Q&A: MyHouse's David Judaken

(Credit: Amy Crilly)

Photos:

Everyone needs a place to call home, and Hollywood club-goers are no different. Nightclub icon David Judaken thinks he has just the place with MyHouse, a 10,000-square-foot space done up like a swank bachelor pad in the Hollywood Hills, where L.A.'s elite will mingle in a more comfortable, familiar environment than that of the typical megaclub.

Judaken first found nightlife success with Garden of Eden, which set the standard for Hollywood clubs more than a decade ago. Since then, he has opened red-hot venues such as Mood, Crimson and Opera. Judaken’s spots share some common elements: A-list clientele, trendy dress codes and eye-grabbing interior design. Thanks to the immense buzz they receive, they have also come to be known for long lines, tough bouncers and a growing chorus of disillusioned patrons who are tired of the impersonal feel of Hollywood nightclubs. MyHouse continues Judaken’s upscale approach and seeks to bring back that personal touch.

What can fans of your other venues expect to see at MyHouse?
At all of my venues, I like to bring a natural element: natural palates, natural materials. I like to say that I bring a natural element into an unnatural environment, because I think people feel more comfortable and it's more soothing. MyHouse takes that idea to the next level, because there's nothing more comfortable than a home.

How is it different from a traditional nightclub?
Nightclubs are big and over-the-top, with reflective surfaces and technology… I still think that there's nothing better than a dinner party or a party at a home. Using the materials that we’ve used, with the concept that we've put together, we really nailed it. The word "comfort" keeps coming up, and I think that's important if you're going to have your guests stay longer and return continually.

Was there a model house for MyHouse? Is this a glimpse into the Judaken home?
I would love to live in this house, especially if I was still single. It's pretty dynamic. But originally, yes, it was modeled after one house. [Designer] Dodd Mitchell was returning from Mexico and looking to make L.A. his home for a short period. He made an offer on a house in the Trousdale Estates [in Beverly Hills]. He ultimately decided not to move forward, but there are a number of architectural elements that emulate that specific home.

MyHouse is pretty well-appointed, with toasters, beds, a Jacuzzi—will all that be accessible?
Well, the Jacuzzi outside, for instance, we haven’t decided if we're catering to the right audience if people are in it or out of it. We may put up Plexiglas and have it as one of the most important tables, because the water element is covered. In the bedroom, one of the major "tables" is the bed itself. Besides that, everything in the house is accessible.

How about the attire: The bartenders wear loosened ties, and the hostesses are also dressed down…
The inspiration for the home is a very cool bachelor in the Hollywood Hills. He works by day, comes home and enjoys the nightlife. The cocktail waitresses' uniforms are a girl that he's met. He leaves for work during the day, she breaks into the closet and puts his shirt on. And so it's literally a man's shirt, and she still has her high boots from the evening before—it's that whole vibe of a strange woman in a bachelor pad.

The men’s uniforms are consistent with how this bachelor would dress for his day in the office. He's a guy that's somewhat professional, but at the same time he's an individual. So you'll see our bartenders, some will have ties, some will have suspenders, some will have waistcoats, some will have hats. Each one's going to look different and unique and make their outfit their own.

So it's a fantasy?
Yeah, we're telling a story. Even when we did the architectural photographs, we did two sessions, with models and without models. The one with models followed this whole story line. We're creating that fantasy where everyone can come enjoy an amazing home in the Hollywood Hills. It's a place where people can enjoy it that much more than a normal person's home.

See photos of MyHouse»

Read the MyHouse review»

Meet the other MyHouse players, Tony Daly and Dodd Mitchell»

Find MyHouse»

Will Theisen is contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.