New Year, New Beginnings for the Westside
Welcome to the Winter 2026 Issue of Westside Living — and to the second year of our renewed quarterly series across the Mirror Media Group network.
For longtime readers, Westside Living may feel like a familiar return. Before the pandemic, we regularly published special home and lifestyle editions that highlighted the best of Westside living — from design and architecture to the local professionals and businesses that make our neighborhoods thrive.
Like so much else, that tradition was paused during uncertain years. But the Westside is entering a new chapter. In the wake of the Palisades fire, it became clear that our communities would need trusted information, reliable resources, and strong local connection more than ever. Families are rebuilding. Neighborhoods are recovering. And the need for home services, local expertise, and community-
focused updates has never been greater. That’s why we made the decision to bring Westside Living back as a quarterly series — reaching readers through both print and digital platforms across the MMG network. This issue, and every edition moving forward, is about more than beautiful homes. It’s about resilience. It’s about renewal. It’s about the businesses reopening their doors, the projects restoring what was lost, and the people shaping what comes next.
Through our continuing coverage — including our Palisades News section and community reporting across all Mirror Media Group publications — we remain committed to keeping readers informed with timely updates on:
• Fire recovery and rebuilding efforts
• Development and neighborhood progress
• Local businesses opening and returning
• Westside services, resources, and community news
We encourage you to visit Mirror Media Group often for ongoing coverage and updates as the Westside continues forward. Thank you for welcoming Westside Living back into your homes.
Here’s to a new year — and new beginnings.
— Mirror Media Group Publishers of Westside Living and community news across Los Angeles’ Westside
Goldbrecht Luxury Windows: Award-Winning Design for Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild
Goldbrecht, the Los Angeles-based window and door manufacturer of the Vitrocsa Invisible Wall, is offering an exclusive Pacific Palisades rebuilding incentive program for homeowners replacing structures after the January 2025 fires.
Swiss-designed and US-made, the Vitrocsa Invisible Wall system offers the world’s slimmest frames (only ¾”). Due to a unique structural glazing technique, a
modern “frameless glass” look is achieved on all Vitrocsa systems, including sliding, fixed, pivoting, outswing, vertically sliding, and turnable corner units.
The Goldbrecht Outswing Casement Window recently won Architectural Record’s 2025 Product of the Year, a prestigious recognition for unparalleled quality and engineering. And the system has been featured in renowned publications, including Architectural Digest, ELLE Decor, and Los Angeles Magazine.
Vitrocsa is manufactured locally, so clients also benefit from no import tariffs.
High standards are needed for beauty and resilience in luxury windows and doors for coastal Los Angeles homes, and all products are available on incentive for a limited time to fire-affected properties.
Rebuilding Pacific Palisades with Magnificence
The fire rebuild-program supports homeowners replacing damaged structures with custom systems combining minimalist aesthetics and maximum durability.
Key offerings for Pacific Palisades designs include:
● Vitrocsa Invisible Wall: Offering the
world’s slimmest sightlines and marinegrade durability, ideal for coastal views. Patented components ensure effortless sliding and enhanced smoothness
● Viral Retracting Walls: Gaining fame on social media, HIRT kinetics’ attractive retracting and ascending Walls are notable for their ability to ‘disappear’ into a floor or ceiling.
● Premium Alternatives: Classic
German-engineered aluminum, wood, and steel windows and doors are also available. Goldbrecht is dedicated to contributing to exceptional design experiences, and creating Pacific Palisades homes that are stronger and more magnificent than before. Visit www.goldbrecht.com or contact info@goldbrecht.com or +1 310-981-5115 to learn more about the exclusive program.
Khatri International Inc. has been working with property owners for 42 years experience providing Structural Engineering, Civil Design, Drainage/Water Damage, CM-PM, and Architectural Design/Repair/Renovation.
RESIDENTIAL Construction using TYPE 1 BLDG MASONRY + PRECAST CONCRETE REDUCE your FIRE RISK for the future
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Kq_j-V3Re8c
3579 E Foothill Blvd #736 Pasadena CA 91107; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/khatri-international/Principal/Owner: Dilip Khatri, PhD, SE: 626-351-4830; dkhatri2006@gmail.com
Ocean Seven Builders: A Family Legacy
Built on Trust, Craftsmanship
That sense of purpose still defines Ocean Seven Builders today: a company built on responsibility, respect and attention to detail.
CHOOSING
A NAME
Growing up, he learned the trade working alongside his father who taught him everything — renovation, remodels and roofing — which led him to continue on this path as an adult.
In 1994, Ocean Seven Builders, a familyowned construction company serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Clarita and Ventura County, was born. The company specializes in residential and commercial remodeling, including bathroom and kitchen remodels, custom cabinetry, room additions, ADU garage conversion and roofing.
As time would have it, Ron’s father passed away.
From that moment on, Ocean Seven Builders wasn’t just a business anymore. It was a continuation of his father’s legacy, but also a chance for Ron to create his own legacy.
“When my dad passed, it changed how I looked at the business,” Ron says. “It became more personal. It’s not just something I do — it’s something I live.”
The name “Ocean Seven” reflects Ron’s personal philosophy as much as it does the company’s identity. The ocean has always held a spiritual meaning for Ron, symbolizing movement, depth and calm. Seven is a longtime favorite number.
“It’s not random. It’s something I felt,” Ron says.
Ron believes construction is not purely mechanical. Each project requires trust, communication and an understanding of the people behind the plans. Making clients feel comfortable and confident is a priority, he says.
“We bring feeling into the business. Customer service, effort and care matter just as much as the technical work,” Ron says. “When clients are comfortable, everything is more seamless.”
FULL SERVICE APPROACH
Ocean Seven Builders is a B-licensed general contractor and a C-39 roofing contractor, allowing the company to offer a wide range of residential services.
Remodels, new construction, room additions, accessory dwelling units and custom homes are some of the ways the company has been transforming homes and
businesses for the last three decades.
“From initial consultation to project completion, every decision and step in the process is managed with honesty, expertise and our unwavering commitment to quality,” Ron says.
Ocean Seven Builders employs about 10 in-house staff members and works with a network of subcontractors, many who have partnered with the company for years. Every staff member and subcontractor brings a desirable level of experience, consistency and accountability to each project.
From carefully reviewing site plans to managing crews and timelines, Ron says that technical skill must be paired with professionalism. Choosing the right people — both employees and subcontractors — is essential to the company’s commitment to quality and trust.
“Choosing the right people for certain jobs is critical. There’s a lot of responsibility in this work,” Ron says. “When people feel comfortable with their contractor, the entire process changes for the better.”
BUILDING LONG-TERM CLIENTS
Ocean Seven Builders has become a trusted name in Los Angeles for its
commitment to excellence, professionalism and superior custom service.
With decades of experience and a solid reputation, Ocean Seven Builders navigates regulations and construction challenges with certainty. Over the last three decades, Ocean Seven Builders has built a roster of longterm and repeat clients and has been featured in Southern California publications.
Ron credits his company’s reputation and achievements to the team’s effective communication, attention to detail and dedication to craftsmanship.
“Every detail matters. I’m very proud of my team,” Ron says. “Our company is rooted in integrity and care — something I learned from my father”.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
For homeowners looking to expand, customize, remodel or add, Ocean Seven Builders is a trusted name and company that is committed to excellence and craftsmanship.
“We stand behind our work,” Ron says.
To learn more about Ocean Seven Builders, or to schedule a consultation for construction or roofing needs, visit OceanSevenBuilders.com.
Where Santa Monica Plant Lovers Go for TLC: Urban Jungle
Tucked in the quiet yet vibrant spaces of your home may be plants quietly yearning for attention.
Access to yards and green space is often limited in Los Angeles. The plants that help you create a lush, calming environment in your apartment, condo or balcony, need to feel appreciated.
What better way to show them some TLC than to take them to Urban Jungle Plants and Pottery, a place where plant lovers gather to share stories, tips and their love for all things green.
Let’s give back to the plants that give so much to us.
Think of it as a reset. For you and your plants.
COMMUNICATION
Plants are nonverbal communicators that require observation.
Are their leaves yellowing? Roots peaking out at the bottom? Dust on the foliage? Have they outgrown their pot? Do they need a little TLC?
Urban Jungle specializes in this care: properly dressing and recommending the most accurate water dosage, light and placement for your plants.
More importantly, it’s a nursery that brings life back into your plants.
The belief that a well-fitted pot, in addition to observation, proper water, light and placement, is core to indoor and outdoor TLC for your plants.
LOVE LANGUAGE
The foundation of your plants — the pottery that holds the root system in place and enables it to thrive — matters.
Because not all pots are created equal, the right one can make all the difference between a plant that survives and one that truly thrives.
Urban Jungle carries a thoughtfully curated mix of pottery. Various sizes, colors and styles, designed specifically for urban dwellers. Its selection includes pottery from local artist Ken Morris, a member of Echo Art Studio.
“We are honored to be a part of (Urban Jungle) … many retailers sell mass produced pots, but Urban Jungle also sells a range of handmade high fire pots with unique glazes and added hand applied features,” Morris said.
Helping plant lovers re-pot is the nursery’s love language.
The team will help you choose the perfect pot, make sure it has proper drainage, and do the hard work for you — fresh soil, room to grow and a clean transition.
Load up your plants, grab a coffee or tea, and spend a little time giving them what they’ve been giving you — quiet joy, better
air and a sense of home.
SLOWING DOWN
While perusing Urban Jungle’s characterand quality-rich selection of hand thrown and small-batch pottery, you may find yourself slowing down and reeling into the experience.
For urban dwellers, pots make plant life possible and better. Pairing your plant with an intentionally chosen piece of pottery is a steadfast ritual that plant lovers know well. The experience engages the senses on multiple levels.
First, it’s the natural, outdoor aroma of Urban Jungle that makes you feel present. Looking around, there may be one, or a few different pots that draw you in for a closer view. Does the color shift in the light? Are the shapes balanced or dramatic?
Then, you can’t just look — you have to feel.
Touching the pot allows you to examine its quality, and understand its origins from the texture, weight and shape. You may recognize subtle ridges left by the potters’ hands and allow yourself to imagine how it
would look at home.
Locally sculpted pottery — made with care and connection — makes the shopping experience that much more personal and grounding as you imagine growth, balance and beauty. For you and your plants.
The right pot feels right.
Visit Urban Jungle at 3113 Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica. Follow the nursery on Instagram @urbanjungleplantsandpottery.
To see more pottery and sculpture work by local artist Ken Morris, follow @dodgypots on Instagram.
to Urban Jungle
Immerse yourself in a sanctuary where nature’s tranquility meets the vibrancy of city life. Urban Jungle is more than a plant store it’s a communitycentered oasis bringing a lush slice of paradise to your urban lifestyle. Here, we passionately believe in the power of plants to transform spaces and elevate well-being.
Alpine Floor and Home: A Family Flooring Legacy Serving the Westside Since 1968
Founded in 1968, Alpine Floor and Home has proudly served the Westside of Los Angeles for more than 58 years, earning a reputation as one of the area’s most trusted and established flooring companies. Built on quality craftsmanship, honest guidance, and longstanding customer relationships, Alpine Floor and Home continues to thrive
Johannes van Ierland, the owner of Alpine Floor and Home, has played a central role in guiding the company through decades of growth and change. His leadership, experience, and commitment to high standards have helped shape Alpine into the respected Westside institution it is today. While Johannes now works primarily in the back office, his presence and oversight ensure that the company’s core values remain firmly in place.
Today, Alpine Floor and Home is led by a true father-and-son team. Jani van Ierland, Johannes’ son, runs all sales operations and serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In this role, Jani oversees dayto-day sales, customer relationships, and marketing strategy. By combining modern design knowledge and forward-thinking sales practices with the traditions of a familyrun business, Jani continues to build on the company’s strong foundation.
For over five decades, Alpine Floor and Home has served homeowners, designers, builders, and commercial clients throughout the Westside of Los Angeles. The company is known for offering the largest inventory of carpet, wood, laminate, and luxury vinyl
tile, providing customers with unmatched selection in styles, colors, and price ranges. In addition to traditional flooring, Alpine Floor and Home also specializes in concrete refinishing, offering durable and contemporary solutions for residential and commercial spaces.
A point of pride that truly sets Alpine Floor and Home apart is its installation team. All installers are full-time employees on payroll—never subcontractors. Many members of Alpine’s installation crews have been with the company for more than 20 years, bringing unmatched experience, consistency, and accountability to every job. This long-tenured team ensures high-quality workmanship, reliable scheduling, and peace
of mind for customers from start to finish.
At its heart, Alpine Floor and Home remains a family-owned and operated business. Many customers are long-time and multi-generation clients, a testament to the trust and relationships built since 1968. Personalized service, attention to detail, and integrity continue to define every project, large or small.
As Alpine Floor and Home looks toward the future, its mission remains unchanged: to provide exceptional products, expert guidance, and dependable service to the Westside community. Or, as the company’s long-standing slogan proudly says, “Let us floor you.”
