DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
Issue link: https://www.southbaydiggs.com/i/50080
wife said, 'This is my dream house.' And I said, 'Okay!'" Leshner laughs. Today the Leshners make full use of their unique corner lot home, complete with a front and side yard, a hot commodity in the small parcels that typify their Sand Section neighborhood. "This house is kid central," Leshner says. "My daughter's friends come from all directions and meet on this lawn every day." In harmony with the house's exterior Caribbean styling, the interior evokes an elegant beach house vibe. Sleek wood-siding walls on the main living level add visual interest by marrying the funkiness of a beach shack with the chic groove of a modern coastal retreat. Dark wood louvered doors add to the West Indies feel, but avoid falling into a thematic cliché thanks to the home's industrial lighting fixtures and decidedly modern flooring. The bathrooms boast bubble mosaic glass tile floors, and the black-and-white checkerboard tile floor in the laundry room channels Miami Deco. The Miami influence is evident throughout the home in furnishings and accessories, which the Leshners brought with them from Florida. A black- and-white chevron pattern rug draws attention in the living room and carries the Art Deco element, while linen slipcovers on the sofas soften the angularity of the area rug and maintain the beach- house casual theme. In the formal dining room, a 94 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.16.2011 IT'S AWESOME HERE. THERE ARE NO THUNDERSTORMS, NO THREE-FOOT MOSQUITOES, NO SWAMP CREATURES FLYING AROUND OR JUMPING ON YOUR CAR. In my opinion it hasn't rained yet since we've been here. It's just mist! People pay top dollar for that in Miami." " " modern glass table and edgy white leather chairs add a jet-set, South Beach flavor that creates a counter- balance to the rustic flooring and wood siding walls. Despite the sleek cosmopolitan flair and abundance of light-colored surfaces, the Leshners have incorporated a kid-friendly informality that suits their five-year-old daughter and the family dogs. The tricked-out kitchen is stocked with an oversized Sub- Zero refrigerator and a massive, walnut-topped chef's island that could give Gordon Ramsay a sudden case of kitchen envy. Juxtaposed with the gleaming industrial kitchen is a small wooden table with matching chairs where the Leshners' daughter can color and paint while meal preparations are under way. Morris designed the interior to create a sense of intimacy in 4,000 square feet of living space. A small workstation in a roomy corner of the kitchen allows Deanna to work on her computer and still keep an eye on her daughter. "We do a fair amount of entertaining," David Leshner says, "and we like to have fun with this place." Leshner notes that the home's layout allows for 30 or more guests to mingle comfortably without feeling crowded. Built-in cabinetry on the main level serves a dual purpose, providing valuable storage room and defining separate sitting areas while maintaining openness and flow. Built-ins of varying heights across one wall of the