Real Estate - South Bay / South East

Walking into boutique-style luxury

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Walking into boutique-style luxury
By Kavita Dawsani
Houzz, the online platform for home remodeling and design, did astudy last year on bedroom design trends. A key finding: More than half of master bedroom renovations involved closet revamps, and the majority of those renovations led to larger closet spaces.

2016, by way of the 1920s and ’60s

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

2016, by way of the 1920s and ’60s
By Carren Jao
The screened-in sitting porch was an immediate giveaway. The home’s original oversized living room and formal dining room were amenities for a bygone age. Ditto for its color palette: honey-colored wood floors and finishes with pink and green accents..

In loo of a private retreat

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

In loo of a private retreat
By Michelle Hofmann
There’s a sign on the door that makes it clear that it’s mine. The sign has my logo on it, but I’m having a keypad installed so that I can lock it and unlock it. I have a giant shower, a urinal, a shoe rack, abench, a ton of drawer space, a closet and an amazing sink.

Upscale, without ditching its grit

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Upscale, without ditching its grit
By Scott Garner
Venice founder Abbot Kinney took a coastal marshland, drained it with a series of canals and created a planned community that would use those same canals as a selling point, pouring $500,000 into improvements that one contemporary flier trumpeted as “characteristic of the original Venice” (that would be the one in Italy).

Bob Newhart is the top act in Bel-Air

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Bob Newhart is the top act in Bel-Air
By Neal J. Leitereg
Set on 1.37 acres of grounds, the property centers on a French country-style home designed by noted architect Wallace Neff and built in 1941. The 9,169-square-foot house includes five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and five fireplaces. A great room has doors leading to the backyard.

A nod to that ’80s show

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

A nod to that ’80s show
By Neal J. Leitereg
If the ’80s were a home, the decade of feathered bangs, boomboxes and MTV programming might look something like this residence in Sierra Madre. Vivid purple accents and lighting stand out against silvery notes of corrugated steel for a postmodern look.

Estate with a star-studded lineage

Sat, 28 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Estate with a star-studded lineage
By Neal J. Leitereg and Lauren Beale
In 1954, Dwight D. Eisenhower was in his first term as president, Willie Mays made The Catch, “Mr. Sandman” was on the radio — and ahouse that became a favorite hangout for Hollywood elite was built on Pamela Drive..

Richards’ ex-gym is still a place to keep fit

Sat, 21 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Richards’ ex-gym is still a place to keep fit
By Kavita Dawsani
To create it, the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” reality star took over the area that was a gym and moved the gym to a guest room. Richards then enlisted interior decorator Faye Resnick to design the dressing room in her Bel-Air home, outfitting it in shades of white and silver-gray.

A historic gateway, still evolving

Sat, 21 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

A historic gateway, still evolving
By Scott Garner
Mexican Americans have made their homes there since the 1800s, and the early 20th century saw African Americans, Japanese, Russians, Poles, Serbs, Italians and Jews from Eastern Europe settle on or at the foot of the bluffs on the L.A. River’s east bank.

Want drama? Look out

Sat, 21 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Want drama? Look out
By Neal J. Leitereg
Designed for entertaining, the multilevel house features a 10- person theater, a lower-level lounge and an infinity-edge pool. The master suite caters to the well-dressed, accessories-obsessed professional, with separate handbag and shoe rooms..

It’s up to the next crop of growers

Sat, 21 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

It’s up to the next crop of growers
By Valli Herman
Shortly after buying a 1935 Spanish-style house in 2001, Kolla eyed its vast, prosaic yard and determined that a flower farm would yield a self-sustaining return.

A change of genre in Calabasas

Sat, 21 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

A change of genre in Calabasas
By Neal J. Leitereg
Vibrant hues, eccentric fixtures and stone floors are common themes throughout the 7,786 square feet of interiors, which include six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. A formal living room offers an unblemished look, with crisp white furnishings and beige wallpaper, and a two-story dining room pairs green-clad walls with purple curtains and ceilings.

Thinking inside the box is OK too

Sat, 21 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Thinking inside the box is OK too
By Carren Jao
First, Majd stripped the house down to one wall, which is now embedded in a new wall, and raised the entire foundation by 12 inches to place the home above the 100-year-flood level. Then he created a master suite by building a triangle-shaped addition with a patio at the back.

Deep, foreign pockets leave Bel-Air

Sat, 14 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Deep, foreign pockets leave Bel-Air
By Neal J. Leitereg
The high-end market in Los Angeles has long been a popular spot for pocket-heavy foreign buyers looking to park their money, but recent top sales saw one international investor cashing out on the Westside. Here’s a look at the most expensive homes that changed hands in the last two weeks of April.

Walk this way to urban vitality

Sat, 14 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Walk this way to urban vitality
By Scott Garner
The evocative name we know the neighborhood by today is a nod to former Water Board Commissioner Herman Silver, for whom the larger of the two William Mulholland-designed reservoirs at the heart of the neighborhood was named (the smaller carries on the historic “Ivanhoe” name).

Don’t get too serious here

Sat, 14 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Don’t get too serious here
By Neal J. Leitereg
Those summer temperatures are no sweat at this tricked-out estate. The sprawling home in a gated North Ranch community makes a splash with a custom infinity-edge swimming pool complete with dueling water slides, a raised spa and cascading waterfalls. Inside, grand formal areas give way to fun amenities such as a custom theater and game room.

Former bunny’s kitchen tell-all

Sat, 14 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Former bunny’s kitchen tell-all
By Mary Forgione
Iuse the room for cooking and socializing. I love the space —a large kitchen with a big island in the middle that everybody can kind of congregate around. ... It’s separate enough from the rest of house to have its own theme and look..

Sale follows price knock-downs

Sat, 14 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Sale follows price knock-downs
By Neal J. Leitereg
The custom three-story with cityscape and ocean views came up for sale a year ago for about $10 million and was more recently priced at $7.949 million, records show. “The Muscles from Brussels,” as he is nicknamed, bought the house four years ago for $6 million.

First thing to move out: your ego

Sat, 14 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

First thing to move out: your ego
By Carren Jao
Home stagers are fairy godmothers to for-sale homes in need of a quick and modern makeover. With their eye for design, access to avast collection of furniture and accessoriesand a small army of helpers, they turn frumpy, outdated homes into catalog-worthy havens.

Worlds collide in great room

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Worlds collide in great room
By Mary Forgione
The former “Star Trek: Voyager” actress, who played Borg Seven of Nine from 1997 to 2001on the popular TV series, owns a sprawling six-bedroom spread that she and husband Christophe Emé designed to resemble a farmhouse in Provence. After living in the home for 15 years, they’re now selling it for an asking price of $7 million.

Victorian matron was a sprightly lass

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Victorian matron was a sprightly lass
By Neal J. Leitereg
Standing three floors tall, the 1890s home is entered through a domed turret, once the focal point of lavish parties and soirees. Inside, the spirit of a bygone era is evidenced in hand-carved details, stained glass windows and a hidden bar room complete with a secret door.

Builder’s designs put women first

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Builder’s designs put women first
By R. Daniel Foster
“There’s a place for women to be digging really functional, smart homes,” said Gordon, who lives in apersonally renovated Marina del Rey home. “For women, kitchens aren’t just kitchens anymore; they’ve become both hearths and hubs. I find myself using my laptop on the island, getting work done.

Hot spots shift, but rise continues

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Hot spots shift, but rise continues
By Scott Garner
Before the city atomized itself and marched — first along the trails blazed by trolley lines and excursion trains, and later along a vast network of freeways — westward toward the sea, Victorian L.A. crouched in the lee of Bunker Hill, the acropolis where the wealthy lived.

When there’s guilt by association

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

When there’s guilt by association
By Scott Garner
The City of Angels is home to many of the most glamorous residences in the world — and some of the most notorious. Here at Hot Property, we often put together lists of the most jawdropping Malibu mansions or the priciest home sales of the month.

Single-story starred Steve McQueen

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Single-story starred Steve McQueen
Ceiling beams emphasize the home’s strong horizontal lines. The updated kitchen features stainless-steel appliances and acenter island. The master suite has a fireplace and a sitting area, for a total of three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. The guest suite has a separate entrance.

In the mood for living in color?

Sat, 07 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT

In the mood for living in color?
By Neal J. Leitereg and Lauren Beale
The three-story home was compartmentalized and the interior spaces dark when he bought the property five years ago for $3.95 million. Landry reworked the house to create open-plan spaces and bring in natural light. The driveway is adorned with artistic geometric shapes.

Here she can put her feet up

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Here she can put her feet up
By Mary Forgione
The “King of Queens” star, who also did a stint on “Dancing With the Stars,” worked on key room makeovers for free. That balcony looking into the neighbors’ yard? It became a cozy oasis with a privacy wall, bench and fire pit. The underutilized dining area? It’s been transformed too.

An embrace of the wide, open spaces

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

An embrace of the wide, open spaces
By R. Daniel Foster
Since launching his Culver City-based firm 25 years ago, Wilkinson has blown open corporate cubicle culture with his nonconformist designs. He’s likened the boxy office chambers to “chicken farming” that are “humiliating, disenfranchising and isolating.

Luxury market showing signs of life

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Luxury market showing signs of life
By Neal J. Leitereg
AGeorgian-style traditional in the 700 block of North Alta Drive sold for $4.095 million less than the November list price of $24.995 million. The seller was Alta Property Group, a limited liability company based in West Hollywood; the buyer was another entity based out of Beverly Hills.

Higher education: a smart move

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Higher education: a smart move
By Scott Garner
While the campus of UCLA rose to the north, the Jansses made another far-sighted decision that would cement Westwood’s status as a destination neighborhood: They created a Mediterraneanthemed master-planned commercial development dubbed Westwood Village.

Putting their subjects in the best light

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Putting their subjects in the best light
By Carren Jao
Professionally photographed homes sell faster and for more money than homes listed with point-and-shoot photos, according to a 2013 Redfin study. The report found that for homes priced between $400,000 and $499,999, those with professional pictures sold for an average of $11,200 more than homes with amateur photos.

Casual, on a higher level

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Casual, on a higher level
By Neal J. Leitereg
Set on a bluff-top acre, the two-story captures an exotic feel with ipe wood siding, a live-coral aquarium and tropical palms and tree specimens. A rooftop putting green and indoor-outdoor wet bar further a casual yet contemporary atmosphere..

Where young, old get along famously

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Where young, old get along famously
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
The airy, loft-like warehouse decorated with unique home furnishings, live foliage and thoughtful touches of feng shui was recently used as a location for “The Bachelorette” — and previously starred on episodes of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Thor’s smaller Malibu footprint

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Thor’s smaller Malibu footprint
By Neal J. Leitereg and Lauren Beale
On the sale side, the couple saw asolid return on investment in the deal for their Point Dume-area home. The renovated Victorian formerly owned by fellow Australian Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski fetched $500,000 over the asking price, or $2.2 million more than what Hemsworth and Pataky paid for it three years ago: $4.

Meal prep is child’s play

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Meal prep is child’s play
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
As brand ambassador for appliance manufacturer Fisher & Paykel, the French restaurateur and television personality was given carte blanche to select his favorite products and transform the family’s kitchen in Sherman Oaks. The biggest priority: making sure the appliances accommodated little Luca and Rêve, his children with wife Krissy.

Youthful vigor drives grande dame

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Youthful vigor drives grande dame
By R. Daniel Foster
Her formula for remaining relevant well into the 21st century: akeen eye for trends, a knack for Instagram, acres of patience and a youthfulenergy. “I always involve myself with young people,” Rey said with effortless charm. “I have apretty young spirit.

When it’s just like home — but better

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

When it’s just like home — but better
By Kavita Dawsani
When Ed Kushins was preparing his Hermosa Beach home for guests from Vancouver recently, he threw in some surprises: golf clubs to use during the tee time he had prearranged, a list of favorite restaurants and a map of scenic bike paths. He also set up a barbecue with the neighbors.

For elite stagers, it’s the art of the deal

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

For elite stagers, it’s the art of the deal
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
When staging a newly renovated estate in Pacific Palisades on the site of President Ronald Reagan’s former home, the developers brought in Picasso sketches, works by David Hockney and Donald Sultan, a Vija Celmins ocean lithograph and two Ethan Murrow drawings.

Pacific view via the East Coast

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Pacific view via the East Coast
By Carren Jao
The 48-year-old reality-television producer’s Manhattan Beach home, in the pricey oceanfront stretch known as the Strand, looks like it was plucked out of his childhood in Ventnor City, N.J., a beach town that shares the same boardwalk as Atlantic City.

Upscale charm, inclusive spirit

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Upscale charm, inclusive spirit
By Scott Garner
More than 100 years ago, where sprawling mansions and towering shade trees now stand between Wilshire Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, there was a massive field of oil derricks owned by the Hancock family, whichalso mined the famous tar pits to the west for asphalt to pave the streets of San Francisco.

Classic stays true to form

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Classic stays true to form
By Neal J. Leitereg
This post-and-beam in Sherman Oaks Estates, a shining example of the modernist form, was restored and updated in keeping with architect Richard Dorman’s original footprint. Clean lines and classic midcentury details form the crux of the home, built in 1959.

Ending a long run in Brentwood

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Ending a long run in Brentwood
By Neal J. Leitereg
The close to 8,000-square-foot main house takes in views of mature trees and flowers. A billiards room, a family room with a fireplace and a study/office are among the living spaces, which feature hardwood floors and high ceilings..

A little bit of Mayberry by the sea

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

A little bit of Mayberry by the sea
By Scott Garner
But before the Methodists put it on the map, the Palisades cycled through a number of different identities, none of which stuck: resort town (done in by the land bust of the 1890s), candidate for the site of L.A.’s new port (lost out to San Pedro) and primary home of Thomas Ince’s movie-making empire (nudged aside by Culver City).

Life on Carolwood Drive, a.k.a. Easy Street

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Life on Carolwood Drive, a.k.a. Easy Street
By Lauren Beale
Listed at $150 million, the more than 2-acre estate is rubbing elbows with the priciest behemoths of the Westside residential real estate world. The nearby Playboy Mansion notched the top spot with a $200-million asking price. The Danny Thomas estate in Beverly Hills is being marketed at $135 million.

Bird Streets action may signal a takeoff

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Bird Streets action may signal a takeoff
By Neal J. Leitereg
So far this year, we’ve seen more than 20 home sales of $10 million or more, only a slight uptick from the previous year, plus just a handful of $20-million-plus sales. Safe to say, the market for higher high-end homes in the Greater Los Angeles area has yet to cut loose in 2016.

Pulled out to sea in Laguna

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Pulled out to sea in Laguna
By Neal J. Leitereg
Crowning a promontory overlooking Laguna Beach, this exotic estate runs the gamut in resortstyle comforts. Contemporary interiors dressed in notes of Bali style appeal to a wide palette, with chef’s and catering kitchens, a glassed-in wine cellar and a recording studio.

The logic of the island corner sinks in

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

The logic of the island corner sinks in
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
The Atlanta designer says that although the concept is a natural space saver, the sink can also be used in kitchens with generous square footage. Recently, he installed a lengthy island that was 11 feet long by 5 feet wide and put in two corner sinks, “one on each end, and there was all that space in between.

Spears looks to push the B-side

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Spears looks to push the B-side
By Neal J. Leitereg
Sliding walls of glass invite indoor-outdoor entertaining and open to a wide covered patio with an alfresco dining room, a fireplace and a circular wet bar. The swimming pool spa was redone during Spears’ ownership and has abeach entry, a spa and a cascading waterfall feature.

Selling stigmatized properties

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Selling stigmatized properties
By Neal J. Leitereg
That’s normal in Los Angeles, one of the nation’s fastest-moving markets. But this time, the wave of interest wasn’t sparked by the home’s impressive location, on a hillside overlooking downtown L.A., nor was it for its asking price of $2.75 million. Instead, the lookyloos were drawn by the home’s grisly past.

Discoveries on the roads less traveled

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Discoveries on the roads less traveled
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
Suad Cano is no ordinary traveler. The Venice resident regularly crisscrosses Africa, Asia and the Middle East to collect one-of-akind pottery, furniture, textiles and other artifacts. That’s yielded abounty of both lore and loot — enough to fill a 50,000-square-foot warehouse.

The art of design is live and well

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

The art of design is live and well
By Kavita Dawsani
The Palm Springs designer specializes in interior plantscaping. He works with interior decorators and general landscapers to bring leafy greenery to interior spaces, paying artful consideration not just to what plant should go wherebut to the...

Valley’s heart has a robust beat

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Valley’s heart has a robust beat
By Scott Garner
The postwar boom made it a thriving middle-class area with plenty of high-wage manufacturing jobs, and some of the Camaros that came off the local GM plant’s assembly line rolled right out onto Van Nuys Boulevardas the broad thoroughfare became the center of L.

That super deal takes superhero skills

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

That super deal takes superhero skills
By R. Daniel Foster
Olympian home deals require more than mere mortals to execute them. When brokering estates, agents have to navigate the labyrinthine teams that orbit elite clients and squeeze in meetings around their tightly packed schedules. Their task is downright herculean.

Seeing 2 sides to her story

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Seeing 2 sides to her story
By Carren Jao
Leslie Shapiro Joyal is a modernist furniture and interior designer whose aesthetic is heavily influenced by her time working for the late, great architect Franklin Israel.

Estate has royal roots

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Estate has royal roots
By Neal J. Leitereg
This palatial home is fit for royalty, which makes sense, given that it was commissioned for the family of the sultan of Brunei in the late 1990s. But the family never moved into the Italian villa, near Conrad Hilton’s longtime estate in Old Bel-Air. Instead, it was sold unfinished and later completed in 2003.

Moby knows the neighborhood

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Moby knows the neighborhood
By Neal J. Leitereg
Aformal living room, a chandelier-topped dining room, a media room and an eat-in cook’s kitchen are among the common areas. A total of five bedrooms and seven bathrooms includes a master suite with a fireplace and his-and-her bathrooms and a two-story children’s suite with a loft.

Even cooler on the outside

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Even cooler on the outside
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
Inherently cool and delightfully colorful, the newest collection of limited-edition FAB28 SMEG fridges are the product of an unlikely marriage between style-savvy Italian appliance manufacturer SMEG and Milan-based fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. Turns out thatthe two companies go together like meatballs and sauce.

Downtown living is a doggy treat

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Downtown living is a doggy treat
By Kavita Dawsani
“[Apartment dwellers] were getting the workout facilities, the pool, every amenity they could want. But then they started saying, ‘Oh, I have a dog,’” said Jim Jacobson, senior vice president of sales for Douglas Elliman Real Estate’s development marketing.

It’s the flow that she flips for

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

It’s the flow that she flips for
By Mary Forgione
The actress is best known for her role as Dr. Tina McGee in the early 1990s television show “The Flash” and a reprise of that role in 2014 on the CW network. She’s also an interior designer with a passion for buying homes and renovating them.

Bloom and boom on the Westside

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Bloom and boom on the Westside
By Scott Garner
Though L.A. had an oppressive system of discriminatory housing covenants, the area thrived as a center of Japanese life, with Sawtelle Boulevard at its bustling heart.

Wildly quiet by the beach

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Wildly quiet by the beach
By Neal J. Leitereg
It’s situated in Malibu, but with its cedar, concrete and stone details and peaceful location alongside a natural stream, this modernist home near Little Dume feels more cabin retreat than beach-house getaway. A nearby guesthouse — standing tall among a backdrop of palms and tropical flora— gives the illusion of being in a treehouse.

School sinks fit for home work

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

School sinks fit for home work
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
Installation wasn’t a problem, but she notes that the cast-iron sink, available in 3-foot, 4-foot and 5-foot lengths, is super-heavy. Although the wall-mounted trough can be installed with the bottom exposed, Hansen chose to build hers into a countertop.

Producing $11.5 million for Apatow

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Producing $11.5 million for Apatow
By Neal J. Leitereg
Another round of high-dollar sales resulted in a small mint’s worth of cash changing hands around the Greater Los Angeles area. Among the movers and shakers was a big-name producer, asports franchise owner and a manufacturing heiress. Here’s a look at the most expensive homes sold in the last two weeks.

JLo opens up and prices down

Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT

JLo opens up and prices down
By Neal J. Leitereg
The more than three-acre property in the Ashley Ridge area of the gated equestrian community has 17,129 square feet of living space and a slew of amenities. A resort-style swimming pool with a spa, a children’s play area and an outdoor living room make the most of the region’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

These open houses are a secret

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

These open houses are a secret
By Lauren Beale
The next day a private tour brought 40 members of Soho House — one of the most hard-toget-into members-only clubs in town — to view the 12,000-squarefoot Spanish-style main residence and guesthouse. Two brokers also brought clients to look at the place.

Built-in calm allows areboot

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Built-in calm allows areboot
By Mary Forgione
Ara Katz loves the beachy but urban vibe of Venice. The 37-yearold co-founder of shopping app Spring has been living in a live-andwork space on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, designed by Michael Sant, that brings a deliberate urban tone to the beach community.

A sketchy character has gone legit

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

A sketchy character has gone legit
By Scott Garner
You can still, in certain haunts where old L.A. punks are known to gather, hear tales of the fabled late 1970s as experienced by the artists, writers and musicians who inhabited the strip of abandoned industrial land between Alameda Street and the river that became known as the Arts District.

Amid the egos, Fridman keeps it real

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Amid the egos, Fridman keeps it real
By R. Daniel Foster
Given a career finessing deals in such rarefied air, one might expect a personality that veers to the cosmetic. Instead, Fridman possesses an authentic charm that disarms — optimal for elite clientele who live behind guarded gates. “He’s a sweetheart of a guy, very popular around the business,” said Ewing’s founder, Roger Ewing.

Design lays it on the line

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Design lays it on the line
By Lauren Beale
This sleek single-level home pulls off a contemporary design coup with its emphasis on horizontal lines. Wide walls of glass doors slide open electronically to connect open-plan indoor and outdoor living spaces. City and ocean views stretch to the horizon.

Making a profit is always in style

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Making a profit is always in style
By Neal J. Leitereg and Lauren Beale
The neoclassical home, built in 2000, has a timeless appearance. Inside the front door, a grand two-story entry with a sweeping staircase sets a sophisticated tone that is carried throughout the house with such details as mahogany floors, ceiling medallions and detailed moldings.

Grandma loosens up, gets down

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Grandma loosens up, gets down
By Carren Jao
Gone are the honey-colored wood-paneled walls, tiled roof, brick pavers and unruly greenery. Developer Lucie Idleman of D’Oro Development transformed the antiquated 1965 ranch-style home on acorner lot to a contemporary retreat for a savvy, Silicon Beach entrepreneur.

Not to live in, just to look at

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Not to live in, just to look at
By Mary Forgione
Josh Flagg is the estate homes director for Rodeo Realty and star of the Bravo series “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” The 30-yearold real estate agent has written two books, “A Simple Girl: Stories My Grandmother Told Me” (about fashion design mogul Edith Flagg) and “Million Dollar Agent: Brokering the Dream.

Happy in Griffith Park’s shadow

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Happy in Griffith Park’s shadow
By Scott Garner
Angelenos have been attracted to living on the ruggedly beautiful slopes below what is now known as Mt. Hollywood since at least 10,000 years ago.

Bright idea: Follow the sun

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Bright idea: Follow the sun
By Neal J. Leitereg
This contemporary twist on a Craftsman classic is an illuminating exercise in old-meets-new design. The original 1915 bungalow and a modern addition were fashioned to follow the movement of the sun, naturally lighting the interiors throughout the day..

New administration in the Palisades

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

New administration in the Palisades
By Lauren Beale
But if you want in on the action, you won’t find the 12,000-squarefoot Spanish Revival-style home publicly listed. The developer and investor-owner, Jaman Properties, is relying on word of mouth and invitation-only parties to sell the estate and guesthouses that occupy the site of the Reagans’ onetime home.

2 mavericks made a winning team

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

2 mavericks made a winning team
By R. Daniel Foster
Thrice-married Bubeck had this quick and honest answer when asked about his imaginative fixes and thirst for speed: “I didn’t think it could be done, so I did it.”.

Dion asks less for her aqua palace

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Dion asks less for her aqua palace
By Neal J. Leitereg and Lauren Beale
Singer Celine Dion has been seeking a buyer for her estate on Jupiter Island, Fla. — which includes a 500,000-gallon water park —for more than two years now, ever since she listed the place for $72.5 million. The asking price is now at $45.5 million..

After a ruff day, a quiet soak at home

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT

After a ruff day, a quiet soak at home
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
“While some people may think it’s silly to buy something for your dog that’s got a $1,000 price tag, that is really about the same as 10 or 12 trips to the groomer,” said Dave Ortwein, executive vice president of Hydro Systems in Valencia.

A luxury ‘home within a home’

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

A luxury ‘home within a home’
By Neal J. Leitereg
Michael Rachlin has designed some pretty impressive venues. He’s the architect behind the renovation of Los Angeles City Hall. He designed space for the 1984 Olympic Games. But one of his favorite rooms? The master bedroom at a recent project: an oceanfront contemporary in Malibu listed at $15 million.

What’s on the outside counts

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

What’s on the outside counts
By BONNIE MCCARTHY
be the thing that rises up to meet you.” That’s serious curb appeal. “We live in a crazy world,” says Laura Morton, certified landscape professional and owner of Laura Morton Design in West Hollywood. “We have busy days. ... When you come back home you should feel that you’ve arrived somewhere that is already putting you in a good mood.

A fairy tale set in the 1920s

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

A fairy tale set in the 1920s
By Neal J. Leitereg
Croquet, anyone? A storybook setting surrounds this gated twohouse estate, which features mature oaks, formal gardens and a koi pond with a cascading waterfall. The carriage house has been used in recent years as a rehearsal space and concert venue.

It’s a concept that’s been a-round

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

It’s a concept that’s been a-round
By Neal J. Leitereg
Dotseth is the listing agent for a dome home in Vista that has 3,800 square feet across three levels. “It can be challenging to find the right fit for things,” Dotseth says. “But some people absolutely love them.” Don’t believe her? Just check her Facebook page.

Dueling vibes on the Westside

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Dueling vibes on the Westside
By Scott Garner
Ninety years ago, Mar Vista was little more than vast fields of lima beans — with an amazing view of the Pacific. Today, those ocean views have helped Mar Vista evolve into one of L.A. most desirable Westside neighborhoods, with skyrocketing property values to prove it.

It was cool cash for Al Martino’s home

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

It was cool cash for Al Martino’s home
By Neal J. Leitereg
Owned by the Martino family for decades, the house has formal living and dining rooms, a family room, an office, four bedrooms and seven bathrooms in 5,500 square feet of space. A separate guesthouse features a wet bar salvaged from a home of mob boss Ben “Bugsy” Siegel.

Another Kardashian in Calabasas

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Another Kardashian in Calabasas
By Neal J. Leitereg
Within the 4,256 square feet of interiors are family and living rooms, a center-island kitchen, a library/office, four bedrooms and five bathrooms. A double-height dining room has a butler’s pantry and French doors that open to an intimate courtyard, perfect to keep out the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

Homes in the low $500,000s

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Homes in the low $500,000s
Half a million bucks goes a long way in certain parts of SoCal and might get you a piece of the driveway in others (we’re looking at you, Malibu). Here’s a look at what you can buy for around $510,000, the median sale price in January for single-family homes in Los Angeles County.