Snag This Hollywood Hills Midcentury Home For $1M

A perfectly preserved, post-and beam structure hits the market in Los Angeles—and it's priced to move.

Nestled into a 6,185-square-foot lot in the Hollywood Hills, the Gardiner House is a beautiful example of the Californian midcentury aesthetic, and was built in 1954 by USC School of Architecture student Alvin H. Galpert.

Entering the three-bedroom, two-bath dwelling is like stepping back in time—floor-to-ceiling windows create a sense of seamless indoor/outdoor living, while wood paneling, a slate entry, and the original orange Formica kitchen give the home plenty of authentic midcentury charm. 

 The Gardiner House is an authentic midcentury gem nestled in the Hollywood Hills.

 The Gardiner House is an authentic midcentury gem nestled in the Hollywood Hills.

Exposed beams run the length of the tongue-and-groove ceiling and define the open-plan living space. The historic home even comes complete with its own 15 minutes of Hollywood history, as it was originally built for Cecil B. DeMille's boom operator, Cecil Gardiner, and his wife Mary Jane. 

Gardiner served as an extra in Billy Wilder's 1950's film Sunset Boulevard, showing up in the scene where Norma goes to visit DeMille (who made a cameo appearance in the film) in his office at Paramount Pictures. 

The post-and-beam construction was designed for indoor/outdoor living and has been perfectly preserved over the years, with only two owners. 

The post-and-beam construction was designed for indoor/outdoor living and has been perfectly preserved over the years, with only two owners. 

The open-plan living space is anchored by a horizontal brick-inlay fireplace. 

The open-plan living space is anchored by a horizontal brick-inlay fireplace. 

The slate entry features privacy glass. 

The slate entry features privacy glass. 

The room extends straight out to the yard, with glazing creating a seamless connection to the outdoors. 

The room extends straight out to the yard, with glazing creating a seamless connection to the outdoors. 

Wood paneling and clerestory windows add to the authentic midcentury charm. 

Wood paneling and clerestory windows add to the authentic midcentury charm. 

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The living room is capped by a dining area at the other end, where another wall of glass opens to the other side of the home, creating the potential for lovely cross breezes. 

The living room is capped by a dining area at the other end, where another wall of glass opens to the other side of the home, creating the potential for lovely cross breezes. 

A look at the dining area. Note how the wood paneling appears to extend straight out into the fence on the exterior. 

A look at the dining area. Note how the wood paneling appears to extend straight out into the fence on the exterior. 

The kitchen is set just off the dining area. 

The kitchen is set just off the dining area. 

The original kitchen has vintage chrome hardware, a Western Holly oven, orange Formica counters, and cork flooring. 

The original kitchen has vintage chrome hardware, a Western Holly oven, orange Formica counters, and cork flooring. 

A view from the kitchen looking out toward the dining room. 

A view from the kitchen looking out toward the dining room. 

The home features three bedrooms in a private wing and two full baths. 

The home features three bedrooms in a private wing and two full baths. 

One of the bathrooms. 

One of the bathrooms. 

The second bedroom has doors leading to the outdoor patio. 

The second bedroom has doors leading to the outdoor patio. 

The patio features plenty of space for al fresco dining.

The patio features plenty of space for al fresco dining.

The outdoor patio looking into the home. 

The outdoor patio looking into the home. 

Spectacular views of the Hollywood hills make the property even more special. 

Spectacular views of the Hollywood hills make the property even more special. 

3409 Oak Glen Drive, Los Angeles is being listed for $1,048,000 by Jacqueline Tager of Sotheby's International Realty, Los Feliz Brokerage.

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Jennifer Baum Lagdameo
Dwell Contributor
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo is a freelance design writer who has lived in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Tokyo, Manila, and is currently exploring the Pacific Northwest from her home base in Portland, Oregon.

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