Arnolds Right At Home In Westridge
By Jason Endicott
Fred Arnold, host of the Santa Clarita Business Hour on AM-1220 KHTS, and his wife Kristin recently invited me into their spacious Westridge home for another fantastic Distinguished Home tour. Fred and Kristin have lived in their Westridge home for four years and are the original owners. They share the home with their four children- Amy, Jack, Katie and Alex, who range in age from 3 to 12 years old. With three schools in the vicinity- Oak Hills Elementary, Rancho Pico Junior High, and West Ranch High School all a stone's throw away- literally- the kids will have a short morning commute all the way through 12th grade. In fact, the house affords a great view of the playground area of Oak Hills right from the backyard- a fact that Kristin makes sure to point out to her children. "I always tell them they have to behave in school, because I could be spying on them!", Kristin jokes.
The Arnold home sits at the end of a cul-de-sac in the beautiful and serene gated portion of Westridge, adjacted to the TPC Valencia Golf Course. The main house contains six bedrooms and six baths spread over 4,600 square feet. The cabana in the backyard- a project that took the Arnolds nearly a year to complete- adds another 800 square feet of space. Large windows throughout allow the sunshine to stream in, making the house feel comfortable and inviting. The backyard area is an outdoor lover's dream. With its own cabana, pool, BBQ kitchen, and playground for the kids, it almost feels like a resort!
The Arnolds (from left to right): Jack, Kristin, Amy, Alex, Katie, and Fred
The front courtyard sits right next to the lush green hillside that runs alongside the house. A fountain and sitting area greet you on your way inside.
One of the first things you'll see as you make your way through the front of the house is the indoor/outdor courtyard, which almost has the feeling of a Spanish villa. A fireplace in the center makes the perfect gathering place.
Once inside, you'll find the main living room, with a big screen TV and another fireplace to help set the mood
The large, open kitchen with center island contains beautiful wooden cabinets.
A more formal sitting area has the drapes opened to allow the sunlight in.
The formal dining room contains another fireplace and glass doors which open to the outside.
The Arnold's pampered dog, Casey, peers into the strange visitor with the camera!
The upstairs master bedroom
Master bathroom, with plenty of countertop space to ensure everyone can get ready and out the door on time!
The large and luxurious master bath, with a view to the backyard through the windows
The upstairs balcony affords a fantastic view of not only the backyard, but also the entire Santa Clarita area. The Arnolds can see multiple fireworks displays through the Valley right from their home.
Once we're back downstairs, we head out to the backyard. Here we can see the pool and cabana behind the gates- you can never be too careful with children around!
Amy enjoys a ride on the playarea swing, located in the backyard
The outdoor patio features an enormous fireplace and built-in Viking barbecue
A view of the back of the house from the play area
The pool and adjacent cabana
View of the pool from next to the cabana
House view from the cabana area
Next to the cabana, a half-court basketball court offers fun and exercise. The playing surface is rubberized and stays clean- sure beats asphalt!
Want to sit down and watch the action? Have a courtside seat on these chairs, which are actual stadium seats which were once used in Dodger Stadium!
Inside the cabana is a place to relax and have fun. A massage chair and two recliners can offer respite and a place to watch any of the SEVEN flat-screen televisions located in the cabana!
The cabana has a large bar area, perfect for hanging out with friends over a drink.
A game table offers a way for everyone to have fun- here, Jack and Amy duke it out over a hand of cards!
One last view of the house from the pool area
Thanks to Fred and Kristin Arnold for inviting us into their beautiful home!