Exquisite Craftsmanship and a Tranquil, Pacific Rim Design Create a Jewel of Oceanfront Living at 2804 The Strand Along the Manhattan Beach Strand
2804 The Strand’s ultra-private atmosphere is the product of purposeful design: rooms are thoughtful spaces meant for harmonious living and basking in the potent natural elements that surround the home: white-tipped waves and violet sunsets; a calm beachfront and an endless swirl of white and blue sky.
“Once you shut the mahogany and glass gate, you’re in a sanctuary,” describes real estate agent Lauren Forbes of Compass.
“There’s something very calm and special about this house.”
With two bedrooms and three bathrooms—plus a one-bedroom, one-bath guest residence—2804 The Strand’s approximately 3,469 square feet of space lives much larger than its official footprint due to its well-crafted outdoor spaces.
These fresh-air living areas interplay with interior spaces and amplify the mood of this always-changing ocean setting. The feeling throughout the property is remarkably luxurious—in the quiet, understated sense of the word—due to this, and the studied use of exclusive, natural materials.
“The attention to detail is something you don’t see very often,” points out Lauren Forbes, who notes the owner worked closely on creating the home with developer Jeff Strnad of Beach House Design & Development.
“It was very collaborative,” remarks Jeff Strnad. “The transition between the materials and the detailing—of how things came together in terms of tile and wood and stone and Venetian plaster—all of those were carefully thought through.”
Character-rich planks of walnut flooring contrast against sunburst planks of Sapele Mahogany set along the soaring ceilings. Michelangelo marble from Brazil—hailed for its strength and intricate veining—is used throughout the home, from centerpiece fireplaces to along the hallway, the countertops, and the slender island in the kitchen. Speaking of, the kitchen is a sculptural-like space of beauty and utility.
It’s shaped in a U, with streamlined appliances, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Gaggenau ovens, positioned amid the sleek walnut cabinets that lie flat against the wall. This room also had the design benefit of a Michelin-starred chef, who was consulted in optimizing its layout.
“You just want to sit and hang out all day when you visit this home,” says Lauren Forbes, “and there’s a lot of different spaces to do just that.”
The beach level, where you can step out onto the sand or the landscaped green lawn, is an intimate gathering spot. Rich-hued floors of brushed walnut, set in a classic herringbone pattern, capture the mellow beach light while flames flicker in the contemporary fireplace, which is accented by a dense wall of veiny marble from Brazil. With the floor-to-ceiling pocket doors open to beach breezes, you can lounge in the living room or on the patio with a selection from the temperature-controlled wine cellar, where wood racks can store up to hundreds of your favorite vintages.
The middle level is home to the main gathering spaces. Namely, a great room where the kitchen, dining, and living room converge. You can enjoy unabridged panoramas of the ocean from every corner of this room, and perch on the main deck to take in the glorious hours of sunset.
“Because you sit up high on The Strand, you have more extensive panoramic ocean views than you would on the south end of the Strand,” explains Lauren Forbes.
Well-placed glass and landscaping reinforce the privacy aspect of this modern home, along with a mahogany fence situated along the south side of the property. Adding to this is the home’s quiet location along the beach: there are no lifeguard towers or volleyball courts in front of the home, and the Strand splits into two separate paths along the manicured greenbelt. Another plus is the home’s proximity to both Downtown Manhattan Beach and the North End—each about 5 minutes away on bicycle.
Within the gated walls of the home, one can wander from the Zen-like peace of the master bedroom—where ceilings are 11-feet tall, and the master bath is decked in gleaming Italian Porcelain—to the adjoining private deck. Here one is surrounded by more tranquility: There’s a bubbling hot tub built into the deck and steps away, the soft rhythm of flowing water comes from a tiered water feature, which glows softly at night.
“It’s got really great common areas to socialize in, but it has these really nice distinct areas for privacy and solitude,” Jeff Strnad says of the home.
One such area is the guest suite on the uppermost level, which is also home to a sprawling oceanview deck with a fireplace and barbecue kitchen.
“The guest suite feels like a penthouse at the Four Seasons Hotel,” says Lauren Forbes. “You can sit on the deck and gaze at the water. It’s very serene.”
Making this feature even more appealing is the fact that it can be sequestered unto itself, such as when you have guests who enjoy their privacy or merged with the rest of the property as a sunny gathering or entertaining space.
“‘Big’ and ‘fancy’ are often synonymous with Strand houses,” points out Lauren Forbes.
Yet this home, with its restrained footprint and abundant use of exotic materials, has a sleek sophistication and warmth not always found in beachfront homes, where the focus is typically on optimizing the size.
From the beach one sees this home’s modest-sized silhouette, yet tucked behind its glass and mahogany walls one finds a true beachfront sanctuary: A place that feels earthy yet polished; timeless while also stunningly modern—and remarkably peaceful each time you come home.
Lauren Forbes | 310.901.8512 | DRE# 01295248
Lauren Forbes Group at Compass
List Price: $16,499,000
Photography by Paul Jonason
