house philosophy.

Ruby Slippers

My daughter is a shoe fiend. She's on track to beat me in terms of sheer numbers. On last count she had 40+ pairs of shoes, and she's only 4 (almost 5). Who buys all these shoes for her??? Okay, perhaps I'm guilty. I love shoes too!!! And I only have one daughter, and she'll only have sweet-sized feet for so long. (My mother-in-law is a little guilty too. But we love her for it!) In my opinion, Europe has the best shoes for children. But it's often difficult to find European brands in LA. Never fear daughter of mine, for I've recently discovered Ruby Slippers in the Brentwood Village. The selection is not huge, but they have some lovely styles, and the folks who work there are SO helpful. Also, kids love going there because there's a playhouse, and cheerful Wizard of Oz decorations scattered about. Ruby Slippers happens to be part of the Brooks Shoes for Kids chain, but it doesn't feel like a wheel in a cog. And more importantly my daughter will be outfitted now that we've found it!

Ruby Slippers

171 S. Barrington Pl.

Los Angeles, CA 90049

310.476.0699

Just Sold!

I wanted to share some good news: I sold a gorgeous house in Brentwood.

Because they were willing to do a bit of work, my clients got an exceptional deal. The house had a lot of deferred maintenance, and needed some updating. The "lower" price keeps their property taxes down, and after updating they will have the exact finishes that they want. (Not to mention they will substantially increase the value of their home.)

Representing these buyers was a terrific experience—I love real estate, finding deals, and imagining the end result: a home with character and style for my happy clients. If you have a moment and are curious: check out the website for the house:

http://www.108southwoodburndr.com/

Shopping with Molly

One of my friends, interior designer Molly Luetkemeyer, recently e-mailed me some of her favorite shops in Los Angeles. Though I must admit I have not yet been to any of her suggestions, I completely trust Molly -- she is extraordinarily talented and has exceptional taste. I just scheduled a day of shopping and plan on visiting all of her recommendations. I sense a follow-up post will be coming soon...

Direct quotes from Molly:

Ige - 7382 beverly blvd.  Gorgeous, well curated things.  Lots of unique pieces designed by the shop owner, Helene.  Don’t miss the kick ass silk-screened pillows and tee shirts...

Zelen – 8055

beverly

blvd.  This guy has a stylist’s eye and every gift you buy there makes you look like a genius.  I think he’s started doing some custom furniture as well...

Show – 1722 n.

vermont

ave.  Funky, artsy stuff.  Owner Brad is great, too.

Blanche –

8315 west 3rd street

. I have never walked out of this shop empty handed.  It’s actually a problem...  They see me coming and start envisioning dollar signs.  Oy!

An Afternoon at the Country

There's no place I'd rather be than the freshly updated Brentwood Country Mart. (Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but seriously, this is one cool place!) With shops and stalls arranged around a central courtyard, this kitschy 1948 red-board structure is a west side institution. While certain shops such as the post office and barber shop evoke days of old, new boutiques including Calypso, Flora & Henri, and Sugar Paper  liven up the joint and attract a chic clientele. Spend a day shopping with friends, or bring the kids to "dine" on freshly grilled Barney's burgers or rotisserie chicken. In addition to goods and grub, the Mart occasionally has special events such as Santa at Christmas (last year they even had a live reindeer!) and concerts in the courtyard. Always terribly popular with my little ones are the coin-operated rides -- while they're going round and round, I'm window shopping and planning my next purchase. Trust me, we all leave with a smile on our faces.