Sleek Hollywood Hills Midcentury Photographed by Julius Shulman Asks $900K

Architect Raymond Stockdale designed the Pan American Bank building in East Los Angeles (recently deemed worthy of being named on the National Register of Historic Places) and this sleek one level mid century architectural in the Hollywood Hills.

2 bd / 2 ba

$899,000

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He designed the home for himself in 1949. A year later it was photographed by Julius Shulman. (See the photos here.)

While the dwelling features the original cabinetry in the open kitchen and the shiplap and asymmetrical details at the fireplace, shelving, pitched ceiling, vertical siding and deck railing the bathrooms were redone in crisp white tile to give it a fresh new look.

And, at some point in time, an un-permitted bonus space was added sporting vintage, classic mid century wood paneling, built-in seating and bookshelves.

A private brick patio and a deck that curves around part of the house provides comfortable outdoor space for gazing out at the view.

Last sold in 2005 for $739,000 it is now attractively priced at $899,000 and is sure to receive multiple offers.

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Listing courtesy of Karen Medved – Compass Realty

Kesling-Designed Mediterranean Villa Hits the Market in Silver Lake

William P. Kesling designed multiple streamline moderne homes throughout Los Angeles and this stunning 1929 Mediterranean Villa in Silver Lake.

4bd / 2.5 ba

$2,249,000

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Kesling began his career as a carpenter and moved up the architecture ranks to eventually work alongside Rudolf Schindler as a draftsman. By the mid 1930s he opened his own office, Kesling Modern Structures.

His most notable residences in Los Angeles include the Skinner House, the Wilson House, and two homes in and near West Hollywood for Wallace Beery. (One of which is considered the crown jewel of Streamline Moderne architecture.)

Departing from his signature style, Kesling designed this 1929 Mediterranean home that has been meticulously modernized and renovated without losing an ounce of its character.

Features include views of the reservoir, a private front courtyard, a foyer with an intricate, hand-painted, Art Deco ceiling, a grand living room with high-beamed ceilings, a huge fireplace and enormous windows, an office/library, and a re-done kitchen by John M. Sofio of Built Inc.

The master bedroom suite has a spacious walk-in closet and French doors leading out to a private courtyard/patio that makes for a perfect spot for slowly sipping your morning latte while scrolling through Instagram.

There are 3 other bedrooms, one functioning as an inviting hangout room/den with a cozy fireplace and a beautiful walnut built-in.

And while you’ll probably end up spending more time at home than you ever imagined you’re  just a block away from the reservoir and a short distance from Botanica (my new favorite.)

And yes, you’re in the Ivanhoe Elementary School district.

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

see more details and photos here

Listing courtesy of Noelle Hettlinger Til – Compass

Renovated Case Study House #10 Hits the Market in Pasadena

After a lengthy renovation, Case Study House #10 in Pasadena is back on the market and looking like a true mid-century modern gem.

4 bd / 4 ba

$2,990,000

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The 1947 home was originally designed by the father-and-son team Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland Jr. for the Case Study House program sponsored by Arts & Architecture Magazine. It’s sited on a gentle slope in the San Rafael Hills and features a main residence, a one-bedroom guesthouse with bath and kitchenette, a refurbished pool, a workshop, and an attached two-car garage.

Shortly after purchasing the property the current owners hired Design Vidal to remove the horrors of a series of unfortunate upgrades and restore the residence’s architectural significance.

According to the principal of the design firm, Guy Vidal, the renovation consisted of:

• Bringing the eighties bathrooms “either 30 years backward or 30 years forward.”
• Opening up the kitchen into the family room (which was added in the sixties) to create “a much bigger kitchen than the architect originally called for” but at the expense of the addition rather than the original kitchen.
• Restoring the cement floors and aluminum windows.
• Stripping the paint and restoring the original stain on the tongue-and-groove ceiling.
• Integrating the seventies-era pool and guesthouse; “EG:  the coping and deck around the pool will be poured cement similar to the one inside the house.”
• Taking out “the 2 HUGE and ugly AC package units from the roof” and restoring the roof profile.

They did such a spectacular job the current owners received the City of Pasadena 2015 Historic Preservation Award, as well as Pasadena’s Historic Preservation Commission’s 2015 Reconstruction Award.

This home last sold as a fixer in 2012 for $1,599,000. Thoroughly renovated it’s now asking $2,990,000.

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Listing courtesy of Cynthia & Lauren Luczyski – Deasy Penner

One of the Most Extravagant Homes of Gregory Ain’s Career Just Hit the Market in Pasadena

Gregory Ain designed this mid-century modern home for supermarket magnate Walter W. Ralphs, Jr. Completed in 1950, the residence located in the Linda Vista area of Pasadena is described by biographer, Anthony Denzer, as “one of the most extravagant houses of Ain’s career.”

6 bd / 4 ba

$2,999,999

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After purchasing the undeveloped land in 1949, Ralphs hired Ain to build what the original building permit describes as a single story, 3,500 square foot home, for him, his wife and three kids.

To take full advantage of the surrounding views and leave room for a pool, Ain used a V-shape plan and emphasized the home’s unique shape by constructing an over head lattice at the joint in the V.

Beyond the open-air courtyard, the interior offers floor to ceiling windows that bring in lots of natural light, refinished wood floors, a fireplace in large living room with built-in bookcases, and large sliding glass doors leading out to the resort-style backyard.

A modern-style kitchen features all upgraded amenities, original cabinetry, a breakfast nook and an interior laundry area, as well as a caretakers wing.

Designed by landscape architect Garrett Eckbo, the resort-style backyard has a sparkling pool surrounded by lush and mature landscaping, gardens, a dry rock stream, and a large deck overlooking the city, mountains, and into the Rose Bowl.

And while you feel miles away from it all, you’re minutes from the best shopping, fine dining, and outdoor recreation destinations Pasadena has to offer.

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Listing courtesy of Michael B. Bell – Sotheby’s International Realty

Modern Home in Echo Park Capturing Landmark Views Asks $1.9M

This modern home is sited on the same premiere block in Elysian Heights as the record setting sale of architect Rachel Allen’s modernist compound.

5 bd / 3 ba

$1,895,000

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Owners David King, a local contractor who runs DTK Builders and wife, Allison Levinson King, an acupuncturist, teamed up with Unruh Boyer, an architecture, interior design and planning firm, to help them remodel and expand their home.

Now a two story modern gem, measuring 2,524 square feet, the home captures the expansive landmark views of the neighborhood with a gracious, open floor plan.

The main level opens to a grand living room showing off custom built-ins while large, strategically placed, windows let in light and the surrounding views.

Borrowing a design feature of modernist architects, the kitchen features a series of windows that wrap a corner of the home. The kitchen also features loads of cabinet space, a marble baker’s island, and high-end appliances.

The second floor contains a true master suite, two additional bedrooms, a bath, office, balcony and 3rd floor roost with 360° views.

The Kings hired Kathleen Ferguson, known for her minimal and modern landscape design sensibilities to tackle the yard.

The hardscape and verdant garden are beautifully defined for a multitude of uses – there’s a built-in table and benches nestled under the custom metal canopy, a gas fire pit perfect for roasting s’mores, a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and a modern play-fort tucked away for maximum amusement.

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Listing courtesy of Alyssa Valentine & Courtney Smith – Compass

Dreamy Steinkamp Spanish in Leimert Park Asks $725K

With boutique stores like Marikoko, the Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX line, and homes for sale like this Steinkamp Spanish it’s easy to see why Leimert Park, an historic South LA neighborhood, is on the rise.

3 bd / 2 ba

$725,000

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Developer-builders, Elwain Steinkamp and William T. Richardson, built middle-class homes in Los Angeles from the 1930s to 1950s. Their homes are easily spotted by the Spanish-Mexican style architecture with L-shaped floor plans, enclosed courtyards, leaded and stained glass windows, weather vanes, and decorative tiles. As Survey LA notes in this blog post, “They are in many ways some of the perfect houses for Southern California living.”

The home’s original beauty was kept intact. Vintage details include the original hardwood floors, fireplace, and formal dining room.

With two huge picture window swivel doors allowing light to flood the space, the detached garage makes a pretty sweat artist studio or home office.

And while living on a tree-lined street in a home with intact vintage details, updated electrical, copper plumbing, newer roof and sewer line is more than enough reason to want to live here, this home has the added bonus of being in a neighborhood crowned Curbed LA’s Neighborhood of the Year for 2016.

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Listing courtesy of Angela Bond – Keller Williams