From the journal

Mark Quesada

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

La Fin, Above Los Angeles

On two private acres in Bel Air, La Fin unfolds around a 44-foot chandelier of 55,000 crystals, with a six-car vehicle elevator, a 1,000-bottle cellar and a lower level given entirely to entertainment and wellness.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

Light, Water and Imagination

Paul McClean's five-level residence above the Sunset Strip is the result of a fourteen year collaboration with producer Alex Da Kid, with eight pools, a four story digital art wall and a subterranean car gallery.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

Howard Backen at the Riviera

The only Howard Backen home ever built on the Riviera Country Club, this Santa Monica estate on the 7th hole is crafted in board-formed concrete and vaulted wood, and powered entirely by geothermal energy.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

A Hilltop Legacy at Coral Farms

Casa Grande at Coral Farms spans 42.75 acres above San Juan Capistrano, with views to the Pacific and the Mission, permitted plans for a Mission Revival residence and a working farm of avocado, citrus and agave.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

The Last Raw Penthouse

Atop the Park Hyatt, the last raw penthouse in the Gold Coast awaits its first vision, a true duplex with 360-degree views of Lake Michigan and the skyline, 12-foot ceilings and 700 square feet of private outdoor space.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

A Full Floor at St. Regis

This full-floor penthouse at The St. Regis Chicago was reimagined over more than a year, opening by private elevator to 360-degree views of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, Monroe Harbor and the skyline.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

The Nova, Cedar and Stone

San Diego's Sun Home Saunas has introduced Nova, its line of indoor traditional saunas. It pairs a Canadian cedar interior with a hand-laid wall of carbonized hexagonal tile and a HUUM Drop rock heater that reaches 230°F.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

ARLA, Above Oak Street

The team behind Adalina has taken the entire sixth floor of the former Barneys building at Oak and Rush. ARLA joins the Riviera to Okinawa, with twin terraces looking toward Lake Michigan and a menu led by chef and partner Soo Ahn.

Mark Quesada | November 12, 2026

The GT3 Bergsport, Alpine Bred

Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur has produced 100 examples of a 911 GT3 that pays tribute to the mountain pass and the hill climb. It has a manual gearbox, a green chosen for a valley, and an Alpine market reserved for itself.

Mark Quesada | November 9, 2026

Scope the Sewer Before You Pick a Price

The repair request that wrecks your escrow is sitting underground right now. A few hundred dollars before you list decides who holds the leverage.

Mark Quesada | November 2, 2026

The Second Price Cut Is the Real Price

Luxury listings in Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe have been sitting since summer, and some sellers are on their second reduction. That's the moment I want my buyers paying attention.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

Above the City, Once Hughes's

On a promontory once owned by Howard Hughes, a modern villa by Scott Mitchell Studio rises above Los Angeles after a decade of construction, with 270-degree views from Downtown to the Pacific.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

A Roof That Opens to Stars

Villa Siena, the latest work of Ardie Tavangarian of Arya Group, pairs teak and stone with a floating bronze staircase, a forest-inspired spa and an auto gallery that doubles as a jazz club.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

The Wellington of the West

Willow Creek Estate spans 77 acres of Rancho Santa Fe, with a 15-acre lake, two barns of 35 stalls and an arena where Olympic hopefuls have trained, all five miles from the sea.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

A Pavilion Above Point Dume

A blufftop Malibu estate of about 17,700 square feet, built before today's coastal limits, with Riviera III Beach Key access and a columned oceanfront pavilion at the edge of the Pacific.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

Howard Van Doren Shaw on Astor

Designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw for the Goodman family, this Gold Coast residence of more than 14,000 square feet is offered for the first time in 40 years, with formal gardens and fountains at its heart.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

Stone and Slate on the Lake

A new lakefront residence in Kenilworth, built of stone and limestone under a slate roof, with about 17,000 finished square feet, open views of Lake Michigan and a large private beach.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

The Cold Plunge, Built In

Hydro Systems has introduced Hydro Chill and Hydro Chill Ultra. The new cold plunge systems are made in America and fit within the bathtub itself, and a companion app sets the water's temperature from anywhere.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

Roseacre, Girard Avenue

Paul Basile and Jules Wilson have turned the old Adelaide's flower shop on Girard Avenue into a multi-venue dining house. Erik Anderson, who earned two Michelin stars at Coi, leads the kitchen. It is the Village's most closely watched opening.

Mark Quesada | October 29, 2026

The Valen, Hand Built

Aston Martin unveiled the Valen at Monterey Car Week in August. It is the marque's most powerful front-engined V12 to date, with a full carbon fibre body. Only 150 will be built, and each is finished by Q by Aston Martin.

Mark Quesada | October 26, 2026

The Parking Space That Decides the Downsize

Empty nesters leaving the North Shore for a Gold Coast condo look at the view first. I look at the garage first, and here's why.

Mark Quesada | October 19, 2026

Ask for the Solar Interconnection Date

Two houses on the same Carmel Valley street can have the same solar panels and very different value. The difference is one date that most buyers never ask for.

Mark Quesada | October 12, 2026

The Tax Bill That Wrecks Chicago Two-Flat Math

The tax number on a Chicago listing sheet belongs to the seller, not to you. Here's how one line on an Avondale two-flat can turn a deal that looks great into one that loses money every month.