After finding her dream house, the owner of Playa Vista Errands made every part of it her own
By Kelby Vera
Jennifer Kingshott prepares hors d’oeuvres for housewarming party number two.
Photos By Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo
Most mornings you can find Jennifer Kingshott out and about in Playa Vista. Her friends and neighbors sometimes joke that she’s the area’s unofficial ambassador.
Kingshott fell in love with the community the moment she arrived back in 2003. As a personal trainer and owner of her own small business, Playa Vista Errands, she focuses on giving back to the place that makes her so happy. She’s an active help to moms in the area, assisting them with dog walking, groceries and chauffeuring people to the airport.
As she searched for a house to call her own, Kingshott held out for an ideal place for both her and her dog Bailey. It was a few years and a couple offers later that she finally met her match on Kiyot Way. Her patience paid off.
The four-story house gleams with sophistication. Exterior accents in red highlight the home’s simple charm. Kingshott has an encyclopedic knowledge of her home. She tells me about the first owner and exactly how many steps the second-floor stairs have.
As she invites me in, Kingshott tells me finding her dream house was only the first step. Remodeling was a chance for Kingshott to put her stamp on something she worked so hard to achieve.
“The other day I counted, I kept exactly eight things from before. It’s a whole new house.”
Kingshott’s entrepreneurial spirit guided her through the remodel. Instead of working with a designer, she was able to organize each step herself: hunting down the materials, hiring craftsmen, overseeing the work. Everything in every room, down to the carpet and knobs, has Kingshott’s personal touch.
The interior has a subtle grey and white palate that gives the entire residence a seamless calm. Hardwood floors in classic cottage grey shine as elegant window shutters filter warm light from her southwestern view. Mirror accents thread together each room with small glimmers of their reflections. The kitchen appliances glean chrome. The clean lines and open space give the home an airy feeling.
As she worked on this project, Kingshott really took to the creative aspects of her renovation.
“I get inspiration from everything, all the time,” she said “I love going to model houses and seeing what’s new. I watch HGTV and see how it’s done.”
Some might be surprised by Kingshott’s favorite room. “It’s definitely the garage,” she told me as we walked downstairs. “I have never had my own garage, and this is a dream come true.”
Kingshott’s home office lets light stream in through the shutters, gently warming her hardwood floors.
While the interior of the home is a work of art, the garage succeeded in being the biggest transformation. The floor is perfectly laid tile, and the room provides ample storage.
Many of Kingshott’s friends and neighbors are inspired by the remodel at Capri Court.
“I love that I’ve inspired dozens of my friends and neighbors to take a chance and change something.”
After seven weeks of hard work, the transformation was complete. But it wasn’t official until everyone saw it.
The great reveal happened at her housewarming party, where Kingshott could finally share all of her hard work with the people she cares about. The task was so monumental she hosted two separate parties, welcoming more than 100 different people into her dream home.
For Kingshott, it was a high point. The culmination of all her hard work symbolized her life’s journey.
“I’ve always believed since I was a little girl, you only come through this life once. What goes around comes around, and if it’s meant to be it will be. You have to put good energy out to the universe and good things come back.”
And with that, she’s off to help another neighbor — this time walking two beautiful bulldogs. She waves goodbye over her shoulder knowing her dream home awaits her return.
Visit playavistaerrands.com for more information about Kingshott’s business.
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