When he was 33 years old, famed California architect Paul Williams designed a sprawling Mediterranean Revival estate on 5 acres in La Cañada Flintridge. Now, almost 100 years later, the property is for sale — with many of its original features still intact.
“It’s a rarity that over close to 100 years, a house has not been significantly altered in some fashion,” listing agent George Penner said in an interview. “The way that people live has changed, yet they have all embraced and really leaned into the integrity of the house.”
The six-bedroom, nine-bathroom house is for sale at $8.5 million, according to a listing on Homes.com. It hit the market on April 21.
Penner, an agent with DPP Compass who specializes in architecturally significant homes, said craftsmanship of the home's interior, including stenciled wood beams and wide mouth fireplaces, would likely be too expensive and difficult to build today.
“I just don’t think it could be replicated,” he said. “Every corner of the house, there’s a discovery.”
Architectural history that appeals to creatives
The house was built in 1927 for an attorney who paid $125,000 for the residence. In today’s dollars, that’s more than $2 million.
It was designed by Williams, named the first Black member of Institute of Architects in 1923 and later the first Black AIA Fellow in 1957. He was awarded an AIA Gold Medal posthumously in 2017.
Williams is known for his work on more than 3,000 structures, including nearly 2,000 homes in Los Angeles alone, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. He helped plan and design LAX, the Los Angeles County Courthouse and the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building.
He was a favorite among Hollywood’s elite, designing homes for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball.
Penner said the property’s history will likely draw interest from someone creative, likely in the entertainment industry.
“Most people in the entertainment industry are very creative and they come from very creative backgrounds,” he said. “With that, they want something special, something unique. This has that. It has the pedigree and craftsmanship.”
A house that's like a vacation
The property now sits on 1.2 acres, an unusually large plot for being so close to downtown Los Angeles, according to Penner.
“It’s a real unique blend of this sense of closeness to urbanity, but also an escape where you could go mountain biking or on long hikes,” he said.
In addition to the approximately 8,000-square-foot main house, there’s also a two-bedroom guest house with a three-story observatory and a two-car garage, as well as a casita with a kitchen that the sellers used as an art studio.
While the history of each structure makes them unique, it also adds a layer of complexity to maintaining the property.
“There’s a lot of work that is constantly done,” Penner said. “The current owner … she has a tremendous love for the property, and I think she wants it to be lovingly cared for.”
Outside, there’s also a tea house that was built on the grounds in 1929. Though it looks like it’s carved wood, it’s actually cement.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve represented hundreds of architectural homes,” Penner said. “It’s a very, very unique feature.”
The pinnacle of the outdoor space is the Olympic-sized pool — another rarity given the home’s location.
“It’s very reminiscent of being at a Hollywood hotel in the 1930s,” Penner said. “It’s like you’re on vacation in this home.”