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Classic Architecture, Coastal Soul—2917 N Poinsettia—A Tudor Revival That’s Right At Home In Modern-day Manhattan Beach
Nestled among leafy trees on a charmed block of Manhattan Beach stands a rare Tudor Revival showpiece. A seldom-seen architectural style for the area, this Tree Section home was designed by architect William Taylor in the mid-1980s, representing one of only four such homes he crafted in the South Bay. The 3,164-square-foot residence is eye-catching with its authentic Tudor Revival details and boasts an airy 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom floor plan. Despite its classical European roots, it serves modern family life particularly well while embracing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle that defines South Bay living.
“William Taylor was hired by a guy who came to Manhattan Beach to upgrade Manhattan Beach architecture,” explains Marcia Whistler, the home’s longtime owner.
Taylor understood that at the time, professionals moving to the area were seeking alternatives to typical beach dwellings and desiring homes that reflected sophistication. As an architectural style, Tudor Revival was a natural pick, mirroring the elegant residences found in prestigious LA neighborhoods such as Hancock Park, Mid-Wilshire and Windsor Square, which includes the notable Getty House, the official residence of the mayor of Los Angeles, built in 1921.
Old World Style, Modern Livability
The homeowners carefully balanced historical faithfulness with features that enable comfortable day-to-day living—notably sunlight and open-air spaces. The windows exemplify this approach: faithfully designed to the Tudor Revival style, yet perfectly adapted for beachside living with an oversized scale and ease of opening that captures ocean breezes and fills the interior with natural light.
Custom distressed wood and natural stone create old-world charm on the exterior, while inside, 2917 N Poinsettia feels bright, open, and thoroughly contemporary. Cathedral ceilings with wood and open beams make the main living spaces feel breezy and spacious—far from the dark, enclosed feel one might expect from traditional Tudor architecture.
2917 N Poinsettia’s generous courtyard with stone pavers creates seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces. This central outdoor space, combined with mature green landscaping and ivy-covered walls, creates an authentic English countryside atmosphere while embracing casual, fresh-air living.
“That area became our welcoming area,” Marcia Whistler recalls. “The kids would play because there was a lot of space. We put up a basketball hoop and had a pool table in the garage.”
Crafted for a Local Lifestyle
Every interior detail reinforces 2917 N Poinsettia’s historical narrative while supporting modern living. From hand-distressed walls that mimic authentic plaster to natural oak floors with planks hand-styled to look weathered by time, the craftsmanship was created to last for decades.
The second floor follows local beach home tradition by placing main living spaces on the uppermost level. Notably, the homeowners transformed this area into an open-concept haven: “We busted out every wall upstairs and made it a great big kitchen with an island that was bigger than our old dining room,” says the homeowner.
This sun-filled kitchen showcases professional-grade appliances, including a substantial, 72-inch gleaming range that required crane delivery through the second-floor French doors. The open layout creates perfect spaces for watching over children and hosting gatherings with ease.
“The beauty of that dining room was it lent itself to indoor-outdoor because we had decks on either side,” Marcia Whistler explains. “Sometimes we would do buffets—they’d get food at the big island, eat at the table and then have cocktails on the decks.”
The primary suite occupies a wing of its own, with generous dual walk-in closets and, in addition to the spacious main bedroom with fireplace, there’s an adjacent bedroom suite that works beautifully as a nursery or office. Head to the first floor, which functions as a flexible family zone with dual bedrooms, bathrooms and a choice of living spaces. It’s a great place for guest quarters or to house older children.
The homeowner recounts how his son “had friends from all over Manhattan Beach who said, ‘Let’s go to his house’—there’s the big screen TV, the parents bring food down. So he had party central with two bedrooms, two baths downstairs and that big den,” Marcia Whistler chuckles.
Rare Find, Ideal Location
2917 N Poinsettia is situated on a short block of Poinsettia in Manhattan Beach’s Tree Section, what Marcia Whistler describes as “a micro-neighborhood renowned for a storybook feel, quite unlike any other block in the area.” Mature trees create a natural canopy overhead, forming a leafy cathedral that distinguishes this tucked-away, mellow street. It’s a family-friendly atmosphere where children play and neighbors congregate.
Yet for all its secluded charm, the location is a convenient one: the greenbelt (Veterans Parkway) is a one-minute walk, while downtown Manhattan Beach is a 15-minute stroll. Manhattan Village shopping is a two-minute drive, and the beach beckons just a mile away. Back home, from its wood entrance gate to its gabled roofs and old-growth trees, this Manhattan Beach residence is a delightful haven and a marriage of old and new—a rare show of how classical European architecture can work beautifully for modern-day California beach living.
Dave Fratello | (310) 386-2952 | DRE#01880469
EDGE Real Estate Agency
List Price: $4,450,000
Photography by Paul Jonason