Good Morning!
Happy Wednesday!
As the business goes, we as agents are where our clients need. This past week, LA called, and I had to answer (not even slightly begrudgingly). This week’s edition of Finding Space is OOM, as we discuss the homes I saw, the places I ate, and everything in between. Without further ado, let’s get into it - I have a lot to say.
The journey to LA from the East Coast is always a long one, except I must commend whoever my pilot was this trip, as they saved us 1 hour on the way there. No matter how many times I fly, I will never understand why we can cut so much time off; it’s one of life’s biggest mysteries. Regardless, I highly recommend the earliest flight out that isn’t a redeye (my favorite is the 6 AM out of JFK on JetBlue).
The first house I visited on my trip was a gorgeous quasi split-level tucked high up in the Hollywood Hills. One thing about me - I LOVE the Hollywood Hills, and the further from the world I can feel, the better. This 3-bed, 3-bath asking $3,700,000 felt like an escape from the city below. The entire renovation and landscape were completed by the owners themselves, and no detail was overlooked. Every inch of this house screamed attention to detail. Frankly, I find many renovations still leave something to be desired since they’re so pointed toward personal taste. Still, this home was thoughtfully designed with the current owner’s use in mind, but also future residents.
You’re probably looking at these pictures, asking yourself, Jonathan, why would you show me two toilets and every option of colored bathroom fixture imaginable? Well, the question is twofold. For one, the house was built in 1929 and is currently on the market for the first time in 72 years. There’s something about seeing a time capsule of sorts in a home; having the ability to look back at trends that I’ve always loved. While maybe not always the taste of today’s standards, it’s fascinating to see what WAS the consumer’s taste during the time the home was built. The second angle on this home and the importance of the colored bathrooms is the resurgence of this trend in American homes. It was always a moment of pause when running into a black toilet rather than the standard white, but I’ve begun to see the opting for colored fixtures, which I’m not necessarily mad about. An aubergine sink with a matching toilet? Kind of chic, no?
Another house I viewed was in the Hollywood Dell area of LA. This property took a more natural approach to being surrounded by nature, but it worked well with the home’s features. One of the biggest attractions to this property was its pool. A grotto-shaped pool will always catch my attention, and this one had a hot tub at the top of the waterfall… how fun! I’m always worried about the sunlight factor when up in the hills. You can get caught on the wrong side of a canyon and not see the sun or get it in the house directly, but this wasn’t a property that suffered. In fact, it had so many windows, the light was blinding from every corner - just how I like it.
The real estate in LA is so different from what I normally look at, so any chance I have to help clients in CA, I’m happy to do so. Should you need anything in Los Angeles, don’t hesitate to contact me or the team. We’re happy to help.
Everyone says the culinary experience in NY is the best, but I find the food in LA to be equally as delicious. On top of great food, LA has the added benefit of interesting locations creating unparalleled ambiance. Bacari Silver Lake is perfect for date night or a group dinner. Tapas-style dining, you’re able to order many different options and really get a feel for the menu. Some of the highlights? The shrimp ceviche, fried chicken sliders, noa’s cauliflower, and the glazed pork belly.
In honor of the dolphins I saw while in Malibu, this week’s color swatch is Behr’s Dolphin Blue. You all know, I love a blue-grey, and this is no exception. In a place like Malibu, this color would complement the surroundings in almost any room, but if you’re looking to bring the beach to you, I think this darker blue could work well as a wall-to-wall moment in an office or powder room.
As always, thank you SO MUCH for reading Finding Space. I hope you enjoyed this week’s OOM edition!
Chat Soon
Jonathan
Thanks for the peek at LA real estate, and I can’t wait to tell your grandparents you have given their colored fixtures your stamp of approval!
Fabuluxe… more LA content please!