Before DJ and podcaster
Amrit Tietz and her family
say goodbye to Los Angeles, they’re soaking up the city
on their plant-filled,
party-friendly terrace.
OUTSIDERS
THE
On the other end of the spectrum, quiet mornings start with Rocky’s matcha on the lower terrace, sometimes paired with yoga. Workdays wind down with a glass
of Non wine from Australia, where Amrit grew up.
The space was their respite during the pandemic, which is why leaving it is so bittersweet. Thankfully, a little piece of paradise, a mosaic vase they found at—you guessed it—an estate sale, will be coming with them to the East Coast.
But what will happen to the plants? “If Jon could take the plants, he would,” Amrit says. “He’s sentimentally attached. You know, you spend so much time with them, you talk to them, you play music for them—they bring you joy. They’re your friends.” Instead of hauling their green pals across the country, though, she and a designer friend will host a sale to give them new homes. But it’s up to the buyers to move them down those 88 steps.
When Frankie was born, they didn’t change much
of the outdoor decor—“We don’t think having a baby should require you to change your whole lifestyle and aesthetic,” says Amrit—but they did put down area rugs and procure a sunny yellow umbrella to bring
the California vibes and provide a shady spot for
baby hangs.
In the years since they moved in, they’ve hosted dinner parties and Friendsgivings—Amrit deejays, naturally—that start on the garden level with apps and Ghia cocktails, then progress their way up to the top floor for dining under the glowy string lights once the sun goes down. “It’s chaotic, it’s fun, it’s messy, it’s loud, and everyone’s just having a ball,” she says.
It’s chaotic, it’s fun,
it’s messy, it’s loud,
and everyone’s just having a ball.”
They are listening
Everyone
should include their plants in conversation...
Before their baby girl arrived, though, the two became seasoned plant parents. Together, the couple revived the dried-out, overgrown greenery that was already there and lugged up new ferns, bird of paradise, succulents, and yuccas. (Remember: 88 steps!) Their hack for finding mature potted plants at a discount? “I don’t want to blow up my secret, but 80 percent of our plants are from estate sales,” Amrit says. “Some of them are 10 to 15 years old, and they all have a story. Everyone looks for furniture at estate sales, and a lot of times sellers won’t even price the plants.” That’s not to say they didn’t hunt for sofas and chairs, too: A cushioned bamboo patio set represents a three-hour Laguna Beach excursion.
Tending to their garden has become a ritual, especially for Jon, who says that plants hear him singing and talking plenty. “Everyone should include their plants in conversation,” he insists, adding: “They are listening.” He recommends The Secret Life of Plants to aspiring green thumbs, from which he learned to never water the plants at night (when they’re less likely to dry out), cementing his status—in our book, at least—as a plant daddy. Amrit confirms this over email: “He is 10,000,000 percent a plant daddy.”
And yet, that stairway to the sun is one of the things the DJ and podcaster will miss most when her family moves back to New York in August. “L.A. was great for having a baby and taking time off, but we’re ready to get back into the city groove,” Amrit says. They’ll have a Brooklyn backyard, sure, but it won’t be the same.
“When I first saw the house, I thought, Oh, God, these steps! But it’s worth the hike,” she says, before adding, “And it’s a free workout.” Glute bonus aside, the multilevel open-air hangouts, a hot tub, a grill, and built-in Spanish-style charm? It’s hard for the rest of us to not have a little bit of outdoor envy.
Amrit and her husband, Jon, a former GQ fashion editor and cofounder of Lenys slippers, moved into
the three-bedroom home during the pandemic. “I’m used to being on the go and had cabin fever in New York,” she says. Nesting ensued: They got married in 2022, and welcomed their daughter, Frankie, earlier this year.
There are 88 steps to get to the top of Amrit Tietz’s sun-soaked outdoor space overlooking the Hollywood Reservoir.
Eighty-eight steps.
Words by Julie Vadnal
Styling by Merisa Libbey
Produced by Meghan McNeer
Photography by Justin Chung
Business & Pleasure
Amalfi Beach Umbrella, Nordstrom ($199)
Dalarna Chair,
Article ($299)
Get the Look
“
.”
“
Haven Dining Table,
Neighbor ($2,200)
Outdoor Pillow,
Nickey Kehoe ($375)
Haven Dining Table, Neighbor; Stemmed Glass, Nickey Kehoe; Tablecloth, Block Shop; Bowl, Nickey Kehoe; Plates, Lost & Found.
Citronella Candle and Hungarian Pottery Pitcher, Nickey Kehoe; Bolga Bike Basket, Lost & Found.
Hand-Painted Pillow, Nickey Kehoe; Outdoor Core Set, Year & Day.
Ice Bucket, Nickey Kehoe.
Tennis Napkin, Thistle Napkin, and Poppy Napkin, Blockshop.
And yet, that stairway to the sun is one of the things the DJ and podcaster will miss most when her family moves back to New York in August. “L.A. was great for having a baby and taking time off, but we’re ready to get back into the city groove,” Amrit says. They’ll have a Brooklyn backyard, sure, but it won’t be the same.
On the other end of the spectrum, quiet mornings start with Rocky’s matcha on the lower terrace, sometimes paired with yoga. Workdays wind down with a glass
of Non wine from Australia, where Amrit grew up.
The space was their respite during the pandemic, which is why leaving it is so bittersweet. Thankfully, a little piece of paradise, a mosaic vase they found at—you guessed it—an estate sale, will be coming with them to the East Coast.
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