Paul R. Williams And Old-School Glamor In La Canada Flintridge, $8.5M

by Philip Ferrato

The homes of architect Paul Revere Williams are among the most coveted dwellings in Los Angeles. Each is a master class in graceful living with their subtly traditional and elegant details showing a range of European styles that mirrored the aspirations of his prosperous (often celebrity) clientele. In 1927 (at the age of thirty-three), he began this Mediterranean-style mansion in La Canada for a successful attorney—it would later be owned by the film star Dennis Morgan. More recently acquired by a family that lovingly restored the house and its gardens, it’s been furnished with a well-curated collection of 1920s antiques, giving it a time-capsule aura while being completely liveable—comprising a total of six bedrooms, nine baths, a multitude of entertaining spaces and 3-story observatory, plus an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Interior spaces range between grand to intimate, with an eclectic array of influences spanning from Baroque to Romanesque periods. Built at a time when homes were infused with storybook, cinematic elements, one can imagine a Spanish pirate/grandee swinging from a rafter to make an entrance. It was also a time when skilled craftspeople were migrating to L.A., alternating work between film sets and residential construction.

The gardens possess extensive details in reinforced concrete faux bois, designed and executed in 1929 by a Japanese artisan, including this magical tea house.

For more, go to the listing for extensive additional images and details. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an immaculately restored estate by one of LA’s most important residential architects, represented by architectural property specialist George Penner at Compass.