A Distinct, Thoughtfully Refreshed Showpiece Just Off the Strand Combines a Highly Desirable Location in Manhattan Beach With Privacy, Proximity, and a Grand Panoramic Ocean View
Location is everything at 3601 Bayview Drive, an impeccable ocean-facing address, on a coveted corner lot, that defines beauty by the bay.
“With panoramic, unblockable ocean views and a location just steps from the beach and walkable to North Manhattan’s favorite boutiques and restaurants, 3601 Bayview Drive delivers the privacy of an elevated corner lot with the drama of Strand-level living,” agent Cameron Stearns of Compass says of this plum property, being sold with or without furniture.
As the result of a substantial remodel/rebuild that commenced over two years, starting in 2017, the 3,090-square-foot coastal retreat lives up to the promise of its lot with three bedrooms and four baths, a top-floor showpiece, a bottom-level beach room, four outdoor balconies and more.
This includes a distinct, durable, and unfaded façade marked by curved glass and a reinvigorating citrus-orange accent color reminiscent of sunset that gives way to an airy, light-filled interior featuring designer fixtures and finishes throughout: warm oak wood accents and floors, natural stone, textured travertine feature walls, and sleek Fleetwood window and door systems supporting effortless indoor/outdoor living.
Greeted by a spherical chandelier echoing the bubbles of the ocean, a swath of gorgeous glass windows, and an imposing pivot front door that swings open with ease, the second-floor entrance sets a refined tone. Inside, a second chandelier, this one in a lofty drop toward the beach room below, marks one’s arrival.
Just beyond the adjacent sitting area is access to 3601 Bayview Drive’s coveted three-car garage, matching plenty of parking with ample storage for beach gear. The curved glass that helps define the exterior, meanwhile, encases the interior staircase in huge windows and natural light for a glowing statement.
“Normally, a staircase is thought of as almost an afterthought,” Cameron Stearns says. “But in this house, it is an impressive architectural detail that you really appreciate.”
Ascending the stairs reveals sublime privacy on the third floor, culminating in the spacious primary suite with a generous south-facing deck and lovely ocean views.
Interestingly, Cameron Stearns says, “The palm trees right along the street provide privacy from the homes directly across from it, but they do not obstruct the view so the space feels cozy, not exposed.”
The space is also plush in appointments, including a walk-in closet with lots of cabinetry and a spa-inspired en-suite bath with a “kind of sexy” open shower, as Cameron Stearns describes it—and not inaccurately. Conceived like a wet room, the primary bath, which also features a free-soaking tub, is covered in floor-to-ceiling tile with a sloped herringbone stone floor that ensures the swift flow of water is directed to the drain.
“Go anywhere, and it’s waterproof,” Cameron Stearns assures.
Opposite the primary suite are two additional bedrooms—one with an ocean view and the other a balcony—that share a beautifully appointed Jack-and-Jill bath with a door separating the toilet and shower from the sink areas.
With the great room, dining room, and chef’s kitchen, the protagonists in a consistently shifting play of light, views, and designer detail, the top floor is 3601 Bayview Drive’s crescendo—one that opens to a soaring wraparound deck that extends the living space and offers sweeping 180-degree coastal views from Palos Verdes to Malibu.
“It’s arguably the best view you’ll find in a home off the Strand,” Cameron Stearns says. “The Fleetwood pocket door systems make for a seamless indoor/outdoor flow. It’s all open. You can see the sand, the waves crashing, the surfers.”
Uniquely, he points out, the lot was built on a steep part of the street, giving the location a more elevated position than the homes below it, before the topography then flattens out.
“So even as you get closer to the ocean,” Cameron Stearns explains. “The views are much more obstructed comparatively.” Moreover, because the property is set back, its north-facing view is a jaw-dropper. “You step up from the staircase, and it just hits you in the face—the ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains.”
Finished in durable natural stone floors and rich oak beams that lend warmth to crisp-white walls, the top floor forms a hospitable social core: the great room, its contemporary fireplace with stone surround meant to replicate ocean waves with subtle notes of orange; the dining room with a travertine accent wall; and the meticulous chef’s kitchen outfitted in professional Theramador appliances and centering a giant kitchen island with gleaming marble-slab top.
From here, one gazes out to views of lush palm trees and, if looking south, the sea. Abundant natural light, meanwhile, highlights the island’s natural quartzite, balanced by the fresh white countertops and clean-lined cabinets in a sophisticated beige-grey. Adjacent to the kitchen, a second balcony is perfectly placed for barbecuing, while a half-bath finishes off this floor.
With soaring two-story ceilings, the bottom-level beach room reaches new heights. Featuring another travertine accent wall and rich oak wood detail that includes modern configurations for shelving, a desktop, and a wine rack underneath the staircase, this flexible entertaining space offers flawless indoor-outdoor flow, with direct access to a patio with an outdoor shower, and easy access to the sidewalk leading straight to the ocean. The space also includes a bath, making it ideal for guests.
From its coveted corner lot to its overpowering ocean view, to its prime walkability to all the popular spots, 3601 Bayview Drive captures the essence of coastal living in every pristine detail.
Cameron Stearns | 310.872.8785 | DRE#: 01920602
Compass | stearnsliebteam.com
List Price: $7,450,000
Photography by Paul Jonason