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Sunset Idea House Debuts in Manhattan Beach

Aug 02, 2014 02:58PM ● By Jeanne Fratello

The Sunset Magazine Idea House, located on Meadows Ave. in Manhattan Beach

As the site of this year's Sunset magazine Idea House, Manhattan Beach has commanded the attention of a greater West Coast home design audience. The newly built home, conceived as "the ultimate modern beach home," is the first Idea House to be located in the greater Los Angeles area.

"It is very obvious that the world is discovering Manhattan Beach," said Larry Johnson, the Idea House manager and a longtime Manhattan Beach resident. Johnson said that there has been increased interest in Manhattan Beach following the development of Shade Hotel, an influx of highly regarded restaurants, and the rise of a high quality school system. "Manhattan Beach started to develop a following and people wanted to know more and more about this town, and we were chosen," he said.

The Idea House is an annual collaborative effort between Sunset magazine and a builder, interior designer (or design team), architect, and landscape architect; culminating in show home that displays the latest innovations in Western home design. This year's Idea House, a 4,500-square-foot, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath home on Meadows Avenue in East Manhattan Beach, was designed by The Tomaro Group and built by Mike Davis Custom Homes (both based in Manhattan Beach) with interior design is by DISC Interiors and landscape design by Masterpeace Gardens.

The home showcases energy efficient strategies such as solar hot water heating, solar pool heating, touchless water faucets, and remote control toilets with energy saving features; as well as a no-mow lawn and an edible garden.

Johnson notes that although the house uses materials and designs from many international corporations, the work of several local busineses - such as VertaCORE for lighting, sound, and security - is also prominently featured.

The home is open for tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from now through September 7. Idea House tickets can be purchased online for $18.00 apiece and are good for one day only.

On Saturday, August 16th, Sunset and Modern Home Tours are offering the L.A. Beach Cities Home & Garden Tour, an inside look at some of the most distinctive properties in the great Manhattan Beach area. The day will include tours of local homes, culminating in a wine and cheese reception at the Idea House with a personal tour of the home given by DISC Interiors. Home and garden tour tickets, also available online, are $60.00.

Idea House sponsors include Sunbrella, Eldorado Stone, Torani, Smith+Noble, AZEK, Sunset Western Garden Collection, Orchard, Kohler, Southern California Gas Company, Cost Plus, Subaru, and Behr.

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