Monthly Archives: July 2016

ooh on black

Yearbook Superlatives

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With the rapid approach of my high school reunion (never mind which year), I have been strolling down memory lane and marveling at the simplicity and innocence that life once had.  How was it that we were able to sum up our classmates in just a few words? How did we choose, in a graduating class of over 500 people, who had the “best eyes” and who were the “most likely to succeed”? And what does that even mean? In high school, future success was definitely equated with a beautiful spouse, a fast car, and a killer house.  Well, I can’t help you with the spouse or the car, but I can tell you about a few killer houses, in high school yearbook terms.

Best Smile You know the category –  maybe it’s “Best Eyes” or “Best Legs”, but it’s the idea that you have one feature so great, you should be in the yearbook for that accomplishment. In theory, someone could actually have the ugliest legs but the best smile and still be featured for that spectacular smile alone. Of course, it never really worked that way, and if you saw the pictures without the captions, you wouldn’t really know which of the superlatives they captured. This week’s “Best Smile” house is 17271 Chatham Lane in the Brightwater area of Huntington Beach. The standout feature of this house is the outdoor space: the backyard and side courtyard.  This particular housing tract doesn’t have the most plentiful outdoor space, so it’s even more impressive what they’ve done with this yard! The whole house is nice, well-decorated, and very livable, but probably wouldn’t win Best Anything in your high school yearbook. But when you combine an attractive home with a Standout Backyard, you suddenly have everyone wanting your autograph.  In this backyard, there was a pool with a baja shelf, a spa with a waterfall into the pool, a built-in barbecue with an eating bar, a lowered fireplace area with built-in seating, and the side courtyard had a built-in raised table, with a fire and ice bowl in the center, and water that cascades down the sides of the base. Impressive! If outdoor living is a priority for you, you enjoy entertaining, and want an extremely low-maintenance exterior, this is your home!

I wish this home were just a tiny bit bigger, with just a bit more space in the side yards between houses, but for the price, I think it is a spectacular buy. I give it an easy 7 hearts out of 10, plus the award of “Best Feature”.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

built-in barbecue and raised eating counter to the right

built-in barbecue and raised eating counter to the right

a beautiful nook to enjoy an evening by the fire

a beautiful nook to enjoy an evening by the fire

swimming pool and raised spa

swimming pool and raised spa

rich espresso cabinets pair nicely with the stainless steel appliances

rich espresso cabinets pair nicely with the stainless steel appliances

sitting room just off the entry

sitting room just off the entry

a quintessential "house" house; the kind you drew in kindergarten whenever you drew a house and long to call home.

a quintessential “house” house; the kind you drew in kindergarten whenever you drew a house and long to call home.

Most Likely To Succeed Does this honor ever go to someone who hasn’t already succeeded? After all, isn’t past success the best indicator of future success? So the “weird” guy that no one really understood but everyone said was super smart is far less likely to have his picture in the yearbook than the kid who was class president for 3 years running and was captain of the debate team.  3181 Remora Drive in Huntington Harbor is already a winner. It’s on the water with a 40′ boat dock and is in immaculate condition!  However, what really sets this property head and shoulders above the rest is the incredible potential for the price.  Someone is absolutely going to snap this home up and turn it into a masterpiece. This is a lovely home, with lots of outdoor space for entertaining or relaxing. The bedrooms are all upstairs, two with high ceilings and a direct view of the water. The kitchen could use updating, but really has some exciting potential.  This house was sparkling clean and appeared to be in excellent condition.  I need to make friends with whoever latches onto this success story. I’d love to spend some time on that deck, enjoying the water and watching the boats go by.

I give this house 7-1/2 hearts, many of them for pure potential for Success. I would have gone up to 8 if the neighborhood weren’t so tight, and the guest parking situation were a bit easier.

7 and a half hearts

view beyond your own boat dock

view beyond your own boat dock

fire ring and barbecue on the side patio, off the kitchen

fire ring and barbecue on the side patio, off the kitchen

master bedroom fireplace

master bedroom fireplace

living room

living room

view from the living room, through the screen door, out to the waterfront patio. this place could be so spectacular!

view from the living room, through the screen door, out to the waterfront patio. this place could be so spectacular!

Best Dressed   Ah, my favorite… best dressed. This one is controversial because it’s a matter of taste and one person’s Gucci may hold absolutely no appeal for someone else. That kid in Junior High who got “Best Dressed” was soooo preppy (::eye roll::) and all of the surfers were not having it!   I am a huge fan of gallery white walls. White, white, white with pops of color totally makes my day.  I was walking through a boring (in my opinion) taupe-y home with my dad and he said “This is a nice color. At least it’s not that ‘punch-you-in-the-eye white’.” and I was thinking “this just looks dirty”.  So to each his own.  You can’t please everyone.  My winner for Best Dressed of the weekend is 1001 Hampshire Lane in Newport Beach.  I adore absolutely everything about this house, but I really admire that they didn’t “dress it down” for sale and take away the exciting and different touches that make it unique.  If someone doesn’t like a feature, they can change it once they own it, but in the meantime, lets all enjoy the daring unique style of this masterpiece.  I encourage you to look at the listing for the professional shots of this one. My snaps don’t do it justice.  It has bright white walls, dark floors, touches of gold, and really daring wallpaper! Some of my favorite features are the niche for the firewood behind the fireplace, the all glass front door and ingenious front “doorknob”, the onyx fireplace surround (so intriguing you can’t help but touch it), and the spectacular dream backyard.

I love this one immensely, and if it were in my price range I would live there without any hesitation whatsoever.  I give Hampshire Lane 10 hearts out of 10 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

yes, boys and girls, this is the front door!

yes, boys and girls, this is the front door!

view from the top of the stairs, across the sunny living room, and out to the pool

view from the top of the stairs, across the sunny living room, and out to the pool

pool + jacuzzi + fire pit = heaven

pool + jacuzzi + fire pit = heaven

way cool kitchen

way cool kitchen

view from the kitchen, past the firewood storage and stairs, toward the front door

view from the kitchen, past the firewood storage and stairs, toward the front door

I love this living room so much - the high ceilings, the mcm light fixture, the glass railings above, and all of that sunlight!

I love this living room so much – the high ceilings, the mcm light fixture, the glass railings above, and all of that sunlight!

upstairs bedroom with cool wallpaper and groovy lamp

upstairs bedroom with cool wallpaper and groovy lamp

What sort of personality traits does your house show? Is it winning any awards?  Is it time to look around for one that does? Give Ross a call!

Have a good week and get lots of signatures in your yearbook! I hope you’re having the best summer ever!  Stay sweet,

Ophelia

ooh on black

Wine Tasting

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ZD Winery

ZD Winery

In early July, for the first time in a LONG time, I had a weekend that did not involve any Open Houses. Of course, that didn’t stop me from looking at properties! I was in Napa for a lovely weekend of wine tasting, but as I drove through the scenic countryside, I couldn’t help but stopping and wandering around the sprawling grounds of a few different properties for sale. What I took away from that weekend (besides the goal that I WILL have a house in Napa one day) was how the concept of wine tasting applies to House Hunting.

When I looked at houses this weekend, I applied the 4 steps of wine tasting.

  1. appearance
  2. aroma or “bouquet”
  3. mouth feel
  4. finish

How do these apply to houses? The first one is a no-brainer… appearance.  Perhaps you’ve already seen pictures online or maybe you’re just driving by and see the sign, but either way, that house’s appearance from the street is going to leave an impression in your mind.  Does it change when you get inside? Are you impressed or disappointed? Perhaps some of each?  Aroma or “Bouquet” doesn’t necessarily just apply to the way the house smells (although that does matter!) but involving all of the senses. How do the floors feel under your feet, how does the light come through the living room windows? Would there be too much sun in the morning?  Is it too warm? Too cold? Is there a nice breeze or a chilly draft? That brings us to #3: Mouth Feel. I’m not recommending licking any houses (although there have been a few that I wanted to give a big hug), so what in the world would this mean?  For me, it’s the livability of the house. Just as you would let a wine roll around on your tongue, let the house roll around in your mind. How does it feel?  Different areas of the tongue are meant to taste differently, just like different areas of the house are meant to live differently.  I’m looking for privacy in a bathroom, but not in a kitchen! I don’t like to feel isolated from the rest of the house when I’m cooking, but I am looking for some alone-time in the bathroom! I don’t like the laundry in the garage (as I’ve mentioned numerous times) but in the kitchen isn’t much better. Say it with me: “the laundry should be where the clothes are kept!”  I like a kitchen sink with a view and a living room with a focal point. I like an office that hides clutter but isn’t too isolated.  In addition to the layout of the house, there is that certain intangible aspect: how does it feel? If you’ve been to as many Open Houses as I have, you’ve felt it all. The good, the bad, and everything in between. How awesome it is, when a house not only functions the way you want it to, but it just feels good?  And finally, the finish. After you’ve rolled it around on your tongue and consumed it, what are you left with?  What are your thoughts as you drive away? What’s the lingering taste in your mind?

One of my Open Houses this weekend that passed the Wine Taste Test with flying colors was 2588 Fairway Drive in Eastside Costa Mesa. The appearance grabbed me right away.  I’m a sucker for a craftsman, and one that appears new, fresh, and in pristine shape is a winner right off the bat. It was just as cute and personable in person as the online pictures. The house engaged all of my senses – it felt clean and well-built. Nothing was shoddy or of questionable quality. There was good light from all of the skylights without any glare or heat.  The layout was excellent, with a laundry room near the bedrooms and a master that opened right onto the backyard.  I especially loved the one upstairs bedroom – what a perfect guest suite to give your guests some privacy and a nice view of the lovely yard! The ceilings were high enough to give a feel of luxury, but not a cold intimidating volume of space. The finish was excellent on this home. I drove away saying “I love this house!” Among the features that stuck with me were the adorable inglenook in the entry, the ginormous kitchen island, the upstairs guest room, and the vast potential in the back yard.  While the neighborhood was nice, it is pretty close to the planes taking off out of John Wayne, so there was some definite noise. Fairway is an easy 8 hearts out of 10, and would be even higher if it weren’t for the location. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

charming exterior

charming exterior

welcoming front porch - i love square columns and quality stonework!

welcoming front porch – i love square columns and quality stonework!

high quality kitchen with a huge center island

high quality kitchen with a huge center island. love the black subway tile behind the stove! the train station clock is an added bonus.

the family room is open to the kitchen and has a cozy fireplace of it's own

the family room is open to the kitchen and has a cozy fireplace of it’s own

master bedroom with a nice vaulted ceiling, ceiling fan, and the inviting back yard beyond.

master bedroom with a nice vaulted ceiling, ceiling fan, and the inviting back yard beyond.

centrally located laundry room with storage! ahhhh!

centrally located laundry room with storage! ahhhh!

in the foreground, peaceful patio seating, right by the built-in barbecue. at the other side of the yard is a shady cabana and a valuable storage shed.

in the foreground, peaceful patio seating, right by the built-in barbecue. at the other side of the yard is a shady cabana and a valuable storage shed.

this is the spot! If this were my backyard, I would open that '06 pinot that I just bought and enjoy it with someone who has been promising me that such a day will come!

this is the spot! If this were my backyard, I would open that ’06 pinot that I just bought and enjoy it right here with someone who has been promising me that such a day will come!

My other favorite tasting of the weekend was a masterpiece in the Westcliff neighborhood of Newport Beach, 1201 Blue Gum Lane. Appearance: stellar.  Loved the varied roof lines, and the simple but interesting detail of the curved wall in the front yard. Once you open the leaded glass front doors, there is the instant “wow” of a vaulted ceiling, punctuated by glorious skylights, and a truly opulent great room. The high ceilings, natural light, and wide open spaces made the living space richly satisfying.  The master bath and closet were true highlights, as was the well-manicured back yard – complete with koi pond! The kitchen was a little closed-off from the rest of the house and the laundry, while inside, was still pretty far from where the clothes are kept!  Neither of these aspects were a deal breaker, in a space this wonderful. One of the features that left the best taste in my mind as I went on about my day, was the white carrera marble bar at the end of the spectacular entry hall. What a perfect spot for my wine collection!

Blue Gum receives 8-1/2 hearts out of 10. 

front yard with easy, yet elegant landscaping

front yard with easy, yet elegant landscaping

the view from the front door!

the view from the front door!

that bar!

there could be some wonderful wine tastings at that bar!

fireplace in the great room

fireplace in the great room, dining room in the foreground

if there's room for a huge ottoman in your bathroom, you're doing pretty well.

if there’s room for a huge ottoman in your bathroom, you’re doing pretty well.

master shower features

master shower features

lovely, low maintenance backyard.

lovely, low maintenance backyard.

What have you tasted recently? What resonates with you and makes you crave more? Please your palate at an Open House this weekend!

Cheers,

Ophelia

 

ooh on black

Fantasy or Reality?

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I create plenty of fantasies in my head, and tend to shop for houses to accommodate them. I’ve pictured friends coming in the side door to the kitchen for coffee in the morning, and searched Open Houses for sunny nooks to curl up with a good book. I envision friends and their children splashing in the pool and imagine tranquil midnight swims by myself. I wonder if dining rooms are big enough for a spectacular Thanksgiving and I mentally fill the guest rooms with fresh-cut flowers for all my visitors.  Except that I’ve never cooked a turkey, I don’t own a coffee maker, and the last time I had time to read a book was on a plane.

The big unknown is this: would my life transform to fit my house, if I had the right one? Would I volunteer to host Thanksgiving if I had that 6-burner stove and double oven? Would “pool party at Ophelia’s!” become the Saturday afternoon battle cry?  The ideal balance is a house that fits my reality, but still indulges some fantasies.

Once upon a time, I considered building instead of buying and got fairly deep into the design process with a talented, but temperamental architect.  I loved the sleek modern design he had created but I was dying for more storage. He looked with disdain around my tiny 1100 square foot cottage where I had skillfully stuffed about 4000 square feet worth of ‘stuff’ and said “you’re going to need to throw some things out.”  No duh, but I’m not throwing out my vacuum or my suitcases. Where do those go? My reality is that I need Storage (with a capital S). The majority of my clutter is due to the fact that things don’t have a place to go, so they end up on my desk or the dining room table or the floor of my closet or…                  I can’t be alone in this.  There are huge storage facilities every 6 blocks in Orange County and people pay for a place to keep their stuff! Most Americans “need to throw some things out.”

My reality house for the week is 17021 Westport in the Huntington Harbor area. A little dated, but mostly easy fixes, and So. Much. Storage! It’s a big house for the price and has plenty of architectural appeal. Clean lines, high ceilings, big windows, and room to stand and spin like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music in the middle of every room. The beautiful saltwater pool & jacuzzi and hardscape in the back were huge selling points for me.  I’ve never had a pool, but I imagine that I would love it. There was an outdoor fireplace next to the built-in barbecue and my fantasy-life began to kick into high gear. There were real hardwood floors inside and a floating staircase just begging to be updated, perhaps with walnut treads and glass railings. All three bedrooms were upstairs and HUGE! One was two bedrooms remodeled into one, another was the former master and they had turned the original bathroom into a never-ending closet. The “new” bathroom for that bedroom had a sauna!  The new master bedroom is at the back of the house and has a balcony with a Catalina Island view.  There are 3 mirrored closets in the bedroom (along with a fireplace, built-in cabinetry, and a view of the pool), and there is a huge wall of storage/closet in the master bath as well! The master bath had oceans of white marble, a separate tub and shower, more counterspace than most kitchens, a drop-down ironing board from one of the cabinets, and more of the Julie-Andrews-Spinning-Space. Everywhere you looked there was built-in storage. Cabinets the entire length of the upstairs hallway, built-in’s in the dining room and family room, and oodles of kitchen cabinets.  I took some friends with me to see this one and they imparted two bits of wisdom/advice to me. 1. People who live in houses with stairs live 7 years longer than those who don’t. 2. That 14 -foot long, 4 foot deep upstairs hall closet could totally be a wine cellar!  It would vent right to the outside!  (Genius! This is why I take them places!)

This house would literally have a place for every single thing I own and could transform from “nice” to “wow” quite easily (especially once the wine cellar is installed!) Westport is around 7-1/2 hearts out of 10, but I’m bumping it up to 8 for that extra 7 years of life it’s giving me.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

front of the house and it's beautiful roof lines and clerestory windows.

front of the house and it’s beautiful roof lines and clerestory windows.

privacy wall and landscaping between the living room and the driveway

privacy wall and landscaping between the living room and the driveway

vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom

vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom

master bath

master bath

storage in the master bath. the ironing board lives in that cabinet on the far left.

storage in the master bath. the ironing board lives in that cabinet on the far left.

saltwater pool, jacuzzi, and fountain

saltwater pool, jacuzzi, and fountain

outdoor fireplace by the pool. built-in seating along that wall.

outdoor fireplace by the pool. built-in seating along that wall.

And now, to the fantasy. This house went on to become someone else’s reality after it was my fantasy, so there is no listing to share any more (single tear) but it’s still worth telling you about. Peach Tree Lane was one of my true loves.  So much so that I completely overlooked all reality. I was trying to make bedrooms out of small glass offices, move a 10′ tall glass front door that had already been so carefully placed, add closets to bedrooms that apparently were too sophisticated to have them, and figure out a way to keep the cat in the yard so that I could keep the beautiful sliding glass doors open whenever I wanted. I was researching how to take care of Carrera marble while simultaneously wondering where I would possibly put the cat box in a house like this.  I would have done anything for those floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, the sleek lap pool in the front courtyard, the master closet the size of a bowling alley, and the wall of water that graced an entire side of the living room. There were shades that appeared from nowhere at the touch of a button to provide privacy in the most elegant way possible, then disappear back into the ceiling upon command. There were heated floors in the master bath and an open, airy white kitchen with a front-row-view of the wall of water and light streaming down from above. I was so in love that I was willing to overlook the laundry in the garage (that’s a tough one for me to swallow) and I even pretended that I was going to learn to mow a lawn so that I could maintain the front yard myself (I wasn’t). But when push came to shove, I had to admit that it wasn’t the house for me. The floor plan just wasn’t right for my life and the house was SO sleek and open that I didn’t know where I would put any of my stuff! Even the office was made of glass and was the first thing you saw upon entering the courtyard. One out-of-place piece of mail would ruin the vibe.  Try as I might, I’m just not a minimalist, and did not want to ruin this masterpiece. On one of the several visits to this heavenly abode, the agent commented on how “sexy” the house was.  I looked at my mother, clomping across the polished Brazilian hardwood floors in her Kmart tennis shoes, and thought “uh oh. we have a mismatch here.  some of us are not sexy.” I had to move on, but Peach Tree Lane still holds a piece of my soul, and in my fantasy world, is absolutely worth 10 hearts.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

the glass office and front entry gate outside

the glass office and front entry gate outside

oh, that kitchen!

oh, that kitchen!

the wall of water. open to the sky above and can be completely closed off from the living room by disappearing glass doors that slide on the tracks at the bottom of the photo

the wall of water. open to the sky above and can be completely closed off from the living room by disappearing glass doors that slide on the tracks at the bottom of the photo

focal point of the living room. doors on both sides open completely to let the outdoors in. the wall of water is on the right, the "back" patio, complete with built in barbecue is on the left.

focal point of the living room. doors on both sides open completely to let the outdoors in. the wall of water is on the right, the “back” patio, complete with built in barbecue is on the left.

view from the master bedroom out to the pool. a fireplace is built into the wall on the far left of the photo

view from the master bedroom out to the pool. a fireplace is built into the wall on the far left of the photo

master bath details. carrera marble extends from the counter top into the shower stall.

master bath details. carrera marble extends from the counter top into the shower stall.

the lap pool and the entry gate beyond

the lap pool and the entry gate beyond

When you house-shop, do you look for a home to accommodate the life you wish you led? Or the one that you really do? Have you ever followed your heart just to find out that it actually knew what it was doing?  What is it about your house that’s keeping you from living the life you dream about? Is it time to start looking for a house that gets your fantasies and realities into alignment?  Let’s go shopping!

Ophelia