The Best in Southern CA Interior Design

A Southern California home is more than just a house. In addition to being a living space, it’s a place to entertain—to house the most intimate of dinner parties, the most elegant soirees, to raise a family and to relax in your personal sanctuary. While you may know yourself best, you may not be certain of the best way of putting together your dream home. Not only will I find you the absolute best property for your family’s needs, as well as negotiate the best possible price, my concierge services expertly fill in the gaps long after the paperwork is signed.

I promise an incredibly effortless move-in experience for you, complete with my selective recommendations for the top home improvement talent in your area. Whether it be for interior designers, painters, plumbers or electricians, your needs are my top priority. Through my many years as a realtor, I’ve handpicked a select group of Southern California businesses to assist you in creating a home you’ll love for years to come. The following designers, all based in Southern California, are guaranteed to help design your perfect home.

Jeff Andrews, a celebrated celebrity designer, combines luxury, sophistication and livability when it comes to decorating his clients’ homes. Working primarily in the Beverly Hills area, Andrews has a “natural talent for taking bold design concepts and infusing them with warmth, sophistication, and most importantly, a sense of home.” His homes feature a traditional elegance with geometric, visually interesting touches. Andrews’ celebrity client list is extensive, with him having worked with the likes of Ryan Seacrest, America Ferrera and Kris Jenner, to name a few.

Kate Lester operates her beachside namesake business in the South Bay. Garnering inspiration from “classic architecture, great designs and her clients’ passions”, Lester seeks to create spaces that are “luxurious, livable and unique.” Lester’s designs are the epitome of oceanfront luxury. Her projects cater to the South Bay’s coastal location, with lots of white themed rooms, expansive floor to ceiling windows and open spaces, all put together with a classic aesthetic

Trip Haenisch works his California-cool magic on the homes of some lucky Malibu residents. An award-winning designer, Haenisch’s design aesthetic “consists of sophisticated, collected spaces with a laid-back twist that embodies quintessential California living.” His homes are rustic, but comfortable and artistic without being pretentious. An avid art collector, his eye for detail and style is apparent in his work. His celebrity clientele include, but is not limited to, the homes of David Arquette, Courtney Cox and celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan

Joni Koenig, an expert in all things design, has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. After working for Sony Pictures Entertainment for nine years, she started her own company with clients such as Rupert Murdoch, Vivica A. Fox, and Magic Johnson. Working out of Santa Monica, Joni’s design aesthetic gravitates toward Classic Spanish. However, Joni prefers more contemporary furnishings to balance the divide between traditional and modern. From the initial consultation to the final installation, Joni uses her extensive network of resources to meet any budget, time frame, and design sensibility.

Your home is inarguably the location that most reflects you. When I help to coordinate the best interior designer for you, you’ll soon feel right at home in your newly purchased dream house.

If you have any questions or are interested in selling your home, call me!

310 528 5164

-- Melanie Hane

 

April Newsletter

Luxury Living Spotlight: San Marino, Pasadena, & South Pasadena

A mere stone's throw from Los Angeles is the Pasadena area, an infusion of suburban safety complete with the benefits and perks of living in a smaller sized city. A few of the most spectacular places in this region are San Marino, Pasadena, and South Pasadena. Perhaps most noted for the annual New Years Day Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl, "The City of Roses" and its surrounding areas are especially safe and clean, have countless shopping destinations, spectacular restaurants and fantastic public school districts. What more could you ask for? 

San Marino and South Pasadena both have two of the highest ranked public school districts in California . In September of 2015, San Marino Unified ranked number one in all of Los Angeles County's districts in the new Common-core aligned statewide test scores. San Marino Unified also ranked number one in California in the new California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress . South Pasadena Unified ranked close behind at number five in California. Prefer private or parochial schools? Pasadena has a wide array of phenomenal schools, from elementary to high school levels, including two of the country's best: Pasadena Polytechnic and Westridge School. Polytechnic is a kindergarten through 12th grade co-ed private school ranking number two on the list of 75 schools in L.A. County. Westridge School, an all-girls private school , ranked number seven in L.A. County . There are numerous options, both private and public, for your children to receive some of the best education the country has to offer!

Particularly famous in these three cities are colonial and Craftsman style homes. Both beautiful in their own right, this region is rich with history and homeowners show this with great pride through their home designs, which reflect this tradition. Greene and Greene, the famous designers of the Gamble House, as well as Reginald Johnson, Myron Hunt and Sylvanus Marston are all notable architects arguably responsible for making Pasadena the vibrant community it is today. Home values in Pasadena are consistently valued at over 46% greater than California's average home. While San Marino does not have nearly as many Craftsman style homes, this quieter town certainly does not disappoint when it comes to beauty. Named after the Republic of San Marino, Italy, this exclusive city's homes homes are ranked as some of the highest valued properties in the nation.

With its incredible weather and very low crime rates, the Pasadena, South Pasadena and San Marino area is extremely livable with much to do. The annual Tournament of Roses parade is a mere day in the life for residents here, who tend to be very active in their communities through charitable organizations, golf and tennis, and many children's activities. 

Happy Easter 2016

 

    Moving into a new house is exciting and time-consuming, and no matter what time of the year it is, planning for the holidays can seem to take the backseat to other responsibilities. Considering that Easter is just around the corner, here are a few last-minute decorating ideas and recipes to make this Easter in your new home as memorable as possible, and hopefully the first of many wonderful Easters to come!

DIY Easter Egg Balloons

What you need:

-Balloon Helium tank

-Acrylic or Craft Paint

-String, Ribbon or Twine

-9’ or 11’ latex balloons

-Clear shipping tape

Directions:

        1.Inflate balloons using your helium tank and temporarily tie a loose knot to the tail so they don’t slip away.

        2. Flip your balloon over so it looks like an egg shape, and use your paintbrush and acrylic paint to paint your favorite Easter egg designs on them. Use enough paint to get even coverage, without it being too thick. (You don’t want to weigh down your balloon.) Then let dry.

        3. Once dry, carefully untie the string from the tail and use a small piece of shipping tape to adhere the string to the “top” of the balloon, which will now become the bottom. Finished!

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Peeps Skillet S’mores

What you need:  (serves about 6):

-3 cups chocolate chips (I use a dark and milk mix)

-1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

-2 packages of PEEPS marshmallows (obviously more if you want all the colors)

-graham crackers for serving

Directions:

1. Place the chocolate chips in a 9-inch oven-safe skillet in an even layer. Drop spoonfuls of the peanut butter on top of the chocolate chips. Cover with an layer of peeps - you can stuff them in there! You'll need around 25 peeps.

2.   Heat the broiler on your oven to HIGH. Place the skillet underneath for 1 to 2 minutes, just     until the marshmallows get golden and the chocolate chips are melting. Watch the skillet the entire time. If you find that the chocolate isn't melted easily, turn the oven to 350 degrees F and let the skillet sit in there for a few minutes so it all melts. Serve immediately - carefully since it's hot! - with graham crackers for dipping.