I have lived in Rolling Hills for 25 years, and I truly believe it is the best place in the world. My home sits on a quiet cul-de-sac, right across the street from the riding ring and picnic area. The property has a year-round stream, and up by the horses you can hear a little waterfall that makes the whole place feel peaceful. We have a beautiful pool with a Baja reef for lounging, a jacuzzi, and a pool house with a bathroom, shower, and changing room. There are lots of fruit trees, and I believe the Washington navel orange trees produce the best oranges I have ever tasted.

This neighborhood is perfect for an active lifestyle. You can hike the trails, ride your horses, or play tennis and pickleball at the community facilities. We are close to some of the top golf courses in the world with incredible scenic views. Downtown Los Angeles, the Staples Center, the new football stadium, and the best beaches are all within easy reach. We have the security of a guard gate, and the quiet of minimal traffic.

Most of the doors in the home collapse open so the outdoors can flow right inside. There’s a Mr. Steam sauna in the primary suite, an oversized built-in safe, and plenty of storage throughout. The house has five bathrooms and a backup generator that runs on natural gas but also has propane in case of an earthquake. We even have a pumping hose that can pull water from the pool if needed.

At the barn, there’s a hot walker, fly spray system, tack room, hay storage, fans in each stall, a wash rack, and direct access to the trail. Hay trucks can deliver straight to the barn, and the lights can be turned on and off from the house. It’s a short ride down to the Empty Saddle Club to work cattle, or to the general store for a sandwich or ice cream... and you can pick blackberries along the way. The community hosts wonderful holiday events like Christmas celebrations, Halloween gatherings, and an annual pancake breakfast. Years ago, we even used to ride our horses to the Red Onion and tie them up out back before going inside for dinner.

When we remodeled the house, it took three years. We tore it down to the studs, raised the roof and fireplaces, replaced every utility, and installed all new windows, doors, kitchen, and bathrooms. I still remember the stove costing twice as much as my first house in California. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed keeping chickens, a rooster, ducks, and even a turkey as pets. The guest house and main house each have their own septic, and there is also an underground bomb shelter next to the pool house, complete with a toilet and sink. It used to pump water from an underground stream, and today it would make a perfect wine room. We have a 400 amp electrical service, a dog kennel, copper gutters, and oversized veranda overhangs around the front of the house. The driveway to the main house is stamped and stained concrete, and the guest house driveway is paved with stone.

The house and guest house are about 4600 feet combined and the property contains four fireplaces, four bedrooms and five bathrooms. My favorite place is the open kitchen and living room, where family and friends gather most often. The style is what I’d call country modern. Building it wasn’t without challenges, like oversized foundations and caissons for the guest house and cutting through solid rock for the guest house driveway, but it was worth every bit of effort.

Some of my best memories here are the campouts, horseback rides, and holiday events. Kids love coming over for the animals and the country atmosphere. This place is more than just a house... it’s a home, and you can feel it the moment you walk in.