southern california spaces

May/June 2009

(Outdoors, that is)SUMMER LIVING AT ITS BEST

• Furniture• Home tours• Accessories

CHEF’STABLEFabio Vivianibrings star powerto Café Firenze

HIGH TECH HOMEThe latest must-have gadgets

Canyons & Valley Edition

7651 Sepulveda Boulevard

Van Nuys, CA 91405

818.988.5970

Mon-Sat 9am to 6pm

Sun 11am to 5pm

Designers availablefor free consultation.

artificial plantscustom treessilk flowersdecorative accentshome decor

decorate your homelike a professional

� spaces may/june 2009

southern california

contents

S O C A L S O C O O L

15 TradeSecrets Pioneeringoutdoorfurnituredesigner

RichardSchultzreinventshimselfwitheachnewcollection.

17 ShopTreatment Aneco-friendlycollectionoftables

andbenchesmakesitsdebutatSeanKnibb’strendynewshowroom,1524.

20 OutdoorLiving Celebratethearrivalofsummerwith

acollectionofmust-haveaccessoriesforoutdoorentertainingandliving.

F E A T U R E S

26TheGreatOutdoors DebbieandNeilSchwartzfulfilltheir

loveofentertainingwithawelcomingoasisintheirBeverlyHillsbackyard.

33 APerfectMatch RenownedarchitectJeffreyKalban

combinesformandfunctioninhisownStudioCityhome.

D E PA R T M E N T S

42 Chef’sTable Italian-bornchefFabioVivianioffersa

tasteofFlorenceatCaféFirenze.

52 High-TechHome Cutting-edgeinventionsareuseful

yetunique.

56 CauseforApplause Valleybusinessleadershonortheir

bestandbrightestmembers.

58 FinishingTouch ArtistLidiaShaddowdraws

inspirationfromeverydaylifeinSouthernCalifornia.

May/June 2009

spacesmag.com

Color and texture create a warm and welcoming backyard paradise at the Beverly Hills home of Debbie and Neil Schwartz. “What I’m always trying to get at is the seamlessness of inside to outside so that you’re really using the outdoors as part of your living space,” says designer Sandy Koepke, who helped define the couple’s style. Photo by David Crane.

On the cover: Designer Dougan Clarke creates a razor-thin canopy that’s the perfect outdoor accessory for Southern California’s year-round sunshine. Details and buying information on page 20. Photo courtesy Design Within Reach.

Eastern Art DécorWe’ve traveled to Thailand, India,

Africa, Indonesia, and China to bring you one of a kind pieces.

www.kampanat.com13335 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks

818.986-5432Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sale in progress – great pieces at

50% off

As a kid growing up in Denver, I loved the arrival of

MemorialDayanditspromiseofarelaxedandlight-

heartedsummer.We’dhoseoffthepicnictable,cov-

eritwithaflannel-backedvinyltableclothandeatdinneron

thepatioeverynightuntilLaborDay.I’dwhileawaythedays,

readingonachaiseloungeparkedinthebackyarduntilthe

inevitableafternoonthunderstormchasedmebackinside.

Imagine my delight at moving to the San Fernando

Valley, where summer — and its carefree mindset —

seemingly never ends. It’s in that spirit that Spaces offers

itsannual“OutdoorLiving”issue,featuringstylishproducts

andfreshideasforenjoyingSouthernCalifornia’sbestasset.

We showcase outdoor furniture, check out the debut col-

lection of LA’s own Sean Knibb and get inside the creative

mindofpioneerdesignerRichardSchultz.Wealsovisitwith

two Southern California families, who describe how they

integrated their indoor and outdoor living environments.

We hope their creativity inspires you to explore your own.

Haveagoodstoryideatoshare?Commentsaboutthemagazine?Writetomeatspaceseditor@langnews.com.

editor’s letter

contributors

Putting the life in lifestyle

Natalie Haughton’s

quest for hot new res-

taurants takes her to

Café Firenze in surbur-

ban Moorpark, where

chef Fabio Viviani is making his mark.

A longtime food editor and restaurant

critic at the Los Angeles Daily News,

Natalie has judged numerous national

cooking contests and is the author of

six cookbooks on topics ranging from

slow cookers to desserts.

Sandra Barrera en-

joys pursuing func-

tional, stylish and sus-

tainable spaces, so she

was in her element

during a backyard visit with Debbie

and Neil Schwartz of Beverly Hills.

Sandra has had the privilege of visiting

many beautiful homes as a staff writer

for the Los Angeles Daily News, where

she’s covered design, fashion and en-

tertainment since 2000.

2 8 1 0 C a m i n o D o s R i o s , N e w b u r y P a r k | 8 0 0 . 9 . O U T D O O R ( 9 6 8 - 8 3 6 6 ) o r 8 0 5 . 3 7 5 . 8 3 4 0

w w w . z e n d e r s . c o m | O p e n 7 D a y s f r o m 9 : 3 0 a m - 6 : 0 0 p m

Your Patio, TonightRelax Every Night Resort Style

20% to 50% OFF All Stock Patio Furnishings*

or No Interest or Payments

Until July 2010 (OAC)*See store for details. Anthem

publisherSteven Gellman

editor Barbara Jones

editorial director Oscar Garza

national editor Denise Gee

designer LeeAnn Nelson

photo director Dean Musgrove

contributing writers Sandra Barrera Holly Berecz Jerry Berrios Natalie Haughton

contributing photographers Michael Owen Baker David Crane

marketing director Bill Van Laningham

research director Liz Hamm

creative services manager Paul Schraeder

advertising account executive Meaghan Miller

office manager Mary Anne Rozinsky

Los AngeLes newspAper group

president & ceoEdward R. Moss

executive vice president & cfoJames Siegrist

Publisher, Torrance Daily Breeze & Long Beach Press Telegram

Mark Ficarra

contAct us

editorial: (818) 713-3297 [email protected]

advertising: (818) 713-3294 [email protected]

Copyright 2009 Southern California Spaces magazine by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Southern California Spaces magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or artwork even if accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Comments? Southern California Spaces welcomes story ideas and comments from our readers. Write to: Spaces, 21860 Burbank Blvd., Ste. 120, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Volume 2 • Issue 3 spacesmag.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

12 spaces may/june 2009

may/june 2009 spaces 13


Force of natureProlific designerdraws inspirationfrom thegreat outdoors

By Sandra Barrera

SoCalso cool

TRADE SECRETS

Outdoor furniture designerRichard Schultz

Sustainable design takes on a chic new twist

Coolest goods for the hottest backyards

Richard Schultz has been in the van-

guard of outdoor furniture-makers

for decades, with innovative and en-

during designs often inspired by nature.

Best known for his award-winning 1966

Collection of chaise lounges, chairs and ta-

bles for Florence Knoll’s interior design and

manufacturing house, Schultz pioneered the

way people live outdoors.

Chairs from the iconic 1966 Collection, above right, retain a simple silhouette while the new Wing collection is more stylized.

The father-and-son team of Richard and Peter Schultz.

“Manypeoplelook

at[thecolorsofthe

Wingcollection]and

go,‘Wow!Thoseare

brightcolorstouse

outside.’Well,those

colorscamefrom

nature.Thosearen’t

colorsweinvented.

Forinstance,the

greencamefroman

appleoffatreeby

thehouse.”

At82,hecontinuestoproducenewprod-

ucts, as well as his iconic 1966 Collection,

under the guise of Richard Schultz Design

Inc.(richardschultz.com).Schultzfounded

the Pennsylvania-based company in 1992

withPeterSchultz,theeldestofhisfourchil-

dren. We spoke by phone recently with the

50-year-old architect during his two-hour

commutefromthecompany’sfactorytohis

apartmentinNewYork.

Atwhatpointdidyoudecidetostartacom-panywithyourfather?I’vealwaysenjoyedlookingatfurniturewith

myfather.Irememberhe’ddosketchesand

thenasquicklyashecould,he’dturnasketch

intoaquarter-scalemodelmadeoutofwhat-

evermaterialswereavailableandthenpho-

tographitagainstabackground.Ifyoudidn’t

have any reference, you couldn’t tell that it

wasascalemodel.

At one point, we were discussing his

models of Topiary furniture. I thought we

shouldworkonafull-sizemockup,which

wedid,andthenweshowedittoanumber

offurniturecompaniesthatmadeoutdoor

furniture. They had no idea what to make

of this strange piece of furniture full of

holes.Itlookedlikeasieve.

So,Isaidtomyfather,“Thisisit.”

Wasthefocusonoutdoorfurniturefromthegetgo?Yes,andIthinkit’sveryappropriatewework

onoutdoorfurniturebecauseIgrewupina

houseoutinthecountry,farfromeverything.

Theclosestneighborlivedwithinamileorso

of the house, and there were a lot of nice

lawnsandlayersoftreesinbetween.My

parentswouldsitintheyardintheevening

andhavecocktails,andwealwayshadfurni-

tureinthegarden.

What was it like growing up around greatdesign?Itwasawonderful,creativeenvironment.My

father had a shop next to the house. I’d al-

waysgointhere,too.Wealwayshadprojects

going.Butinadditiontothat,therewereall

my parents’ furniture-designer friends who

came around, like Harry Bertoia, who lived

aroundthecorner.

Didn’t your father get his start with HarryBertoiaatKnoll?Harry was working in L.A. with (designers

CharlesandRay)EameswhenFlorenceKnoll

convinced him to move east and work with

her on developing some new products. So,

myfather’sfirstjobatKnollwastoworkwith

Harry. For my father, who was right out of

school,thatwasanimpressivethingtodobe-

causetheprocesswassoinnovative.Theyhad

nopre-conceptionofwhatthenewlinemight

look like. Harry just took his welding torch

andsomewireandstartedbendingit,andhe

woundupmakingthesepiecesthatarereally

quitebeautifulandnowconsideredclassic.At

thetimeitwasquiterevolutionary.

Yourfatherisalsoknownforbeinginno-vative.Myfatherhasalwaysbeenabletofindanin-

novativeaspecttoallofhiswork.Thatheralds

ourdesignphilosophy,whichisnottorepeat

whatsomebodyelsehasdoneandtweakita

1� Spaces may/june 2009

so coolSoCal


SHOP TREATMENTlittlebit,buttotrytodosomethingthatinits

effortisinnovativeandnew.

Myfatherinhis’66Collectiondesigneda

chair,whichwasreallyoneofthefirstonthe

market with fabric stretched tightly across

itasasling.Inaddition,heexploitedatech-

nique using casting and extrusion—respec-

tively,solidandhollowaluminumsections—

attachedtogether.So,ifyoulookatallthe’66

furniture, all the horizontals—which look

verywide, liketheedgeofthetableandthe

edgeofthechaise—thoseareallextrusions.

The castings are the legs, so it looks like

he’sdrawnsomethingwithanitalicpen.

Years later, what allowed us to make the

Topiaryproductwastheadventofacomput-

er-controlledpunchpress.Thenewestchair,

whichwecallWing,isdoneusingawaterjet

tocutthemetal.

Wingissuchabright,colorfulcollection.It’sinterestingbecausemanypeoplelookat

thosecolorsandgo,“Wow!Thosearebright

colors to use outside.” Well, those colors

camefromnature.Thosearen’tcolorswein-

vented.Forinstance,thegreencamefroman

appleoffatreebythehouse.

Areyouatworkonanythingnew?Basedonthearmlessdiningchair,we’redo-

ing an armless bar-height chair and also an

armlesscounter-heightchair.Wefoundthat

a lot of people want to sit at tables that are

higher than normal because perhaps they

canseeovertherailing,orit’seasiertogetin

andoutofchairs.

One of the problems is that my father

keeps making more and more designs. We

can’t make the furniture as quickly as he

comes up with ideas. So, everyday we get

a littlemorebehindbecauseittakesa lotof

time to work through all the processes and

figureouthowtomakethefurniture.

Atleastyou’renotshortonideas.It’s true that for us we’ll never run out of

ideas.We’llrunoutofmoneyortimefirst.

1524 1524 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice 310/450-5552; knibbdesign.com

Landscape designer Sean Knibb takes

an unconventional approach to con-

ventionaldesignashetransformsor-

dinaryoutdoorspacesintomagicalretreats

fromeverydaylife.

Wrapped in chic, cushioned slipcovers,

rough bales of hay become comfortable ot-

tomans for outdoor seating areas. Under-

ground gas lines feed hidden nubs, sending

flames dancing atop gravel in the middle of

aninvitinggarden.Andconcretepaversand

heartyplantstransformasmallurbancourt-

yardintoalushhideaway.

“Designing gardens allows me to be ex-

tremely creative and work with something

Design with a (re)purpose

Oldbecomesnewinfurniture

showroom

By Jerry Berrios

Above: A Sean Knibb table sets

off a spectacular lamp designed by

Peter Carlson of CL Sterling & Son.

SoCalso cool

that’s always changing,” Knibb says. “A gar-

denhastohaveasynchronicityandrhythm.

Whatittakestoachievethatisdifficulttode-

fine,butit’salwaysmygoal.I’malwayslook-

ing for new elements, and turning old into

newtofindmyrhythm.”

That same philosophy infuses Knibb’s

debut line of indoor-outdoor furniture, an

eco-friendlycollectionoftablesandbenches

made of wood salvaged from construction

tear-downs around Los Angeles. Each piece

is unique—hardwood planks set in metal

framesincolorsstraightoutofachild’sfirst

box of crayons. “The wood is so old and so

hard,”Knibbsays.“Itissoperfectforoutside.

Itisnotgoingtomove,twistorbend.”

The collection of sustainable designs

wasunveiledat1524,theshowroomKnibb

opened recently in a converted bunga-

low next to his eponymous design studio.

Named for its street address on Venice’s

trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the aus-

tereshowroomalsocarrieselegantlighting

Landscape designer Sean Knibb has opened 1524, a showroom named for his street address on trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

fixturesdesignedbyPeterCarlson,founder

ofCLSterling&Son.

Like Knibb’s furniture, Carlson’s Rock

Crystal collection of chandeliers, sconces

and lamps is made from recycled materials

—remnantsofleadcrystalfoundatthebot-

tomofglassfactorykilnsinPortugal.“It’sthe

sameaestheticwithaninterestingmaterial,”

says Carlson, whose creations range from

$700to$8,000.

While Knibb is expanding his creative

horizons, he hasn’t abandoned his love of

landscaping design. The grandson of florist

Marian Cohen, Knibb grew up working in

herfloralstudioinMontegoBay,Jamaica.He

opened Knibb Design in 1993, and through

hislushandelegantlandscapesbuiltaclien-

tele that includes celebrities Cameron Diaz,

HalleBerryandJenniferLopez.

Dwight Stuart Jr., of Beverly Hills is

among those who now relish the outdoor

sanctuary created by Knibb’s imagination.

“Iliketucked-awayareasofagardenthatre-

vealthemselves,”Stuartsays.“Wecallthem

sweetspots.”

Someoftheelementsof these lavishde-

signsareondisplayinamodulargardenthat

Knibbcreatedoutsideofthe1524showroom.

Based on various templates and sold by the

square foot, the elements allow Knibb to

transformanordinaryyardintoanurbanoa-

sisinaboutsixweeks.

A converted bungalow showcases eco-friendly outdoor furniture and lighting fixtures.

Photo by Scott Varley

Set in a painted metal frame, a 4’x4’ foot coffee table of recycled hardwood retails for $780.

18 Spaces may/june 2009

Westside Tile & Stone, Inc.“For the love of tile…”

A designer showroom in Canoga Park, specializing in decorative tile, award-winning pool design, outdoor hardscapes, kitchens and baths.

7631 Canoga Avenue ■ 818.704.9222 ■ Open 7 days a week

LIMESTONE ■ TRAVERTINE ■ PORCELAIN ■ GRANITE ■ SLATE ■ HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC, GLASS & COPPER SINKSAward-Winning OCEANSIDE Dealer ■ SICIS ■ Trend ■ Ken Mason Tile ■ Jeffrey Court ■ COBSA ■ LEA

Colorin a whole new dimension

Here’s what our customers have to say about our store:

“Amazing!”“Extraordinary”

“Sensational”“The best selection…”

Come see for yourself!

SoCalso cool

OUTDOOR LIVING

z Razor-sharp designShield yourself with this sharp-dressed Razor Shade Platform (100”H x 130”W), designed by Dougan Clarke and manufactured by Tuuci. Clarke, an expert in sail rigging, drew from more than a decade in the marine industry to create this always tilted, razor-thin canopy. In silver or white, the umbrella is made of UV-stabilized, vinyl-coated, polyester fabric with a “sharkskin” reflective coating; in green or orange it’s made of acrylic Sunbrella canvas. Other components are stainless steel and marine-anodized alumi-num alloy. Available in green, orange, silver or white; $1,350 for the umbrella, $500 for the spe-cially made stand. From Design Within Reach; dwr.com or 800/944-2233. Photo courtesy De-sign Within Reach.

Outside‘in’

Kick back with our picks

for the coolest goods

in outdoor living,

from lighting to flooring

20 Spaces may/june 2009


w Flower powerThe bold colors and modern floral prints are

fun, but the true power of these Flower Plates is rooted

in their construction—of light-weight, practically indestructi-

ble melamine. Another plus: They’re 11 inches wide, the ideal size for presenting whatever you’re serving, with all the sides. In a va-riety of patterns; $6.95; crateandbarrel.com or 800/967-6696.

y Warm feelingsFor the look of a built-in fireplace without the built-in price, consider one you can have without a lot of masonry fuss. This wood-burning Stone Grey Large Fireplace, in a sandy texture that ages well over time, is made from a patented concrete blend that’s lighter and stronger than concrete. It features a spark arrester (to prevent hazardous sparks from leaving the hood), as well as a firebox and grate. The three-piece interlocking unit (42”W x 72”H x 28”D), is touted as easy to assemble; $2,199; smithandhawken.com or 800/940-1170.

Grow upxThis cedar Living Wall (22”W x 59”H x 6”D) is beautiful in so many ways. It can be com-bined with others to create a partition around an outdoor living area or hung on a wall to bring natural beauty to a small space, outdoors or in (thanks to water being col-lected within a removable tray at the bottom). Two planting panels allow for both sides to come alive. Just add soil, small plants, water and sunlight; $399; smithandhawken.com or 800/940-1170.

z Sail worthyKeep your cool with this nautical-style 54-inch Sanibel ceiling fan from the Hunter Fan Co. It’s rated for damp en-vironments like covered porches and features washableoff-white sailcloth. It also promises a quiet motor and wobble-free performance. In bronze or white finishes; about $200; hunterfan.com or 888/830-1326.


SoCalso cool

Two-timerxTarget calls this the Orbit Lounger, perhaps for its circular Atomic Age styling. This all-in-one set features two chaise lounges, a retractable umbrella, comfy reclining cushions, two toss pillows and a tabletop made of tempered glass—a nice spot to place a refreshing sipper while you chat with a fellow lounger; $400; target.com or 800/440-0680.

w Hot topicIf you haven’t noticed, red is the hot new

color for appliances, indoors and out. Here’s a great-looking, great-cook-

ing grill from Char-Broil that uses evenly distributed infrared heat. Because

of that, it uses one-third less gas, and won’t catch

fire from dripping food juices. (There’s no open flame, which also helps keep food moist.) The grill, with rotisserie and 13,000 BTU side burner, offers a wide temperature range for ev-erything from slow-cooking to intense searing. With storage underneath; $599; charbroil.com or 866/239-6777.

Green lightxHow fitting that this light fixture looks like it actually belongs outdoors. This six-light Twig Chandelier (38”W x 36”H), developed by Adirondack Mountain artisans for Meyda,can be used within cov-ered patios (it’s rated for damp locations) but can be customized for wet locations. A flush-mount version is also available. About $3,300; meyda.com or 800/222-4009.

19855 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hillswww.woodlandcasual.com

818.348.6000

2� spaces may/june 2009

DebbieandNeilSchwartzareknown

forShabbatdinnerattheirBeverly

Hills home, where on comfortable

evenings the Jewish observance begins on

thebackyardpatiounderthelofty,vine-cov-

eredpergola.

“We’ll hang out here and have what we

call our Shabbas margaritas and then we’ll

goinandhavedinner,”saysNeil,aresiden-

tial real estate executive who notes that the

regularFridaynightgatheringshavedrawna

diversebunchovertheyears,includingplay-

ers fromtheLosAngelesSparks, theWNBA

organization where Debbie’s daughter once

interned.“It’sanopeninvitation,”Debbieof-

fers.“Youshouldcomeby.”

Theever-gracioushostsarehappytoshow

offtheirbackyard,thankstotheeffortsofin-

terior and garden designer Sandy Koepke.

Through a years-long collaboration, she’s

helpedtheSchwartzescreateanoutdoorliv-

ing area that suits their love of entertaining

and complements the late-1920s Spanish-

stylearchitectureoftheirtwo-storyhome.

“What I’m always trying to get at is the

By Sandra Barrera

Photos by David Crane

Outward Bound

Vintage design inspires year-round entertaining

Interior and garden designer

Sandy Koepke created a

backyard oasis for Debbie and Neil Schwartz, opposite, using

salvaged and recycled

materials like the nautical ladder at right, which

serves double duty as yard art

and a poolside towel rack.


seamlessness of inside to outside so that

you’re really using the outdoors as part of

yourlivingspace,”Koepkesays.“‘Let’smake

thispartofourlife.Let’scomeoutherewith

our food and read the paper,’ and they do

that.Theytrulyhangouthere.”

Through a large window in the Mexican

folk-tiled kitchen, you get the first glimpse

of the outdoor entertaining area. The rustic

brickpatioisfurnishedwithdeep,comfort-

ableseatingandlushlyoverhungwithflow-

eringvines,basketsofsucculents,andgroup-

ings of well-weathered pulleys and other

flea-marketfinds.

This light-heartedapproachis thesigna-

tureofKoepke,theprincipalofLosAngeles-

“…really what I’m buying is

everybody else’s junk,” says Debbie.


basedSandyKoepkeInteriorDesign,whose

work has been featured in national shelter

magazines,designbooksandonHGTV.

“Sandy was into old rusty things, and

really what I’m buying is everybody else’s

junk,” says Debbie, who took Koepke’s cue

andbeganscouringsecond-handstores,an-

tiqueshopsandfleamarketsforcollectibles.

Above: Decorative ironwork complements the backyard’s rustic theme while plant-adorned steps ease the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Left: A weathered-wooden bench serves as a clever shelf for Debbie’s growing collection of succulents.

Right: Succulents provide a low-maintenance option for outdoor areas.


“WedidreallywellinLongBeach…andwhen

we used to travel for basketball we’d go to

citieslikeSanAntonioandColoradoSprings

andbuyatonofstuff.

“Oh, and I bought on eBay,” she says. “I

wasaneBayaddict.”

These relics of the past give character to

theSchwartzes’outdoorsspace,whichisevi-

dentfromthemomentyouwalkouttheback

doorandontothecontainer-linedsteps.Deb-

bieandNeilpointouttheirtreasuresamidall

the color and texture of the yard, including

a giant wrought-iron chandelier that they

broughtbackfromSanAntonio.

Atthebackoftheproperty,wrought-iron

hanginglampsareclusteredinacornerofthe

poolside where colorful Guatemalan weave

upholstered chaise lounges are accented by

Catalina tile-topped side tables, vintage pot-

teryandantiquemilkcanisters.Ontheother

sideofthepool,nexttothebaseoftheflower-

ingvinethatcoversthepergola,arustyboat

ladderplungedintothedirtdoublesasyard

artandatowelhangerforswimmingguests.

Thethemecontinuesintotheguesthouse,

aconverteddetachedgarage.Adecorativeiron

gateismountedabovethedoorlikeacanopy

while a tiled tabletop mural of a flamenco

dancerisreincarnatedasawallhanging.

This is the second redesign of the

Schwartzes’ yard since the couple moved

into the upscale neighborhood just off

WilshireBoulevard11yearsago.Theywere

stilldating(eachhadbeenmarriedbefore),

sothefirstbigcelebrationinthebackyard

wastheirwedding.

Debbie was still practicing law when

theyfirstdecidedtobuilduptheyard,her

daysbookedwithclientconferences.When

thedesignerwouldcallaskingforadecision

about the design, Debbie’s response was

typically,“Whatwouldyoudoifitwasyour

house?” Not surprisingly, neither she nor

Neil was satisfied with the result, which

resultedinsparselandscapingandawhite

paintedpergola.

“We used it, we had the patio, we had

thebarbecue,wehadthewarmingoven,we

haditprettymuchasyouseeitandthenwe

hadtheoverhang,”Neilsays.“Itwaslikeyou

wouldfindinanicefinehome.Butitdidn’t

connectwiththehouseverywell.”

Itdidn’tconnectwiththeSchwartzesei-

ther. They eventually began working with

Koepke, who helped them explore the rela-

tionshipbetweentheirhomeandtheiryard

andtofulfilltheirvisionofatrueoutdoorliv-

ingplace.

Now, Neil says, “I can’t imagine living

anywhereelse.”

Right: A cluster of lanterns from Berbere

Imports in Culver City provides a

warm and flattering light for nighttime

gatherings.

Below: Recycled materials frame a

view of the Beverly Hills backyard.


Salvaging the pastIn her hunt for re-purposed items, here are some of designer Sandy Koepke’s favorite haunts:

Long Beach Outdoor Antique & Collectible Marketwhat: More than 800 exhibitors sell antiques and

collectibles, including tins, Depression glass and Mission-style furniture.

when: 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m. the third Sunday of every monthwhere: Veterans Stadium, 5000 Lew Davis St., Long Beachadmission: $5; children under 12 freecontact: 323/655-5703; www.longbeachantiquemarket.com

Rose Bowl Flea Marketwhat: More than 2,500 vendors offer new and used

housewares, antique furnishings and more.when: 9 a.m.–3 p.m., the second Sunday of every monthwhere: Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadenaadmission: $8; children under 12 free.contact: 323/560-7469; www.rgeshows.com.

Pasadena Architectural Salvagewhat: The inventory includes stained-glass windows,

columns and fireplace mantels.when: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday,

noon–5 p.m. Sundaywhere: 30 S. San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadenacontact: 626/535-9655;

www.pasadenaarchitecturalsalvage.com

Olde Good Thingswhat: Catering to “architecturologists,” the store sells

decorative iron, doors, terra cotta and more.when: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. weekendswhere: 1800 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.contact: 213/746-8600; www.oldegoodthings.com


formThe Pavilion

is a gathering place for the

Kalbans, who relish the light

and airy feeling of the octago-nal addition.


He’s built sophisticated campuses for

Los Angeles’ most prestigious pri-

vate schools, designed a building

at the famed Getty Center and recently won

an American Institute of Architect’s award

for a spectacular beachfront home in Mali-

bu. We couldn’t help but wonder, therefore,

about architect Jeffrey Kalban’s own home in

the San Fernando Valley: Does the creativ-

ity that brought the Southland some of its

most noteworthy landmarks infuse his own

house? A recent visit with the affable Kalban

revealed that his imagination apparently

never takes a rest.

The 1,350-square-foot bungalow that he

and wife Maria bought a quarter-century

ago has nearly doubled in size, transformed

by the addition of contemporary rooms and

complementary outdoor areas. Colorful

modern artwork by the self-taught painter

and sculptor graces every room, and even

the leather furniture in the cozy living room

is Kalban’s own design.

He’s quick to point out, however, that he

was just one member of the creative team

By Barbara Jones • Photos by John McCoy

form

function

Architect Jeffrey Kalban designs for the good life—indoors & out


responsible for the evolution of the home.

“They’re my toughest clients,” jokes Kal-

ban, nodding at Maria and their 21-year-old

daughter, Jennifer, both of whom have art-

workdisplayedthroughoutthehouse.

“IcanrelateafeelingtohimthatIwantto

createandhe’sabletotranslateit,”saysMa-

ria, a retired retail buyer and entrepreneur

whocreateswhimsicalfabricsculpturesand

weavesbrightlyhuedrunnersandthrows.

Kalbansayshisabilitytolisten—whether

tohisfamilyortohisclientsatJeffreyM.Kal-

ban&Associates—isanapproachhelearned

earlyinhiscareer,workingwithpre-eminent

architectsI.M.PeiandWilliamPereira.“You

keepinglisteningfortheexceptionalthing,”

hesays.“Youdesignfromtheinsideout.You

listen to what the client wants and to all of

theirconcerns.Onceyousolvetheproblems,

thenyoucanstartonthedesign.”

Whether it’s a residential, academic or

institutionalproject,hisdesignsare—above

all—functional,withsophisticatedlinessup-

portingaversatileuseofspace.“Everyroom

has itsownpersonalityandcharacter,”Kal-

ban says, “and it changes from day to day.”

WhileKalbannotesthatthesuccessfulproj-

ects produced by his 10-member firm are

a “team accomplishment,” there are some

constantsinallofthecreations—brightcol-

ors,uncluttereddetailsandtheetherealfeel-

ingoffreedom.

LookskywardinKalban’soctagonalfam-

ilyroomandyou’reremindedofthesoaring

arches adorning the classroom buildings he

designed for the Harvard-Westlake School.

Admire Kalban’s wall sculptures and com-

parethemtothebrighthuesoftheregional

homelesscenterhebuiltinHollywood.Run

yourhandsalongthegentlycurvedwallsand

recall the same silhouette at the Pan Pacific

Park community center. Then bask in the


Above: A colorful wall sculp-ture by Jeffrey Kalban graces the walls of the living room.

Top right: An oversized window gives the illusion that the outdoor swimming pool flows under the house. The woven table runner was created by Maria Kalban.

Right: Comfortable furniture designed by Jeffrey Kalban provides a cozy seating area in the living room.

“ You design from the

inside out. You listen

to what the client

wants and to all

of their concerns.

Once you solve the

problems, then

you can start on

the design.”


lightsteamingintothehousefromoversized

windows throughout, and realize it’s the

sameairyfeelingyougetduringavisittothe

Getty Center’s South Building (which com-

plements the eight other Getty structures,

whichweredesignedbyrenownedarchitect

RichardMeier).

“Spaces need functions to give them life

andvitality,”hesays,“andeachspace’sfunc-

tionhastobeitsown.”

Thesameholdstrueindesigningoutdoor

spaces,saysKalban,whoexplainsbelowhow

hecreatedaseamlessexpansionofthefami-

ly’slivingspace.

In 1984, Maria and I decided it was time to move out of our apartment

and begin creating a home of our own. I had just opened my own ar-

chitecture firm, so we were not in the market for anything extravagant.

We just wanted a place that matched where we were in our lives, but

could grow along with us.

Both of us were raised back East, so were looking for something

that would allow us to take advantage of Southern California’s beauti-

ful weather. We settled on a small house built in 1939. It wasn’t exactly

what we wanted–it was interior-focused and felt closed up–but it had

interesting bay windows and a large lot. It offered opportunities, and

we set out to make it our own.

Our first project opened up the living room by replacing two

ordinary windows with doors that led to a large side yard. We

later added a bedroom wing when Jennifer was born, and more

recently built an octagonal “pavilion” that serves as a sort of family

room. Each addition was designed to add light and life to a closed-

off space. With each addition, we created a

complementary exterior space, each of which has

its own special nickname.

The Palm Court, for example, leading to the

front door, is my special place for enjoying a martini.

Shielded by layered planting and two triangular

palms, its seclusion also makes for a wonderful

place to dine. However, it can also function as

a traditional front porch, giving us access to our

neighbors and providing a rare opportunity to use

the front yard.

Just off the foyer is a glass door that takes visi-

tors out to The Fireside Room, our side yard where

a contemporary outdoor fireplace takes the chill

out of the evening air. The seating area is per-

fect for family or neighborhood

gatherings. It’s also adjacent

to the backyard, where Maria’s

green thumb has created a lush

retreat. Visitors can sit around

the pool and enjoy the sun or

seek shelter in the shady area

we’ve dubbed The Cove. The

other side of the house, facing

our art studio, is The Retreat, a

linear garden that provides the

perfect setting for seeking in-

spiration. Although the garden

is small and out of the way, we

would have missed a wonderful

opportunity had we allowed this

area to simply languish.

The octagonal addition we call The Pavilion is an indoor space de-

signed to create a feeling of being out of doors. It has huge windows on

four sides that create beautiful light and we can open them to let in the

breeze. On Halloween, we even sit in The Pavilion and hand out candy

to trick-or-treaters through the open window! Maria and Jenny were

my “clients” on The Pavilion. We all talked about what we wanted, and

designed the project from the inside out. There was a lot of trial and

error, and we probably went through a dozen designs. We didn’t know

exactly what we wanted—but we knew when it was right.

It has taken 25 years, but a house that was introspective has

been opened up to the outdoors, and the landscape has been

designed to draw visitors to all parts of the yard. The inside and

outside have become one. Our home and our lives celebrate the

beauty of Southern California.

Clever landscaping gives The Palm Court

both privacy and access to friendly

neighbors. The Retreat creates a linear garden in a secluded side yard.

The Fireside Room provides the perfect ambiance for family gatherings.

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chef’s table

Even if you’ve never been there be-

fore,there’ssomethingveryfamiliar

about Café Firenze. It could be that

thewarmatmosphereofthesuburbanMoor-

parkrestaurantremindsyouofaTuscanvilla

youoncevisited.Orthatthearomaemanat-

ingfromthekitchenislikesomethingyour

nonnausedtomake.

Or it could be Fabio Viviani himself, the

executivechefwhocompetedinSeason5of

Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.” Although he didn’t

win the grand prize, his charming repartee

Bravo for FabioCharming chef brings taste of Florence to Moorpark

By Natalie Haughton

spokeninheavilyaccentedEnglishgarnered

accolades from viewers, who voted him the

“fanfavorite.”Hisrapportwithhisaudience

isoneestablishedduringyearsasarestaura-

teur—acareerlaunchedinthekitchenofhis

childhoodhomeinFlorence,Italy.

“I was a bad boy,” says Viviani, who was

just 6 when he joined his grandmother in

thekitchen.“Tokeepmequietandfromde-

stroying the whole house, she used to have

mehelphercook.”

The budding chef got his first restaurant

Fabio Viviani’s charisma won him accolades on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef,” and now diners can watch him at work in the open kitchen at Café Firenze.

Photos: M

ichael Ow

en Baker

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chef’s table

jobatage12andenrolledinculinaryschool

ayearlater.Inhis20s,atourofEuropegar-

neredhimexperiencecookinginrestaurants

inFrance,SpainandGermany.Bythetimehe

returnedtoTuscany,hehadtheknowledge,

skillanddrivetoopenaseriesofrestaurants

and dance clubs, along with a farmhouse

bed-and-breakfast.

But that still wasn’t enough for Viviani,

who found himself frustrated with the op-

erationhe’dcreated.“Iwasboredoutofmy

head,”herecalls.“Iwasn’tlookinganymore,

justmanagingpeople.”

Searching for broader opportunities and

anoutletforhisambition,Vivianisoldmost

of his properties and moved to Southern

California. Arriving in December 2005, he

wenttoworkinthekitchenofCaféFiorein

BALSAMIC MARTINIServes 1

3 small strawberries

4 lime wedges

¾ ounce simple syrup (purchased or homemade)

12 to 15 dashes balsamic vinegar (aged preferred)

1½ ounces vanilla-flavored rum

Ice cubes

Garnish: Whole strawberry, lime wedge

In a cocktail shaker, combine strawberries, lime wedges and simple syrup. Using a muddler or

back of a spoon, crush ingredients until strawberries are pureéd. Add balsamic vinegar, rum

and ice cubes. Shake well.

To serve, strain beverage into a chilled martini glass (adding some of strawberry puree).

Garnish with a whole strawberry and/or fresh lime wedge.

—Shared by Jacopo Falleni, mixologist, general manager and co-owner

Many of the creations at Café Firenze are made from recipes handed down by chef Fabio Viviani’s family. Beef with roasted mushrooms (bottom) is a house specialty.

Bartender Damiano Carrara mixes up one of Café Firenze’s signature drinks. At right, a balsamic martini is embellished with a watermelon slice shaped like the symbol of Florence.

Photos: B

artender, Michael O

wen B

aker; martini and appetizer, D

avid Crane


chef’s table

Ventura, which was being managed by his

best friend, Jacopo Falleni.

“Everyone thought I was crazy,” Viviani

says. “I’d never been to the United States be-

fore and didn’t speak one word of English.”

But he quickly picked up the language, as

well as the American way of life. He met and

married his wife, Jessica. And he and Falleni

bought and renovated the 9,000-square-foot

building in Moorpark that opened as Café Fi-

renze in the fall of 2007.

Specializing in Tuscan dishes with Flo-

rentine flair, many of the creations are made

from traditional recipes handed down by

Viviani’s family. He insists on baking his

own bread, making some of the pastas and

cheeses, dry-aging meat and preparing his

own desserts. His signature dishes include

butternut squash ravioli and a rib-eye steak

served with asparagus and a porcini mush-

room sauce.

“If you have a good ingredient, keep it

simple,” he says. “Don’t complicate things

with a lot of ingredients that don’t go with

the dish. Having a fancy dish with fancy in-

gredients and fancy presentation doesn’t

mean it is good. Taste and quality of ingredi-

ents are most important.”

The restaurant serves an average of 200

to 250 lunches daily, and as many as 700

dinners on a weekend night. Many of the

customers come from the San Fernando

Valley and Ventura, but also as far away as

SPOTLIGHT ON...

FABIO VIVIANIAGE: 3030

HOMETOWN: HOMETOWN: Florence, Italy.

FAVORITE FAVORITE FOODS:FOODS:F Rib-eye steak; fresh egg noodle pasta; steak; fresh egg noodle pasta; a glass of cold whole milk in the a glass of cold whole milk in the morning, and a glass of nice red morning, and a glass of nice red wine from the Chianti region at wine from the Chianti region at night. “Every day I drink three night. “Every day I drink three tablespoons of extra virgin tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. I haven’t missed a olive oil. I haven’t missed a day since I was 3 years old. My day since I was 3 years old. My cholesterol is 137.”cholesterol is 137.”

FAVORITE DISHES AT HIS FAVORITE DISHES AT HIS RESTAURANT: RESTAURANT: Roasted mushroom risotto, butternut mushroom risotto, butternut squash ravioli, dry-aged prime squash ravioli, dry-aged prime beef steaks. “I feed customers beef steaks. “I feed customers the way I like to eat.”the way I like to eat.”

FAVORITE FAVORITE FOODS AT HOME: FOODS AT HOME: FVery-thin-crust pizza, Nutella Very-thin-crust pizza, Nutella imported from Italy, homemade imported from Italy, homemade chocolate gelato. chocolate gelato.

FAVORITE KITCHEN GADGET: FAVORITE KITCHEN GADGET: Tongs. “They are an extension Tongs. “They are an extension of my own arm.”of my own arm.”

PET PEEVE: EEVE: PEEVE: P When a restaurant customer complains on a customer complains on a Saturday night that the entree is Saturday night that the entree is not served within 20 minutes of not served within 20 minutes of ordering. “Quality needs time.”ordering. “Quality needs time.”

FAVORITE RESTAURANT:FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Il Pallaio, a trattoria in Florence.Pallaio, a trattoria in Florence.

FAVORITE COOKBOOK: FAVORITE COOKBOOK: “Jamie’s Italy,” by Jamie Oliver.“Jamie’s Italy,” by Jamie Oliver.

HOBBIES: HOBBIES: Gardening; fishing; riding his Ducati motorbike.riding his Ducati motorbike.

IDEAL VACATIDEAL VACATIIDEAL VACATIIDEAL VACAT ON: Drinking a glass of ice-cold wine on a a glass of ice-cold wine on a beach in Sardinia with wife beach in Sardinia with wife Jessica.Jessica.

THE WORSTHE WORST PART PART T OF BEING T OF BEING TA CHEF:A CHEF: “If you really cook through the day and nighttime, through the day and nighttime, you smell like fry oil. But you smell like fry oil. But the best part is that if the the best part is that if the restaurant is successful, you restaurant is successful, you hire a chef and hire a chef and he smells like fry oil.”fry oil.”

The dry-aged rib-eye steak is one of chef Fabio Viviani’s favorite dishes.

Photos: V

iviani, Michael O

wen B

aker; steak, David C

rane

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chef’s table

PASTA WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND PANCETTAServes 3 to 4

1 pound (16 ounces) fettuccine or other pasta, fresh or cooked

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

4 cloves garlic, minced or very thinly sliced

1 cup finely diced pancetta

Pinch chili flakes

3 pounds cherry tomatoes, halved (heirloom variety preferred)

Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup chopped fresh basil

1 cup freshly grated Pamigiano-Reggiano cheese

Using a large sauté pan or skillet, heat olive oil until hot (but not smoking). Add garlic, pancetta

and chili flakes, and sauté over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until garlic is translucent and

pancetta is crisp. Stir in tomatoes and salt and pepper, to taste. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until toma-

toes start to soften. Stir in ¾ cup basil and cook 20 seconds.

Remove from heat. Add cooked pasta to tomato mixture and combine well.

To serve, top with light drizzle of olive oil, additional pepper, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

cheese and remaining basil.

—Shared by Fabio Viviani, executive chef and co-owner

restaurant Café Firenze Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar 563 W. Los Angeles Ave. Moorpark 805/532-0048 www.cafefirenze.net

reservations recommended? Yesdinnerwithwine fortwo About $100

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. A younger

crowdpacksthebaronFridayandSaturday

nights,drawnbysucheclecticconcoctions

as bell pepper, basil-lemon drop and—the

most popular—balsamic martinis. And

Viviani also teaches culinary classes twice

amonthattherestaurant.

Viviani hopes to replicate the success of

Café Firenze when he opens a second loca-

tion in Ventura, along with an Italian steak

house,bytheendoftheyear.Hisfirstcook-

book,“TheCaféFirenzeCookbook,”written

with Falleni, is scheduled to be released in

May,andhe’salreadyatworkonasecond.

Viviani’s success on “Top Chef” brought

himaslewofproductendorsements,includ-

ing San Pelligrino mineral water and Santa

Margherita Wines, along with offers for his

owntelevisionshow.SoifViviani’sfaceisn’t

familiartoyouyet,justwait.You’lllikelybe

seeinghimverysoon.

Photos: Pasta, D

avid Crane; C

afé Firenze, Michael O

wen B

aker

For more information, please call (310) 543-6118

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An Historic Location for Meetings, Parties and Events

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cause for applause

The Big Apple — or at least Holly-

wood’s version of it— provided a

festive backdrop as the Greater San

Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce

held its 97th annual Inaugural Ball at CBS

Studios’NewYorkStreetbacklot.

Aredcarpetwelcomedthe250gueststo

thefamedset,tuckedamidthesoundstages

wheresomeofthe industry’smostpopular

and best-loved television shows have been

filmed. In addition to dinner, dancing and

entertainment,theMarch27eventfeatured

asilentauctiontobenefittheorganization’s

advocacyprograms.

The Valley’s largest chamber continued

itstraditionofhonoringbusinessandcom-

munity leaders during the gala, which this

yearcarriedthetheme“Illusions.”

TheChairman’sAwardofDistinctionwas

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Fouradditionalhonorswereintroduced

this year, including the Heroes Among Us

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character.

Thefirst-everrecipientwasRossBradder,

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ersInc.,afaith-basednonprofitagencythat

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also provides emergency shelter and hous-

ing assistance. The community-based orga-

nizationhasapartnershipwithTheChurch

OnTheWay,whereBradderispastor.

NetOps Corp., based in Sherman Oaks,

wasrecognizedforexcellenceintechnology;

andU-FrameItGallerywonacustomerser-

viceaward.Flip’sTireCenter,whoseowner,

Phillip “Flip” Smith, passed away last year,

washonoredasFamilyBusinessoftheYear.

—Barbara Jones

No ‘Illusions’ as Valley chamber fetes business leaders

Enjoying the evening’s festivities were, from left, Jeff Hernandez, Moira Moe, Chris Schauble and Mauricio Aranda.

Photos: John M

cCoy

San Fernando Valley business leaders Bert and Jane Boechmann were among the 250 guests at the gala hosted by the region’s largest chamber of commerce.

Party-goers, from left, Lee Kanon Alpert and his wife Arlene visit with David Fleming and Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield.

Master of Ceremonies Chris Schauble greets guests dining at CBS Studios’ famed New York backlot.

Linda and John Silver celebrate the success of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce.


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