Art and Sand: friends

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Classy and Fabulous

In May I met a friend who is both "classy and fabulous" to photograph her Malibu beach house.

Cindy and I first met as freshman in high school - she moved away and we lost touch, but coincidentally we both chose to attend San Diego State University, were assigned to the same dorm and became roommates.

Cindy and her husband Tony live in a contemporary house overlooking the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

My photography skills and equipment cannot do justice to this unique home which was featured in Architectural Digest.

The two art collectors have filled their home with spectacular artwork and I did not feel my photos captured the essence of the art, but you will spy pieces in many of the photos.

A glass stairway on the street level begins your journey up and down the multi-level (7 if I counted correctly) house which is a work of art in itself.

A wide expanse of ocean greets you at nearly every angle.

On a clear day, you can see Catalina Island off in the distance from almost any spot in the house - it was neither a clear or sunny day in May when I took the photos.

If you were sitting here, on the lowest level of the house,

this would be your view.

This deck is right above the previous level, but in between the two levels

is a lovely little spa retreat Cindy and Tony have created

to relax at the end of a long day.

If you are sitting at the table facing the cabinets (the refrigerator is hidden behind those doors) you don't see a view,

but sitting on the cabinet side of the table you look at water all the way to the horizon.

Here's a view from the dining room into the living room and the railing of the stairway.

This is a shot looking back toward the kitchen

and this shot shows you the street level entry and the beginning of the glass stairway.

How about this view while soaking in the tub

or this one when you wake up in the morning?

The views from the rooftop deck and garden are spectacular in almost any direction.

Below the rooftop deck is Cindy's dressing room - she loved clothes even in college and I distinctly remember shopping with her for the perfect little black dress for her first fraternity dance.

Cindy is holding a Judith Leiber bag

Cindy put her love of clothing to good use by volunteering for many years with the Costume Council of the LA County Museum of Art.

Tony has his office on this level

and like every space in the house, it too is filled with beautiful art.

There is so much more I could show you, like the powder room on the entry level, but I wasn't happy with the photos

so I'll leave you with a photo of Jet Set Romeo - the third member of the family.

You can find Cindy at @pickyandpushy on Instagram

or read her blog Picky and Pushy - the most recent post is Legendary Beverly Hills Garden Tour.

I enjoy Tony's daily posts at @tonycanzoneri on Instagram - this is his friend Herman who appears in his posts now and then.

I hope you have enjoyed this look into the fabulous home of my classy friend.

Monday, April 18, 2016

It takes a village ...

At the end of our lane you will find 2 benches beckoning people to sit and chat awhile.

Messages, carved into the backs, by one of our neighbors, proclaim this to be "Our Village on Brunswick Lane"

This weekend, all of our activities kept us close to home.

Saturday afternoon, we attended the joint birthday party of two precious siblings

and we ended the evening at the 21st birthday party of a young boy we have watched grow up on the beach.

Steve painted Sean at 12 for a Music Festival fundraiser - the theme of the art was to display passion and Sean still retains his passion for the ocean.

While we sat on the beach visiting with neighbors, we talked to two moms whose young sons are headed to El Salvador this summer to help install water treatment systems in villages.

Steve and I donated to both boys (it takes a village to help them reach their goals) and we talked about the powerful lessons Marley and Pitas will learn as they see life in a third world country this summer.

All our local activities got me thinking about how social media has increased the scope of our "villages".

There are a lot of different people in my village lately.

Some, like my nephew Steven and his wife Kimberli of Windecker Farms are people I have actually spent time with.

Social media has allowed Kim and Steve to create a thriving on-line business.

I have been suffering from an allergic reaction to my asthma medication since November and Windecker Farms oatmeal soap has been a life saver for me .

Francis of ** by surprise ** is in my village this week

after sending me the sweetest little heart garland.

Francis lives in Rotterdam, Holland and we might never meet, but each time I spot the garland, I feel a connection.

I have become friends with Kim of @kimih801 on Instagram and she recently sent me hearts - I think I might post pics of hearts way too much!

Kim also sent me a set of bunny salt & pepper shakers - they are put away for now, but each year when I bring out my Easter decor, I will think of Kim.