Issuu

Create Your Dream Home! H O M E S E RV I C E S

HO M E SERVI CES GU IDE HOME + DESIGN

TH E SO FA GUY CAT I N A HAM M O CK A R T S + C U LT U R E

“K ALEIDOSCO PE”

M A R C H 2 02 3

Location, location! Spectacular white picket gated fenced entry with spectacular winding walkways, riverbeds, bridge and water features lead you to this stunning single story Bridlewood Windemere floorplan in Santa Rosa Valley! Leaded double glass door entry open to light filled rooms, high ceilings, and designer finishes. Gourmet remodeled kitchen with white cabinets and granite counters has a large island and is open to the large family room where you will do hours of entertaining. Enter this spacious and inviting home with four bedrooms plus office, custom shutters and three full baths, Enter the large master suite through double doors with vaulted ceilings and sitting area. The master bath is highlighted by a large spa tub, dual sinks, & separate updated tiled shower. Three other bedrooms are nicely sized with updated bathroom, three car attached garage, and two storage sheds. The inside space flows effortlessly to the outside where you will fall in love with this huge wonderland useable and fence enclosed lot. Your own private resort awaits you where you can dine al fresco on the outstretched covered patio or find your calm in the above ground spa, enjoying the views of the lush green turf, surrounding hills and raised gardening beds. Potential RV access amid a community that includes equestrian trails, arena and picnic area. Newer roof and covered patio. Indoor laundry room with sink. This is truly an exceptional property you simply must see to believe. Single story homes with features and views like this do not come around often so seize the day and live where you dreamed of living!

805.479.7653 | rosemaryallison@aol.com | www.callrosemary.com | CalRE #00545184 The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification.Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

Conceived of the drama & the romance of an exquisite New England Country Estate, this sought after one-story home is located on over an acre in the exclusive Wildwood Ranch neighborhood of Santa Rosa Valley. Circular drive features Porte-cochere entry. Distinguished architectural bearing & the use of enduring wide plank thick Hickory flooring. Remodeled gourmet kitchen with upper tier stainless appliances including double oven, built-in microwave, Built-in refrigerator and 6 burner range, Granite kitchen counters. 4 Fireplaces, one in primary suite, family room, living room and rear yard. Large formal dining room. Indoor laundry. The primary bedroom suite indulges the owner with a sitting area, huge walk-in closet, fireplace and luxurious remodeled bath, with sunken whirlpool tub, and separate shower. There are 5 bedrooms (or 4 bedrooms and office) and four full baths plus a powder room. This architectural masterpiece offers extraordinary craftsmanship, and a stylistic confluence of modernity and sophistication that redefines all expectations. The masterful architecture offers luxury designed to seamlessly combine indoor and incredible outdoor living spaces. Rear yard replete with salt-water pool and spa, lighted regulation sized North-South tennis court, exquisite gardens, gazebo and fruit trees. Oversized 3 car garage with side facing doors. This is truly one of the most unique properties to grace the Santa Rosa Valley. RV Access. Award winning school district. Non-potable water for irrigation means that you are not restricted on watering days and your water rates are lower. Offered at $2,399,000

March 2023 PUBLISHER S

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Your Home Is Your Castle In Southern California our homes are really, really important to us. Whether we own or rent it, and no matter if it’s a townhome, luxurious condo, palatially large home or modest three-bedroom rancher. Since our readers live either in the beautiful Conejo Valley, Santa Rosa Valley or spectacular Malibu, we know it is Heaven on Earth in many ways, especially compared to so many other places in which we all might live. So why not have our homes live up to the full potential of our environment? We just wrapped up the fourth major overhaul of our landscape design and installation. While we live in a townhome, we are fortunate to have a fairly large back and side yard. We finally got smart—after a few swings and misses during the past 18 years—and installed a sustainable, drought-resistant, native California plant-dominated garden. Succulents and beautiful flowering plants are framed by river rock and volcanic rock. And the 100% drip irrigation cut our water bill in half, while it deep waters the plants. Oh, and it was all thriving even before the recent series of rainstorms. We really got lucky and discovered that our “blow and go” guy was a darn sight more than that cliched negative tag. He was a visionary designer who found plants and materials for us at a fraction of market price and installed it all for about a third of the cost of every other bid. Whew!! Lucky us! Francisco is available for other “small” jobs. If you have a major pool, hardscape or landscape project, our friends at Cat in a Hammock are terrific. Inside your home, Skyline Window Coverings and The Drapery Guy in Westlake Village can bring your windows back to life. Paul Trent at the Sofa Guy in Thousand Oaks can bring your entire home back to life, as he has done for the past 25+ years. Home Sweet Home. Enjoy!!

Ben Malkin | Ben.Malkin@citylifestyle.com Robin Chesler | Robin.Chesler@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Tracy Marcynzsyn Tracy.Marcynzsyn@citylifestyle.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Adrienne Wigdortz Anderson, Sue Baldani, Alicia Doyle, Cary ONeal, Grace Olivia Parry CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Angel De Angelis, Rosaline Elbay, Eric Garcia, Alexandra Koryakina, Cary ONeal, Robert Townsend

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall LAYOUT DESIGNER Eva Tucker

BEN MALKIN, PUBLISHER @MALIBUCOASTLIFEST YLE

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Malibu Coast Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Malibu Coast area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Malibu Coast Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

MARCH 2023

inside the issue The Home Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

Lifestyle Letter

Local’s Choice HO ME + DES I G N

Decor Trends HO ME S ERV I C ES

Home Update HO ME + DES I GN

Must See A RTS + C U LT U R E

Self Care HEA LT H + WELLNES S

Inspired By A RTS + C U LT U R E

The Sofa Guy

Designs for the Heart of the Home

12 Create Your Castle! Local Experts to Get It Done Right

18 Cat In a Hammock: Landscapes for Living & Dreaming

22 Moving Pictures

View “Kaleidoscope” In all its Colors

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Courtesy of Skyline Window Coverings, Westlake Village, CA 6

The Heart of a Home: Designs for Every Style and Space at The Sofa Guy ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI

LOCA L’S CH OICE | HOM E + DE S I GN

For Paul Trent, a sofa isn’t just a piece of furniture, but the heart of a home. It’s a place where families and friends often come together to chat or watch a movie, a comfortable spot where people can take a nap or even sleep the night away, and a sanctuary where one can feel warm and cozy. It’s this belief and focus that has led him and his business to be known as The Sofa Guy. “We started out as Welcome Home Interiors, but when we would tell people what we did, they would automatically say, ‘Oh yeah, you’re the sofa guy,’” he says. Paul embraced this moniker, and today, its name and reputation has grown from Thousand Oaks, where the business is located, all the way to Encino and Malibu. “It’s because we care,” he says. “We have long-term clients who refer us to their daughters, their aunts and sisters and cousins. We have whole families that keep coming back to us year after year to help them with projects.” When clients come into his showroom, which he describes as a warm and welcoming space, he and his staff, who have been with him for many years and have the same passion he does, help them customize the sofa that will work for their lifestyle, family needs and space. They also regularly go out to people’s homes to plan a design with them right in the room where the sofa will be placed. “Comfort is the number one quality people are looking for, but that means something different to every person,” says Paul. “Some want the sofa to have a cloud cushiony feeling, while others need something firmer and more supportive.” Once that’s determined, they move on to the configuration of the sofa and what size, shape and style would work best in the home. Then, clients can choose from a great variety of fabrics. It’s definitely not a “what you see is what you get” type of situation as in most furniture stores. Here, people are able to build exactly what

they want from the frame up, and the whole process from design to delivery of the sofa takes only about 3 to 4 weeks. “We create something they love, sort of like a bespoke suit,” he says. The Sofa Guy has a wide spectrum of clients with various preferences and budgets. “We get high-end people from $40 million homes to someone who needs to get a sofa reupholstered for her daughter's condominium, so it’s a pretty broad range,” says Paul. When someone requests reupholstering, he and his staff can let them know if it’s worth it and guide clients through that as well. “We’re with our clients before, during and after every process, so if someone calls us a year from now with say a cushion issue, we’ll send someone out to replace it,” he says. The Sofa Guy, despite its name, offers more than just quality custom sofas and reupholstering. “We are a full-service interior design business as well,” says Paul. “TSG Interior Designs can assist with designs and space planning in bedrooms, dining rooms and living rooms by collaborating with clients to help them finish a room. We start with the sofa and we often end with doing the entire room or rooms. We can handle everything from artwork and lighting to coffee tables, dining tables, end tables and other similar items.” He and his staff also enjoy working with other designers. “We have quite a few interior designers who come and bring their clients to look through our fabrics and catalogs and find what’s right and comfortable for them,” he says. “Everyone feels welcome here. There's a great sense of accomplishment in what we do.” To find the perfect sofa, and/or to have help with the design of your rooms, stop in the showroom or make an appointment for someone to come to you. For more, visit TheSofaGuy.com.

“Comfort is the number one quality people are looking for, but that means something different to every person.”

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ALDIK HOME

Create Your Dream Home! Consider this home resources guide a personal referral, as these local experts have the skill, talent and experience to help you create the home of your dreams. Whether you need a new sofa to upgrade your living room, updated kitchen appliances, fresh window coverings or a landscaped and livable backyard—you can count on these industry pros to deliver results you’ll love to live with for years to come.

ARTICLE BY TRACY MARCYNZSYN

D E C OR T R E N D S | HOM E S E RVI CE S

If you’re ready to re-imagine your outdoor space with a gorgeous new patio furniture set, make sure you check out Aldik Home’s stunning selection of Summer Classics outdoor furniture. The line is meticulously crafted from premium materials using both age-old building methods and state-of-the-art finishing processes to ensure the furniture will last for years to come. While other manufacturers, such as Brown Jordan or Restoration Hardware, may be more well-known, they do not come close to the craftsmanship and durability of Summer Classics. Not only is this furniture stylish and sophisticated, but you simply will not find more comfortable outdoor furniture (the Majorca Collection is our favorite!). Lucky for you, the best selection of Summer Classics in the country is nearby at Aldik Home in Van Nuys. Experience the Summer Classics difference in person while you wander through one of LA’s most beautiful stores. There’s no place like Aldik Home. Aldik Home, 7651 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys 818.988.5970 | AldikHome.com

CAL CUSTOMSCAPES

Cal CustomScapes creates one-of-a-kind architecturally inspired outdoor accents to match every client’s distinctive home and style. From hardscapes and planters to intricate fire pits, beautiful water features, grill enclosures and LED accent lighting, Cal CustomScapes takes pride in crafting quality, unique projects that perfectly enhance and complement any environment. Each project draws inspiration from various artistic and architectural styles, including Spanish Colonial Revival, Art Deco, the Arts and Crafts movement and Modernism. Contact Cal CustomScapes today to start designing your unique vision for hardscapes, waterscapes, fire pits and more. Cal CustomScapes, Instagram @calcustomscapes 818.369.9500 | info@calcustomscapes.com

SKYLINE WINDOW COVERINGS

Skyline Window Coverings’ collaborative window treatment showroom located in the heart of Westlake Village is designed to provide the most innovative features, fabrics and operating systems from Hunter Douglas. Offering the full collection of Hunter Douglas shades, shutters, blinds and draperies, Skyline Window Coverings is “an experience center—a place for clients to feel inspired, to envision custom window treatments in their own homes.” Showcasing today’s most popular features, the showroom provides a hands-on approach to choosing custom window treatments. See and touch the fabrics and experience each and every type of operating system. The showroom includes Smart Shades, intentionally placed so you can play with all of the innovative features and gadgets offered with today’s automated shades. Skyline Window Coverings, 31133 Via Colinas, Westlake Village SkylineWindowCoverings.com

MOSHER DESIGN CO.

Mosher Design Co.

Specializing in creating highly unique and sophisticated outdoor environments, Mosher Design Co. takes pride in ensuring every project reflects their client’s individual sense of style and enhances the living environment. Mosher Design Co. has completed hundreds of elaborate projects across the nation, creating customized outdoor living spaces where family and friends can gather and build memories for years to come. Working with clients to transform their visions into reality, Mosher Design Co.’s master artisans design beautiful and award-winning outdoor landscapes. MosherDesignCo.com

ANGELUS PAVING STONES

Aldik Home Cal CustomScapes

Skyline Window Coverings

Angelus Paving Stones

Beautify any outdoor area with Angelus Paving Stones, an industry favorite since 1946 for concrete paving stones and decorative retaining wall blocks for municipal, commercial and residential projects. The family owned business’ dedication to quality and service has fueled the company’s growth for the past 70+ years, catapulting it to become the largest dry cast concrete manufacturing capacity facility in California. Servicing, selling and distributing to contractors and dealer networks throughout Southern California, Angelus stocks a wide range of products, including the popular Paseo and Pavilion large format pavers for patio and pool decks, as well as plank-style Aqualina and Timberline pavers. Many customers find the wood plank look and the low maintenance and longevity of concrete pavers to be a winning combination. The low-maintenance, long-lasting high quality of concrete pavers make them an even more attractive hardscape enhancement. Homeowners are often surprised to learn that a properly installed concrete paver driveway can last 30 years or more and offers an additional advantage of seamless repair in case underground utilities need to be accessed. Repairing or replacing an underground sewer line or water main in many cases involves simply removing and resetting the pavers over newly compacted base and bedding sand, saving homeowners considerable time and money. Angelus Paving Stones, 4575 E Vineyard Ave, Oxnard 805.485.1137 | AngelusPavingStones.com & AngelusBlock.com

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THE DRAPERY GUY

Refresh and revitalize your home with custom-styled fabric at The Drapery Guy in Westlake Village. Serving clients for almost 40 years, The Drapery Guy provides personalized services and made-to-order merchandise. With a new focus exclusively on fabric, The Drapery Guy stocks drapes and Roman shades or provides reupholstering for indoor or outdoor furniture. Taking the overwhelm out of choosing the fabric style, color and the lining, whether regular, thermal or blackout, then the hardware, which can be wood or iron, The Drapery Guy’s expert team simplifies the process by supplying everything customers need and professionally installing it as well. To assist with fabric choices, whether it be stripes, solids or prints, customers can pick a few samples, bring them home and hang them up. Afterwards, they can choose the style they like the most. Best of all, there's no charge for this. All of the fabrics are from the U.S.A. and are in stock. The Drapery Guy, 31133 Via Colinas, Unit 101, Westlake Village 818.445.9137 | TheDraperyGuy.net

The Drapery Guy

ROSEMARY ALLISON REAL ESTATE

When it comes to buying and selling real estate, Rosemary Allison opens the door to your dream home. One of the nation’s Top 250 Producing Agents, Rosemary strives to create lifetime relationships with her clients by putting their needs first. Her extensive experience and expertise in Ventura County’s housing market have established Rosemary as the go-to realtor for generations of families looking to buy or sell a home. Specializing in residential real estate throughout Ventura County, including Westlake Village, Agoura, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch, Camarillo and Oxnard, as well as Ventura Beach areas, North Ranch, Lake Sherwood and Santa Rosa Valley, Rosemary masterfully unites sellers of the finest homes with quality buyers from across the globe. She brings each of her exclusive listings to a global audience with discretion, taste and visionary marketing. If you are thinking about selling your home, Rosemary can give you advice on improvements that will highlight your home's strengths, downplay its weakness and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers. Rosemary Allison Real Estate, Director of Estates, Coldwell Banker Realty #00545184 805.479.7653 | RosemaryAllison@aol.com | CallRosemary.com

Rosemary Allison

THE SOFA GUY

“Inspire, design, build,” invites The Sofa Guy, a family-owned design firm and furniture store where clients can create custom sofas, sectionals, chairs, ottomans, beds and more. With the mission to provide a long-lasting, extraordinary experience in a warm, friendly and knowledgeable environment, The Sofa Guy collaborates with clients to create custom furniture and provide design consultations, including fabric selection, spacing and style design. Find couture fabrics for custom pillows, bedding and draperies; reupholster furniture and cushions; and shop a wide selection of rugs, lighting and accessories at The Sofa Guy. The Sofa Guy, 2520 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks 805.497.3222 | TheSofaGuy.com The Sofa Guy

D E C OR T R E N D S | HOM E S E RVI CE S

CAT IN A HAMMOCK

Cat In a Hammock

Fall in love with your home all over again! Let Cat In a Hammock create a magnificent outdoor living space that will become your favorite “room” outside. From pergolas, swimming pools and spas, to outdoor kitchens, pavers and masonry, landscaping and lighting, Cat In a Hammock can thoughtfully design and build a backyard that enhances your family’s lifestyle. Cat In a Hammock is a design and build construction company located in Thousand Oaks and is committed to creating spaces that are beautiful, functional and long-lasting. Call Cat In a Hammock today to schedule your free onsite design consultation and let them craft the space that you will love. Then receive a competitively priced estimate and get ready to transform your outdoor living space into something you have always dreamed of. Cat In a Hammock, 275 E Hillcrest Drive, Suite 160-237, Thousand Oaks 805.263.4200 | CatInAHammock.co

CELLAR MASTERS

For more than 30 years Cellar Masters has been creating custom-built wine cellars and features in homes and businesses throughout the Greater Southern California Area, specializing in the design, construction and installation of climate-controlled wine cellars and wine storage solutions. Owner Scott Berry takes pride in designing unique wine cellars for those who share a passion for wine, to safely store and showcase their wine—be it 100 bottles or 10,000 bottle collections. Understanding the proper handling, storage and organization of wine ensures the perfect design and construction of every cellar. Cellar Masters’ popular offerings include traditional wine cellars made from the finest quality woods and cut to precision as well as sleek and elegant contemporary wine cellars designed with frameless glass, acrylic and stainless steel. Cellar Masters also creates wine features based on the latest modern trends for storing and displaying wine within your living space. Cellar Masters, 2088-A Anchor Court, Newbury Park 805.375.5040 | CellarMastersInc.com Cellar Masters

Thousand Oaks Fireside

THOUSAND OAKS FIRESIDE

A far cry from the traditional “mom-and-pop” fireplace hearth stores, Thousand Oaks Fireside features modern displays of efficient gas fireplaces, dynamic and useful retrofit options for existing fireplaces and dazzling electric fireplaces by featured brands, including Heat and Glo, Heatilator, Twin Eagles/Delta Heat Grills, Luxor Outdoor Kitchen Products, Dimplex and Modern Flames Electric Fireplaces, The Outdoor Plus Fire Pits, Infratech Heaters, SunPak and more. The locale also sells stone and wood mantels, custom-built outdoor kitchen islands complete with the latest grilling equipment, pizza ovens, outdoor heating solutions, fire pits and an extensive selection of mailbox options. Visit their showroom for inspiring backyard options. Thousand Oaks Fireside, 104 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks 805.496.6660 | ThousandOaksFireside.com

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WDC KITCHEN & BATH CENTER

Named The Luxury Products Group Showroom of the Year for 2021, WDC Kitchen & Bath Center stocks quality appliances at the best prices. With five luxurious showrooms and a sixth store opening soon, the family-owned WDC Kitchen & Bath Center carries all types of major appliances—kitchen and bath, outdoor barbecues, plumbing fixtures and fittings and even mattresses—in a wide range of brands and prices, from entry level to luxury. WDC has over $28 million of products in stock and ready for next day delivery. In fact, WDC carries the largest selection of luxury brand Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove in the state of California! Customers will find WDC’s experienced, knowledgeable staff trained by manufacturer professionals helpful in answering questions and guiding them through the buying process. WDC’s Appliance Professionals provide an overview of different brands, covering the latest innovations and various price ranges and models. They assist customers to examine their lifestyle for the years to come to ensure their selections are well-suited for the long term. Add their price match guarantee to their wide selection and superior customer service, and WDC Kitchen & Bath Center earns high marks as a premier appliance locale. WDC Kitchen & Bath Center, 30621 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills 818.991.8846 | WDCAppliances.com Additional showrooms in Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, and Lomita; with a new showroom coming soon to La Quinta.

WDC Kitchen & Bath

Cabinet Sense

CABINET SENSE

As a community-based small business, Cabinet Sense in Simi Valley provides aesthetically pleasing storage solutions for every room of the house. Since 2003, Cathy Wu Walker and her team of experts work with clients to design unique and personalized cabinetry in any room of the house. With its full selection of colors from dark brown, white and blues, and a variety of textures, there’s something for everyone’s taste. “Our business is as big as your imagination!” 805.520.0168 | CabinetSense.com

STS KRAFTWORKS

STS Kraftworks specializes in handcrafted cutting boards for home chefs who desire heirloom quality in fresh, innovative designs with purpose. Their attention to detail maximizes utility for cutting, chopping and serving—all in one board. Patent-pending hybrid boards optimize work surface, jus capture, board stability and food transfer to pan, bowl, plate or storage so you can enjoy every bit of your cooking, carving and serving experience. Family owned and Southern California-based STS Kraftworks builds fine furnishings for your countertop that celebrate the beauty of wood and the meals you prepare. For a different kind of cutting board, visit STSKraftWorks.com. info@stskraftworks.com | STSKraftworks.com

D E C OR T R E N D S | HOM E S E RVI CE S

STS Kraftworks Photo Credit: The Photo Pot

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CAT IN A HAMMOCK:

ARTICLE BY ALICIA DOYLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXANDRA KORYAKINA

CREATING BACKYARDS FOR LIVING & DREAMING

H OM E U P DAT E | HOM E + DE S I GN

Imagine having your dream backyard with an outdoor kitchen under a beautiful cabana—along with a fireplace, pool with a water slide, paver stone deck and a cozy outdoor living room. This is just one example of luxury at its finest provided by Cat In A Hammock, a landscape and outdoor living construction company run by Kristina and Allen Jones. The couple’s mission is to design and build beautiful outdoor living spaces that are an expression of the homeowners’ desire. “Just as every family is unique, each design that we do is unique,” says Kristina, principal designer, whose husband works as the company’s design engineer. “We go through a ‘discovery interview’ process where we get to understand the needs and wants of a family,” she continues. For instance, “some families have young children, some families have children who are in college, other folks are retired, and this is their empty nest to enjoy and entertain their friends and play with grandchildren.” Because every family is different, “we design spaces that satisfy their needs and provide an enhanced experience of their wants. You don’t need a fire pit, but it is a delight to sit around after

dinner with friends and chat for hours. People love connecting with other people and having meaningful conversations. A beautiful and cozy environment enhances that experience.” They provide a range of offerings, including masonry, landscaping, fire pit installation, irrigation, outdoor lighting and pergolas. When clients select the design features they desire, they are provided with a three-dimensional design that shows exactly what their property is going to look like. “Our most popular service is backyard remodels,” says Kristina, adding that a common request is to add a swimming pool and spa in the backyard along with a lounge area and water feature. “Our suppliers always roll out new materials and we’re excited to bring that to our clients when designing and selecting materials.” Cat In A Hammock is especially unique because “we offer full turn-key construction solutions, which include design and material selection, architectural and engineering drawings, pulling permits, and getting HOA approval, material purchasing, construction, inspections, project management—and all done with a personal and caring touch.” The passion behind Kristina and Allen Jones’ vocation is based on their backgrounds. Kristina’s love for homes and architectural design sparked when she was a teenager, laying tile with her stepdad, painting all the rooms at her parents’ house and planting flowers in their front yard. Her husband is “a rare species of people who can make the impossible possible. Not only is he an engineering genius but he’s also a delight to be around… Allen brings his engineering expertise to structurally complex projects. He makes it easier for our craftsmen to do their best work by providing clear architectural drawings and construction oversight.”

Additionally, “my husband is from New Zealand and I’m from Russia, so we have a European feel to our designs—it comes out in things that we find beautiful.” Since Cat In A Hammock opened, Kristina is often asked about the name of the company. “If I close my eyes and think of a cat, I imagine it stretching out in the sun by a window or under a large plant, roaming around the house like it owns the place and enjoying life carefree,” she explains. “When I think of a hammock, I see a shady spot under a tree, peacefully swaying in a hammock, maybe taking a nap and simply relaxing. If I combine both a cat and a hammock—ah, life is good! And it’s exactly what one might do in the backyard—enjoy and relax.” Above all, “our mission is to connect people with nature and bring joy to families and neighborhoods,” Kristina adds. “We do that by providing beautifully designed, stylish, functional and quality-built outdoor living spaces.” Cat In a Hammock is located at 275 E Hillcrest Drive, Suite 160-237, Thousand Oaks. For more information, call 805.263.4200, or visit CatInAHammock.com.

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View “Kaleidoscope” In 5,040 Possible Combinations “Kaleidoscope,” now streaming on Netflix, was launched on New Year’s Day and immediately shot up to one of the network’s most watched shows. With a cast headed by Giancarlo Esposito and Rufus Sewell, the eight-episode heist thriller is stomach-clenching from beginning to end. But which beginning? Which end? That’s up to the viewers. They can watch the episodes in any order they choose. The series creator, Eric Garcia, had the idea of a nonlinear format in 2013 and shared the concept via email with a director friend.

“With a batch delivery of episodes, I didn’t see why we had to watch chronologically,” says the Camarillo resident. Numbers or letters could possibly suggest a prescribed sequence, so episodes are labeled with a kaleidoscope of colors and are time-specific to the heist. One viewer might begin with the “Pink” episode, which takes place 6 months after the theft, followed by “Blue,” 5 days before. Another might prefer starting the series with the MacGuffin that takes place 24 years earlier, as depicted in the “Violet” episode. (In this

ARTICLE BY ADRIENNE WIGDORTZ ANDERSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC GARCIA

M UST SE E | A RTS + CU LTURE

episode, look for a woman with short blonde hair, dressed in a burgundy ballgown. She’s Eric’s mom, Judi Garcia of Newbury Park.) It is advised, however, to save “White”—the story of the actual heist—for last. “Just like white light is a combination of all the colors, all the episodes taken together make up the ‘White’ episode,” Garcia explains. The colors aren’t symbolic but do inform the tone of each episode. For instance, he says, yellow is bright and cheery, red conveys tension and anger. He adds, “They could also represent the colors of us as people—the shades of who we are, of our personalities.” According to Netflix, there are 5,040 possible combinations, each providing a unique experience. Garcia doesn’t consider one better than the others. “All options are valid,” he emphasizes. “Google ‘Best Kaleidoscope order’ and you’ll find thousands of recommendations.” One such recommendation was tweeted by author Stephen King: “Grade A entertainment. I suggest watching chronologically.” But many argue that following a traditional route is missing the point and isn’t as much fun. Plus, why would anyone want to give up the autonomy of shaping the story as they see fit? The debate does spark conversations, Garcia acknowledges. In 2011, after living in Newbury Park for 12 years, Garcia and his wife, Sabrina, and their children, Bailey and Teddy, now 22 and 16, moved to Camarillo. Garcia hasn’t always lived in Ventura County. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Even as a child, he wanted to be a storyteller in some fashion. “There was a period when I thought of becoming an actor, then I switched goals and considered becoming a playwright,” recalls Garcia, who started writing when he was 12 and later graduated from USC as an English major with a concentration in creative writing. He first made a name for himself as a novelist. Several of his books were turned into films, including “Matchstick Men” starring Nicholas Cage. He transitioned into writing screenplays when he adapted his book Anonymous Rex for the SyFy channel. “I just liked the idea I could take people on a journey, in whatever medium,” he says.

Besides science fiction, Garcia’s favorite genre is crime. “I enjoy stories where there are no ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys.’ Except for pure evil in the world, most people are a mix of both,” he says. “It’s that gray ground I find fascinating to delve into.” While the series does an excellent job exploring the characters’ inner lives—their dreams and hopes, as well as their struggles and failings, there’s also plenty of action. One of Garcia’s most memorable moments during filming was setting off smoke bombs in New York City’s Diamond District. “The shoot of that scene took over three Sundays in October,” he says. “We were given more time there than any other film or TV show.” “Kaleidoscope” was inspired by a real-life event. “When Hurricane Sandy ripped through New York City, it flooded a vault deep underground where six of the largest banks in the world kept a lot of their assets,” he says. “At the time, it was believed $70 billion worth of bonds might’ve been destroyed. Eventually they were all, supposedly, rescued.” That got him thinking: “What if it was a coverup? What if the hurricane was a convenient way to make bonds disappear? What if someone really had taken them?” As Garcia points out, heist capers are popular. “We like to see criminals who are smart, engaging and a little bit of Robin Hood,” he says. “You’ll note in most heist stories, the thieves don’t rip off the common man— it’s a bank, a wealthy casino owner, another criminal.” Including Garcia, there were seven writers on “Kaleidoscope.” He describes them all as brilliant, crazy people. Also the show runner, Garcia had to make sure their scripts and every aspect of the production conveyed the same, unifying tone. They used a multitude of white boards to keep track of the plot twists and continuity. Because of the series’ structure, they encountered challenges not usually experienced with a linear format. “We had to approach each episode as if it were a pilot. If people watch ‘Violet’ first, they think the show is about a family man trying to leave a life of crime. If ‘Orange’ is first, they think it’s a show about an obsessed FBI agent trying to catch her white whale,” he explains.

“I just liked the idea I could take people on a journey, in whatever medium.”

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“They could also represent the colors of us as people—the shades of who we are, of our personalities.”

Each installment had to be self-contained ensuring that, no matter where a viewer entered there would be enough information to make sense of the entire series arc without being repetitive. For Garcia the show’s takeaway is about cycles—getting wrapped up in our lives, in our heads, in our schemes. “It takes tremendous effort to break out,” he says. “If you don’t find a way you’ll just keep going around and around until you find yourself in a bad end.” Currently Garcia is busy working on other projects, including a sci-fi mystery for Amazon and a stage musical based on “The Bad News Bears.” There’s also a possibility

M UST SE E | A RTS + CU LTURE

Photo Credit: Rosaline Elbay

“Kaleidoscope” will be renewed with either a postheist plot involving characters from Season 1 or with an entirely different crime story and cast. As of this writing, a decision hasn’t been made. Garcia says producing “Kaleidoscope” was an allaround wonderful experience. But the highlight was working with an amazing cast and seeing them fully inhabit the characters he created. The admiration is mutual. In an online interview with Screen Rant Plus, “Kaleidoscope” star Giancarlo Esposito says, “Another master has been brought to the forefront of our visual consciousness, and that’s Eric Garcia.”

Photo Credit: Angel De Angelis

PRESENTS

New West Symphony performs Berlioz’s dramatic Symphonie Fantastique, along with a fantastical collaboration of an orchestra concerto and animated/live action film; Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of an Orchestra. Composed by GRAMMY® Award-winning Mason Bates and animated by Academy® Award-nominated Jim Capobianco, it is sure to delight all ages! SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023 - 7:30PM

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How Does a Massage Relieve Stress? Discover Ceragem ARTICLE BY GRACE OLIVIA PARRY

Stress is more than just a six-letter word. It’s the silent chronic killer we’ve come to know, loathe and live with. Yet, rather than turning to tried, tested and tech-supported methods to overcome stress, we often view it as an accepted adjective by which to describe our lifestyles. But what if stress wasn’t the norm? What if incorporating one of life’s greatest luxuries (and the wellness world’s favorite friend) was all it took to make a change? Enter massages (and all of the benefits that come with them). Massage to relieve stress is not a new concept. It’s proven not only to tackle stress but to generate positive effects for the mind, body and soul. From activating our mood-boosting hormones during acupressure to alleviating tension with the correct stretching technique, massage can combat a range of issues. Let’s break down some of the stress-relieving side effects that come with a good old-fashioned rubdown.

SAY GOODBYE TO STRESS The fight or flight response that kicks in when we’re under duress does more than just

S ELF CA R E | HEALTH + WE LLNE S S

send your heart into overdrive. Whether we’re worrying about a work project or dealing with relationship dramas, an influx of the stress hormone cortisol can have lasting effects on the body. As a result, you might notice muscle tension from your jaw to your shoulders. One of the biggest benefits of using massages to relieve stress is that it eases the aches and pain that stress triggers. The simple act of seeking out pressure points to work on can help to alleviate the tension.

SAY HELLO TO GOOD HEALTH Not only can massages decrease the stress hormone cortisol, but it can also boost melatonin production, the sleep hormone. Applying pressure to the neck, shoulders or back is all it takes to send you into a slumber. What could be better than that? What’s more, getting a massage to relieve stress can provide you with improved energy, alertness and immunity. The pressure applied during massage allows your blood to flow more freely, improving circulation. Who knew massage could increase your overall health?

WELCOME RELAXATION You only need to experience one massage to know how incredibly soothing it can be for the mind, body and spirit. So it’s not all that surprising that massage increases one’s overall relaxation. The act of physical touch, whether via hand or a custom-built massage bed, has an instant calming effect. Serotonin, the happiness hormone, encourages your body to slip into a state of zen and slow down. The next time you find yourself in a moment of tension, set aside some time for gentle kneading to coax your body back into harmony.

TACKLE THAT TENSION Love it or hate it, we all have to exercise to stay healthy. As much as we welcome the lifting and tightening of our muscles, the afterburn can really take its toll. When delayed onset muscle sensitivity (DOMS) sets in, you’ll have another excuse to experience a much-needed massage. Just like massage tackles tension brought on by life’s daily stressors, it also reduces muscle pain and soreness. Whether you’re hiking with the family or nailing your 6 a.m. spin class, regular heat and pressure in the right places can keep the aches at bay.

KEEP YOUR DOCTOR HAPPY As much as we all want a gold star after a visit to our doctor, good health is not always that easy to guarantee. With the chaos of our day-to-day lives, maintaining an ideal blood pressure can be quite a challenge. Once again, massage comes to the rescue. Studies have shown that adding just two 30-minute massages to your week could lower your blood pressure. The relaxing movement and pressure eases the sympathetic nervous system (the part of the body responsible for reacting to stressful situations) and lowers your heart rate. Working in more massage into your life might just be what the doctor ordered. Though we might seek massage to relieve stress, massage provides many more benefits than just relaxation. Working with targeted pressure, relief and heat, like the CERAGEM V4 massage bed, can not only ease tension but boost the health and well-being of your mind, body and soul. Experience the benefits of massage at Ceragem at the Oaks Mall, located on level 2 across from Macy’s Furniture. Call 866.498.4329 to schedule your complimentary 40-minute massage. Learn more at Ceragemus.com. Grace Olivia Parry is a London-based writer with a penchant for Paris, good food and fitness. When she’s not writing about the finer things in life, she’s cooking, practicing Pilates or planning her next trip.

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Mr. Malibu Mantra: Carefree in ‘23

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARY ONEAL

I NSP IR E D BY | ARTS + CULTURE

What invisible beliefs are barriers for me being carefree? Observing the most powerful and meaningful events in my life, I noticed a shared characteristic among them. They originated from a spontaneous creativity to do it just for the fun of it, with no focus on or concern for a particular outcome. This inspired my mantra: “Carefree in ’23.” Whatever our desired experience—our Malibu dream home and garden, the right relationship or an exciting career—we seek it because of what we think we’ll get from it. We’re all seeking peace and happiness, which sometimes is barely discernible, buried, by a belief that productivity, whether in business or personal growth, is the path to finally having it all or being enlightened. This believed perception, based in programmed, robotic thought, is part of our collective, global culture driven by a credo made up of principles of productivity that are, at best, restrictive and manipulative. Such dogma, especially when strictly followed, distracts from the peace and happiness that’s already and always here as our true essence, even if we don’t experience it or are aware of it. In my experience, the vitality of being carefree rests in awareness—being aware of the perceptions, body sensations, emotions and thoughts that arise in the encounters of everyday life. The more conscious I am of the fears and beliefs, and their shortcomings, the less I react with frustration or hurt, both based in unresolved, unconscious, limiting patterns. No matter what someone else says or does, if there’s a peaceful mindset here, there is much less possibility of upset and on a deeper level, much of what I see on the outside is actually being projected from within. Seeing is not believing; I have to believe it in order to see it. No one else is the source of our thoughts/ feelings/experiences. Others can serve as a reflection for what is in us. If we react with any sort of upset, we can see it as a light shining on what is unsettled in us.

As in quantum physics, when we focus on something, we’re affecting it. Meditation has been described as “perfect concentration on a perfect thing.” To me, the breath is just that. When I am focusing on the breath as it is, not altering it, it helps me to naturally flow with life and do things in a carefree yet powerfully focused manner. In these moments, I’m free of fear and mental agendas, carefree of the results. Being present to the moment as it is attracts the best results anyway. One experience of this carefree approach was when I took off on a big wave at Old Joe’s in the Colony. I got in over my head and out of control. I just assumed that I was going to wipe out anyway, so I surrendered to the sheer fun of it, did a radical roller coaster maneuver and shot straight up vertically through the thick lip of the wave. I was sure it was going to clobber me, but because I set myself free to go for the impossible, my board cut through the wave. At one point I was literally upside down with the skag sticking straight up to the sky. The force of the lip just pushed me and the board right down the face of the wave. I DIDN’T FALL! I was so startled that I was still standing that I just fell off the board in surprise. From a broader perspective I can see that everything we do, say, feel, think and are aware of is a perfect manifestation of the precise energy each of these activities originated from. In other words, it’s always the energetic drive behind our activity, whether from crystal, clear clarity or from a patterned belief system, that produces the outcome. This energetic drive launches. The outcomes are dependent upon the beliefs we’re listening to and following, seen as successes/failures or revelations to something new. Success/failure, when seen through the narrow mindedness of habituated thought, becomes a chain around our neck. Both are heavy and slow us down. Alternatively, when success/failure is seen as just directional pointers, rather than a goal that has to

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be sustained or a whipping post, they can be openings to new possibilities and new roads to travel, all of which invite peace and happiness. Our perceptual prisons of thought, handed down for generations, especially related to productivity, leave out anything that cannot be seen, touched or measured. We end up judging ourselves and don’t even know we’re doing it. These perceptual limitations are beneath the surface, subconscious, and thus etched in a place most of us never investigate. There’s a subtle refinement in the elevation of consciousness when noticing these limited notions. Thinking, when believed, becomes densely compacted conclusions. We forget they’re just thoughts, just opinions, just speculations, and not the truth. When we pay attention to what we’re listening to, we discover that these patterns of thought are fake from a false narrative and motivated by f.e.a.r.: False Evidence Appearing Real. Where’s the fun in relating to everything with critical thinking and nonstop commentary? Thinking has its place and cannot be

I NSP IR E D BY | ARTS + CULTURE

stopped by itself. However, could it be time to stop using thought for everything? I truly feel the only freedom I’ll ever experience is freedom from my own mind. If somebody tells you that Mercury is in retrograde and you’re in big trouble, that you better do this or do that, you’re listening to a prediction based on someone else’s opinion that gives outside forces power over you. This is a rampant, societal misperception, denying our true essence, and, in doing so, clouds the knowing that WE are the source of our mental, physical and emotional well-being. We are the final say and what we say is determined by what we’re listening to. There’s a giant new frontier of experiencing carefree; may you be carefree in ’23! Look for more Mr. Malibu stories in future issues of Malibu Coast Lifestyle Magazine. Mr. Malibu’s high-profile events and celebrity interviews reach over 22 million on television, 500,000 via social media and nearly 4 million on YouTube. Visit MalibuHD.com and HeartAscent.com to learn more.

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