Textured, timber cladding and oversize windows define the facade of this three-story home located blocks away from the famed Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California. Designed by local architect Robert Thibodeau, the contemporary residence hides an unexpected layout behind its box-like exterior.

The 3,200-square-foot home at 659 Broadway Street, currently listed for $2,799,000, features four bedrooms and three bathrooms in total. The Venice home is part of a two-unit lot that shares an exterior walkway.

Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an office area make up the ground level, which incorporates polished concrete floors and includes a small, private patio that offers direct access to the street.

A floating staircase leads to the second story, where the jewel of the house is a massive living/dining area with a 14-foot ceiling and extra wide–plank oak flooring. The spacious main room features several seating areas and connects to the open kitchen, which lies below a dropped ceiling clad in redwood that matches the home’s exterior.

“The scale of the great room feels so substantial when you first see it,” notes broker and listing agent Joseph Cilic of The Cilic Group of Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s a bit unexpected because from the first floor you’re not really clued in to how the second floor is shaped.”

The floating staircase continues to the third floor where the primary bedroom and en suite bath are located at the rear of the property. The redwood motif reappears on this level with the bold, wooden ceiling.

The home incorporates site-specific design elements ranging from California redwood accents to native, low-impact landscaping, and large glass windows that let in ocean breezes and daylight. A 636-square-foot roof deck with a fire pit allows residents to soak in the surrounding environment.

“Thibodeau and his team are guided by the principles of regional modernism,” says Cilic. “You can see how this house is perfectly geared toward Venice, taking into consideration the type of climate we have here.”

Given the ample interior space and proximity to Abbot Kinney, the Venice townhome could be ideal for a group of friends or coworkers who want to live together. Cilic points out that the property, which comes with a two-car garage, might also appeal as a second residence thanks to its minimal maintenance.

659 Broadway in Venice, California, is listed for $2,799,000 by Joseph Cilic of The Cilic Group of Sotheby’s International Realty.

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