The ultimate spa retreat? The Ranch at Live Oak in Malibu is intimate (only 14 guests per week), austere (maximal outdoor activities and minimal sustenance), and features a rugged, dramatic setting (120 acres of trails above Malibu, with gardens designed by Scott Shrader).
Originally a hacienda from the 1920s, the Ranch was remodeled and expanded earlier this year by proprietors Alex and Sue Glasscock, who now live on the property. There's a lot to like about the interiors: the unhemmed linen coverlets on the beds, the slipcovered director's chairs in the dining room, and the floors and furniture made from salvaged painter's scaffolding. Go to the Ranch at Live Oak Malibu for more information.
All photography by Mark Adams Pictures.
Above: Dining room seating consists of simple director's chairs (some are slipcovered in natural-colored linen).
Above: Ceilings and floors feature reclaimed wood.
Above: Light and air.
Above: Wall niches display stacks of wood.
Above: The imperfect floorboards are reclaimed painter's scaffolding.
Above: Painter's scaffolding was also used to create the outdoor dining table and benches.
Above: Deck chairs and oak trees sit poolside.
Above: The path to La Roma is full of rosemary and purple bearded iris.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on November 1, 2010.