@ AT LONELY PALM RANCH

A couple of years ago my friends Christa and Eric and their two kids moved from LA up to the Central Coast where Christa grew up. Christa dreamed of moving back up to the Central coast with her family by the time she turned 40, and they did it!


Christa washing herbs from the garden. Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020


Christa and Eric renovated their entire house after moving in.
They did the design work themselves using Pinterest for inspiration.

Oscar and Wesley getting ready for school, copyright Christa Renee

They have two kids that they are home schooling, lots of guests coming and going, and tons of projects happening all the time.

Eric and Christa's sheep, copyright Christa Renee

Lonely Palm Ranch sheep, copyright Christa Renee

We’ve gone up to visit them a few times a year since they moved, and it’s been incredible to see all the work they’ve done since they moved. The ranch is an amazing place for their kids to grow up. Spending time in nature, learning responsibility doing ranch chores and incorporating their lives into their home school curriculum.

Wesley working on the ranch, copyright Christa Renee

Frittatas are a regular family meal, made from fresh organic eggs laid by the hens on the ranch. Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

One of Christa’s homemade Frittatas, Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

Before moving from LA, Eric and Christa opened Collage Coffee , with their partner Kevin. They sold their share in the business, but Eric is still pretty serious about coffee and makes a spectacular cappuccino for the guests who come by. He uses a sweet La Marzocco an industry standard for specialty coffee shops.

Some of his favorite roasters are 49th Parallel, Four Barrel, Little Wolf & Brutal. On a recent trip I brought up a bag of Devocion Wild Forest I had at Document in LA. We made some pour overs that were pretty perfect!

The view from above the valley, Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

Last year they renovated their house, and converted the tack room off the barn into a guest suite ( it’s super cozy ). Below is Christa last Winter in the new Tack room bathroom. They used the leftover tile Eric’s bought from his friend Faile for Collage to cover the shower interior..rad!!

Also, they created a studio for Eric in the shed where he is hand silkscreening calendars and art for friends and clients. Last year they hosted 40 + people for Thanksgiving, planted lots of fruit trees and are now working on their vegetable & flower gardens… Oh I forgot the sheep and lots of other stuff… It’s a lot!!

Eric Pfleeger and Christa Renee at home in Arroyo Grande, CA, co

Eric and Christa with their favorite months from the Lonely Palm 2020 Calendar. Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

You can follow along on their journey on instagram where Christa documents her family and the ranch in a beautiful way that is honest and beautifully photographed. Check out Christa’s work here – she’s a lifestyle photographer and commercial director. See more of my work on my website & my instagram feed.

Recovering New Yorkers = Reluctant Angelenos

This time last year, native New Yorker Greg Garry & Michael Jorris relocated from Soho, New York to LA for work.

Moving from a small NYC apartment to a spacious Park Labrea 2 bedroom has meant that Greg and Mike can spread out a bit, add to their record collection, have a guest room and for the first time garden! Their place is a combination of vintage finds, artwork that Greg has collected over the years, and pieces that Mike has made like the cameos shown below.

Greg & Mike at home – artwork from Greg’s vintage collection, eye painting by Mark Gagnon

TV & entertainment essentials

The bar – Absolutely fabulous!

Mike in front of his newest hobby sewing. He also makes macrame, builds stuff & gardens.

When Greg & Mike moved to LA they had 1 crate of records…

A corner of the dining room – at left a portrait of Jennifer Saunders of Ab Fab – at right cameos of Greg, Lucifer and Mike made by Mike.

Michael Jorris and Greg Garry at home in LA

Mike and Greg in front of the cameos created by Mike.

Greg in a Mr. Turk dinner jacket.

Mike, Grey and Lucifer

COLOR STUDY – MEXICO

Mercado Jamaica – 2. Casa Robert Brady – 3. Museo Dolores Olmedo – 4. Streets of Tepotzlan – 5. Chiles Enogada- San Angel Inn – 6. Ricardo Linares, Cuernavaca, 7. Cafe Tacuba – Mexico City , 8. Casa Azul – Museo Frida Kahlo, 9. Studio Diego Rivera

COLOR STUDY -Rose Madder & Yellow Ochre

Peony -LA Flower Market, 2. Modernist Church – Phoenix, 3. Edie, 4. Car in the Desert, 5. Green and Yellow Color Study, 6. Lay’s – Hilton, 7. Eagle Rock Car Wash, 8. Mr. Holmes Bake Shop, 9. Brand Library – Glendale, 10. Cake – Lincoln Pasadena, 11. Getty Center Garden, 12. Art Lover – Getty, 13. Sunnyland’s Visitor Center Garden. BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS COLOR AND BEAUTY.

ALOE LOVE

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LILYSARAHGRACE – LOVE

May 1st was the four annual LilySarahGrace craft fair in Hollywood, California.

Coming together again at Milk Studios, in a giant space filled with talented, generous and kind volunteers, beautifully fluffy clouds, and balloons dipped in glitter, was a day created by two friends, Jennifer Levy and Elizabeth Goetchius.

Jenny and Elizabeth, came together to create yet another amazing light filled day, supporting Children’s Public Art Education. The idea is simple, creating art, with children, for children. There is so much love in this event, and more specifically love for art, and respect for the importance of creating beauty in our lives. Shout out to all the artists, crafters, food makers, DJs, participants and, volunteers who made such a beautiful day possible.