The Lovely Kelia Moniz and Bruna Schmitz In The Doll Sessions

We’re suckers for Sis and Bruna! They’re rays of light in the ever-so-busy and sometimes grim city of Los Angeles, California. The two are best friends; they surf together, travel and shared the same space in Manhattan Beach known as the Doll House for the past five years. Our friends at Summersite put together this breezy interview and photo gallery from the bright days of California summer. And as the season hits its backend, it’s a friendly reminder of how easy we lose days, weeks and years.

“I wouldn’t be the person I’m today if Sis hadn’t convinced me to move to California,” says Bruna. “It changed my life and she changed my life. Sorry for getting real emotional, but it’s the truth. I never planned anything in life. I’d rather embrace what’s in front of me. I now look back and I have no idea where I would have been if this change didn’t happen.”

Summersite: What was the Doll House and who lived there?
Kelia: Well, the Dollhouse originated five years ago when Bruna and I moved to Manhattan Beach CA. I somehow convinced her to move from Brazil with me to CA for what initially was just supposed to be six months… Our first apartment was so small we made this joke one day that it was the size of a dollhouse. From there, our friends would start to refer our house as “The Dollhouse”. After the first six months, we moved into a bigger apartment but still the name stuck. There was the “Old-old Dollhouse” which was the first original one, then there was “The Old Doll” Which was the second and then finally just “The Doll” Which was our last and final dollhouse… Dane (Zaun), Bruna’s now Fiancé moved into the third Dollhouse with us. At the time they were just dating but then they got engaged, and Bruna and Dane became the parents of the house.

Sharing, it’s a quintessential part of being a good housemate.

What did the Doll House represent to you?
Bruna: It was home away from home. It was home to all of our friends, we are ten minutes from LAX. The Doll was the crash spot; we would wake up sometimes, and there’d be someone sleeping the couch or we would get hit up at 11 pm because someone needed a place to crash. Everyone knew our door code, and our garage was a huge storage where all our friends left their boards, wetsuits snow gear. Moving out was NOT easy! [laughs]

“We had bbq’s on a weekly basis,” says Sis. “And we had people over from all corners of the earth very consistently. There was always a celebration.”

How long did you live there and what were your local hang spots?
Kelia: Well we lived in the South Bay (Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach). We hit all the local spots. We were walking distance to the beach, so there were lots of days that we’d just take longboards, volleyballs, and snacks down and hang beachside all day. There is this new poke bowl place that opened on the pier called Hooked Poke that’s amazing! Coming from Hawaii, it’s been a struggle to find good Poke. Then there’s The Source Cafe that we love to have juices and coffee at. And then there’s a good local bar called Shellback, it’s a dive bar that the boys hate but us girls love because they have a jukebox that we spend way too much money on. 

“It was a Doll tradition, we would go upstairs to our dining table overlooking the ocean at night,” says Bruna. “We would drink with our friends and have late night talks. Some guided us, some inspired us, some just needed a friend and a glass of wine or beer, but those memories are the ones we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.”

What’s next for life after the Doll House?
Kelia: Lots is happening for the dolls. Bruna and Dane just bought their first house, then they’re getting married. As for me, I’m going to be globe-trotting for a little trying to figure out where I wanna end up. Don’t know where yet but that’s the exciting part. Wish me luck.

Bruna: Well I just got back from my Bachelorette party, which was amazing. I was so high on happiness that I got home and Dane kept asking me if I was ok, my happiness level was a little low so I had to recover. We just finished unpacking all our boxes into the new house; we have so much work to do still, and I have a wedding in a month and a half. I’m going nuts!