Tag Archives: landscaping

Culture

A Stunning Magnum Opus- Hidden Hills Wellness Estate

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California’s most enduring export isn’t film or technology, but the promise of a better version of yourself.

For decades, the Golden State has cultivated an image of health, vitality, and self-improvement, where surfing, hiking, yoga, organic food, luxury spas, and holistic living have become part of a globally recognized lifestyle. From Malibu wellness retreats to Beverly Hills longevity clinics, the pursuit of physical and mental well-being has evolved from a trend into a defining element of California culture. That philosophy of healthy living has steadily reshaped luxury real estate, where buyers increasingly expect homes to function as private retreats rather than simply places to live. Magnum Opus, a newly completed estate in Hidden Hills, reflects that shift, combining resort-caliber wellness amenities with architecture designed to blur the boundary between home and nature. The stunning residence has been listed for $21 million usd/ $29.51 million cad.

Organic Aesthetic

Set behind the gates of Hidden Hills on nearly two acres, the newly built seven-bedroom estate spans 13,832 square feet, including 11,231 square feet of interior living space. Designed by architect Ron Heston with interiors by Alison Gordon, the residence embraces an organic contemporary aesthetic defined by soaring vaulted ceilings, walls of glass, white oak, natural stone, and warm hardwood floors. Mature trees and mountain views provide a tranquil backdrop, while sliding glass doors dissolve the distinction between indoors and outdoors. The formal living room centers on a sculptural stone fireplace framed by exposed oak beams and oversized picture windows, while the expansive great room flows seamlessly onto a covered veranda connecting the home’s theater, fitness studio, spa, and outdoor entertaining spaces.

The commitment to well-being continues throughout the residence. A dedicated wellness wing features an infrared sauna, steam room, and cold plunge worthy of a five-star spa. Upstairs, the primary suite offers a peaceful escape with a covered terrace overlooking the mountains. A marble fireplace, custom white oak cabinetry, and a luxurious natural stone bath complete with a steam shower, freestanding soaking tub, dual water closets, and a boutique-style dressing room transform the space into a sanctuary designed for both restoration and relaxation

The grounds are equally impressive.

Surrounded by lush landscaping, mature trees, and sweeping lawns, the estate features a resort-style pool with dual sun shelves, an infinity-edge spa cascading over a marble waterfall, and a covered pavilion equipped with an outdoor kitchen, dining area, full-service bar, and retractable entertainment screen. Every element has been thoughtfully positioned to frame the surrounding landscape, reinforcing the home’s seamless connection to nature. A showroom-quality four-car garage completes the property, providing refined accommodations for a prized automobile collection.

Located within the exclusive guard-gated enclave of Hidden Hills, the estate enjoys one of Southern California’s most coveted addresses. Celebrated for its equestrian trails, oversized lots, and peaceful, semi-rural setting just minutes from Los Angeles, the community has long attracted high-profile residents seeking privacy without sacrificing convenience. Some famous residents include Kim Kardashian, Drake, Jessica Simpson, The Weeknd, and Madonna.

For the Silo, Kimberly Ridley/toptenrealestatedeals.com

The listing is held by Spencer Gordon, Dana Olmes, and Jeff Biebuyck at Compass.

Photos: The Luxury Level (Jeremy Blair)

Earth

Make A Prairie And Say No To Land Without Life

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image: www.ojibway.ca

So make a prairie…

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost fifteen years since I did some work recording for Statistics Canada. The job required door-to-door visits to all the homes in a designated area, interesting because I had a chance to see what people do in their yards. One residence in particular left a strong impression on me and it continues to resonate now in 2025 all these years later.

It was a beautiful home, probably 40 years old, on a fairly large estate.

The lawns were nicely manicured and the architectural evergreens were tastefully placed. It looked like a photo in a 1970’s Better Homes and Gardens.

This architectural sketch of a late 1970’s “Dream Green Home” at least shows a bit of “greenery” and a tree. image: public domain

But as I walked to the front door, I realized that there was no movement.

Nothing swayed in the afternoon breeze. There were no herbaceous plants, no flowers, and worse, no bees, no butterflies, no birds. This place had as little movement as my imaginary magazine photo. It struck me as being uninteresting and unnatural. Land without life.

In my experience we show ourselves at our best when we interact and connect with nature and even find a kind of fulfillment in it. This completion has been lost for many of us, but paradise can be regained at any time.

There are all kinds of small ways to re-connect and to bring restoration, not just to the land, but to ourselves as well. I encourage everyone to put in a garden of some kind. A vegetable garden is of course the most practical and immediately useful. Start small and easy if you have never had a garden before.

If the practicality of a vegetable garden isn’t appealing, then plant something in to nourish your soul.

‘Miss Ruby’ Butterfly Bush-Buddleia image: www.green-living-made-easy.com
Rick’s home butterfly garden photo: M. Larmand

A couple of years ago I put in a no-maintenance garden specifically to attract hummingbirds. The thank-you’s come at dusk when increasing numbers of my little buddies do their end-of-day rounds. Scarlet runner beans, red monarda, salvia, tithonia, and crocosmia – they did the trick.

And copying the garden of a friend , I have also put in a small butterfly garden.

Milkweed, Echinacea, and butterfly bush (Buddleia) are good starter plants. I’m doing my small part to help save the monarch butterfly population. The nice thing about both these gardens is that they require almost no attention, just observation and enjoyment.

I’ve often thought about theme gardens. “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance…” Ophelia’s mad scene in Hamlet is a great starting point for a Shakespearean garden and a study of plant symbolism in literature. A biblical garden would also be an interesting exercise, though the plants themselves would be local approximations of Mediterranean species but the life lessons would be endless. Consider the lilies of the field. What about a cutting garden, a scented garden, a night garden?

Poets and painters have found inspiration in gardens. Like them, let nature take your breath away. Start small. To quote the American poet, Emily Dickinson:

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee.
One clover, and a bee.
And reverie.
The reverie alone will do,
If bees are few.

It doesn’t take much to make a prairie – or your own personal sanctuary.For the Silo, Rick Posavad.