Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 24, 2010

11

Homes & Property

 Mountain Views News Saturday, July 24, 2010 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes & gardens and the people who create them Story and Photos By Chris Bertrand


New England Style: 1000 Embury

 As part of a jaunt 
waaaaay over to the 
Westside this week, I 
had the opportunity 
to tour a newly 
completed home in 
Pacific Palisades. Well 
respected general 
contractor, Andy 
Railla, just completed 
another noteworthy 
home, this time in the Palisades. 

 In keeping with the nearness to the ocean, he 
and architect Wayne Fukuda, principal architect 
at Lake Forest based, Archissance Design Group 
designed a New England exterior for the corner 
lot.

 The home’s shingled exterior, cupolas and the 
dolphin-topped weathervane provide pleasant 
homage to its 
location less than a 
mile from the ocean 
breakers below, 
without going 
overboard on the 
seaside theme.

 The homesites in 
the neighborhood, 
known as the 
“alphabet streets” for 
their alphabetical 
arrangement within 
the community, are 
usually long and 
narrow. The home 
was raised off the 
street by a few 
feet, adding to its 
privacy. Crisp white 
pillars and dormers 
give the large home 
definition and 
depth, though the 
actual setback is minimal.

 Fukuda has masterfully blended privacy and 
a feeling of openness in the 5837 square foot, 
five bedroom, four and one half bath home. At 
the suggestion of landscape architect, Gregory 
David, mature, 15 foot bamboo were installed on 
the interior facing lot line, infusing the interior 
windows and living spaces with the gentle texture 
of the leaves, sending a diffuse green light into the 
home. 

 A large, tall window on the stairway frames the 
bamboo almost as if it were a still life; a repeat of a 
successful concept Fukuda incorporated for Railla 
in a Brentwood remodel, sold in 2009.

 John Everage’s choice of interior color applied 
throughout the main and second floors, seems 
directly taken from the bamboo’s color palette. 
One is never sure if the subtle green glow 
emanates from the outside vegetation or the 
inside wall color. Interesting, I found it calming 
yet energizing, as the green bounced onto the ten 
foot ceilings on both levels.

 Everage Design, Inc. chose the interior materials 
and colors, including blending the green into the 
kitchen marble, other stone applications and tile 
selections. The dark hardwood flooring makes the 
entire home feel organic, as if you were walking 
the forest floor.

 The high ceilings allow for ample natural light 
to fill the rooms, adding to its airy, open feeling. 
Railla draws his signature meticulous attention to 
the millwork throughout from his early carpentry 
background. In this case, beautiful crown 
moldings draw the eye up to appreciate the high 
ceilings.

 Upstairs, four bedrooms each open to the gentle 
ocean breezes with French doors and balconies, 
while preserving privacy with shingled half 
walls on the bottom. The master suite includes 
two wonderful octagonal areas, for architectural 
interest, one in the sitting area and a second as a 
serene setting for the claw foot Kohler tub in the 
master bath. The ceilings in the suite are wood, 
with a slight sheen, bringing even more soft, 
reflective light into the suite.

 An easy indoor to outdoor lifestyle for relaxation 
and entertaining is created with French doors 
opening to the stone and landscaped outdoor 
areas on the main level. Dining room activities 
can easily spill out to the front path and expand 
to the back and front yards, all within the fenced 
perimeter. 

 Downstairs, a 1682 square foot lower level is 
complete with a huge media area and pool table 
area. Oenophiles will be delighted with the 
500 plus bottle, temperature controlled wine 
storage room with adjacent tasting room. Ever 
practical and perfectionist, Railla also built a sleek 
equipment room that allows easy comfortable 
access to all the home’s working parts. 

The garage can offer dual purpose, with rollup 
doors opening into the yard as well as the street, 
to provide entertaining or catering setup, ping 
pong game play or just expanded living space for 
parties.

 This quiet charming neighborhood is all 
about walkability, community connection and 
interactive living. Just two blocks away the 
charming downtown of the Palisades offers 
restaurants, services, a Gelson’s grocery and 
more. The Starbucks is 
the neighborhood 
gathering place for 
the significant local 
population that works 
from home these days. 
The local public schools 
are highly rated and 
easy walking distance 
from the home.

 I’ve written before 
about the walkability 
index rating for 
neighborhoods in the 
country. According to 
Walkscore.com, the 
Embury home ranks 
a stellar 91 out of 100, 
with transit, grocery, 
bookstore, neat 
hardware store, tons 
of eateries and more, 
all accessible within a 
half mile or less walk 
within this vibrant business community. For 
more information on the walkability of this or any 
property, visit www.walkscore.com 

1000 Embury is listed at $3,395,000 by Robert 
Radcliffe of the Radcliffe Group at Sotheby’s 
International. More information is available 
online at www.Sothebys.com or at 310-255-5254/ 
Andy Railla, of A2 Railla Development, can be 
reached at 310-828-1602.


Chris Bertrand


First time buyers… excited 
to find a good deal, afraid of 
overextending themselves, 
confused by all the conflicting 
reports about real estate. 
Well, that might describe any 
or all buyers right now, but 
those making their very first 
purchase may feel elevated 
levels of all these emotions. It 
helps to have someone offer 
you some guidance.

 Don't be afraid to make your 
move now, regardless of what you've been 
hearing about the market. With affordability 
so high, you'll find a flurry of activity out 
there, so you're not alone in making the right 
decision to begin your home search.

 Just try not to exercise excessive caution, or 
you may suffer what has been termed "paralysis 
by analysis." Your real estate representative 
will present you with all the facts and figures 
you need, and help you to interpret the data 
so that you can make a sound choice.

 Now is not the time to vacillate about 
whether prices or interest rates will still drop. 
There is nowhere to go now but up. If rates 
rise to 7.5% (still historically low), the home's 
price would have to 

be reduced nearly 20% to offset the difference 
in monthly payments.

 Set aside your uncertainties. Chat with an 
agent who can help you determine your 
financial footing, and show you an inventory 
of well-suited homes matched to your 
particular goals.

Luther Tsinoglou has just been named the 
top producing sales agent in Dickson Podley 
Realtor's Sierra Madre office for 2009, making 
the top 10% at the company overall. Luther has 
been licensed and practicing real estate since 
1992. He specializes in residential and income 
property in Southern California. Luther can be 
reached at his direct line (626) 695-8650 or at 
luther@tsinoglou.com. 


New Listing!


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