Soriano’s Lukens House hits the market in historic Jefferson Park

The current owner of the Lukens House—one of twelve remaining examples of Raphael Soriano’s residential work—is ready to pass the torch of stewardship.

Constructed in 1940 for Glen Lukens, a ceramic artist, educator, and one of the founders of the acclaimed Arts & Architecture magazine, the residence is nestled on almost half an acre on the original garden of the Lycurgus Lindsay estate—a property that once “stretched from West Adams (where the old house, a city historic-cultural monument, is now part of a Polish church) down to West Twenty-Seventh St., where the Lukens property was originally part of its gardens.”

When Mike Chapman first saw 3425 West 27th Street in Jefferson Park the property was in a tragic state of disrepair. With 14 cars, a boat, and shipping containers sitting idle on the land, LA Conservancy reports “the house had deteriorated so badly that the city boarded it up. Drug dealers and vagrants used the house anyway, and it was so badly damaged and overgrown with brush that some thought it had been demolished.”

Despite this, it was an amazing opportunity to resuscitate an architectural gem.

Using the original blueprints and drawings from Soriano’s archives kept at CalPoly Pomona and photos taken by the architectural photographer Julius Shulman, Mike teamed up with Barry Milofsky of M2A Architects along with Albert Luna to help with a down to the studs remodel of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence.

Boasting a flat roof, large overhung eaves and ribbon band steel frame windows, the residence is one of Los Angeles’s premier international style homes.

Inside, every surface of the 1,491-square-feet of living space was replaced. “The dining room occupies the space which was once a kitchen. Walls were opened up and a credenza was added for serving. Lukens had requested lots of shelving for his ceramics. Here shelving was added to display the owner’s pottery collection.”

Outside, the mansion’s 1908 restored glass greenhouse has been re-purposed as a dazzling dining pavilion, enhancing the lushly restored garden. Mike says “Sitting in a garden like this is something you don’t find everyday in LA.”

The restoration garnered multiple preservation awards from the Los Angeles Conservancy, California Preservation Foundation, and the Los Angeles Business Council.

His job complete and throughly enjoyed, Mike is looking for another project and is ready to pass the torch of stewardship. “There’s a lot of potential [here] for future buyers to create their architectural vision.”

Interested in seeing Raphael Soriano’s Lukens House? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a showing.

Listing courtesy of Mike Chapman – Coldwell Banker | Photos by Virutally Here Studios

Glammed-up Beachwood midcentury with sweeping views asks near $2.4M

This midcentury residence hit the market last year with proverbial good bones but lacking luster. Since trading hands in May 2015, its undergone a major revamp and returns to the market all glammed up.

Starting with a custom front door opening to brass inlay terrazzo, “every surface and detail was curated with care to create a cohesive and unique home.”

The main residence offers 2,575 square feet of living space across two levels featuring soaring vaulted ceilings, flagstone fireplace, white oak floors, custom mahogany cabinetry, marble and stone surfaces, custom brass work, and one of a kind light fixtures. Natural light pours in through huge windows framing sweeping canyon and landmark views of the Hollywood sign and the Observatory.

On the first floor—site of the main social space, kitchen, and dining area—you’ll find a great room, a guest bedroom, guest bath, master suite. Downstairs consists of a den, wet bar, additional bedrooms and a full bath.

Located at 2800 Belden Drive on a 7,200-square-foot hillside lot with fruit trees, a spacious deck, separate studio, and two-car garage, the property is listed asking price $2.38 million.

Interested in seeing this glammed-up midcentury in Beachwood? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a private showing.

Listing courtesy of Lauren Reichenberg – Compass

Stunning A. Quincy Jones time capsule in Bel Air returns

Described by An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles as “Very much under the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright,” this stunning time capsule designed by A. Quincy Jones is one of the best examples of mid-century architecture in Los Angeles.

Known as Nordlinger House #1, the 1948 residence was last seen on the market sporting wall-to-wall shag carpet.

While the carpet is now gone the home still boasts a distinct redwood facade and a 10,302-square-foot lot that’s screaming for a pool.

Opening to an enclosed glass stairway, 2,950 square feet of living space is laid out in a Y-shaped floor plan—cleverly separating the public spaces on one side of the home and the four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms on the other side.

Notable features of 11492 Thurston Cir include, a distinct redwood clad facade, cantilevered balconies, an amazing three-sided brick fireplace, and an entire second story devoted to the master bedroom and with a wraparound balcony.

Last sold in 2015 for $2 million, it’s now listed for $3.195 million.

Interested in seeing the Nordlinger House? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a private showing.

Listing courtesy of Angela Roessel – Keller Williams

Midcentury Picfair Village Traditional with original elements seeks $1.249m

Located in the Picfair Village neighborhood of mid Los Angeles, this 1940-built Traditional home is modernized but still maintains a number of original features, including hardwood floors and steel casement windows.

Opening to soaring ceilings anchored by refinished hardwood floors, the stylish residence holds three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms spread across 1,906 square feet of living space.

Just beyond the kitchen—sporting open shelving and custom cabinetry finished in a soft blush color with unique drawer pulls—the step down living room features a fireplace and a wall of casement windows allowing tons of natural light to flood the space and a view of beautiful Bougainvillea when in bloom.

A center hall leads to the bedrooms with a master suite offering high ceilings, along with a walk-in closet area and adjoining bathroom with dual sinks.

The exterior got a makeover too. A too-often-seen front lawn was replaced with an array of mature succulents, a small collection of citrus trees and a planter of edible fresh herbs.

The home last sold in 2010 for $487,000. It’s now listed for $1.249 million.

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

Listing courtesy of Tia Hughes – Compass

Midcentury with iconic butterfly roof in Beachwood is up for grabs

A butterfly-style roof, a distinct feature of modernist architecture popularized by William Krisel, gives this midcentury modern in Beachwood Canyon lasting curb appeal.

Designed by architect Maurice L. Bein and completed in 1962, the home—oriented on a 5,163-square-foot lot to capture peek-a-boo views of the Hollywood Sign—sits behind a horizontal wooden fence with a roof shaped like  “a broad, off-center V resembling two unequal wings of a gigantic bird in flight.”

Measuring 1,915 square feet, the living space spans two levels, with walls of glass bringing in views of the surrounding treetops and allowing tons of natural light to fill the open living space. There’s an easy indoor-outdoor flow from the public spaces to a patio screened in by thin wood slats.

The lower level houses three ensuite bedrooms, leading to a wraparound deck with angle supports echoing design elements found in the Kallis-Sharlin house by Schindler.

While you feel a million miles above the city, you’re close to hiking trails in Griffith Park and near Franklin Village where you can sip a glass of your favorite wine at La Poubelle, stock up on fresh fruit and veggies at the Hollywood Farmers Market, or grab a sandwich at The Oaks Gourmet.

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

Listing courtesy of Tracy Do – Compass

Hollywood Dell mini midcentury compound with a pool seeks $1.4M

Curbside, all you see of this mini midcentury compound in the Hollywood Dell are mature trees reaching above the foliage-covered walls and gated entryway.

You enter a retreat style setting where timber-clad 2268 Holly Drive sits on a flat 6,412-square-foot lot with a pool.

Completed in 1949, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was thoughtfully renovated under the guidance of James Schmidt Architecture, “a full service architectural firm with an emphasis on modern single and multifamily housing.”

The one-story home measures 1,404 square feet and features a living room with a corner brick fireplace and near floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a patio and yard space designed by landscape architects LPO Inc.

A window in the galley-style kitchen opens to a bar with stools below, making it easy to pass drinks and snacks to your friends hanging outside.

The master suite is equipped with a steam shower and opens to the private pool and spa. Two additional bedrooms open to the spacious sun patio and share a beautiful designer bath with a Jacuzzi tub.

Ideally located near the Hollywood Bowl, the home is listed for $1.399 million.

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

Listing courtesy of Nick Small – Rodeo Realty

Sensational Buff & Hensman in the Cahuenga Pass asks $3.8M

Buff & Hensman “were magicians at making a lot open and private, whether it really was or not by strategic placement of the house and use of structural planes as foils and baffles which were enhanced with expanses of glass.”

Set down a private gated drive, 3512 Multiview Drive, built in 1961, sits on an expansive promontory in the Cahuenga Pass neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills, surrounded by lushly landscaped grounds that include a pool and a guest house.

The current owner recently renovated the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home measuring 2,012 square feet by incorporating new built-ins and cabinetry, while staying true to its original mid-century design aesthetic.

For more than 50 years Buff & Hensman designed classic modern dwellings, including the notable Wong House in Los Feliz, helping to shape California modernism.

Last sold in 2013 for $2.199 million, the home is now listed for $3.8 million.

Interested in seeing this Buff & Hensman home? Get in touch by email or call (323) 829-4440 to schedule a private showing.

Listing courtesy of John Galich – Rodeo Realty