Spaces v.2

Page 1

DESIGN DNA

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

Dive in

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


Jules Seltzer Associates presents

THE LIFEWORK PORTFOLIO ™

by

HERMAN

MILLER

®


FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ONLINE PRE-ORDERS BEFORE 8-29-08

We invite you to stop by our showroom during the Avenues of Art & Design Walk, May 31st, 4:00pm - 8:00pm 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

s

info@julesseltzer.com

s

www.julesseltzer.com




contents

southern california May/June 2008 spacesmag.com

cover story

37 The Living and Swimming are Easy

A look at the way real Southern Californians have redone their back yards to create their own bit of heaven.

34 Traditional Kitchens

South Bay designer Phil Norman shares his favorite tips for one of the most important rooms in the house.

D E PA R T M E N T S

12 So Cal So Cool

The best indoor and outdoor furniture made here.

20 My Favorite Room

Guest designers show which products they use to create their best work.

28 Something’s in the Kitchen

Redondo Beach’s Chez Mélange chef Robert Bell uses fresh bread soaked in milk to create his favorite home dish: Meatballs.

54 Unusual Rooms

These homeowners take a regular room and turn it into surprisingly special space.

58 Home Ec 101

Save money and the environment.

60 High Tech Home

Got a brown thumb? Make sure your plants keep green with this new digital sensor.

62 Cause for Applause

Check out the locals who work to help others.

Strategically placed outdoor furniture enhances the architectural angles of our cover pool, owned by artists Jason Sinay and Christine Hartunian (who stands proudly on our cover photo). PAGE 38

spaces may/june 2008

68 Historical Spaces

Los Encinos Historic Park.


Š 2007 Cartier

Polished stainless steel 42 mm case. Self-winding mechanical movement, Cartier calibre 049 (21 jewels, 28'800 vibrations per hour), date aperture. 18K yellow gold fluted crown. Silvered opaline guillochĂŠ dial. Rounded scratchproof sapphire crystal. Steel and 18K yellow gold bracelet.

may/june 2008 spaces


Green Design 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.


Organized Design

ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS

|

LIBRARIES WITH LADDERS

WALL UNITS, INC. Jestin Family Owned & Operated Since 1965

www.wallunitsinc.com

Orange 714-633-5380 564 N. Tustin Avenue, Orange, CA 92867

|

WALL BEDS

Westside 310-204-0344 8855 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90034

|

HOME OFFICE

Woodland Hills 818-347-2720 22223 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364


editor’s letter

True California styling: Lush, joyful and fun summer living Perhaps it’s the rush of diving head first into a cool pool... And the way the water beckons with exquisite hues of blue. Under the stars, under the sun, the feeling on our skin is always a little different, yet always exciting. Longing is over; summer has begun. Please feel free to share your thoughts and contact us at spaceseditor@langnews.com

contributors

P

aul Jonason is a freelance photog-

rapher specializing in commercial pho-

M

errill Shindler is editor of the Za-

gat Los Angeles Restaurant Survey and host

A

feature writer for the Daily Breeze

for more than two decades, Meredith Gren-

tography. Concentrating on people, places

of CBS Radio’s weekly Feed Your Face pro-

ier’s journalistic accomplishments include

and all things architectural, his work in-

gram. He’s also the author of American Dish

first place in both the Copley Ring of Truth

cludes large projects for the House of Blues

and the El Cholo Cookbook. He’s from The

awards and the American Diabetes Associa-

nationwide, Hugo Boss and the Redondo

Bronx, where he was raised on deli, pizza

tion media awards. She has been named South

Beach Performing Arts Center.

and Chinese food on Sunday nights. He

Bay Woman of the Year twice and recently

firmly believes that ketchup is nature’s most

received the 2008 Peninsula Lion’s Club

perfect food.

Community Recognition Award. She and her husband live in Rancho Palos Verdes.

10 spaces may/june 2008


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 1 • Issue 2

spacesmag.com

publisher

Steven Gellman editor

Linda Massarella

art director Lee Ann Nelson

photo editor Paul Jonason

senior editor Jackie Rothenberg

contributing editors

Patt Diroll Meredith Grenier Allan Goldstein Pamela Bunn

contributing writers Phil Norman Merrill Shindler Patty Threlkel contributing photographer James Carbone

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.

may/june 2008 spaces 11


SoCal

The tectonic movement in Southern California is due not to an earthquake, but to the rapidly shifting line between interior and exterior furniture. Put simply, the line of separation has blurred – if not vanished – as design studios push the envelope by creating a striking array of geometrically designed pieces that look great inside or outside the home. — Allan Goldstein

so cool

Dedon www.janusetcie.com Obelisk The geometric design statement made by this oblong stack of four lounge chairs and side table is shattering exterior furniture design preconceptions. Perfect inside or out, the pieces have frames made of powder-coated aluminum woven in polyethylene. An added bonus is that when you stack them, you get to create your own towering obelisk.

Design dna

Who perfected the belly flop? Probably the Romans, who built the first pools in order to provide swimming classes as part of a young boy’s education. Gaius Maecenas, patron of the arts to both Virgil and Horace, took the chill out when he introduced the heated swimming pool to Rome in the first century B.C. And while it was the Romans who gave us pools, we can thank the British for moving them indoors.

12 spaces may/june 2008


Kreiss Mercury Ball Chair Ever wondered what it would be like to float on a cloud? Well, when you lean back into the spherically shaped frame of the Kreiss Mercury Ball Chair, it’s as if pure geometry has taken flight. Thin steel wire, wrapped in dark brown synthetic rattan, is hand-shaped to form a floating cocoon that’s impervious to the elements.

Yin Yang Ancient Chinese philoso-

Kreiss www.kreiss.com

phy is reflected in the harmonious play of these two lounge chairs. Their alternating convex and concave surfaces create a wonderfully balanced visual representation of the ancient symbols for yin and yang. Lie back and meditate to the sounds of nature as you drift off into a summertime reverie.

Agassi Graf Cabana Chair Some believe the best way to enjoy a roomy space is to cuddle up with someone special; others like to lounge alone, sprawled out in every direction. Whatever your preference, the AGK Cabana Chair, in hand-woven synthetic rattan skin, is ready to embrace you. Adjust the weather-resistant overhead canopy, arrange your pillows, lean back and get ready to feel as cozy as a pea in a pod.

Today’s umbrellas pop open with the push of a button. But much earlier versions of these contraptions were used in ancient Egypt, Assyria, Greece, China and India. The word derives from the Latin “umbra,” meaning shade or shadow, and umbrellas were initially used as protection from the sun. Credit for waterproofing goes to the Chinese, who kept dry on rainy days by waxing their paper parasols.

Remember not to turn off this light when you leave the room. The Centennial Light, a 4-watt carbon filament bulb, has only been switched off a few times since 1901. The Guinness World record holder for longest-burning bulb shines on in California’s Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department. The average bulb burns between 750-1,000 hours.

may/june 2008 spaces 13


SoCal so cool Wave Chaise Catch this Wave Chaise, then relax by the pool, sip a cool drink and read your favorite magazine. Try one of the wood veneer finishes indoors or the gel-coat finish outdoors, in a variety of pop art colors. Either way, the svelte, seductive lines of this minimalist chaise made of fiberglass-reinforced resin are a testament to form and function working in harmony.

Wave Lounger

Float www.summitfurniture.com

From time to time, Spaces gets a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the design world that’s sure to create a stir. Here’s a case in point, with a hot-off-the-presses artist’s rendition

Moon Floor Lamp

of the Wave Lounger. Like its cousin the

Switch on the Moon Floor

Wave Chaise, it’s at home inside and out. Set

Lamp and bask in the warm

to debut later this year, it’s going to make a

glow. The translucent fi-

big splash when it’s unveiled. Remember,

berglass/resin floor lamp is

you saw it here first.

about knee high and looks like a large, glimmering dinosaur egg. Put a few of them together to form a nest of glowing prehistoric orbs, or scatter them around your patio and brighten the night with an inviting luminosity

Design dna Thomas Edison invented the

could eat pasta? A book devoted to the

perfected it. Though one of the nation’s

history of the fork notes that a cookbook

most prolific inventors, he wasn’t the first

in medieval Naples promoted the use of

to shed light on history. Others paved the

a “punteruolo,” a single-pronged wooden

way, including Sir Joseph Swan, who lit up

utensil, to eat pasta, even though its use

about a year before Edison. The two later

was considered an affectation. Back then,

teamed up to form the Edison & Swan

real men used a knife or their fingers. A

Electric Light Co. Edison’s bulb, patented

fork is also cited in the Bible, long before

in 1880, used a carbonized bamboo

lasagna came out of the oven.

filament and lasted 1,200 hours.

14 spaces may/june 2008

Was the fork created so we

electric light bulb, right? No, but he


I wanted passion. I found it at Ferguson. (# # # !# # " & # " # $ #

No matter what look you are dreaming of, the consultants at Ferguson can bring it to reality. With their passion for customer service and a huge inventory of the world’s finest bath and kitchen products, high style becomes...highly personalized. Only at Ferguson Bath and Kitchen Galleries.

Delivering Your Dream

SM

NEW 25,000 SQ. FT. SHOWROOM NOW OPEN IN WOODLAND HILLS! !% " !

$" & ' "$ #

% "# %

! %

" ! ! "$ # #

PLUMBING

APPLIANCES

" #

! & '

& "# '&

! " %

& "

% ! %

# #

PASSIONATE PEOPLE

WWW.FERGUSON.COM Š 2008 Ferguson

LIGHTING

FIREPLACES


SoCal so cool

JANUS et Cie www.janusetcie.com Lolah Sculptural outdoor furniture seems not to know its place. It’s now officially moved from the patio right into the living room. The Lolah Collection presents furniture that is as organic and flowing in shape as it is cool. Natural fiber, or synthetic fiber that’s resistant to the elements, is handwoven over a powder-coated steel frame, resulting in truly livable art that radiates elegance and sophistication.

Design dna Don’t spill anything on that carpet!

Even cavemen

It’s probably about 2,500 years old. The

wanted to be rock artists.

Pazyryk carpet, considered the world’s oldest

The oldest cave paintings

rug, was discovered in 1949 in an ancient

in existence are more than

Siberian burial ground, preserved in nearperfect condition under a sheet of ice. The

30,000 years old. Discovered in 1994 in the Ardèche region

exquisite knotted pile rug, probably woven

of southern France, the Grotte

in the fifth century B.C., is on display at the

Chauvet contains hundreds of

State Hermitage Museum in Russia.

engravings and paintings dating back to the Paleolithic era. Painted in red ochre and black pigments, the artwork portrays animals including horses, rhinos, lions, mammoths and bison.

16 spaces may/june 2008


!! "

% &' ())

*+, % -!+ ./+ +!,+ 0 !+ 0 12/, !+ 0 32 4!-+ %!- 2 !/,! + 0 2*/- 5 %+ 0 .2 2.!+

#$


One entıre

perfect piece,

or an

Bradington-Young

|

Hooker

|

Henredon

|

CENTURY

room…

|

Bernhardt

|

French Heritage


Furniture & accessories for every style & budget

Celebrating 50 years of quality, price, service & selection Complimentary interior design • Low price guarantee Free local delivery • 6 months same as cash oac

7939 Canoga Avenue • Canoga Park 818.883.0890 Monday through Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday noon to 6pm

www.CaliforniaFurnitureGalleries.com Bau

|

Hickory White

|

Maitland-Smith


my favorite room

Out of sight For these Southern

Melissa Rigazio Rigazio Design Manhattan Beach Photos: Brian Thomas Jones

California designers, ingenious storage solutions are the name of the game. Prepare to be amazed at everything you can’t see.

By Pamela Bunn

M

elissa Rigazio is a nationally certi-

design company out of her Manhattan Beach

fied interior designer with a back-

guesthouse. Now, with her business growing

ground in commercial and pro-

rapidly and a new office space in the works,

duction design. With the expansion of her

she can be picky about the projects she

family eight years ago, flexibility was para-

chooses — meaning absolutely no “McMan-

mount, so she started her own residential

sions.” This client was pretty easy to work CONTINUED ON PAGE 22


Lisa Adams L.A. Closet Design Los Angeles Photos: Joe Schmelzer/JBGPhoto.com

D

esigner Lisa Adams’ background isn’t what you’d expect. After earn-

ing a degree in chemistry and an

MBA, this marketing pro pursued her interest in design and architecture and worked alongside a successful architectural designer for eight years. Her particular passion? Closets. Last summer, Adams founded L.A. Closet Design, which recently moved into its new digs in the Pacific Design Center. Her favorite project is this gem of a closet/office for singer-songwriter Jewel.

Lisa, how and when did you land Jewel as a client? I designed Jewel’s closet about three years ago, shortly after I had done Carmen Electra’s. The two share a stylist, so Jewel’s business manager contacted me and said she loved what I had done for Carmen and needed help in her own home.

JEWEL PHOTO: CHRIS GORDON/WIREIMAGE

Is your clientele mostly celebrities? Typically, I design for a mixed bag. I have done quite a few celebrity closets, but I’m

“ I see closet spaces

definitely not trying to only get high-profile clients. I actually design closet space for a lot of bachelors and a lot of older couples. And I think it’s great — especially in the town we live in, where people spend so much on clothing and accessories — that people want to spend money to take care

Designer Lisa Adams fashioned a closet for Jewel with plenty of room for the singer-songwriter’s clothes, shoes, jewelry and of course, her guitars.

as the ultimate fashion accessory.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

may/june 2008 spaces 21


my favorite room MELISSA RIGAZIO FROM PAGE 20 with: Rigazio renovated her own kitchen.

Melissa, tell us about the house. How long have you lived here? It’s been eight years now. It’s a 2,000-squarefoot home with a guesthouse. When we bought it, it was a teardown, but I don’t live with a teardown mentality. Coming from Chicago, my head just wasn’t really there. Originally, it was a one-story built in 1949. It had been renovated and added onto, I think, four times over the years. You could definitely tell what had been done in the ’70s and the ’80s.

Did you add square footage to the kitchen? No, it was already a nice, big space. We added a dining room adjacent to it, which had been a bedroom. Originally, there was a bedroom next to the kitchen and a full bath up there. Since we have great views, we changed it to an upside-down floor plan, with the kitchen, living room, dining room and powder room upstairs and the bedrooms downstairs. It’s like being in a tree house. Even though we’re close to neighbors, visually it’s very private.

What did the kitchen look like before your redesign? Basically, the range, refrigerator and the sink were in the same place, and the cabinets were literally a door and a shelf.

How did you go about transforming the space? One thing I always do is completely design the interior, down to every drawer. Next to the refrigerator are two pull-out pantries, and above that is the built-in microwave. I actually have more things in the same amount of space. I still have some open space in my cabinets because even the corner cabinets open fully.

What did you do in terms of upgrades? I’m very interested in the green movement, so when we did the kitchen we went with a tankless water heater. I also tried out a material on my countertops called PaperStone, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

22 spaces may/june 2008

Melissa Rigazio’s renovated kitchen is exactly what the client ordered – down to the last detail. It wasn’t too difficult in her case, since she’s both the designer and the client. She manages to keep the spacious kitchen clutter-free with hidden niches that store appliances and other items that used to take up counter space.


buy yourself a little breeze

The largest selection of indoor & outdoor fans in LA & Ventura Counties

TRADITIONAL

TROPICAL

C U T T I N G E D GE

C A SABL ANC A • FANIMATION • MINK A-AIRE • EMERSON • HUNT E R

Thousand Oaks Fans & Lighting 1125 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks • TOFansAndLighting.com

805.495.7343


my favorite room LISA ADAMS FROM PAGE 21 of them. I see closet spaces as the ultimate fashion accessory.

Is this home of Jewel’s in Los Angeles? Yes. It’s a Spanish-style house built in the 1950s. It’s not enormous, but relatively speaking, it’s pretty large.

What did the space look like before you got started? It was a 210-square-foot closet in which she had her office. In the beginning, she had an idea that this was an office that she wanted me to convert into a closet. She was resigned to not having an office in there. I told her that we could definitely do both and use sliding doors to separate the two functional areas so that it didn’t feel claustrophobic, but like

Adams turned this room into a combination closet/office, separating the two areas with sliding doors. The windowed space gets great natural light and allows the busy entertainer to take care of business comfortably at home.

a single cohesive space when you walked in the room. There are also windows in there, which give it an openness and great natural lighting.

How often do you design closet/office spaces? Having an office in the closet isn’t a common request, which is one of the reasons why this was a really fun project.

Did you add to the square footage of the room? No, we didn’t add to it. But because the space was cluttered before, with no proper organization, it felt much smaller than it does now. Jewel definitely loves that everything has its place, as opposed to before where space was so limited.

What was it like to work with her? Jewel was such a great client. She’s really low maintenance, and she had her dog with her all the time, and she did yoga. She was present for all meetings, and I always dealt directly with her, not her assistant. While I got CONTINUED ON PAGE 26


BNFSJDBÂľT MFBEJOH SFTPVSDF GPS

XJOEPX USFBUNFOUT

ˆ

a

designer experience... without

the

exclusive

TUZMFT

designer price!

Our professional design consultants will help you choose the perfect window fashions - from luxurious draperies to furniture-quality wooden shutters to the finest blinds and shades. With more than 20 years of experience, we’ll help turn your house into your dream home!

now! free in-home consultation S N H OM E COM \ call or click for your appointment

expert

BEWJDF

/P QBZNFOUT [FSP JOUFSFTU GPS NPOUIT 4VCKFDU UP DSFEJU BQQSPWBM %JTDMPTVSFT BQQMZ 1MFBTF WJTJU TOIPNF DPN GPS EFUBJMT TPVSDF DPEF (


my favorite room MELISSA RIGAZIO FROM PAGE 22

RIGAZIO BUYING GUIDE

which I feel great about because it’s 100 per-

Was the bar also part of your redesign?

cent recycled. We also bought new Energy

Yes, and that changed the whole life of the

Star appliances, which are very efficient.

room. We just live around that counter. The

The countertops are absolutely void of clutter. One of my big goals was to get everything off the counters as much as I could. The

seat on the kitchen side is my station. The kids come and do their homework there, and it’s just great.

pony wall is about 12 inches wide, so I had

How long did the remodel take?

my contractors carve little niches where five

It was all done in 12 weeks. We did it over last

Appliances and Fixtures: KitchenAid

Energy Star refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher; Bertazzoni stainless steel gas range, back guard and ventilation hood Barstools: Design Within Reach Antica

Counter Stool by Hansjerg Helweg Cabinetry Hardware: Häfele kitchen

rod system, door and drawer organizers; stainless steel rectangular shank pulls

bamboo boxes slip inside, which hold all that

summer, and basically we were up and run-

stuff that gathers, as well as my black pot-

ning after eight weeks.

holders and dishtowels. There’s also an ap-

Is your husband also in the design trade?

Cabinets and Bar Top: American cherry

No, that’s a 180. He’s a CFO — the money

Concealed Task Lighting: Alkco Little

pliance garage where the blender and all that stuff is tucked away. In the corner there’s a newspaper niche (by the paper towels) and another shelf above it for things that the kids bring home from school.

guy.

Inch Xtra, T-5 miniature fluorescent; finish: anodized aluminum

How much input does he have when it comes to renovations?

Countertops: PaperStone

I run everything by him, and it’s funny because

Magnetic Blackboard: US Marker-

Is the space below the window an art station?

when I think he’ll have no comment, he’ll

Yes. My daughters’ easels are up all the time,

come up with something very interesting or

and we put in a whole bank of drawers where

he’ll have one strong request. Usually he has

we store their art portfolios. We also imbed-

very little. And since it’s our home, we plan,

ded the magnetic blackboard for all the

draw, specify and price everything before

things they bring home from school.

anything gets torn out. He’s thrilled with it all.

board, custom-size porcelain-on-steel Sink and Fixtures: Franke Vision

stainless steel sink and Little Butler hot-water dispensing system; KWC Systema faucet and Suprimo soap/ lotion dispenser

LISA ADAMS FROM PAGE 24 her approval for everything, she gave me free

conscious of wood coming from sustainable

reign to design and use my expertise — that’s

forests, so the materials are environmentally

why she hired me.

friendly.

It looks like there’s a place for absolutely everything. Yes. There are jewelry drawers, lingerie draw-

Once the renovation was complete, did you actually go in and place everything, or did you leave that to her?

ers, a pull-out mirror that tucks away when

Jewel always told me that she’s not a very

not in use, and a hidden safe. There is also

organized person, so I did a little organizing

ample room for her to store her guitars. The

for her, and together we went through the

boxes are full of seasonal clothes and pic-

process of purging things that she no longer

tures and other miscellaneous things that she

needed. We also talked about what should be

doesn’t need every day. And then there’s the

folded or on hangers, and things like that.

shoe carousel, which holds 60 pairs of shoes.

Have you heard from her since the project?

How long did the project take?

I touched base with her assistant six months

Five months total: two months to design

ago and she said that Jewel absolutely loves

it and three months for the materials to be

what I did for her, which is so rewarding. It

produced and installed. And I’m always

really was a fun project for a great client.

26 spaces may/june 2008

ADAMS BUYING GUIDE Cabinetry: Studio Becker maple wood

with inlay panel detail Handles/Pulls: Studio Becker leather

tab pulls Lighting: Bruck Lighting pendant light

fixture (at island) Office Desk Countertop: Absolute

black granite, honed finish Shoe Carousel: Green polypropylene

panel with beech shelves and chrome rods Sliding Doors: Maple wood frame

doors with green frosted-glass panels (horizontal mullions)


OCEANSIDE | Handcrafted Designer Collections | SICIS | Gainey Ceramics | Ken Mason Tile | Jerey Court | COBSA | LEA Limestone | Travertine | Porcelain | Granite | Slate | Hand Painted Ceramic, Glass & Copper Sinks

Specializing in Decorative Tile, Award Winning Pool Design, Landscaping, Kitchen & Bath

We s t s i d e T i l e & S t o n e A D E S I G N E R S H O W R O O M I N C A N O G A PA R K

8 1 8.704 .9 2 2 2

|

763 1 C a n o g a Av e n u e

|

Open 7 Days


something’s in the kitchen

Buongiorno, Mr. Bell A boy from Brooklyn finds his place by the beach By Merrill Shindler

C

hef Robert Bell is a guy from Brook-

lyn, New York, who grew up in a

household that was half Jewish, half

Ebullient Robert Bell takes a hands-on attitude when it comes to making his meatballs — this isn’t just cooking, it’s primal therapy using beef and pasta.

Italian, in a neighborhood where, he says, “the food was either deli or Italian, knishes and red sauce, pastrami and baked ziti. I’d go out for corned beef at one place, and capicola at another.”

It was a place where food wasn’t just part

of the fabric of life – it was the whole cloth. Sunday dinners at his grandmother’s house went on for six hours. “Besides the Dodgers and the Yankees, all we talked about was food,” he recalls. “I loved it. I looked

quick fact

PHOTOS: PAUL JONASON

28 spaces may/june 2008

“ In the beginning (around the turn of the century) Italian-American restaurants did not serve meatballs with their spaghetti. These were added to satisfy Amerca’s hunger for red meat.” — American Century Cookbook: The Most Popular Recipes of the 20th Century


The most important kitchen‌ is yours.

Custom kitchen design from concept to completion

C A B I N E T S | CO U N T E R TO P S | A P P L I A N C E S Fr i e d m a n s A p p l i a n c e C e n t e r. c o m

1827 E. Spring Street Long Beach

562.989.7756 M-Th 10-8, F-S 10-6, Sun 11-5


something’s in the kitchen forward to it as a kid. I miss it so much.”

In his grandmother’s day, there was no

need to consult cookbooks or measure ingredients. One of her recipes says to cook her meatballs in marinara sauce for an hour; another says two hours. But she never bothered with recipes. “When you cook food like this,” Bell says, “you just know how.”

Bell was just entering his teens when his

family moved west. “Everything was a shock out here,” he says. “The palm trees blew me away.” But it was a move he could appreciate: “The (Brooklyn) Dodgers had just moved to L.A. I was going to be with the Dodgers again. I thought, ‘How cool is that?’” Yearning for a taste of home among the palms, the Bells became regulars at Piece o’ Pizza. “That was our New York place,” he says.

Bell’s introduction to the

industry came quickly. “I had a couple of uncles out here. One ran the commissary at Desilu Studios,” he says. “I was a busboy at 13. In high school, I ran the local

“ When you cook food like this,” Bell says, “ you just know how.”

Foster’s Freeze. In 11th grade I got a job as a waiter at Villa Roma, an Italian restaurant in Hollywood. I worked there every day after school.”

Though his soul was in the kitchen, he

still had doubts – this was the age of the journeyman cook, not the chef. For a decade, Bell worked as an architect, finally going into the restaurant business at age 30, when he signed on at South Bay’s groundbreaking Cafe Courtney. That was in 1975, and it’s where he met his longtime business partner, Michael Franks. Together, they opened Chez Mélange in 1982 – probably the most influential eatery to ever grace the Beach Cities.

Bell is serving up California cuisine rather

than the memorable ethnic food of his youth, but he’s never let go of his roots. Following in the footsteps of his beloved Dodgers, he simply replanted them.

30 spaces may/june 2008

Chef Robert Bell doesn’t need the crusts, so he slices them off before cutting the bread into rectangles. Then he soaks the bread in milk and mixes it with meat, eggs, herbs and spices — it’s fun to play with your food. Of course, if you want the meatballs to taste right, you have to grate your own Parmesan.


EUROPEAN STYLE AT ITS BEST

310.451.0665 | 800.266.2001 www.horizontotalrenovations.com SHOWROOM 1453 LINCOLN BLVD. | SANTA MONICA | 90401 | CA WAREHOUSE 11651 VANOWEN ST. | NORTH HOLLYWOOD | CA | 91605


something’s in the kitchen

Mama Terano’s Marinara Sauce

Mama Terano’s Meatballs Yield: 25-30 meatballs

6 pounds canned,

5 pounds ground beef

diced tomatoes in juice

(about 15 percent fat)

1 medium yellow onion, diced

5 eggs (medium or large)

5-6 large cloves garlic, diced

¼ cup chopped parsley

3-4 dry bay leaves

3 tablespoons minced garlic

3-4 fresh basil leaves, chopped

¾ cup grated Parmesan

4-5 fresh oregano leaves, chopped

5 slices white bread

½ cup extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper

with crusts removed milk to soak bread salt and pepper

Sauté onion and garlic in oil until soft; reduce to half. Add canned tomatoes.

Knead all ingredients together into small

Stir, simmer and stir some more. Cook for

balls. Bake in 350-degree oven until well

1–2 hours. Add herbs and spices in last 15

browned. Simmer in marinara sauce for

minutes. Tear off a piece of warm, crusty

1–2 hours.

Italian bread, dunk and savor.

restaurant Chez Mélange

1716 Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach 310.540.1222 reservations recommended? dinner for two, without wine

32 spaces may/june 2008

Essential About $80


The time to remodel your kitchen or bath is...NOW!

Kitchen Remodels

Bath Remodels UÊ Vi«ÌÊÌ Ê « iÌ ]Ê/ Ì> Ê- ÕÌ Ã UÊÊ ÕÃiÊ ià } Ê-«iV > ÃÌà UÊÊÊ ÀiVÌÊ ÃÌÀ LÕÌ ÀÊv ÀÊÇÊ ÌV i ÊÊ EÊ >Ì Ê >L iÌÊ > Õv>VÌÕÀiÀà UÊÊ ÕÃÌ Ê Õ ÌiÀÌ «ÃÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Ê ÊÊÊÊ À> Ìi]Ê+Õ>ÀÌâ]Ê- `Ê-ÕÀv>Vià UÊ Ý«iÀ i Vi`ÊEÊ,i >L iÊ ÕÃiÊ ÀiÜÃ

ÌÀ>VÌ ÀÃÊ Vi ÃiÊ ÊÇnÎÎÎ

Cabinet Refacing

South Bay Design Center Home Remodeling Company Serving the South Bay for 16 Years

6 à ÌÊ ÕÀÊ} À}i ÕÃÊÎ]äääÊõ°vÌ°Êà ÜÀ t À Ê£ä\ää>° ° x\ää«° °ÊÊUÊÊ->ÌÊ££\ää>° ° {\ää«° °

(866) 414-9534 Ó{£ÎÊ*>V wVÊ >ÃÌÊ } Ü>Þ]Ê-Õ ÌiÊÓäÇ Ì>]Ê Ê äÇ£Ç www.southbaydesigncenter.com

may/june 2008 spaces 33


something’s in the kitchen

Today’s traditional kitchen By Phil Norman Traditional kitchens today are anything but stuffy. For those who prefer a classic, tried and true style, there have never been more choices available. Here are some products that offer a fresh take on the familiar, proving that a classic kitchen can also be cutting edge. 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.

23868 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 100, Torrance

310 -791-1056

34 spaces may/june 2008

[ Like Legos® for the kitchen, refrigerator and freezer drawers from Sub-Zero offer unprecedented flexibility for kitchen storage. Used individually or together, they can supplement or replace upright refrigeration units. With integrated front panels available, the applications are limitless.

] We can all thank Starbucks for stirring up the gourmet coffee craze, but why not treat yourself to a latte, cappuccino or espresso at home? The Miele CVA2000 series of built-in one-touch coffee systems takes the guesswork out of the perfect cup. The unit stores up to five flavors of Nespresso capsules. Simply select the desired size and flavor. The system does the rest, even clearing out the capsule to make way for a new one. ] If you love the breathtaking French classic beauty of handcrafted La Cornue ranges, but not the wait or the high price tag, the new La CornuFé line is for you. It maintains the popular styling and quality of the traditional Chateau line, but a streamlined manufacturing process makes it about half the price.

South Bay designer Phil Norman specializes in interior design and architectural detailing, making his firm a complete design resource for the discriminating homeowners of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding beach cities. Here are his top tips for creating a kitchen that’s fabulous as well as family-friendly.





Luxurious, magnificent, practical A swimming pool completes a wonderful life in Southern California

S

ince ancient Greek and Roman times, the bath has been a metaphor for leisure and luxury. Public baths represented the best of community life and culture in those ancient civilizations. Eventually, Roman bathers became recreational swimmers and the baths evolved into swimming pools. Historians tell us the first

heated swimming pool was built in the first century B.C. by a wealthy Roman, Gaius Maecenas. Through the centuries, water exercise and the “taking of the waters” at genteel spas represented the sybaritic life and became fashionable pastimes. In Southern California, our lifestyle is defined by the swimming pool. As an icon, it probably dates back to Prohibition, when Hollywood silent film stars partied at watering holes like the infamous Garden of Allah on Sunset Boulevard, where they romped in the pool (with underwater lights) on balmy nights while guzzling bathtub gin. After World War II — thanks in part to the popularity of “the million-dollar mermaid,” Esther Williams — the love affair with the swimming pool exploded, and it became a must-have status symbol. Home pools, hot tubs and spas are now de rigueur in L.A.’s suburban neighborhoods, and the pool construction industry is thriving. The era of the big, boring rectangle with diving board is passé. Today, most pool builders are reluctant to equip a residential pool with a springboard, due to lawsuits related to injuries. Instead, you can have a fantasy fjord, a tropical lagoon with a waterfall, an exercise pool with artificially generated currents, or an infinity pool, which provides the visual effect of water disappearing into the horizon.


Trends in pools come and go, but the concept of a refreshing dip has been around for centuries

From here to infinity

Artists Christine Hartunian and Jason Sinay bought a terrific

house in Pacific Palisades after they married almost three years ago. The only downside was its back yard, a small plot that dead-ended into a dirt slope.

“I had been looking at infinity pools and when I saw the

back yard with the ocean view, I knew this was the perfect place to put one,” says Christine. “We definitely bought the house with that in mind.” After hiring engineers to add steel beams and concrete to shore up the back yard, Christine, a painter who also has a degree in interior design from UCLA, designed the couple’s pool with blue Italian glass tiles, angular architectural edges, and encased it all in white travertine tiles. It took two years to complete the entire project.

Photos by Paul Jonason By Patt Diroll and Meredith Grenier

“It is better than I thought it would be,” says Jason, a

professional guitarist (also featured in this issue’s unusual room section).

“It’s true, it’s more amazing than I thought it would be,”

adds Christine. “Every time I look out there, I can hardly believe how much it’s been transformed.”

The Hartunian-Sinays turned this grassy ledge with a fence into a magnificent piece of architecture.

may/june 2008 spaces 39


A sleepy blue-tiled lagoon and waterfall transformed this Chapman Woods garden into a tropical island scene.

Unusual sculptures and tiling – and boulders shipped in from Catalina Island – complete this backyard oasis

Most people would be reluctant to destroy a good swimming pool, but that was the first

The wings of the swan offer arm support at the pool steps.

priority for Michele and Roger Engemann when they bought their large Tudor-style home in the Chapman Woods area of Pasadena. The old pool had been set back on the property in a place where their young children couldn’t be observed. “We removed the pool and covered the area with lawn, which gave us space for a tent where we have accommodated more than 1,000 people at a party,” says Michele. When their youngest son was old enough to swim, they began work on a pool and spa off the back terrace with a clear view from the house. We know it’s usually verboten

40 spaces may/june 2008

Roger traveled to Catalina Island to choose

the boulders for the tropical waterfall that

to use real glass near a pool,

cascades into a beautiful cobalt blue-tiled

but we think this collection of

lagoon. “He came home one day with some

Kaleidoscope drinking glasses,

unique antique garden sculptures that he

hand-blown and colored in

found at an auction,” Michele recalls. “I de-

the Venetian tradition, add a

cided to incorporate them into the design as

wonderfully colorful flair to a

hand supports at the steps. When we sit out

summer party. Made by Los

here on a summer evening, it’s like being on

Angeles-based JANUS et Cie.

our own little island.”


inspired craftsmanship

ďż˝

hand-forged railings & staircases

310.832.0500

234 Broad Avenue, Wilmington Contact us at www.coastwelding.com or coastwelding@sbcglobal.net

serving the South Bay and greater Los Angeles area with fine architectural metals since 1914


Nothing makes kids happier than a cool dip in the summer.

Don’t worry, you won’t fall over the edge

Infinity pools are certainly the latest back-

scaper Robert Bell to create this edgeless

yard accessory in Southern California, but

wonder.

can everybody have one?

got a feeling of vertigo,” says Teresa. “But

According to Joel Cardinal, marketing

director of Designer Pools by Bill Smith,

Choosing the right tile and landscaping is key.

“When it was first installed, I definitely

that’s what’s so fun and special about it.”

Inc., a So Cal builder specializing in these

types of swimming pools, it all depends on

cuzzi that was simple, yet classic. They also

The Litts chose tiling for the pool and Ja-

the back yard. “A grade change or down-

added a saltwater system and colored light-

ward slope is required to achieve the

ing enhancements.

physical necessity of achieving the optical

effect,” says Cardinal. “The illusion is am-

love it and we’re poolside every weekend,”

“Going into our third summer, we still

plified when the vista behind the edge is

says Teresa. She doesn’t mind that there are

nothing but blue sky.”

dozens of neighborhood kids knocking on

the door wanting to wade in, noting, “The

Designer Pools worked with Calabasas

homeowners Teresa and David Litt and land-

more in here, the merrier!”

If you’re going to be sitting poolside, you’ll require some much needed shade from the blazing So Cal sun. Here’s a cool recipe: Take one solid stainless steel base and pole – resistant to harsh chemicals, it won’t corrode while submerged in water – and top it with any of Santa Barbara Umbrella’s whimsical sun shades, such as the Flamingo or the Lily Pond.

42 spaces may/june 2008



44 spaces may/june 2008


may/june 2008 spaces 45


Left: Flowers are in bloom year-round in the Italian urns bordering this pool with a clear view of the Santa Monica mountains. Above: An all-white pergola and dining area complete the back yard.

Flowers enhance the endless view of Santa Monica mountains

Alex and Linda Cappello’s swimming pool off the San Fernando Valley is another classic example of the infinity edge.

Designer Sid Galper created this spectac-

ular setting to reflect the architecture of the Cappellos’ Tuscan-style villa with its panoramic view of the Santa Monica mountains and the ocean beyond. Galper’s concept was ideal for this hillside site, where the water’s smooth surface appears to vanish over the

st y l i s h l y

bank. This trompe l’oeil effect is achieved by the water brimming over the pool rim and

AFFORDABLE. S o f a ,

L o v e s e a t

&

C h a i r

$799

99

flowing into a channel below, where it is recirculated into the pool.

An adjacent all-white pergola and dining

area complete the perfect venue for al fresco entertaining. “The pool isn’t just for looks,” says Alex, an investment banker. “With two young daughters, this place gets a lot of use during the summer. The whole family, including our dogs, love it out here.”

Beige-22

3 - P I E C E

L I V I N G R O O M

JENNIFER S O F A S

&

S O F A B E D S

M e r c h a n d i s e p i c k u p m a y n o t b e c o n v e n i e n t o r a v a i l a b l e i n y o u r a r e a . A d d i t i o n a l d e l i v e r y c h a r g e s d o a p p l y. N o t a l l products displayed in all showrooms. w w w. j e n n i f e r c o n v e r t i b l e s . c o m

46 spaces may/june 2008

Below: The Cappello children bond in a lovely setting.


El Caballero Country Club Limited Memberships Available

Valley’s Finest Golf Course

El Caballero Country Club, for the first time in our fifty - year history, is going into the community to invite new members. Boasting a premier Robert Trent Jones Sr. eighteen-hole golf course, it’s also a great walking course with a fully staffed caddy program. Other major amenities include a tennis program, swimming facilities, men’s & ladies’ card room and an expertly staffed fitness center as well as banquet facilities and a fabulous dining room. El Caballero is the perfect setting for social and sporting enjoyment and is available for parties and special events. A limited number of participating memberships are available for qualified applicants. Call Tom Bernsen, General Manager, at (818) 654-3001 for a tour and more information. We are a nonsectarian country club.

El Caballero Country Club 18300 Tarzana Drive Tarzana, California 91356 (818) 654-3000


Three ways to save with energy-efficient replacement windows from Clark Adams Co.:

Save Save Save $1,000

on your energy bills

the environment

on the purchase of 10 or more windows Offer valid through 6/30/08. Call for details. Not valid with any other offer or on prior purchases. Only one $1,000 coupon can be used per house, one-time use.

Call today for a free in-home estimate

888.311.9901 www.ClarkAdams.com

48 spaces may/june 2008

Music in a magical pool in South Bay

It might not be unusual to hear the sounds of the Beatles streaming from a faux rock sound system in a Rolling Hills Estates back yard. But to hear the pristine sound while swimming under water – now that’s unique. And the sound, like the water, is crystal clear.

The high tech-appointed saltwater pool is

owned by Kimberly and Scott Ramsay. He’s a former KROQ disc jockey who owns Torrance-based Broadcast Support, Inc., which installs off-site sound and lighting systems for clients such as Red Bull and NASCAR. CONTINUED

Bar islands are the perfect place to rest between laps (above). And the high tech sound completes the picture.


Replacing poor-performing windows can reduce your home’s carbon footprint up to 40% According to the website earthportal.org, home energy use is responsible for 20% of US greenhouse gas emissions. Air conditioning for a typical home produces a carbon footprint of about 6,600 pounds. Renewal by Andersen’s replacement windows keep your home 35% more energy efficient in winter and 41% more efficient in summer — reducing your energy bills by up to 25%, and dramatically reducing your impact on the planet. Call today for your free in-home consultation.

Quality window & door replacement for more than 28 years n W e use only employee installers — no subcontractors — for your safety and quality assurance. n W e are the exclusive installers for Renewal by Andersen Windows and Doors in the Greater LA Area.

888.311.9901 www.ClarkAdams.com

Visit our showrooms, or call for a free in-home estimate redondo beach 2411 Artesia Blvd. n torrance 23841 Hawthorne Blvd.

may/june 2008 spaces 49


No wonder the Ramsay’s house is so popular with kids in the neighborhood.

The pool area was designed two years ago by landscape architect Alan McGregor and installed by Palos Verdes Pools.

The circular bar island, natural spa, sev-

eral waterfalls and an aqua slide made with hand-cut Pennsylvania blue stone were all intended to emulate Mother Nature. The final result fooled at least one guest.

“When my son’s 4-year-old friend came

over recently, he asked, ‘Where’s the pool?’ He thought this was a pond,” says Kim, who was inspired to replicate the natural grotto after years of working in high-end hotel resorts and spas.

The Ramsays purchased the split-level

property with an eye toward remodeling the home and garden as a refuge for private relaxation and providing a setting for large

Thru June 30, 2008*

gatherings with their two young sons and friends.

“Family first” was the direction the Ram-

says gave to the landscape architect. As a result, the back yard comes equipped with a barbecue pit for roasting marshmallows and

Designer Kitchens For Less Call For A Design Appointment Today!

www.thekitchenwarehousela.com

s’mores, and the pool’s island bar features a direct line to the kitchen for soft drinks or beer on tap.

The natural-looking waterfall and a strategically placed rock replicate a natural grotto.


SAVE UP TO Designer Kitchens For Less Call For A Design Appointment Today!

www.thekitchenwarehousela.com HOURS: M - SAT 9 AM - 5 PM

55% OFF

CABINETS! Thru June 30, 2008*

Off the Santa Monica Freeway at Western Avenue in Los Angeles

2149 West Washington Blvd., LA 90018

*Discount applies to select manufacturer and can only be applied with this ad in exclusion of any other offers – not in addition to already discounted prices.




unusual

rooms

A room remains simply a room until we put our personal stamp on it. The owners of these unusual rooms — a music room, a library and a clothes closet — give us a glimpse of how they showcased their favorite things to create a private sanctuary. Photos by Paul Jonason

54 spaces may/june 2008


Sinay( opposite page) strums his 1964 Gibson Hummingbird. His other favorites include this 1956 Fender Telecaster and 1963 Gibson Super 400 ES (right). He purchased all from Norm’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana.

A real player Enter this music room and rock away By Linda Massarella

A

s a working musician, Jason Sinay — leader of The Jason Sinay Band — uses his guitars the way a painter uses brushes. So when he moved into his new home

two years ago, he put first dibs on an upstairs room with lots of angles and a clear view of the ocean.

“I knew instantly I wanted that space to

be my music room,” says Sinay. “The angles of the room are conducive to great sound, plus it has an amazing view.”

The Los Angeles-born rocker started play-

ing professionally in high school, working for a jingle producer who had him play guitar and bass for commercials. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, he start-

“ The importance of having a special space is extremely vital for an artist. Just looking at my guitars calms me down.”

ed his own rock band, Five Easy Pieces, which

– Jason Sinay, guitarist

was signed by MCA Records.

He left that group in 1999 to work as

bandleader on The Roseanne Show and strike out on his own.

After getting an invitation to record a session with Mike

Campbell and other members from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, they hit it off, began recording every week and formed the group The Dirty Knobs, which still tours regularly.

Inspiration comes from all places, but for Sinay, it often

strikes when he’s alone. “I am fortunate,” he agrees, “to have such a room.”

who

what

Jason Sinay Music Room where Pacific Palisades we need Who do you like better, the to know Beatles or the Rolling Stones? “ What a loaded question… the Beatles in the morning and the Stones at night!” may/june 2008 spaces 55


unusual rooms

An oak-panelled sanctuary

Trojan warrior watches over treasured books By Patt Diroll

I

t isn’t just serendipity that the glow from a stained-glass skylight in the Engemanns’ library happens to shine on the figure

of Tommy Trojan perched on the fireplace

mantel.

Although Roger Engemann is an Oregon

Duck, you know you’re in Trojan territory from the moment you enter the home. His wife Michele — daughter of the late Rod Dedeaux, legendary coach of the national championship USC baseball team — is a devoted alumna, a member of the university’s board of trustees and president of the USC Alumni Association. The golden statuette in the place of honor is the university’s version of the Oscar traditionally presented to outstanding alumni.

The Engemanns maintain homes in Big

Bear, California; Brays Island, South Carolina; and Poipu Beach, Hawaii, but when Roger, a voracious reader, wants to hunker down and read, it’s in the library of the couple’s Pasadena home. The oak-paneled retreat, with its vaulted ceiling and stained-glass panel, was created by Romanian craftsmen. Surrounded by his extraordinary collection of antique guns and his books — his favorite subject is history — Roger is a happy man. As for Michele, her literary tastes lean toward historical novels and books on foreign lands. “We love to travel,” she says, “so I am always reading up on when and where we’ll go next.”

who Michele and Roger

Engemann Library where Pasadena we need What are your to know favorite books? Roger: 1421: The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies Michele: Where to Go When by Joseph Rosendo

56 spaces may/june 2008

what


CA LIC #884818

The fast, easy way to a brand new kitchen. No mess, no demolition Installs in as little as two days Perfect for vanities, showers, fireplaces and backsplashes More than 40 gorgeous colors and patterns to choose from Heat, stain and scratch resistant with a Lifetime Warranty

Visit our Long Beach showroom or call today for a free in-home estimate! 2940 Gardena Avenue, Signal Hill

. 562.426.5315

www.granitetransformations.com may/june 2008 spaces 57


Home Ec 101 By Pamela Bunn

In these times of economic uncertainty, it makes sense to find ways to save money at home. We dusted off some frugal-living tips we heard growing up and came up with a few of our own for today’s world. Try them out and save for yourself.

FAN FAVORITE

NIGHT LIGHT

The temperature may rise, but your energy costs don’t have to. Here’s a year-round solu-

Add a little romance to your life and lower your elec-

tion: Install a ceiling fan, cool off and save up to 40 percent in air-conditioning costs this

tric bill at the same time. Pick one night a week to dine

summer. In winter, reverse the switch so the air flows up instead of down; heat that rises

by candlelight. That’s right, turn off the lights, set the

naturally can then circulate throughout the room. You’ll stay warm and snug while saving

ambiance with flickering candles and enjoy your meal

up to 10 percent in heating costs.

the old-fashioned way. Want to save even more? Make

GO WITH THE (LOW) FLOW

with some Brie and baguettes. Clink wine glasses with

A long, hot shower is a great way to start your morn-

someone special and bask in the warm glow. Don’t

ing, but it’s a drain on your wallet and our city’s water

forget to use cloth napkins instead of paper.

supply. The responsible thing to do is replace your old 5-gallon-a-minute showerhead with a low-flow ver-

DRY THIS

sion. The federal government requires that new show-

Looking a little worn around the edges? Save wear and

erheads use no more than 2.5 gallons a minute, and

tear on your clothes by removing them from the dryer

you can find one that uses even less. This home im-

and hanging them up while they’re still slightly damp.

provement saves water and lowers your utility bills.

Your garments will require less ironing and won’t shrink

SPARKLING TAP

as much, and you’ll be saving energy at the same time. And if you let the sun provide the finishing touch, your

Before bottled water was conveniently delivered to

clothes will have that fresh, clean, outdoorsy smell you

your door, there was the good ol’ faucet. Well, it’s time

just can’t get from a perfumed dryer sheet.

to embrace L.A.’s municipal water once again, and

58 spaces may/june 2008

a dish that doesn’t require cooking, like a hearty salad

with the many accolades it’s received in recent years,

COMMERCIAL BREAK

don’t be afraid to turn to the tap. You’ll save heaps of

While we all have guilty TV pleasures (General Hospital, anyone?), is there

money by not buying bottled, and get kudos for eas-

a single soul who really needs to keep up with the Kardashians? Make a

ing transportation pollution. Not convinced that your

pact with yourself to keep the boob tube off one or two nights a week.

old pipes will deliver crystal-clear goodness? Invest in

This will reduce your carbon footprint as well as save you money — and

a water-purification system that you can screw right

brain cells. What can you do to fill the time? Catch up with friends and

onto your faucet or buy a filtered pitcher.

family, play Scrabble, or better yet, read this magazine!


Advanced Raingutters, Inc. offering

Unmatched Old World Craftsmanship with Modern Seamless Technology

Bring the Timeless Beauty of Old World Copper Rain Gutters to Your Home

71 4 . 5 8 0 . 1 4 9 2

Serving Southern California for 14 years visit us online at www.AdvancedRaingutters.net lic. 915115


hiGh t ech home Whether you’re at home, on a hiking trail or exploring underwater sea creatures, these gadgets will make your life easier and pump up the fun factor. By Patty Threlkel

Forget me not

It’s in the bag

If you have a brown thumb and kill every house-

If you’re going camping, skiing or hiking on

plant you come in contact with, we can help you

unfamiliar trails, you don’t have to worry

turn over a new leaf. Just stick this Thirsty Light dig-

about being incommunicado. With the Volta-

ital moisture sensor in the soil. When the LED light

ic backpack, your cell phone won’t run low on

starts flashing, you’ll know your plant is thirsty and

power. The built-to-last, lightweight and wa-

it’s time to water. Keep one in each plant or moni-

ter-resistant backpack has wire channels for

tor them all at once by moving the probe from one

multiple electronic devices including phones,

plant to the next. Priced at $9.95; discounts avail-

iPods and cameras. A battery pack stores

able when buying three or more.

power until you need it. Priced at $249.

www.thirstylight.com

www.voltaicsystems.com

Be Extraordinary.

A light step There’s no need to plug in those little nightlights to help you find your way in the dark. Just look down at the floor tiles underneath your slippers to see the light. Lighting elements in white, blue or amber are imbedded inside Villeroy & Boch’s Light Tiles, which

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

60 spaces may/june 2008

Bijan Albari 818-919-2610 cell albarianb@autonation.com Tony Melidonian 818-919-8753 cell melidonianm@autonation.com

come in a range of styles and are easy to install. Just follow the line to the kitchen for that late-night snack. Prices vary. www.villeroy-boch.com


Q U I T E S I M P LY T H E F I N E S T PA I N T WE’VE EVER MADE™

Twinkle, twinkle Whether you’re planning a big summer bash or a romantic party for two, mood lighting will add an enchanting glow to your yard. Float these solar-powered lights in your pool or spa, set them up along walkways or mount them to decks and tables. The lights charge during the day and turn on automatically at night. They measure 5 inches in diameter and come in red, white and blue. Priced at $18.99. www.toysplash.com

Kitchen island This is not your mother’s kitchen sink. Use the stainless steel KWC Waterstation as a

Bond… James Bond

freestanding island or a built-in corner or counter unit. A revolving cage in the cupboard has plenty of room to store pots and pans, and a rotating carousel includes a re-

You may have to drop Agent 007’s name

movable waste sorting system. Bowls, colan-

when people cast envious glances at your new

ders, cutting boards and other accessories are

Bond-like gadget. The Sea-Doo Seascooter GTI

included; faucets sold separately. Look online

is perfect for the ocean, lake or pool. This com-

for offers and prices, or contact the company.

pact, lightweight, water-propelled scooter al-

Prices range from $6,000 to $12,600.

lows you to explore sea life at depths of up to

No paint in the world is quite like new Aura®. Thanks to our exclusive Color Lock™ technology, colors are deeper, richer and more enticing. And for Aura, Benjamin Moore has created Affinity™ colors. These are 144 sophisticated, rich colors that work in harmony with one another, which means that now you can choose your colors with more certainty than ever before. Discover your aura today at myaurapaint.com, or visit us at:

www.kwcamerica.com

100 feet. The GTI comes with its own bag and is easy to carry. Various offers and prices online, but available locally at Sport Dimension in Torrance for $399.99. www.seadooseascooter.com

Supreme Paint Decorating Center

The ultimate in paint and decorating products and personalized services. www.supremepaintdec.com

REDONDO BEACH 1002 So. Pacific Coast Hwy., 310-540-4456

MANHATTAN BEACH 708 No. Sepulveda Blvd., 310-376-2444

TORRANCE 3762 Pacific Coast Hwy., 310-378-4201 © 2007 Benjamin Moore & Co. Aura, Benjamin Moore and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks and Affinity, Quite Simply the Finest Paint We’ve Ever Made and Color Lock are trademarks, licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co.

may/june 2008 spaces 61


cause for applause Photos by James Carbone

Mike and Shannon Mitchell, of the band Karma Dealers, showing their own love during the benefit concert.

Left to right: Norm Harris; Fritz Coleman, KNBC weathercaster and emcee of the evening; Del Breckenfeld, of Fender guitars, who donated auction items; with auctioneer Seth Barsh.

Mudcrutch rocks the house in a benefit for The Midnight Mission From Malibu with love

M

udcrutch – the red-hot band consisting of preHeartbreakers Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, along with Tom Leadon and Randall

Marsh – has been on a whirlwind tour for the release of its new album. But the group isn’t too busy for philanthropy.

The band kicked off its tour on April 12 with a benefit for

An unidentified fan, far left, is obviously smitten by actress Heather Tom, who is flanked by her boyfriend, musician James Achor, left, and Norm Harris.

The Midnight Mission, playing to a packed house at the Malibu Performing Arts Center. The mission, one of the oldest human service organizations in Los Angeles, helps the city’s homeless population gain self-sufficiency through counseling, education, training and job placement.

Mudcrutch guitarist Mike Campbell keeps wife Marcie close by.

A silent auction of rock ’n’ roll memorabilia at the third

annual “From Malibu with Love” concert pushed the total raised for the cause to an estimated $130,000, which will help with much needed shelter, medical care, food, clothing and other resources. Some of the memorabilia sold during the silent auction includes a guitar signed by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Dave Amato of REO Speedwagon.

62 spaces may/june 2008

Left to right: Steve Gellman, Southern California Spaces publisher; Ginger Morris, associate director of development for The Midnight Mission; and Norm Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars, producer of the event.


Relax and let the experts install

your Windows and Doors.

WINDOWS & DOORS Free In-Home Estimate

All jobs quoted & installed by the owner/contractor. License #909141

16 Years of Quality Service Located in the South Bay Area

310.947.1256 www.gerlachwindows.com


cause for applause Photos by Lee Salem

Celebrating Plácido Domingo’s 40th anniversary gala: L.A. Opera Board Chairman Marc Stern and his wife Eva; Domingo; and L.A. Opera Board President Carol Henry and her husband Warner.

Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas

Bravo! Plácido Domingo brings down the house By Pat Diroll

I

ence delivered a sustained standing ovation

dashing tenor drew audible swoons from

ture song, Granada.

the ladies during his 40th anniversary gala

concert at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

guests dined and danced until midnight on

f audience reaction is any measure of sex

with some old Broadway favorites. The audi-

appeal, then Plácido Domingo, at 67, is

still the heartthrob of the opera world. The

that drew three encores including his signaFollowing the concert, more than 600

on April 18. Co-chaired by L.A. Opera Board

the Music Center Plaza, where Stern pre-

Chairman Marc Stern and his wife, Eva, and

sented Domingo with the sword he wielded

Board President Carol Henry and her hus-

in the title role of L.A. Opera’s inaugural pro-

band, Warner, the glamorous black-tie event

duction of Otello in 1986 and a photo album

in Domingo’s honor raised more than $1.5

spanning his four decades in Los Angeles.

million, making it the most successful gala in

the company’s history.

Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, Pat

Domingo shared the stage with soprano

and Michael York, Gena Rowlands, Kelly Lynch

Among those lending their applause were

Patricia Racette and L.A. Opera conductor

and Mitch Glazer, Lois and Buzz Aldrin, Nancy

James Conlon in a program that featured

Daly Riordan, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,

arias from some of his greatest roles in Otello,

Jane Seymour and James Keach, Anne and Kirk

Die Walkure and The Queen of Spades, along

Douglas, and Jane and Michael Eisner.

Left to right: Marvin Antonowsky of Marina del Rey, and Irene Flier; Cat Pollon of Studio City, and Manfred Kuhnert; Inna and Howard Ockelman of Palos Verdes

64 spaces may/june 2008

Gerri Lee Frye of Woodland Hills with artist Gottfried Helnwein and his wife Renata. L.A. Opera conductor James Conlon boogies with daughter Emma.


18 kt custom diamond engagement ring

Signed Tiffany diamond necklace

Custom platinum diamond ring

Certificate diamonds (GIA) estate Jewelry, fine watches & custom designs offered at a fraction of their appraised value. We offer consignment or purchase of your jewelry for immediate payment or we can re-design your Jewelry into something Spectacular! Family owned Jewelers for over 40 years.

Estate Pearl and diamond bracelet

Rolex president, rare factory emerald & diamond bezel and face

/Õià À ££> È« ÊUÊ->Ì £ä> x«

ÜÜÜ°9 ÕÀ iÝÌ > `°V

Estate platinum diamond and emerald watch

Visit Estate Diamond today for a Free Verbal Appraisal


cause for applause Photos by Terri McSweeney and Mary Ann Suprenant

Making music and money for Alzheimer’s research

T

he quest to save old

memories and make

new ones got a boost

April 4 when supporters of the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation raised $40,000 for research.

Working to save memories at the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation benefit luncheon are, from left to right, singer Dale Kristien; honorees Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings and Genevieve McSweeney; and Donna Sussman.

Guests gathered at the

Beverly Hills Hotel to honor Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings, director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UCLA, and Genevieve McSweeney, a longtime board member and past president of the group’s Founding Associates, who sponsored the benefit luncheon. Radio talk show host Michael Reagan lent his voice to emcee the event. He’s flanked by Iris Bovee, left, of Encino, and Eunice David, of Beverly Hills.

Sweet music: Genevieve McSweeney’s grandchildren, Madeline Ryan, left, and Victoria McSweeney.

Singer Dale Kristien, of “Phantom of the

Opera” fame, sang for the cause while pianist Mary Ekler tickled the ivories.

Improve the Look of Your Home with Replacement Windows

» No Stucco Repair Needed » White or Desert Tan » Energy-Efficient Dual Glazed Windows » Glass Options Available » One Day Installation » Grids Available

FREE WINDOW Buy 11 Windows including Installation and GET ONE FREE*

Least expensive window in the order. Please ask for discount at time of order. Not combinable with other offers, discounts or coupons. Expires 6/30/08.

Call Today for a FREE in-Home Estimate! 23032 S. Normandie Avenue, Torrance Ph: 310.326.4141 | Fax: 310.326.9123 License #69762

66 spaces may/june 2008


may/june 2008 spaces 67


southern california

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

In the South Bay…

Agoura Hills Agoura Home Hardware

Tarzana Hye Lighting

El Segundo Sleep All

Jennifer Convertibles

Gardenia Maxx Home Improvement

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

18752 Ventura Blvd 18477 Ventura Blvd.

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

Westlake Village Designer Lighting

23677 Calabasas Rd.

13952 Ventura Blvd.

24460 Calabasas Rd.

13950 Ventura Blvd.

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

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.

68 spaces may/june 2008

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.

Woof & Warp Fabrics

Hardwood Floor Specialties

2198 Lakewood Blvd.

213 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.

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

5001 E. Second St.

Floor Design Center

Greg’s Carpet One

2600 Marine Ave.

Hermosa Beach Bali House

Woodland Hills De Light Ville

6416 Variel Ave

Wall Units Home Furnishings 6507 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

31139 Via Colinas, #203

Ferguson Kitchen & Bath

Ferguson

1855 Pacific Ave.

1625 W. 190th St.

6511-A Pacific Coast Hwy.

22766 Ventura Blvd.

Tu Casa Furniture

59001 Gifts, Home Furnishings 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

Ever meet a guy who couldn’t remember anniversaries? Odds are he didn’t become a Bryant dealer. We not only remember when you bought your furnace or air conditioner - we’ll even send you a friendly reminder when it’s time for service. One more way we’ll always be there for you. Whatever It Takes.SM

21135 Hawthorne Blvd.

119 Main St.

123 Main St.

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

700 W. 190th Ave.

Interior Door & Closet Company 2675 Skypark Drive

Luxury Nail Spa 4856 190th Ave.

Plumber’s Furniture Collection

coming next issue

Spaces_1-3SqNONBLEED copy.indt 1

130 Main St.

1361 190th Ave.

Making an “entrance” is always

Sleep All

Supreme Paint Decorating Centers

important, especially when it’s about

304 Main St.

Sofa-U-Love

708 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

The Picture Show Gallery

3762 Pacific Coast Hwy.

find out how to make the best of

Torrance Plumbing, Heating & AC

your home’s curb appeal with unique

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.

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

your own home. In our next issue,

doors, arches, tiles and strategically placed ornaments. We’ll also show you a magical rose garden in the South Bay and bring you inside The Valley’s top rated deli.

Available June 27

Amore Stone & Tile 24242 Hawthorne Blvd.

818.713.3294 spacesmag.com Our homes. Ourselves. may/june 2008 spaces 69


historical spaces

Next stop – Los Encinos A former stagecoach depot that’s still a major draw

W

ater is the key to life and a natural spring in Encino is what drew the ancient Tongva tribe

— now extinct — to the area thousands of years

ago. More recently, Rancho El Encino was established in the

1800s as a result of a land trade between the priests at the San Fernando Mission and Francisco Reyes.

The original eight-room adobe was a popular resting place

along El Camino Real, now Ventura Boulevard.

The site also includes a blacksmith shop, a limestone

building built by Eugene Garnier, a shepherd who fashioned it after his family’s farmhouse in France, and a duck pond fed by the natural spring.

The buildings and five acres of land now belong to the

California State Department of Parks and Recreation — and

Los Encinos State Historic Park 16756 Moorpark Street Encino 818.784.4849 Open 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free.

can be enjoyed by all. PHOTOS: (TOP AND MIDDLE) JULIA DANDURAND, (BOTTOM) SYLVIA EDSON


There are those who admire the extraordinary. And those who define it. Experience our definition.

Decorate your driveway with a Land Rover. Land Rover Encino 15800 Ventura Blvd 1-866-GO-ROVER www.landroverencino.com


Elegance in outdoor living.

Outdoor Furniture

Shade Equipment

Home Accessories

Indoor Bar Stools

Gas Logs & Firepits

LUXURY OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS Fireplace Furnishings berkspatio.com

GRAND OPENING – AGOURA HILLS 28505 Canwood St. 818.991.7447

SANTA MONICA

2520 Santa Monica Blvd. 310.828.7447

S e r v i n g S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a f o r O v e r 5 0 Ye a r s


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.