Anschutz, Edythe and Eli Broad, Richard W. Cook, Simon Fuller, Gayle and Ed Roski, and Laura and Casey Wasserman.

Taking turns at the podium to pay tribute

to the Leiwekes were L.A. County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman, 11-year-old songstress

62 spaces july/august 2008

Gala chairs Frank and Maritza Newman, of Bel Air.

Reon Roski enjoys the evening with her dad, gala co-chair Ed Roski.

Gala co-chairs Laura and Casey Wasserman.

G arden

spaces

A lush floral canvas

By Meredith Grenier Photos by Paul Jonason

M

arylyn Ginsburg’s seven-tiered

garden on a South Bay hillside is

a nod to “Monet’s garden,” South-

ern California style, with its koi pond, 100plus rose bushes and dozens of pink and purple iris.

In spring, the blooming slope is a virtual

Eden with fruit trees in blossom, flowering shrubs, vines, vegetables and countless perennials she has planted over the past 35 years. The botanical landscape is backed by a sweeping vista of the Pacific, Los Angeles and Malibu.

Like Claude Monet, Ginsburg also is an

artist. In her indoor studio she paints flowers on an antique easel, but on her outdoor twothirds-acre canvas she creates a horticultural masterpiece with a trained eye toward color, form and scale.

In arranging her palettes, she uses no

more than three colors in one planted vignette. Among her favorite are pinks, deep burgundies, delicate yellows and pale greens.

Most recently she installed a garden “room” in various shades of yellow.

This path leads to a bounty of beautiful and fragrant botanical delights. Roses, iris, clematis and countless perennials share the stage with blossoming trees, flowering shrubs, vines and sun-warmed fruit and vegetables.

64 spaces july/august 2008

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G arden

spaces

She tamed the entire hillside her-

pily wind up trellises, and several papaya

self, reclaiming it from a mass of weeds

and mango trees are producing tropical fruit.

and ivy, families of rattlesnakes and go-

Vegetables grow at the bottom of the hill-

phers. Today as visitors descend down

side in full sun. Ginsburg snaps off a young

one of two staircases to reach horizon-

asparagus stalk as she wanders by and sam-

tal serpentine pathways, they can admire

ples sweet green peas, sun-warmed in their

plants up close, growing in waist-high

pods. Heirloom tomatoes twine up a pair of

raised beds, which allow her to garden with-

obelisks, and zucchini and yellow squash are

out bending over.

in flower along with Kentucky Wonder pole

Around every bend is something to be

beans. Adjacent to the vegetables is a min-

discovered. A recycling running water ele-

iature grape vineyard with red seedless and

ment splashes down the hillside into a spar-

Concord varieties, along with well-mani-

kling clean koi pond filled with water lilies

cured thickets of blackberries, raspberries

and iris. Beyond another turn is a white ga-

and three varieties of blueberries.

zebo, complete with an electrified chande-

lier over table and chairs — a favorite spot for

paradise is a popular venue for major fund-

a glass of wine with friends.

raising events from the local Rotary Club to

the Norris Theater for the Performing Arts.

Among the mix are plants considered

Ginsburg’s Rancho Palos Verdes garden

difficult to grow in Southern California. A

“The best part of having a garden is shar-

dozen pink, white and purple clematis hap-

ing it with others,” she says.

This blooming South Bay garden paradise – a vivid painting come to life – is a perfect spot for both tranquil solitude and some of Southern California’s major fund-raising events.

66

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southern california

Southern California Spaces is available at the following locations: In the San Fernando & Conejo Valleys…

In the South Bay…

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Tarzana Hye Lighting

El Segundo Sleep All

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29348 Roadside Drive #A

Asian Persuasion Century 21 5683 Kanan Rd.

Estate Diamond Exchange 5017 Kanan Road

Leader Flooring 28350 Roadside Dr

Maria Bella Salon 5015 Cornell Rd., #D

Pool ‘N’ Spa Emporium 5011 Kanan Rd.

Zandi Rugs & Design 28710 Canwood St, Unit 100

Velvet Hands Nail Salon & Day Spa 17143 Ventura Blvd.

Granada Hills M & M Interiors

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17722 Chatsworth St.

Sit and Sleep

Northridge Beautiful Options Salon

The Cherryl Alan Design Group

9155 Reseda Blvd.

Robertson’s Inc. 18217 Parthenia St.

Sherman Oaks Arch Stone 13736 Ventura Blvd.

Architexture

12232- 1/2 Ventura Blvd.

Arte Fina

19119 Ventura Blvd.

18734 Ventura Blvd.

West Valley Nursery 19035 Ventura Blvd

Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks Fans & Lighting

1125 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

West Hills Ideal Interior Design

Calabasas Magnolia

13830 Ventura Blvd.

8201 Capistrano Ave.

Body Lounge

Sperling Nursery

Carol Todd At Home

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23677 Calabasas Rd.

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Canoga Park California Furniture Galleries

13544 Ventura Blvd.

7939 Canoga Ave

Westside Tile & Stone 7631 Canoga Ave,

Chatsworth Omaggio Glass

9400 Lurline Ave, Unit C

Plush Salon

10228 Mason Ave.

Rick Myers Flooring & Design

10316 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Encino Home Design Center

Flooring America Furniture Etc.

18525 Ventura Blvd.

Illumination Lighting and Design 13606 Ventura Blvd.

Lene’s Place

13622 Ventura Blvd.

Light Bulbs Unlimited 14446 Ventura Blvd.

Mark’s Garden Sofa Interiors Collection 12344 Ventura Blvd.

Sperling Carpet 13960 Ventura Blvd.

The Nail Shop

31133 Via Colinas Ste 106

Glabman Home

982 S. Westlake Blvd. #10

Meadow Gardens

31149 Via Colinas, Ste 604

Pacific Rim Home 31139 Via Colinas, #203

Woodland Hills De Light Ville 22766 Ventura Blvd.

Ferguson Kitchen & Bath 6416 Variel Ave

Floor Design Center 22736 Ventura Blvd.

Glamour Nails

23170 Ventura Blvd.

Renaissance

22531 Ventura Blvd.

17461 Ventura Blvd.

15030 #3 Ventura Blvd.

Shelley’s Stereo

Land Rover Encino

Studio City AQ Nail Spa

The Headline Salon

15800 Ventura Blvd

Status: The Salon 17200 Ventura Blvd.

The Futon Shop 17047 Ventura Blvd.

Unique Home Design 17953 Ventura Blvd.

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11239 Ventura Blvd.

Mother of Pearl & Sons Trading Company 12328 Ventura Blvd.

The Crystal Palace 14900 Ventura Blvd.

6201 Topanga Canyon Blvd 22705 Ventura Blvd.

Wall Units Inc.

22223 Ventura Blvd.

Paso Robles Opolo Vineyards 7110 Vineyard Dr.

Tu Casa Furniture

Ferguson

Wall Units Home Furnishings

Greg’s Carpet One

Woof & Warp Fabrics

Hardwood Floor Specialties

1855 Pacific Ave.

2198 Lakewood Blvd.

2600 Marine Ave. 213 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

1625 W. 190th St.

6507 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Hermosa Beach Bali House

Los Angeles Closet Factory

600 Pacific Coast Hwy.

12800 South Broadway

Stars Antique Market

Kitchen Warehouse

1305 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Wall Units, Inc.

1215 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Manhattan Beach Maison Luxe

1002 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

1419 Highland Ave.

1204 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Supreme Paint Decorating Centers

Vintage Home

350 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.

526 Pier Ave,

Lakewood Nails & Spa 2664 Carson St.

Lomita Andersen’s Decorating Center

2055 Palos Verdes Dr. North

South Bay Design Center

2413 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Long Beach 2 BD Living

6511-A Pacific Coast Hwy.

59001 Gifts, Home Furnishings 5001 E. Second St.

Audio Concepts

2149 West Washington Blvd.

8855 Venice Blvd.

708 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Marina Del Rey Petals N Wax Home 13455 Maxella Ave.

Spa & Skin Care Center

1919 N. Lakewood Blvd.

Coast Cadillac 3399 E. Willow St.

Edgewater Spas 4000 Cherry Ave.

Friedmans Appliance Center 1827 E. Spring St.

Image

6214 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Nona’s Gallery & Framing 4812 E. 2nd St.

Pacific Coast StyleThe Salon

6232 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Le Garage Home & Garden

717 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

ML Marble, INC

Salon Constance

Supreme Paint Decorating Centers V & J Stairs Corp.

Rolling Hills Estates Gilt Edge

45 Peninsula Center

13455 Maxella Ave.

Santa Monica American Beauty

Palos Verdes The Travel Door

Bay Cities Kitchen & Appliances

707 Montana Ave.

31 Peninsula Center

1302 Santa Monica Blvd.

Redondo Beach 2 For 1 Frame Store

2520 Santa Monica Blvd.

6236 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Circle Audi

1022 S. Pacific Coast Hwy

112 N. Catalina Ave.

Bay Cities Nails & Spa 403 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Clark Adams Windows and Doors 2411 Artesia Blvd.

Cop o Tan VII

413 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Door & Deck Store

1304 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Equus Gallery

1702 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Essence of Living

1032 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Berk’s Luxury Outdoor Furniture

Designs Within Reach 332 Santa Monica Blvd.

Effandi- Decorative Antique Rugs 1210-B Montana Ave.

Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery 2202 Broadway

Ital Design Inc. 2102 Wlshire Blvd.

Magnolia Audio 2800 Wilshire Blvd.

Paykel Fireplace Fixtures 1820 Broadway

FINALLY, A GUY

WHO’S NOT Rosemarie McCaffrey-Antiques 1203 Montana Ave.

American International Tile & Stone

Santa Monica Bay Physicians

112 N. Catalina

Bellagio Nails & Spa

Stone Art-Picture Framing Gallery

Clark Adams Windows and Doors

Z Gallerie

DoubleTree Hotel

Ziv Simone & Associates

Ed Carson Beall Architecture

804 Seventh Street 419 Wilshire Blvd.

1426 3rd St.

729 Montana Ave.

Seal Beach Art Images Gallery

23841 Hawthorne Blvd.

2133 Hawthorne Blvd.

24536 Hawthorne Blvd.

Fancy Floors Fred’s Carpet Plus

130.5 Main St.

2153 W. Torrance Blvd.

Christine’s Beauty Salon & Spa

Galaxy Tile & Marble

Ocean Stained Glass 322 Main St. #8

Old Town Gallery

310-530-8911 www.thecoolguys.us

Eliopulos Jewelers 1101-A 190th Ave.

12501 Seal Beach Blvd.

ED SANDOVAL HEATING

23727 Hawthorne Blvd.

Art On Glass

First Team Real Estate

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AFRAID OF COMMITMENT. Over 20 Years Experience In The South Bay and Harbor Areas

700 W. 190th Ave.

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Plummer’s Furniture Collection

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Keeping our homes up to date is

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708 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

The Picture Show Gallery

3762 Pacific Coast Hwy.

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770 Pacific Coast Hwy. 231 Main St.

Signal Hill Granite Transformations 2940 Gardena Ave.

Mercedes-Benz/ Shelly Automotive 2300 E. Spring St.

Torrance All Travel

21127 Torrance Blvd.

Amore Stone & Tile

Supreme Paint

21759 S. Western Ave.

Tru-Source Cabinets 23868 Hawthorne Blvd

Venice Patio Culture

1612 Abbot Kinney

Wilmington Coast Welding 234 Broad Ave.

5/16/08 2:54:07 PM

clothes. In our next issue, we show

accessories and strategically placed furniture. Plus, paint colors that suit your home’s personality. We’ve also pried the favorite recipes out of the only female chef in the South Bay to make the famous Zagat guide.

Available August 28

24242 Hawthorne Blvd.

818.713.3294 spacesmag.com Our homes. Ourselves. july/august 2008 spaces 69

historical spaces

A future treasure for the Huntington collection

U

Southern California that haven’t been

subdivided by developers. Among historic private homes that have escaped the bulldozers are E. Manchester Boddy’s Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, Arabella and Henry Huntington’s property in San Marino, Virginia Robinson’s estate in Beverly Hills, Gen. Phineas Banning’s residence in Wilmington, and Elias

By Patt Diroll

J. “Lucky” Baldwin’s ranch in Arcadia, now the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. And on a quiet street in San Marino, there is a magnificent 10-acre walled estate that will someday belong to the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.

The current owners purchased the prop-

erty from the estate of the late Ruth Chandler von Platen, granddaughter of Gen. Harrison Grey Otis, founder of the Los Angeles Times, who lived there from the mid-’40s until her death in 1987. Since acquiring it in 1989, the couple, who wish to remain anonymous, have devoted themselves to preserving the mansion, gardens and pools just as they were designed by the eminent Pasadena architect Myron Hunt in 1929. Hunt also planned all the hardscape and gardens with some help from Florence Yoch, who designed Tara for the 1939 film classic Gone with the Wind.

Like the Huntington gardens, this site has

picturesque vignettes at every turn. There is a lovely 90-by-9-foot reflecting pool bordered by oak trees and flowerbeds. Another path leads to a charming parterre garden planted with 360 roses and an ancient stone well surrounded by 80-year-old Myrtus hedges.

“We have tried to avoid any changes to the

original garden,” the owner says, “although we increased the pool depth to ‘critter-proof’ it with water lily boxes that are elevated off the bottom to serve as escape hatches for the goldfish when hungry raccoons come to call.

Needless to say, this project is an ongoing labor of love.”

PHOTOS: PAUL JONASON

The branches of the centuryold oak trees cast mesmerizing shadows on the reflecting pool in the late afternoon.

Tilling tomorrow’s garden

nlike those on the Eastern Seaboard,

there aren’t many large estates in

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