Market
The Estate of the Art
A sumptuous Bel-Air Property with an unparalleled view offers seclusion and tranquility
Written by Abigail Stone | Photography Courtesy of Paul Jonason | Presented by Juliette Hohnen of Douglas Elliman & Edward Fitz of the Agency
Few streets in Los Angeles are as fun to navigate as Bellagio Road. Its swooping curves, which wind up through the exclusive community of Bel-Air, past neatly trimmed hedges, make driving a pleasure—the first of many encountered as one arrives at 11531 Orum Road. Entering through the property’s private front gate and down its long sloping driveway, the delights continue. Dip below street level, dropping out of sight, the city quickly feels like a distant memory, and the breathtaking villa in view instantly captivates. This two-story home, capped with a classic red tile roof, is a study in beautiful balance. Echoing the four-car garage that angles out from the main house are neatly manicured hedges that divide the front of the property from the backyard, while a wall of greenery, bisected by an elegant iron gate, offers the first tantalizing glimpse of the magnificent panorama belonging to this home.
The graceful symmetry continues as one enters the house through its double doors, their glass covered in intricate metalwork. Polished white marble slabs, which merge exterior with interior, beckon one inside. A winding stairway embellished with a filigreed iron balustrade leads to the top floor. To the right, the large arched, and aptly named, picture windows flood the spacious living room with light. A pristine white fireplace, adorned by a mirror, offers warmth for chilly evenings. Four sets of double doors on two sides open this room onto a brick veranda, framing the bountiful vista beyond.
Outside, past a pristinely verdant and expansive backyard, punctuated by a sparkling Mediterranean blue pool and Jacuzzi, is a scene that looks as if pulled from a painting by a Renaissance master. Here, it doesn’t take much imagination to recall that trip to the Italian countryside. In fact, if it weren’t for towering palm trees dotting the property evoking Southern California living, the arresting panoramas before you perfectly places this home along the Amalfi Coast. Heightening this impression is the terraced landscape surrounding the house. The property, composed of two parcels, includes four generous acres, providing ample space between neighbors, further optimizing the essence of peace and tranquility, while also availing the option of creating a second home here. The feeling of being transported to another place remains as one wanders throughout the house. Old World elegance permeates here, a feeling reminiscent of the great chateaus of France and the magnificent castellos of Italy. The aura emanates from perfectly scaled and proportioned rooms, the graceful way that one space dissolves into another and the softly diffused light that bathes the interiors in a gentle, calming glow.
Here, luxury is in the details—from slab marble floors to crown moldings, to richly polished wood built-ins, cabinetry and window sashes—that underline the home’s beauty and graciousness. Grand entertaining is part and parcel of the sophisticated life, which this home supports, from formal dinners prepared by a master chef hired for the evening, yet just out of sight in the warm wood kitchen; to elegant mornings in the breakfast nook, encircled in view-framing windows; to sunset cocktails on the patio, lazy pool parties, barbecues, and long al fresco lunches. Of course, entertaining often includes extending hospitality to overnight guests, a group easily accommodated in the wing to the left of the entry, which grants the freedom to come and go without disturbing the family or a party in progress. This wing also includes the gym and an office. A second patio here offers the ideal spot for morning yoga with a view—the sun rising to greet you, as invigorating to the soul as a string of asanas. With two additional bedrooms tucked into this area, this wing can also be designed to accommodate the unique needs of teenage children, offering them a generous space in which to spread out away from the second-floor master bedroom suite. The master bedroom retreat sprawls across a good portion of the second floor, and offers a secluded aerie in which to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. Every amenity is here, from a sumptuous bathroom to generous-sized closets and a sprawling balcony. The lavish suite is saturated with an abundance of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Waking up to the views they frame never fails to put a positive spin on the day. From this vantage point, everything is put into perspective. Life is grand. No question about it.
SWEET DIGS
Nothing like it
The largest residential lot in Manhattan Beach
Written by Wendy Bowman | Photos courtesy of Geoff Captain
This one-of-a-kind property also has the cache of having combined two separate parcels into one private and expansive compound—the largest residential lot in Manhattan Beach, at 39,113 square feet. “What distinguishes this property from any other property in Manhattan Beach is its scale and privacy,” says listing agent John Capellaro of The Capellaro Group, Coldwell Banker Previews International.
“No other property in Manhattan Beach offers this degree of privacy and size.” Found at 1155 Ronda Drive, the gated French Country-style estate is listed for $14.9 million and includes a 7,000-plus-square-foot, two-story main house with five bedrooms. Uniting Old World elegance with formal and informal elements, it features a billiard room and a Paris-inspired gourmet kitchen with open wood beam ceilings, stenciled fireplace and white marble countertops crafted from the Italian quarries of Antolini Luigi. There’s also a pool house, along with a delightful guest cottage (referred to by the current owners as their “holiday retreat”) with a stone clad, copper roofed gazebo with fireplace for year-round outdoor entertaining.
Outdoors you’ll find perimeter gardens interwoven with water-conscious plants; an intimate garden with oodles of space for a game of croquet or relaxing alongside the heated pool; and a sprawling “secret garden” perfect for entertaining. “Some of the unusual features of the property are there are nine fireplaces on the grounds and eight garage spaces on the campus, in addition to plenty of other driveway parking,” says Capellaro. “For the car enthusiast, this property would be a wonderful place to keep a collection of automobiles.”
Seaside in Redondo
Written by Wendy Bowman | Photos Courtesy of Geoff Captain
Longing for your own oceanfront property in Redondo?
Here you go! This 7,028-square-foot estate at 717 Esplanade offers 100 feet of ocean frontage and panoramic views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. “To get 100 feet of ocean frontage in Redondo beach is extremely rare,” says listing agent Raju Chhabria of Shorewood Realtors. “The amazing infinity pool and spa go well with an oceanfront property such as this and are also quite rare to come across.”
The price might be a little hefty—at almost $13 million—but you definitely get what you pay for with this multilevel Mediterranean gem. In addition to the fab views and relaxing water features, the home has four bedroom suites (including a master with a large ocean-view deck, fireplace and custom cherry wood walk-in closets); three laundry rooms; a gym with two flat-screen TVs; a library with built-in bookcases and a fireplace; an ocean-facing multimedia entertainment room with a full bar; and an ocean-view office adjacent to a covered loggia, among much more. Show-stopping features run the gamut— from a gated courtyard with a fountain to an entry foyer with a 22-foot wood-truss ceiling, a tiled grand staircase sporting an iron banister and plenty of display areas for artwork. A private gate with beach access rounds out this home’s special appeal.
Market Report
Recently sold in Redondo Beach
Written by Wendy Bowman | Photo Courtesy of California Image Maker
Six-time NBA All-Star Pao Gasol has sold the Redondo Beach home he lived in during his tenure with the L.A. Lakers for $3.35 million. Colisted by Randy Forbes Jr. and Diane Forbes Halliburton of Gibson International, the contemporary ocean-view home is situated at 734 Esplanade, adjacent to the charming shopping and dining destination of Riviera Village and popular Redondo Breakwater surf spot. Built in 1989, it’s actually two condos that were combined to create a 4,000-plus-square-foot, multistory residence—complete with four bedrooms and six baths, not to mention designer lighting and finishes.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Spaniard purchased the two units in separate transactions in 2008 and 2011 for a total of $2.98 million. Bright and open, the residence is rife with breathtaking ocean, coastline and city views, all which can be captured from numerous balconies and massive floor-toceiling windows. Among the home’s wow-factor features: a custom temperature-controlled wine cellar, an elevator, a media room with a bar, a private courtyard with a hot tub and dual two-car garages.
The pièce de résistance? A glass-lined rooftop deck with a sizeable lounge area, ideal for sunbathing and entertaining. Gasol has had a storied career in the NBA, starting off with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 (where he won NBA Rookie Player of the Year in 2002) and then playing for the Lakers starting in 2008 (where he helped capture two NBA Championships) before leaving for the Chicago Bulls in 2014.
Tuscan Treasure
A prestine Italian Villa, just steps from the beach, enjoys incredible views and an old world sensibility
Written by Joclene Davey | Photography by Paul Jonason | Presented by Lauren Forbes and John Corrales, Forbes-Corrales | Offered at $5,199,000
Live la dolce vita in a Tuscan villa with tranquil ocean views. Designed and fashioned by the famed Louie Tomaro, and tenderly finessed by the original owner to evoke the beautiful Tuscan countryside, this 5,050-square-foot home drapes immaculately across prime Manhattan Beach real estate. Classic, cupola-style interior and exterior entries greet visitors, with both spaces boasting towering hand-painted ceilings; elaborate, one-of-a-kind wrought iron chandeliers and sconces; and crown molding trimming with travertine tile floors.
The centerpiece of the exterior entry is a mosaic medallion—warmly welcoming one to experience this special place. Built on three levels, the home features a reverse floor plan with five bedrooms, four baths, and two half-baths. The downstairs area, mostly subterranean, features a media room with built-in surround sound and primed for a movie projector. Custom alder-wood cabinetry, specially ventilated for audio and visual equipment, adds to the room’s cozy charm.
The entire space, in fact, is fit for entertaining, with an adjacent temperature controlled wine cellar built with custom walls and a door specially insulated to maintain a perfect temperature. Also on this level is a guest room with a large light-well and a separate bath featuring the same Walker Zanger tiles used throughout the home, along with a pristine copper sink. Completing this level is a carpeted four-car garage with built-in storage, alarm system controls and a full-size residential elevator.
Mid-level, the home’s cathedral-like groin ceilings create a dramatic hallway connecting the upstairs spaces. Custom wrought iron railings and sconces, hardwood walnut floors and travertine floors offer a rustic Italian feel, an authenticity furthered by a terra cotta tile roof with wooden trestles on the exterior. “I’ve always loved the Mediterranean-style home, and after our travels to Italy, we were inspired to add more of the Tuscan touches,” says owner Jeannie Kaseff, on her inspiration for the home. Passing back through the aforementioned interior copula, one will find a spacious laundry room with custom Italian tile-work and Roman shades. Neighboring the laundry room is a second guest quarters that recalls a luxury hotel suite with its comfortable sitting area and two arched double doors that allow natural light to flow through and open to a beautiful veranda.
Highlighting the lovely ensuite bath, meanwhile, are harlequin tiles and custom shades. Through the colonnade-style hallway are two spacious bedrooms with built-in desks, large closets and a connecting bath with dual vanities. At the far end of the hallway is a huge music room large enough for a grand piano and spacious seating area. Also included is a wet bar, bar-sink, mini fridge and half-bath, perfect for entertaining indoors or outside on the lawn. Bordering multiple arched double doors open to the home’s grassy and well-manicured backyard, which offers fantastic ocean views. A well-lit outdoor staircase leads to the upper balcony, convenient for catering parties and entertaining.
Through the colonnade-style hallway are two spacious bedrooms with built-in desks, large closets and a connecting bath with dual vanities. At the far end of the hallway is a huge music room large enough for a grand piano and spacious seating area. Also included is a wet bar, bar-sink, mini fridge and half-bath, perfect for entertaining indoors or outside on the lawn. Bordering multiple arched double doors open to the home’s grassy and well-manicured backyard, which offers fantastic ocean views. A well-lit outdoor staircase leads to the upper balcony, convenient for catering parties and entertaining.
Nearby is the large master suite with custom-tiled fireplace, high ceilings and access to the backyard through arched double doors. Just a few steps up are separate his-and-her walk-in closets and the en-suite master bath. “There are various step-ups throughout the home, because we wanted to give it a dramatic feel instead of just flat floors,” shares Kaseff. A perfect example of this is the master bath. This space is immaculate and includes Newport Brass faucets, a large steam shower, dual vanities with curved wood cabinetry, plus a separate water closet. Included in the bath, and throughout the home, are hand-painted murals of Tuscan villages and the Southern coast of Italy.
On the upper level, at the top of the stairs, is a gorgeous and inviting sitting room, which the Kaseff’s refer to as the library. Coved beamed ceilings add to the drama of this space, which is simultaneously cozy and comfortable. It is a space to stay warm by the fireplace with unique basket weave tile work while admiring the home’s authentic touches. Just across is a grand dining room featuring a special ceiling design with walnut casing and a convenient butler pantry with granite counters and a separate walk-in pantry.
Meanwhile, at the northernmost side of the home, one steps up to a brilliant office space. This stuns with its incredible ocean views and high-end casement windows, allowing the flow of a nice breeze. A built-in alder wood desk and storage cabinets complete this unique, almost octagon-shaped, room.
Meandering toward the south end of the upper level, one passes under skylights that fill the middle of the home with natural light. Here, a wet bar with granite counter tops is perfectly located to serve guests. Across is a half-bath with a raised basin-style sink and ample storage, also convenient for entertaining. Making way to the great room, a large stone wood-burning fireplace gives the home a very warm feel. Sprawling ocean views through French doors span the entire back end of the house, accommodating loads of light and fresh air for an indoor/outdoor experience when desired. Wide plank hardwood floors cover the entire upstairs area and connect the spaces between the great room and kitchen.
Opposite the great room is the opulent kitchen, with an expansive island that provides prep space, as well as an eat-in bar. Evoking a true chef’s sensibility is an oversized Viking range, warming drawers, dual dishwashers, wine fridge and vegetable sink. For ample lighting, there is a skylight just above the kitchen. Uniquely, a hidden Sub Zero refrigerator is wrapped in matching cabinetry to discreetly disguise its tremendous size. Also included are the kitchen’s built-in writing desk and dangling Italian pendant lamps.
Stepping just outside to the outdoor dining area, one stays warm from built-in Infratec gas heaters attached to the ceiling or by cozying up to the gas fireplace while a barbecue feast is prepared. After dinner, the outdoor living area on the other side of the deck invites reclining and a perch from which to enjoy gorgeous, unobstructed views. In walking distance to American Martyrs School, 608 15th Street emphasizes unique details and is meticulously cared for, making it a true stunner. “This home has it all—the view, the proximity to the beach, restaurants and shops and schools, the yard and the perfect floor plan—not to mention an A [plus plus] Manhattan Beach location,” explains realtor Lauren Forbes. Between the massive travertine deck with tremendous views, multiple wet bars and wine cellars for entertaining, and a gourmet kitchen, this authentic Tuscan home is—in all ways—an entertainer’s dream.
Tinseltown Ties
From Father of the Bride to The Brady Bunch, these newly listed homes have a Hollywood connection
Written by Wendy Bowman
First up is a stylish 1925 Colonial property at 500 N. Almansor Street, in Alhambra, where Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Steve Martin enacted the touching basketball scene as father and daughter Frank and Annie Banks in the 1991 remake of the movie Father of the Bride. “I’ve been really fortunate to work in an area with a lot of movie and TV locations, but I have to say, this is one of my all-time favorites,” says listing agent Ann Gluck of Compass. Listed for $1.998 million (and referred to by Gluck as “the other Father of the Bride house), the home comes complete with the original basketball hoop in the driveway. While it was not used for the front exterior scenes in the movie (that home is actually in nearby Pasadena), the Alhambra residence’s 18,000-plus square foot lot did serve as the site of Annie’s outdoor wedding. Inside, the home boasts 4,397 square feet of living space including four bedrooms, four baths, a walnut-paneled den/study, a large second-floor sunroom with a decorative fountain crafted by artist Ernest Batchelder, an updated gourmet kitchen with professional Thermador appliances (like a 90-bottle wine fridge), a massive basement and a 600 square foot guesthouse. “The house is gorgeous—a great character home, great family home,” says Gluck. “To have all of that and a starring role in such a well-loved film is icing on the cake!” Photos courtesy of Sara Lauder / The Purple Frog
Next on the docket for $11.995 million is the former Beverly Hills estate of late TV producer Sherwood Schwartz. “Schwartz created all of his magic in this house—the two best shows of the ’60s and ’70s: Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch,” says Branden Williams, who is co-listing the property with Rayni Williams and Jonah Wilson, all of Williams & Williams. “The house has a magic about it that you would only know when you step inside.” Once you do enter the confines of this single-story, mid-century contemporary home at 1865 Carla Ridge, you’ll find a completely renovated space courtesy of notable LA designer Trip Haenisch. Among the show-stopping features: Italian Carrara marble and bleached wide plank oak flooring throughout and a large open kitchen with Miele appliances, a 200-bottle wine cellar and a butler’s pantry. The 5,500 square foot home also features four bedrooms (including a spacious master with an office and his-and-hers master bath and closets), five baths and an outdoor environ ideal for entertaining with three fire pits, a cabana, two fireplaces, a bar, a pool and spa, and fabulous canyon and city views. Photos courtesy of Simon Berlyn
Musician’s Manse
The modern traditional, multilevel mansion of British singer/songwriter Robbie Williams and his wife, Adya Field, is now on the market for $11 million. Situated at 3312 Clerendon Road in Beverly Hills (between Beverly Glen and Benedict Canyon, in the affluent guard-gated community of Mulholland Estates), the 10,000-plus square foot, newly remodeled home features seven bedrooms (including a guest suite with a kitchenette and a lavish master suite with a roomy sitting room, a custom closet, a view terrace and a Zen-like bath). “The master suite is off-the-charts amazing, featuring an incredible bathroom/spa and giant views of the San Fernando Valley and mountains beyond,” says Jeff Kohl, who is co-listing the property with Mauricio Umansky, both of The Agency. Other highlights include a dining room with a mirrored wall, a gym, a recording studio, and a 33,549 square foot lot featuring a beautiful backyard replete with a kitchen, living room, dining area, pool with waterfall, spa, and of course, those breathtaking views. Photos courtesy of The Agency
Artsy Abode
Art meets architecture at this newly constructed home at 938 Palms Blvd., No. 2, in the eclectic beach community of Venice. Here artists Nancy Monk and Randy West united with architect Rebecca Binder to create a 2,100 square foot gem complete with its own piece of exterior stenciled artwork complementing the sleek design. Just a couple of the neat features you’ll find inside the gated two-bedroom home: a living room and kitchen that open to a private bamboo-lined patio and a swank rooftop deck boasting palm and sunset views. “The home is airy and bright, yet private,” says listing agent Kerry Ann Sullivan of Halton Pardee + Partners. “It is truly a retreat in the middle of all of the Venice action. It is close to The Linc, which is the newest Venice hot spot, yet still nearby the old favorite Abbot Kinney and all that it has to offer.” Priced at $1.975 million. Photos courtesy of Brandon Arant
Cozy Elegance
A dreamy Lake Arrowhead estate combines unrivaled style with an air of welcomeness
Written by Wendy Bowman | Photography by Dacy Nottingham & Bowman Group
Presented by Jane Angel, Coldwell Banker Palos Verdes/Beach Cities & Shirley Walters, Coldwell Banker Town & Country
List price $4,925,000
Much like those romantic, chateau-style retreats dotting the rural countryside throughout the Normandy region of France, this charming, two-level manor combines traditional French architectural hallmarks with a homey feel and an amazing property—from its elaborate brick, stone, stucco and ivy-lined façade to its grand rooms and setting amid the natural beauty of Lake Arrowhead.
“This home exudes a warmth that is evident as soon as you walk in the door,” say listing agents Jane Angel and Shirley Walters of Coldwell Banker. “It’s a large estate, but it manages to feel like a family home. It’s also exceedingly private, surrounded by beautiful nature. It feels like you are in a different world, with clear, crisp air, star-filled nights and deer occasionally congregating in your yard.”
Situated on almost three cedar- and pine-laced acres at 160 Cedar Ridge Drive—within Cedar Ridge Estates, a 226-acre private gated enclave of multimillion-dollar custom homes overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Arrowhead—this spectacular estate features a main residence, along with a separate two-bedroom apartment and guesthouse with its own two-car garage, all punctuated by quality finishes and touches, inside and out, that include brilliant stonework, travertine flooring and even concrete pavers culled from a Rumanian street.
The beloved vacation home of software company owners, the home was built in 1996 and recently remodeled. It offers more than 16,000 square feet of living space, including nine bedroom suites; 11 baths; a spacious chef’s kitchen with banquette, professional-grade stainless-steel appliances and a butler’s pantry; a gym with hot tub and sauna; nine fireplaces; and an elevator. Outdoors is a covered kitchen area with seating, children’s playground and ample sitting areas for relaxing and enjoying the views, with lake and beach privileges included.
Among the show-stopping features is a magnificent great room boasting 25-foot ceilings, a similarly majestic fireplace and a gorgeous hand-painted mural; a beautifully detailed wine cellar; a magical, dorm-like children’s bedroom that sleeps 12 with built-in bunk beds; and a Ralph Lauren-esque “Gentleman’s Den,” complete with bar and spiral staircase leading to a second-floor library.
But that’s not all. Lake Arrowhead Village provides city-worthy amenities aplenty, including more than 50 waterfront shops and restaurants, as well as the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, offering fine dining at the highly acclaimed BIN 189 restaurant, and, of course, the lake itself, where the private Beach Club is a great place to spend the day on the sand with kids or take out the boat. Also close are the towns of Cedar Glen, with the popular Timberline in the Glen antique store and Malt Shop, and Blue Jay, offering a cinema and numerous shops and restaurants.
It’s one’s personal castle in the forest—safe and sound from the outside world, yet convenient to the best of Lake Arrowhead living.
Expo-Nential Growth
It’s boom time for new development along Santa Monica’s metro line
Written by Alex Abramian | Photos Courtesy of New Urban West
Once a forlorn-looking area of light industrial buildings and hush-hush production studios, like J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, a certain section of Santa Monica is experiencing a serious comeback—call it the Expo factor. With the long-anticipated extension of the metro line from Culver City to Santa Monica, a flurry of commercial and residential development is taking place around its path.
Among those is a mid-century building that has just emerged from a sixmonth makeover at the hands of Culver City-based Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects. Located at 1301 Colorado Avenue, the newly updated 17,000 square foot creative office space is a five-minute walk to the 17th Street Expo Line station, and a six-minute ride from the Line’s last stop, Santa Monica Beach. Developed by New Urban West, it will join the ranks of nearby creative office spaces housing a mix of high-power, high-tech and entertainment companies such as Hulu, Universal Music Group and Innovative Artists.
“We love the challenge of bringing new life to under-utilized, tired buildings,” says Steven Ehrlich, founding partner of Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects and 2015 AIA National Firm Award winner. “We designed in abundant transparency on the Euclid Street façade, maximizing visual connections to the surrounding community.”
Ehrlich and his team masterminded the makeover that resulted in a LEED-targeted space with polished concrete floors, soaring 17-foot ceilings and huge west-facing glass roll up doors. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls and an almost entirely uninterrupted interior floor plan make for a light-flooded environment tailored for creative office tenants.
To further enhance its connection to community, the building debuted on May 20, the same day the Santa Monica Expo Line officially opened to the public. New Urban West partnered with ArtCenter College of Design to unveil a series of large-scale “popup murals” commissioned to celebrate the opening. Created by artist Brian Rea, illustrator of The New York Times’ Modern Love column, and Clive Piercy, principal at design agency Air Conditioned, the series of boldly colored creations were on view for two weeks after the building’s inauguration. “The explosion of creative office and activity around the metro line extension made this project an exciting one for us,” says Ehrlich.
Other Expo Line-Adjacent Newcomers to Silicon Beach
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Pop-up shopping concept store WithMe has just opened in the former Kitson location at Santa Monica Place. Call it a discount store for high-fashion finds, featuring merchandise from Jimmy Choo, Fendi, Lanvin and the like in what the company calls “pre-fabricated retail environments.” With.Me
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Recently approved plans will make way for a seven-story building at the site of the former Fred Segal in downtown Santa Monica. The development calls for ground-floor commercial space, approximately 250 rental units, and four levels of subterranean parking. While construction has yet to begin on the project, it’s nearing the finish line at a nearby Courtyard by Marriott, also on 5th street, which is scheduled for completion in summer or fall this year.
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Santa Monica’s Co-opportunity National Foods has been an organic food staple in the community for four decades. Located at 16th St. and Olympic, it now finds itself conveniently located right next to the Expo Line. The natural food purveyor recently announced plans to open its second location in Culver City, also located less than two blocks from the Expo Line station.
Old Hollywood Glamour
Just Sold!
Mitzi Gaynor’s former Beverly Hills Home — A Reminder of Old Hollywood
Written by Wendy Bowman | Photos Courtesy of Luke Gibson Photography
If the walls of this recently sold 1920s Spanish-style villa in Beverly Hills’ sought-after “flats” neighborhood could talk, they would have quite a story to tell—from extravagant evenings spent dancing and partying the night away with the likes of renowned screen legends like Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra to the private dance rehearsals of an Emmy Award-winning leading lady.
Occupying a spacious parcel at 610 N. Arden Drive, the former longtime home of famed South Pacific star Mitzi Gaynor can be found tucked away behind gates along a secluded street just minutes away from Rodeo Drive. A reminder of the Golden Age of Hollywood, the elegant two-story, five bedroom, six and a half bathroom estate (listed for $10.95 million by Lauri Lappin of Lappin Realty Group) just netted a buyer thanks to an extensive mid-century authentic Spanish Colonial restoration and update by O.C.-based real estate development and redevelopment firm American Coastal Properties LLC and Santa Monica-based designer/builder Pacific Cove Development that ensured all of the historical integrity and charm of original William Staunton design remained intact.
“I was attracted to the home by its connection to Old Hollywood,” says ACP Founder Nick Sinatra. “Our goal was to try to bring the house back to how it used to look. We kept it as period as possible, while still having all the amenities of a modern home. It’s our intention to just accentuate the outside areas, but leave the house a historically significant ode to the architect, period and people who lived in it.”
At about 6,173 square feet, the two-story stucco and tile-roofed home is graced with many of Staunton’s signature touches—including gable roofs and soaring wood-beamed ceilings. Adding to the original charm are numerous updates—including a luxurious new detached guest wing, complete with kitchen and laundry and a resort-style pool house with gym, bar, steam shower and sauna, along with a Crestron home automation system.
There’s still much of Gaynor’s distinct flair to be unearthed in the residence. When her husband, Jack Bean, and designer Bud Holden began searching for the couple’s new home in August 1960 (while she was in Greece filming the comedy Surprise Package with Yul Brynner and Noël Coward), Gaynor knew she didn’t want a house that had been “moderned-up” and filled with sliding glass doors and carpeting. “I wanted something more original,” she says. “The house really took my breath away; it was just beautiful, and seemed huge. The walls were a foot-and-a-half thick, and there were so many wonderful original details—arched entryways, Spanish tile. I was in love.”
More Throwbacks To Old Hollywood
Good Looks And Charm
The attractive Studio City home once occupied by legendary actor/heartthrob Rock Hudson in the 1950s is up for sale by the John Galich Group of Rodeo Realty Fine Estates Division for $1.095 million. Most recently home to Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore, the 1,008 square foot one bedroom, one bathroom Ralph Bowerman-designed mid-century home (at 3893 Avenida Del Sol), is tucked into a 14,000 square foot tree-filled lot boasting views of Coldwater Canyon, city lights and the grounds, which include a plunge pool, professionally landscaped gardens and several outdoor living areas. Additional features include wrap-around walls of glass and beautiful post and beam style. Perfect for today’s bachelor!
The Riviera House
A 12,000 square foot Spanish Revival-style estate situated on the Pacific Palisades site that actor/president Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, once called home is now on the market for $33 million. Listed by David Offer of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and developed by Jaman Properties, the one-of-a-kind compound (at 1669 San Onofre Drive) is brand new, yet preserved with many historic touches from the Regan’s original dwelling—including the original bar where Reagan is rumored to have gathered his advisers on the night he decided to run for President and the original shower door that Nancy banged on to alert her husband that he had won the presidency. Updated wow-factor features of the seven bedroom, 10 bathroom estate include a professional kitchen designed by Angelini Osteria Chef Gino Angelini; cashmerelined screening room; 2,000-bottle wine room; show garage with bar; saltwater pool with invisible spa; 80-foot veranda with fireplace and heated dining areas; outdoor kitchen with wraparound bar, built-in barbecue and wood-burning pizza oven; elevator; Presidential Rose Garden sporting limited-edition roses named for Presidents and First Ladies; and more. Did we mention the views from Griffith Park to Catalina?
$150 Million
That’s what listing agent Ginger Glass of the Beverly Hills North office of Coldwell Banker is seeking for the most expensive home on the market in LA. What comes with that price tag? For starters, 10 bedrooms and 20 bathrooms, along with 30,000 square feet of living space situated on a 94,696 square foot lot. Located at 301 N. Carolwood Drive—in the Holmby Hills section of Bel Air, on the grounds of Barbra Streisand’s former Mon Reve Estate—the home boasts standout features including a lounge; wine room; theater complex with a separate valet entrance; dramatic indoor water wall spilling into a lap pool; salon with pedicure/manicure, steam and massage rooms; basketball and tennis courts; and parking for 50 cars within the gates, plus a 10-car garage, just to name a few.
Intelligent Design
With its sustainable, mixed-use community in Santa Monica, Cuningham Group Architecture is holding sway
Written by Jenn Thornton | Photos Courtesy of Cunningham Group
Fittingly, Santa Monica’s multi-family community, Sway, is exerting plenty of influence. Targeting LEED Certified Silver status, the project at 525 Broadway arrives on the Westside with bragging rights that start with prime proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica Pier and the Expo Rail station; continue with 122 designer apartments; and conclude with SoCal’s tallest living green wall, ascending five stories. The place is flourishing.
Taking indoor/outdoor living to the nth degree, Sway is orientated around two lush exterior courtyards—one an oasis of calm, with a fireplace and a soaking tub; the other a community-centric social space including a zero-edge saltwater swimming pool and other enticements. Interior environments are just as alluring, with coastal modern apartments from 558 to 1,382 square feet, styled by Studio Collective, and packed stem to stern with the latest in luxury appointments. Included are six townhomes with Sixth Street entrances. Throw in 4,500 square feet of retail to share the address, and Sway is a case study in local urbanization— and a vibrant addition to the resuscitated scene on Broadway.
Developed by Alliance Residential, Sway is a product of its designer, Cuningham Group Architecture, a firm that began in Minneapolis before heading west (and East, launching offices in China and Seoul). At practice in Los Angeles since 1984, Cuningham Group is both consistent and prolific, approaching projects reaching into the realms of healthcare, hospitality, education and entertainment with a collaborative, sustainable approach that started with the foresight of the firm’s founder.
“Before it was popular—50 years ago, when John Cuningham founded the firm—Cuningham Group integrated sustainable principles into all its designs,” says Cuningham Group Principal Amelia D. Feichtner, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C. “We believe the success of every project must be evaluated at an environmental level. At the same time, we understand that any sustainable project must also do good business.”
Another of Cuningham Group’s rigorously\ architected triumphs is its base of operations, Hayden Place. Aiming for LEED Gold Certification, the thoughtfully concepted office is a tribute to the Cuningham Group culture, comingling an open floor plan, voluminous spaces with loads of natural light and smart technology. “The headquarters are set in the Hayden Tract of Culver City, which, block-for-block, holds probably more architectural landmarks than any other Southern California neighborhood (excluding Downtown L.A.),” offers Feichtner.
It is one thing to call Hayden Place, a “model of innovation,” which she confidently does, and another to actually qualify it as such. To this end, Feichtner adds, “Its lovely indoor garden and the repurposed shipping containers have appeared in design publications worldwide.”
Sway is garnering its own share of attention, setting the tone with the cultured yet environmentally concerned modern urbanism spreading like wildfire across the Westside. Cuningham Group’s proven aptitude for creating innovative, aesthetically rich and environmentally sound architecture is ideal for a Los Angeles in the midst of an artistic and innovative surge. “This is an incredibly exciting time to work in Los Angeles,” Feichtner says. “The city is quickly maturing, and offering adventurous new modes of living and transportation. It’s wonderful to be a part of it.”
And equally wonderful, one assumes, to help create it.
A-Listing
Exquisite on-the-market real estate both near and far
Photos Courtesy of the Altman Brothers
Hacienda de la Paz
One of the most celebrated architectural masterpieces in North America, Hacienda de la Paz is situated on eight majestic acres on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Designed by world-renowned Spanish architect Rafael Manzano Martos, Hacienda de la Paz is modeled after a 19th-century Andalusian estate and is both a tranquil retreat for intimate family life and a grandiose setting for large-scale entertaining. Its 18th-century, Neoclassical ballroom is one of California’s largest, while the 10th century hammam features a spa experience to rival the finest resorts in the world. Capturing magnificent views of the ocean, mountain and city, Hacienda de la Paz is surrounded by immaculately manicured grounds and nestled within the only guardgated city in America, Rolling Hills, a blissfully quiet coastal community minutes from the heart of Los Angeles.
From awe-inspiring architecture to idyllic acreage, Hacienda de la Paz is a real estate rarity—one of the most unique private estates on Earth.
Josh & Matthew Altman
The Altman Brothers, Douglas Elliman
310-819-3250 | TheAltmanBrothers.com