All homes are significant—to their owners if no one else—but a select few enjoy special pedigrees that link them with the history of their place. On a lush hillside in Los Feliz, architect Henry Harwood Hewitt—a Colorado native who studied at MIT and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris before settling in Los Angeles—designed this Mediterranean-style villa in the late 1920s for golfer Clement E. Smoot, who helped the United States secure a gold medal in the 1904 summer Olympics and went on to become a successful entrepreneur. Solidifying the estate’s place in L.A. lore, however, was the tenure there of illustrious film director James Whale, who lived in the home in the 1930s, during the time when he created some of his best-known films, Frankenstein and The Invisible Man. A recent painstaking renovation notwithstanding, the residence retains an undeniable sense of Old World glamor, with vintage details and the exceptional craftsmanship of a bygone era.
Los Angeles, California | Richard Yohon, Sotheby’s International Realty – Los Feliz Brokerage
The multilevel villa’s commanding street presence belies the comfortable, inviting nature of the 4,525-square-foot interiors. Graceful arches, warm Saltillo tile and hardwood floors, and plaster walls contribute to the welcoming warmth. The heart of the home is a sophisticated living area with a fireplace, elegant arched windows offering an outlook on wooded hills and the Griffith Observatory, and banks of French doors giving way to a sweeping multilevel terrace perfectly positioned for appreciation of the dazzling city skyline. Steps beyond is a delightful dining room where the soothing plaster walls and earthy tile floors continue. Adjoining the public spaces in a configuration ideal for festive gatherings is a kitchen with new top-caliber appliances, warm wood cabinetry, and counter seating. En route to the cozy breakfast nook is another set of French doors leading to the terrace.
A serene sanctuary, the primary suite is secluded one level above and flooded with glorious natural light. It features eye-catching arches, beautiful blonde wood floors, a sitting area, and a spa-inspired bath with a soaking tub, a separate shower, a private water closet, two well-appointed walk-in closets, and a picture-perfect view of its own. The two guest bedrooms on this level enjoy magnificent multi-aspect vistas and open to iron-railed balconies. The busy executive, artist, or writer will appreciate the office, which is tucked beneath the barrel-tiled roof of the tower.
The generous outdoor spaces make the most of Southern California’s famed temperate climate, offering as they do an alfresco kitchen and grilling area, a fireplace, a gazebo with an iconic view, and a tiled Roman-style pool and spa with deck jets. On the pool level is a chic guest apartment, a bastion of pure privacy that provides a fourth bedroom and—thanks to a unique shower room with a boveda-like vaulted ceiling—can easily serve as a lavish home spa. Beyond, grassy lawn unfolds, and paths lead through the half-acre grounds, linking a deck with a sauna, tranquil fountains, and additional spots for reveling in this enduring, one-of-a-kind setting.
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