The Best of 2018

From a Beaux Arts estate to one of the few remaining Case Study Homes, we saw a stunning collection of living spaces. Here’s a roundup of 2018’s top 10 homes and architecture for sale in Los Angeles.

1. Chateau Chaumont by Kenneth Macdonald Jr

The building is the best French Chateau-style condo complex to line the streets of Koreatown. Filled with tons of natural light the residence offers architectural details that include historic windows, millwork, moldings, hardwood floors, and a wood-burning fireplace. Listed in January for $665,000, the home sold five months later for nearly $650,000.

2.   Austrian Spencer House by Raphael Soriano

Originally built as a duplex it is said to be one of only 12 homes built by the legendary case study architect that’s still standing. Restored, updated and currently used as a single family residence the home—sited on a sloping lot in Silver Lake—hit the market in February asking $1.595 million. It went into escrow four days later selling for slightly over $1.744 million.

3.  Henry O. Bollman Residence by Lloyd Wright

Located in Sunset Square Historic Preservation Overlay Zone the home earned the designation of Cultural Historic Monument #235. The residence was Lloyd Wright’s second commission. He utilized the “knit-block” construction system seen in the Samuel-Novarro House and Sowden House to create its temple-like beauty. The home hit the market in March with an asking price of $2.995 million. It spent 74 days on the market without selling.

4. Harwell Hamilton Harris’ Hawk House

Built in 1939 for Edward (Stan) Hawk in Silver Lake, Harris used a reverse interior floor plan by designing a series of cubes that unfold from the inside out. Hitting the market in June with a list price of $1.295 million, the home closed escrow one month later, selling for $1.5 million.

5.  The Miltimore House by Irving Gill

Located in Pasadena, the landmark was designed in 1911 for Mrs. Paul Miltimore and is said to be Irving Gill’s most significant surviving residence in Southern California. The interior retains its original features and is surrounded by .63-acres of land—bringing nature’s beauty right to your door. Listed for $4 million it sold just over 30 days later for its asking price.

6. Buff, Straub & Hensman’s Thomson House

Widely published and crowned winner of Pasadena‘s 2012 Preservation Award, the residence is an important example of the Case Study architects’ early post and beam work. Hitting the market in May with an asking price of $1.695 million, the home closed escrow just over a month later for $2.013 million.

7.  1923 Beaux Arts Estate

The residence is rumored to have once been the home to Rudolph Valentino. Modeled after the Petit Trianon, a small chateau on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in France, this 1923 Beaux Arts estate located in the Hollywood Dell, offered the most eye-catching and ornate ceiling, along with other historic details. Hitting the market in June with a list price of $3.150 million, the home closed escrow 75 days, selling for $2.998 million.

8. The Bailey House by Pierre Koenig

The Bailey House, aka Case Study House No. 21, is one of the few remaining homes of Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program. Designed by Pierre Koenig, the home is located in Laurel Canyon. A success visually as well as functionally, the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and crowned a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #669. Returning to the market in October with an asking price of $3.6 million, the home is currently in escrow.

9. Casa Kuderna by Craig Ellwood

Located in the Hollywood Hills, the dwelling is a fine example of the architect’s signature style that effortlessly marries “Mies van de Rohe formalism with the informal aesthetics of California modernism.” Formerly in a state of neglect, Philippe Naouri of Maison d’Artiste purchased the home as a restoration project. Naouri and his team restored and sensitively updated the property and returned it to the market in November with a list price of $2.950 million. The home is currently still for sale.

10. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House

Spectacular sums up the residence billionaire Ron Burkle spent $17 million to restore. A Los Angeles landmark located in Los Feliz, the home features concrete columns, enormous leaded glass windows, marble and hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, custom light fixtures, walls of mosaic tile, multiple balconies, patios, and wraparound walkways. The residence hit the market in July with an asking price of $23 million. The home is currently still for sale.

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Schindler-designed apartment is up for rent in Silver Lake

A home at Rudolph Schindler’s 1924-built Sachs Apartments is up for rent in Silver Lake.

The Austrian-born architect graced Los Angeles with his famous live/work home on Kings Road in West Hollywood, commercial spaces, a church, and several single family homes and multifamily residences, including the Falk and Bubeshko Apartments nearby.

Also known as Manola Court, Schindler built this 16-unit compound located at 1826 Lucile Ave for his friend, Romanian-born artist Herman Sachs.

Inside, this fully-furnished two-bedroom apartment features hardwood floors, wood-paneled ceilings, built-ins, period-appropriate furniture, and large windows where you’ll spend hours looking at the landmark views of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory, Silver Lake hillsides, and nightly sunsets.

As one resident notes of a Schindler space, the architect “pioneered an era of architecture that sought to bring the outside into the space, to live seamlessly with nature.” Just outside your door is a private patio with grounds landscaped by Terremoto.

Asking rent for a lease term of 6+ months is $4,800 and includes one off-street parking spot.

Interested in seeing this Schindler home in person? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a showing.

Listing courtesy of Tracy Do – Compass

Midcentury home in Laurel Canyon gets a glitzy makeover

A year and a half ago this midcentury modern home in Laurel Canyon didn’t inspire you to do more than pass it by. But that’s changed now.

Driving through the hills as the sun goes down, the interior  of 2538 Greenvalley Rd—nestled in a coveted enclave near Wonderland Avenue Elementary School—is eye-catching as it illuminates against the rich, black, color of the wood facade.

Stripped of its circa early 2000 décor, the 2,709-square-foot residence, holding three bedrooms and three bathrooms, is grounded in a neutral color palette punctuated by black trim, veining marble, and custom light fixtures to add the glitz.

The home last sold for $1.692 million in July 2017. It’s now listed at $3.25 million.

Want to see this remodeled midcentury home in person? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a showing.

Listing courtesy of Bennet Hirsch – The Agency

Rare corner loft in Lincoln Heights seeks $449K

Offering the best combination of old-meets-new, this rare corner unit in the Alta Lofts building is up for grabs in Lincoln Heights.

Reimagined by architects Brooks + Scarpa, the tall statuesque “facade reflects the Spanish Revivalism style popular at the time and makes use of Churrigueresque ornamentation.”

 

Located on the second floor, the airy 1,020-square-foot open-concept floor plan holds one bedroom, one bathroom and features high ceilings with the original industrial steel casement windows running the entire length of the east-facing wall.

Notable upgrades include hardwood floors, central HVAC, inside laundry, modern kitchen, granite counters, solar window shades, and your own private balcony off the bedroom.

The building has a gym, landscaped courtyard, bike storage, and off-street parking for you and your guests. Located near the Brewery Art Colony and the Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park Gold Line station, local shops, restaurants, cafes and things to do in bordering neighborhoods are a short distance away. 

Conversion of the 1925 Fuller Paint Company Warehouse, designed by architects Morgan, Walls and Clements — whose work also includes the Wiltern Theater, Mayan Theater and Samson Uniroyal Tire Factory (now The Citadel outlet stores) — was completed by SoCal developer, Lee Homes.

The loft is listed for $449,000 with HOA fees of $429 per month.

Interested in this loft? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a showing.

Listing courtesy of Jeffrey Fritz & Laura Baffone – Coldwell Banker

Buyer wins bidding war for character-filled Spanish home in Highland Park

When Katharine opened the door to a character-filled Spanish home with a detached studio in Highland Park she knew.

We met at an open house for this stylish condo in Studio City.

The minute she entered there was a kindred connection and we got to chatting about her home search and goals. Turns out she knows Quincy and John, hails from Canada, and wanted a space that has rental-to-Airbnb potential.

The home sits behind a lush, mature tree on a 6,743-square-foot lot located at 1041 Milwaukee Ave situated North of everything happening on York Blvd, near shops, restaurants and nightlife on Figueroa St, and the Metro Gold Line.

Measuring 1,038 square feet, the character-filled interior holds two bedrooms, two bathrooms, with a center hall separating the public spaces. And you can boast for days about its character features; high coved ceilings, arches, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, double-hung windows, and a statement fireplace.

When you step outside you’re welcomed by a professionally landscaped and usable terraced backyard that’s clearly ordained for morning lattes and midsummer get-togethers. There’s a finished garage being used as a guest bedroom and a studio on the upper terrace.

Combining the character of the main house plus the rental-to-Airbnb potential of the studio, Katharine knew she found her home.

There were multiple offers but no tears — she won the bidding war.

Thinking of buying a home? Get in touch and enjoy a curated collection of homes created just for you.

Jaw-dropping renovation by Simo Design seeks $6.5M

Simo Design have outdone themselves with this jaw-dropping renovation of a Traditional-style home in the Hollywood Hills.

The duo, Sam Gnatovich and Alexi Rennalls, opened their design/build firm in 2011. They’ve since garnered a sizable following for their ability to transform a wide range of architectural styles including a California Craftsman bungalow in Beachwood, the home actor Jon Hamm snagged in the Los Feliz Oaks, and a re-imagined two-story Prairie-style home in Hancock Park.

When describing the homes they renovate they explain “[we] are very selective when it comes to purchasing houses for remodel … we want to feel like the house has always been there,” says Gnatovich. “We like to draw out its personality, enhancing what already exists while updating it for 21st-century living.”

And that’s exactly what they did with 7974 Woodrow Wilson Dr. Taking the home down to the studs they turned a once basic Traditional-style home into a private modern compound sited on a lush and serene 17,087-square-foot street-to-street lot on Woodrow Wilson’s “celebrity row.”

Starting with the entry foyer — the soaring, vaulted, ceilings with a clear view to the 68’ infinity edge pool and spa is one of the many jaw-dropping moments you’ll experience while roaming through the house.

The expanded main house (now measuring 4,482 square feet) and studio are anchored in a rich neutral color palette. Both interiors are minimalist (yet warm) and decorated with few but meaningful objects.

Noteworthy features include walls of glass and over-sized windows and doors, built-in day beds with skylights overhead and slatted-wood sun screens, custom cabinetry, and a master suite the size of a cozy home with a step-down shower, soaking tub, extensive custom closet, and vanity.

Beyond the pool leads to the lower lounge deck, private grassy yard, and guest house complete with flex space that makes for a studio, gallery, gym, or home office.

The main house and guest studio combined holds four bedrooms and six bathrooms, garage, and additional parking for up to 9 vehicles.

Asking price is $6.5 million.

SEE THIS HOME

schedule a personal tour by email or call 323-829-4440

Listing courtesy of Boni Bryant & Joe Reichling – Compass