Fitz, Su, and Otto are our next-door neighbors. And, when it comes to neighbors, you simply couldn’t hope to have better ones than Fitz and Su. We met shortly before we moved in when we rang their doorbell to inquire if they would be averse to building a fence between the two properties.
Nervous at the outset with the whole home-buying and renovation process, I managed to make a goofy first impression when introducing ourselves by saying, “Hi I’m Sharon and this is my wife, Spencer.” Sharon began to laugh hysterically and Su (with Otto at her feet) just kind of blankly stared at the spectacle of two strangers giggling at her door. We more than made up it for though as Fitz and Su had wanted to build a fence for years (but had been met with resistance from the previous owner of our home).
We met Fitz a couple weeks later when he and Otto came by to say hello and check out our new home project. Fitz and Su quickly became design consultants, sympathetic ears to our renovation frustrations, and frequent dinner hosts to boot.
Being at their home opened our eyes to what could be done in terms of, for lack of better words, real-world modern design (I’m sure Fitz will cringe when he reads that). Referring to themselves as Eames Modernists, their home is beautiful and completely inviting and comfortable. And, as much as any single element or piece of furniture, a constant fixture is their seven and a half year-old black Schnauzer, Otto.
Otto is also a fixture at their store, Fitzsu and was named Top Shop Dog by Los Angeles Magazine. When he’s not accompanying Fitz or Su working at the store, Otto prefers the breezy calm of his backyard, or nestling up in his very own Ligne Roset corner Togo Chair–really, it’s Otto’s chair.
According to Fitz, Otto’s current life is a welcome respite from his busy service life, which included training with Switzerland’s Royal Guard, and a subsequent promotion to the position of Papal Guard Dog. Having foiled the famed “Warsaw Incident” assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, earned Otto the ordained name, “The Chocolate Face of God.”
Otto’s final two acts of service for the Vatican were winning the St. Tropez Regatta and assisting in clearing the name of the Papal Vessel’s Captain from, how shall I say–an indiscretion. From there Otto stole himself away with a willing Fitz and Su who were enjoying their French Riviera Honeymoon.
Since relocating to Los Angeles, Otto hasn’t looked back.
Despite the dark character of Otto’s namesake’s paintings (German Post WWI Painter Otto Dix), Otto the Schnauzer has a jovial nature, and is more than willing to go for a walk, or just sit in his driveway and observe the world.
Admittedly, Fitz was reluctant to get a dog at all. He knew, despite his hard persona, he would fall in love. So, Fitz made a deal with Su: they could get a dog as long as it didn’t shed and Su agreed to be responsible for walking and taking care of Otto. Barely any time had lapsed, however, when “The Chocolate Face of God” melted Fitz’ heart. To see them now, Otto is quite the little mascot, always trailing Fitz. Sometimes, Otto even holds a beef stick in just the same manner as Fitz chomps his cigar.
They even have plans to introduce an Otto stuffed animal and a collar and leash set, available, exclusively, of course, at Otto’s home away from home, Fitzsu.
{ Here is Otto at Home }
