High up in the hills of Eagle Rock, tucked away behind a gate that looks like it belongs to a reclusive 1970s rock star, there is a literal garden of Eden. It’s called Flamingo Estate. But honestly? Calling Flamingo Estate Los Angeles just a "house" or even a "brand" feels like a massive understatement. It’s a whole mood. It’s a shift in how we think about luxury.
Richard Christiansen bought the place back in 2014, and he didn't do it because he wanted to be a farmer. He was a high-flying creative director running a massive agency in New York. He was burnt out. He was tired. Then he saw this crazy, overgrown property—a pink house that used to be an erotic film studio and a radio station—and he decided to bring it back to life.
What started as a personal sanctuary during the 2020 lockdowns turned into a cult-favorite lifestyle brand that sells everything from $150 honey to goat milk soap that smells like a literal forest. People are obsessed. Why? Because it feels real. In a world of plastic and digital noise, Flamingo Estate smells like dirt and tomatoes.
The Pink House on the Hill
The actual Flamingo Estate Los Angeles property is a seven-acre sprawling masterpiece. It’s not your typical manicured Beverly Hills lawn. It’s wild. There are over 150 botanical species growing there. We’re talking about Macadamia nut trees, ancient olives, and massive stalks of kale.
The architecture is just as wild. Designed originally in the 1940s and later renovated with help from Studio KO (the folks behind the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech), the home is a mix of concrete, glass, and that signature lush greenery. It’s basically a temple to the sun.
When Christiansen first moved in, the soil was dead. It was hard-packed clay. He spent years—and a lot of money—revitalizing the land. He understood something most developers don't: the soil is the soul of the house. You can't have a luxury lifestyle if the ground beneath your feet is toxic.
Why Everyone Is Talking About the Honey
Let's get into the product. Specifically, the honey. This isn't the stuff in the plastic bear at the grocery store. Flamingo Estate sells "bio-regional" honey. They have hives all over Los Angeles—from the Getty Center to various private estates in Bel Air and Malibu.
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The idea is simple but brilliant. Bees in different neighborhoods pollinate different flowers. So, honey from the hills of Malibu tastes totally different from honey made in the canyons of Eagle Rock. It’s like wine terroir, but for bees. It’s hyper-local, and it’s become a massive status symbol. If you have a jar of Flamingo Estate honey on your kitchen counter, you’re telling the world you care about biodiversity (and that you have $50 to spend on breakfast).
The Business of Radical Sustainability
A lot of brands greenwash. They put a leaf on a plastic bottle and call it a day. Flamingo Estate is different. They’re actually working with a network of over 100 small-scale farmers.
- Regenerative Farming: They focus on soil health, which pulls carbon out of the atmosphere.
- The CSA Box: During the pandemic, they started a farm box that saved dozens of local farms from going under when restaurants closed.
- Plastic-Free: Most of their packaging is glass or compostable.
It’s a business model based on "Radical Gardening." Christiansen believes that the most decadent thing you can own isn't a handbag; it's a perfectly ripe tomato grown in healthy soil. It’s a shift from "looking rich" to "feeling connected."
Honestly, it’s kinda genius. They’ve managed to make "environmentalism" feel sexy and high-end rather than crunchy and sacrificial. They sell candles that smell like "Roma Heirloom Tomato" or "Climbing Tuscan Rosemary." They make you want to spend your paycheck on stuff that comes from the earth.
The Celebrity Connection
You can't talk about Flamingo Estate Los Angeles without mentioning the fans. It’s not just for influencers.
Martha Stewart is a fan. Chrissy Teigen posts about it. Oprah included their stuff on her "Favorite Things" list. Julianne Moore and Ai Weiwei have even collaborated on limited-edition products. When you have the world’s most famous gardener (Martha) and one of the world’s most important artists (Weiwei) backing you, you’re doing something right.
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What People Get Wrong About the Brand
Some critics say it’s just "overpriced dirt." They look at a bottle of $40 olive oil and roll their eyes.
But here’s the thing: cheap food is a lie. When you buy a $5 bottle of olive oil at a big-box store, someone, somewhere, is getting screwed. Either the farmer isn't getting paid, the soil is being stripped of nutrients with heavy chemicals, or the oil is cut with cheap fillers.
Flamingo Estate is trying to show the true cost of quality. It’s expensive because paying people a living wage and farming without pesticides is expensive. It’s a rejection of the "fast fashion" mentality applied to our kitchens and bathrooms.
They aren't just selling a product; they are selling a philosophy of stewardship. You're buying into the idea that we should leave the land better than we found it. Plus, the stuff actually works. Their body oils and tinctures are packed with high-concentration botanicals that haven't been sitting in a warehouse for three years.
The Aesthetics of the Estate
Everything Flamingo Estate touches looks like a Dutch Still Life painting. The photography is moody. The colors are deep greens, burnt oranges, and that iconic dusty pink.
This visual language is a huge part of why they’ve blown up on Google Discover and Instagram. It doesn't look like a corporate brand. It looks like a diary. It feels personal. In a sea of "millennial pink" and minimalist white packaging, Flamingo Estate feels maximalist and old-world. It’s a vibe that says, "I have a library full of physical books and I know how to prune a rose bush."
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How to Bring the Vibe Home (Without Moving to LA)
You don't need a seven-acre estate in Eagle Rock to live like this. That’s the whole point of their product line. You can buy the "Friday Night Bath" set and pretend you’re soaking in a tub overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains.
The brand is basically an invitation to slow down. They want you to smell your soap. They want you to taste your honey. They want you to actually look at the plants in your neighborhood.
- Start with the Soil: Even if you just have a window box, buy good compost.
- Eat Seasonally: Only buy tomatoes when they are actually in season. The difference in taste is wild.
- Support Local: Find a farmers market. Ask the person selling the carrots where they were grown.
- Ditch Synthetic Fragrance: Switch to candles and soaps that use real essential oils and botanicals.
The Future of the Estate
Flamingo Estate Los Angeles isn't slowing down. They are expanding into more collaborations and even deeper into the world of "Mother Nature as a Luxury House."
There are rumors of more physical spaces and potentially hospitality projects. But at its core, it remains a working farm. It’s a reminder that even in a concrete jungle like LA, nature is just waiting to take back over if you give it a little bit of water and a lot of love.
Actionable Steps for the Conscious Consumer
If you're looking to dive into the world of Flamingo Estate or just want to adopt their "Pleasure from the Garden" ethos, here is how to start:
- Check the Seasonal Harvest: Their shop changes based on what is actually growing. If the "Persimmon Vinegar" is out of stock, it’s because persimmons aren't in season. Wait for it. The anticipation makes it better.
- Audit Your Pantry: Look at your oils and honey. If they don't list a specific farm or region, they are likely mass-produced blends. Try one high-quality, single-origin product and see if you can taste the difference.
- Follow the "Soil First" Rule: Before buying any "natural" beauty product, look at the brand’s commitment to regenerative farming. If they aren't talking about the dirt, they aren't doing it right.
- Join the CSA if You’re Local: If you live in Southern California, their farm box is arguably the best in the city. It supports local heritage growers and keeps the "bio-regional" economy alive.
Living the Flamingo Estate life isn't about being rich; it's about being attentive. It's about realizing that a garden is a conversation between you and the earth. And honestly? That’s a conversation worth having.