A Hilltop Midcentury Home in Los Angeles Asks $1.5 Million

Covering over 2,000 square feet of space at the top of a hill near Old Town Calabasas, a secluded midcentury modern estate sits soaked in the California sun. The post-and-beam home features soaring, sloped ceilings and glazed walls that, despite their age, look virtually untouched by time.

According to owners Joe and Krista Fotheringham, the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom house maintains the original spirit that was infused into the architecture upon its completion in 1958. "We’re only the fifth family to live in the house," says Joe, "and everyone has put so much care into preserving the property."

The previous owners gave the home an extensive but tasteful update and expansion that added nearly 500 square feet in the form of a larger primary bedroom, an en-suite bath, and as space for a home office. They also installed period-correct terrazzo flooring in the living areas, replaced the clerestory windows and sliding doors, and redid the roof.

Joe then pulled out the carpeting in the three bedrooms and home office and replaced it with light oak flooring to warm up the spaces. "None of these changes feel heavy-handed," he notes. "The overall feeling of the house is that it’s timeless. It hasn’t been spoiled with overtly modern upgrades."

The property is spread out over 12,000 square feet of land in Woodland Hills and is accessible via a gated entrance and long driveway. Thanks to its hilltop location, privacy is paramount—and the views of Topanga Canyon to the south are unparalleled, according to Nate Cole and Lilian Pfaff, listing partners at the brokerage Suprstructur. The recent owners have kept up the lawn and garden as well, which boasts numerous agave plants and fruit-bearing lemon and fig trees.

Overall, it’s an oasis of indoor/outdoor California living. "This house really allows you to appreciate that properly," Joe says, noting that the beauty of the house unfolds from room to room—and only after "taking this in and in traveling through the house does the nature around you expose itself."

Sliding doors found throughout the house—from the kitchen to the backyard-facing bedrooms—open up to the patios and gardens. An oversized pergola with outdoor seating and a dining area is the perfect space to entertain guests or relax in warmer weather. The backyard even has an outdoor shower.  

The 380-square-foot garage, which fits two cars, was retrofitted into a carpenter’s workshop during the pandemic. A breezeway links the garage to the laundry and utility room passthrough and kitchen. The rest of the driveway can fit three uncovered cars.

For Joe and his young family, the home’s simple, midcentury-modern architecture and the bright interior are its biggest selling points. "It’s light, it’s airy, and it feels practical all while still being a vintage house," he says.  

22940 Crespi St. in Los Angeles, California, is listed by Nate Cole and Lilian Pfaff at Suprstructur for $1,550,000.

Know of a home for sale or rent that should be featured on Dwell.com? Find out how to submit to Dwell.