A Frank Lloyd Wright–Inspired Craftsman in Los Angeles Asks $2.4M
A precursor to the Craftsman style, this storied home in Los Angeles was once a hunting cabin—one of four cabins the original owner, the father of four daughters, built on the property. (The others remain, though on separate lots.) There’s some debate over its exact age: While the title dates the home to 1921, it is believed to have been built in 1904 as one of the first residences in Hollywood Heights. Throughout the years, a number of entertainment industry giants have called it home, including Ian McKellen, Daniel Craig, and Robert Downey Jr.
The current owners hail from the film and television industry, too. After 17 years at this address, the actress-and-writer couple and their two sons are returning to Australia. For them, the house has been a welcome respite from the bustle of Los Angeles.
"From the moment you walk in, a sense of calm takes over you," they describe. "It’s not just the height of the wooden ceilings; it’s the natural light and flow of the space. Every window looks out to nature and across the lush valley."
Aesthetically, the house is more Frank Lloyd Wright than hunting cabin: The iconic architect was the main inspiration when updating the home, and Wright’s influence is apparent in the staircase woodwork and art glass windows, which in turn recall his fascination with Japanese woodblock prints.
The Frank Lloyd Wright–designed windows were salvaged from a reception hall, according to the previous owner, and their multihued glass sends shards of light across the living room at different times of day. The flooring and Douglas fir paneling are original to the home, while the two-sided fireplace facing the kitchen and living room was added in the ’60s.
"Earthy materials are allowed to age, and it is that patina of time that creates the wabi-sabi [effect]," say the current owners, who love Japanese design.
Sunny spaces connect the home with its surroundings, such as the living room at the heart of the home with a lofty, wood-paneled ceiling, the sunroom and breakfast nook, and the den/office that flows out onto the lawn. The grounds are also outfitted for entertaining with plenty of trees, a hot tub, and a built-in barbecue.
Three bedrooms and two bathrooms make up the private quarters upstairs. The principal bedroom enjoys canyon and city views from its deck, and another deck extends from a guest room, which has a separate garden entrance.
The current owners have made a range of updates over the years, including the bathrooms and the emerald-hued kitchen with its new Viking range. The sunroom was continually in flux, and the powder room has seen an array of different color schemes, now a vivid watermelon hue. Other recent renovations include new light fixtures, decks, and travertine courtyard tiles.
The home’s history, thoughtful renovations, and multitude of flexible spaces make it an exceptional find in the Hollywood Hills. Well loved and maintained by equally unique characters, it now invites a new steward.
1975 Hillcrest Road in Los Angeles, California, is currently listed for $2,395,000 by Denise Hamilton of Coldwell Banker.
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