Wallace Neff designed house for sale on Mandeville

Yesterday I was lucky enough to view an original Wallace Neff designed house in Mandeville Canyon and what a treat. The house is still owned by the original owners who had it built in the '60s. I hope that the fortunate person who purchases this house keeps most of the house in tact. Other than remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, this house is perfect. I did some investigating on Wallace Neff and I found out that one of my favorite houses of all time is one of his work. It was owned by Diane Keaton and it was featured by Architectural Digest before she sold it to Madonna and Guy Ritchie. Wallace Neff is considered responsible for the "California style", drawing influences from Spanish and Mediterranean architecture. He was commissioned by celebrities of the day and is most known for designing the Pickfair mansion in Beverly Hills for Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.

View of living room of Wallace Neff designed house

Diane Keaton's former Wallace Neff designed Houses

Diane Keaton's former Neff designed house

Diane Keaton's former Neff designed house.

Entry No.37

I just picked up the February issue of House Beautiful and this issue is a keeper. The editor in chief has changed and the magazine is fresher. There are so many good ideas in this issue, it's hard to mention them all, so go out and buy it. My favorite house featured is one that belongs to interior designer Alexandra Angle and is located on the Venice canals. Though the cottage went through an extensive remodel , it does not feel new, at least not in the photos. This was intentional as the designer wanted a more approachable worn look with kids running around. I wonder if she will put the house on the market. I have seen a trend among home owners that were lucky enough to have their houses featured in magazines. They want to sell it while it's hot!

Entry No.36

822 Norman Place open Sunday 1-4pm

If you can peel yourself away from the telie Super Bowl Sunday, there is a house on Norman place in Brentwood worth taking a look at. I know I'll be viewing it sometime between 1-4pm. Love the pool!

Entry No.35

Marc and I invited my mother-in-law Carole for dinner at Gjelina Restaurant in Venice last night. You really need to make a reservation a month in advanced for prime time dinning hours but we called last minute and they took us at 5:30 p.m.. I could not believe how packed this place was at that hour but I guess when you consider how good the food is, it's easy to see why. Oh boy, and did we eat some good food. We had lentils with chorizo, beets with burrata, pizza, mushroom toasts, lamb shanks and butterscotch pot de creme. There was more food but I am avoiding sounding piggish! Modern Arc in Culver City designed the interiors and the decor is as amazing as the food. I love the romantic industrial feel of the place. I could not find a picture online of the bathroom or the piece de resistance, the women's bathroom sink and faucet. I guess I'll have to make my way back to take a photo and post.

Entry No.34

While Christmas shopping last year, I was given a couple of samples of Honore des Pres perfumes. One is I Heart Carrottes and the other Love Coco. It sounded a little weird to me to spray food scents on oneself but I was pleasantly surprised. It did not smell just like carrrots or coconut. Turns out the I Heart Carrottes is a carrot and patchouli combination and the Love Coco is coconut milk and cedar. I can't explain why but I think the combinations work. Isn't the paper coffee cup packaging clever.

Entry No.33

Rue Magazine

Entry No.32

Camel and corral tote bag from Jana Feifer at Elyse Walker

After a jaunt at a children's park in Pacific Palisades yesterday, my mother-in-law, Ms.P and I wandered the downtown area of Pacific Palisades. While window shopping on Antioch Street we came across Elyse Walker. It's a boutique that seems to span the entire block carrying clothes from Prada to Marc Jacobs. I passed on looking at the clothes (still working on losing the baby weight) but could not resist checking out the shoes and handbags. I immediately was drawn to this little number. Camel and pinky corral is such a beautiful combination and I was surprised to feel how soft the leather felt..... like buttah. I've ben avoiding buying handbags but Parker seems to have gotten over the spit up stage so I took the plunge and treated myself. I asked the the sales lady, Jana Feifer, who the designer was. She was vague and said the designer is a local designer but I pressed further only to find out she was the handbag designer. She was a bit embarassed to mention it. I don't see why because the bag is gorgeous, a bit preppy meets bohemian. I actually thought I took a picture of her with all of her handbag designs but it turns out I took a movie. If you are in the Palisades you must stop by this chock full of nuts boutique and meet Jana and her designs. Cheers.