Welcome to Flamingo Estate, an LA escape where creativity reigns
In the eastern hills of Los Angeles, this colorful seven-acre property is home to creative entrepreneur Richard Christiansen. He spent years courting the former owners before he got the keys to the 1940s Spanish colonial, dubbed “Flamingo Estate” for its pink stucco exterior.
Inspired by the estate’s legacy as a longtime haven for self-expression—with a storied past that includes housing an erotic film studio—Richard sought to build on the original vision: a mecca for uninhibited style exploration.
“Given the history of the home, we wanted it to feel as sensual as possible,” says Richard. “You walk around and feel cold marble, rough concrete, soft velvet. It’s very tactile.”
Richard partnered with Studio KO to refurbish the house, while sticking to its original footprint and creative spirit.
Paradise found
Our contemporary take on the space features rounded furniture and sculptural accents that pay homage to its medley of cultural inspirations. “Color is very important at Flamingo,” Richard says. “We pulled inspiration from India, Paris, Japan, Morocco for a range of shades and textures.”
Flamingo’s grounds boast more than a hundred botanical species, along with fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. With such lush flora and fauna outside, it’s no surprise that nature is a theme inside the home, laden with plants and shades of green.
“Mother Nature is the last great luxury house,” Richard says. “Her products are the best things we can have.”
“We make the garden a priority inside and outside. When used properly, the garden can be our doctor, our therapist and our friend.”
Block party
The home’s generous use of color goes next-level in the bedroom, color-blocked from the ground up. Here, ocean blue makes a splash against terracotta-hued walls.
Richard multiplied the restorative power of Flamingo as a destination for wellness and self-care with an eponymous line of garden-grown bath and home goods.
More than anything, this home is all about being in harmony with nature. “Flamingo Estate represents the garden,” says Richard, who planted about 600 tress since buying the property. Here, grand-scale modular seating makes space for everyone while bringing living room comfort outdoors.
“When I worked in advertising, I was surrounded by creative people,” Richard says. “But now that I’ve gotten to know the garden and its farmers, I’ve learned that these are the most creative people in the world.”