we have one villa available...

and its priceless. 

yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting 

the getty villa in malibu. 

sister to the getty center in los angeles, which houses art from the middle ages to present day, the getty villa is an educational center and museum which showcases art from 

ancient greece, rome, & etruria. 

both magnificent properties boast stunning landscapes, gardens & architecture, each in its own setting and style. 

the getty center has become a regular in my rotation since we moved to los angeles four months ago, and after visiting the getty villa yesterday, it will definitely be added to the lineup. 

taking the girls was a breeze, as they had plenty of space outdoors to run and play in, and they even had a kids' room where they could decorate "ancient pottery" with dry erase markers...

recreate scenes from ancient times...

...learn how pottery is made, and more! 

brilliant.

the reflecting pool and surrounding gardens were gorgeous. 

seriously. i could live here. 

i need to live here. 

(no pressure, dave.)

remind me next time i visit to wear a long, floaty dress to waltz around the gardens in. 

attention to detail was paramount; even the floors were gorgeous.

i was really hoping to hear "a gentleman will be by with your bags in a moment"... 

ain't that the truth?!

tip up your cups!

it was breathtaking. 


the fact that i got to experience it with my sister, who has a very strong art history background, was a major plus. 
not to mention, having someone by my side who is just as much a gushing, excited-to-be-here, loving-every-moment-of-this persona as i am 
is beyond comforting. 
and fun as hell. 


today we're headed to the beach to film some flashback scenes in a new film where bunny is playing the younger version of a certain disney star... more on that later. 


oh. and my birthday is tomorrow.
which is super fun and all (i love birthdays, even my own)... except that it means my sister leaves the next day. 
boo. 

but! i think she's fallen enough in love with SoCal to consider the big move west after nursing school is done next year. 
yay! 


fingers crossed.


i hope you all are coming out from under the holiday hangover and basking in all that 2011 has left to offer. 
which, really, is whatever you make it. 


(i have to feel this way. having a birthday in between christmas and new years necessitates in one a certain sense of optimism after being double-gifted and ho-hummed most of your life. :)
enjoy!
xo

rockstar real estate

so remember the other day when we were talking about what a bitch it can be to find a house when moving, wherever your destination, 

much less los angeles? 

well, things are looking up. 

i just may have found the perfect place.

today, via twitter, i saw casa sugar's post that aussie rocker chris cester recently put his sexy los angeles pad on the market... and with few tweaks and changes, it could be just perfect for my little rockstar family! 

i wouldn't say this place has incredible interior design, but it has its moments.

check out some of the pics:

(via realestalker)

i spy... a stunning blue murano chandelier in the pretty perfect dining room

(save for the crap dining table; it looks like something i would have bought in college from rooms-to-go. blech. i would get a different table, keep the wingbacks in their awesome fabric, but replace the other chairs with something more modern, or whatever jenny suggested i do. she's my guru.) 

the living room would need a furniture update, but the rococo mirror and even the 

antler chandy can stay. 

that adorable (eensy) kitchen has an old o'keefe and merritt range, classic black and white tile floor, a lovely crystal chandelier, and the sweetest little brekkie nook 

you ever saw. 

huge potential in that weensy space.

(via realestalker)

the cesters have a little boy, i see, but i'm not crazy about murals in kids' rooms. 

anything too "themey" or 

all from one store = total vomcano.

(i'm obsessed, ali. obsessed.)

though i'm sure my girls would adore it.

i'd have to have it painted before we moved in. no probs. 

plenty of room to make something 

like these happen:

(via apartmenttherapy)

(via decorpad) 

(via apartmenttherapy)  

 (via decorpad)

(via pinterest)

(via houzz)

moving on. 

the two adult bedrooms are both 

awesome in my book. 

i think i just found the template for my upcoming d.i.y. headboard project, and all that white provides a refreshing respite from the hectic life of la outside the front door. 

although the linens do need a serious pressing, and they aren't my favorite:

(imagine some glam border color and big ol' monogram...even in la i'll retain some 

southern roots, y'all.)

(leontine linens via madebygirl)

i might replace those sconces with something slightly more...interesting, but the ikat print, brutalist chandelier (aren't you proud, j?!) lucite side table and wallpaper in the other bedroom are right up my alley. 

cool, eclectic, but balanced. 

i might add some feminine, antique touches here and there, and continue the quirky art trend throughout the house with some bigger pieces. think wearstler on xanax.

(via bergdorfgoodman)

i like the bathrooms just fine, although i can imagine jenny would yank those orchids and put em out in the garden or something.

(and really, chris. you're a rockstar, and the best you can do for interior plants and flowers is a variety of ho-hum orchids that anyone can buy at pier one or whole foods?! tsk tsk.)

the "office" aka mini-recording studio is killer; it can stay. 

that way i'll have an excuse to look like a rockstar while i rehearse a script, write an original screenplay or musical, 

and teach my girls piano. 

or play naked cowboys and indians 

(i call the headdress!) with david. 

 

(via realestalker)

the gorgeous backyard boasts privacy via strategic, tall cypresses & palms, a flat but beautifully landscaped yard just begging for a fabulous pool, and numerous sitting/lounging areas perfect for dining al fresco, cocktails in the garden, and laid-back, cali-style cocktail parties alike. 

the black stairway to heaven is a total bonus. 

this house is so me. 

i wonder what school district 

whitley heights is in? 

i'm guessing one would simply have to do private schooling, and with the modest price of  $1,135,000

its totally do-able. 

right?

the neighborhood is in the most touristy part of los angeles, near attractions like grauman's and the hollywood wax museum, and restaurants like katsuya, in addition to "stripper ware stores that line hollywood blvd". 

oy.

per the real estalker, "should any of the children ever be in need for a 7-inch Lucite mule with a heart-shaped diamante detail on the heel", [they'll be in the right place].

good to know. 

so, what do you think? a done deal? 

methinks i'll put a pin in it.

now... where are those extra millions i had lying around?

xo