The Ajioka House

Buff & Hensman

Designed by fabulous mid-century architectural firm Buff & Hensman, this 1960 Nichols Canyon home had been the victim of some less-than-awesome alterations when the current owner purchased it in 2008. (It had "a built-with-duct-tape feel," he toldArchitectural Digest in 2011.) Luckily, the entire three-bedroom residence received a large-scale renovation under the oversight of the design firm Commune (which worked on the Ace Hotel in DTLA), relieving it of its blemishes and leaving only the good stuff behind.
Sited on .75 acres, the main house is paneled inside and out with reclaimed wood, and boasts a 2,000-bottle wine cellar, a cavernous kitchen, and a giant deck with a full bar and fire pit. Off of the main home, the office over the garage and the pool house (with a roof deck!) provide nearby escapes. Called the Ajioka House in the listing (a name not mentioned in online archives or in the Buff & Hensman book), it last sold in 2008 for $2.5 million, and is now being offered off-market* at $6 million.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/11/updated_buff_hensman_in_nichols_canyon_asking_6mm.php

Catts & Doggs Pet Boutique

Catts & Doggs Pet Boutique

If you live in Silverlake or Los Feliz you may already frequent Catts and Doggs Pet Boutique. Located in a small mall at the corner of Rowena and Hyperion Ave next to Pinkberry, owner and operator David Aouate originally from Paris landed in Los Angeles in 2008 after stints in Miami and New York City.  

Catts & Doggs offers pet supplies, accessories and full service grooming.  The business has been in operation for 17 years with an emphasis on a pets holistic health.  David has been at the helm since 2009 and chooses brands that are antibiotic and hormone free; Taste of the Wild, Wellness, Natural Balance and Solid Gold, most of which are manufactured here in California.  My dogs love the Taste of the Wild Salmon!

I asked David what peoples biggest misconceptions are about his business and he replied  "How much time it takes to groom a pet".

In his spare time David's passion is car racing, his father was a Formula 1 driver in France.  His favorite neighborhood restaurant is Speranza but he also loves Mozza and Terroni if he's further west.

Drop in to say hello to David and his staff when you're in the neighborhood.
2833 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

http://www.cattsanddoggs.com/

1220 N. Orange Grove Ave #7 West Hollywood CA 90046

New Listing in West Hollywood

Offered at $949,000

Looking for a home oozing with style and design?  Step into this three-story West Hollywood town house and you’ll be sold.  Arguably the best unit in the building with only one common wall the main level features an open floor plan, polished concrete floors with radiant heat, exposed steel and expansive windows that open to a private balcony.  The mezzanine loft opens to the main living space below while the upper levels host two en suite bedrooms with over-sized walk in closets and expansive views of the Hollywood Hills.  Upper guest bedroom opens to a private balcony.  Gated garage for two deeded tandem spaces, guest parking, plus extra/secure storage.  Don’t miss out on this incredible unit priced at only $494 per Sq. Ft.

Open Sat 15th /Sun 16th  1-4pm

Share This Listing

The World has Discovered Los Angeles

If you're new to Los Angeles you've no doubt heard long-time Angelenos talk about the not-too-distant past when this city was more affordable.  Weren't we just in The Great Recession and how did the market flip so quickly?  

Let's step back a bit.....  My family relocated to Los Angeles from San Francisco in 2005.  The first thing I noticed was that the cost of living was significantly less than that of San Francisco and New York. Also visibly noticeable were numerous tracts of the city with vacant lots or buildings in disrepair.  I didn't understand why an area like Hollywood with easy access to major freeways and downtown Los Angeles was so undervalued.  It was like a vacuum between the midtown neighborhoods of Beverly Center and West Hollywood to Los Feliz and Silverlake and further east.  This was prior to the recession during the height of the real estate market.

Fast forward nine years and this city looks completely different than it did during the boom that took place in the early 2000s.  Downtown LA has seen rapid growth, Venice and Santa Monica real estate prices are through the roof, and homes above the Sunset Strip that sold for $2-3 million before the recession are now selling for $8-20 million or higher.

Los Angeles is in a renaissance of sorts.  This city has always been the entertainment capital of the world but there's more to it than movies and television. The music business is solidly back in LA, our food scene rivals New York and the art scene is exploding. The Westside beach communities are now dubbed Silicon Beach and the advertising business is once again thriving.

When people ask why, I tell them that The World has Discovered Los Angeles.  We live in a  world class city coupled with world class bells and whistles.  Our year-round, summer-like climate draws a global audience who see our market as affordable if not inexpensive. This influx of people from around the world has elevated this city and further solidified neighborhoods and increased values in outlying areas.

A world class city demands world class homes and Los Angeles delivers: Spanish, Mediterranean, Mid Century, Craftsman, Traditional, and "Green" homes are some of the most popular, in-demand properties.

With the inevitable growth over the coming years, the city and its residents will need to manage such growth in order to meet the demands of the future while preserving its history and respecting the elements of what made Los Angeles the city it is today.
 

Price reduced on this completely renovated 3 bedroom 2 bath Highland Park house

Share This Listing

Quintessential Venice Beach Cottage with Detached Work Space

Share This Listing