Cover Studio OSKLO reimagined this John Elgin Woolf build from the 1960s in Sunset Strip (Photo: Sam Frost)
Studio OSKLO reimagined this John Elgin Woolf build from the 1960s in Sunset Strip (Photo: Sam Frost)
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From Hollywood Hills to Bel-Air, explore these luxurious Los Angeles residences where golden age glamour meets modern design
Los Angeles has long been synonymous with glitz and glamour, and nowhere is the lifestyle of the rich and famous more evident than in the stunning homes that dot the city’s landscape, particularly in and around the iconic Hollywood area.
From the prestigious Bel-Air to the exclusive Bird Streets in Hollywood Hills, these coveted neighbourhoods have had their fair share of architectural diversity.
These styles range from the opulent Hollywood Regency and the warm, inviting Spanish-style villas, to the California ranch style and eclectic mid-century designs that started cropping up in the 1960s.
These eight exquisitely designed residences in and around Hollywood's most coveted neighbourhoods each tell a unique architectural story, blending historical elements with contemporary flair and showcasing a harmonious mix of form and function.
1. A handsome 1930s-style revamp in Bel-Air with an azure dining room
The entryway opens into the azure dining room (Photo: Karyn Millet)
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Originally a 1930s colonial-style house in the glamorous Bel-Air neighbourhood, this two-storey home has been transformed by Evens Architects and interior designer Windsor Smith, instilled with timeless elegance and modern luxury for a family of five.
With an additional wing that includes a dark wine room and cellar with brass accents, as well as a grey-hued master suite with an airy terrace, an interesting tension in the design is apparent throughout the home.
Modern art pieces hang on walls across the rooms, paired with elegant jewel tones, sumptuous fabrics, and characteristic vintage finds: an Austrian Regency baby grand in the entryway, and a vintage bronze chandelier in the study, reclaimed from a turn-of-the-century bank.
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The polished wine room and cellar with brass accents (Photo: Karyn Millet)
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The entryway, once a small hallway, now opens directly into a dining room adorned in a striking blue hue, chosen to match the lady of the house’s eye colour.
Complemented by silk velvet benches and a carpet from Jamal’s Rug Collection, a custom table with an Arabescato marble top takes centre stage, chosen “as it looks like a Michelangelo pencil drawing of an extended arm.”
Read more here
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2. A reimagined Spanish-style villa in Hollywood Hills with a light-filled courtyard
A "contemporary revival" for this 1930s Spanish-style villa (Photo: Amy Neunsinger)
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Along the coveted Bird Streets that many A-list celebrities call home, designers Robert and Cortney Novogratz have breathed new life into a 1930s Spanish-style villa, resulting in a stunning “contemporary revival.”
Known for their “mid-century modern meets DIY” aesthetic, the husband-and-wife duo pay homage to the home’s Spanish roots with a white stucco exterior, terracotta roof, and steel-framed windows.
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The interior courtyard with red and white encaustic tiles (Photo: Amy Neunsinger)
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Inside the 7,500 sq ft home, they embrace modern design paired with white oak floors, oak accents, and cream walls–a neutral canvas for the Novogratzes’ carefully curated art collection.
Luxe amenities abound, including a theatre, gym, sauna, walk-in closets, and a 500 sq ft outdoor terrace with a saltwater pool.
Anchoring these is an interior courtyard with red and white encaustic tiles, and through Euroline doors, leads into a “great room” with cathedral ceilings and a custom-made fireplace mantel.
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3. Architect Richard Landry’s architectural hybrid home in the Westside region
The façade of stainless-steel cube embedded in traditional brick (Photo: Manolo Langis)
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Known for crafting private residences for corporate moguls and celebrities, architect Richard Landry has designed his personal home–since sold in June 2022–as an architectural hybrid showcasing his innovative philosophy.
Inspired by old English homes, the striking façade features a stainless-steel cube embedded in traditional brick, setting the dual-themed narrative for the 9,546 sq ft property.
The home boasts six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and numerous amenities including a backyard comprising a dining area, built-in barbecue, and custom pool and spa; and a recreation room designed to resemble a 20th-century subway station, complete with murals and a coved ceiling.
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The recreation room designed to resemble a 20th-century subway station (Photo: Manolo Langis)
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In collaboration with interior designer Laurie Haefele on certain areas of the home, traditional features like wood-panelled walls and antique furnishings harmonise with modern touches such as light coves and extensive use of glass.
This is prominent in the two-storey central atrium, capped by a vaulted SageGlass skylight and crossed by black steel beams, eliminating the need for hallways.
Read more here
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4. Author Amy Tangerine’s sprightly mid-century abode in Baldwin Hills
Brightly-coloured contemporary furniture creates a playful atmosphere (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
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Dan Brunn Architecture lends its expertise in light and volume to Amy Tangerine’s mid-century modern home, in which the author’s unique aesthetic and her family’s vibrant personality shine through.
While honouring the home’s architectural integrity by retaining the original post and beam structure, elongated entrance corridor, and terrazzo flooring, new elements enhance the spatial flow and views throughout the 4,064 sq ft single-storey residence.
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Above A bespoke pastel pink terrazzo backsplash at the wet bar (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
Above The dining space with hints of cobalt blue (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
A bespoke pastel pink terrazzo backsplash at the wet bar (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
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Above The kitchen with light walnut and gold accents (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
Above A touch of whimsy in the kitchen area (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
The kitchen with light walnut and gold accents (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)
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The redesigned space now includes frameless corner windows and wider sliding glass doors that open the rear façade to breathtaking vistas of the Pacific and Palos Verdes; as well as a new pool that mirrors the sky, blurring the lines between indoors and out.
Throughout the house, exemplified in the dining space with pops of cobalt blue, brightly-coloured contemporary furniture mingles with the family’s existing collection, creating a playful yet cohesive atmosphere.
Wood elements in quieter spaces offer cosiness, while materials like terrazzo provide easy maintenance in high-traffic areas, such as the open kitchen, where a new skylight over the island and a window overlooking the treetops bring nature inside, complementing the home’s indoor-outdoor aesthetic.
Read more here
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5. A luxurious Mediterranean-style home amidst the lush Brentwood Park surrounds
Green hues in the living room converse with the verdant backyard outside (Photo: Ema Peter Photography)
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Above A balance of the sophisticated with the whimsy (Photo: Ema Peter Photography)
Above Marble countertops and solid brass accents (Photo: Ema Peter Photography)
A balance of the sophisticated with the whimsy (Photo: Ema Peter Photography)
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Nestled in the prestigious Brentwood Park, one of Los Angeles’ most coveted residential areas, Maison Vilucchi infuses this pre-90s Mediterranean-style structure with a cohesive flow of colours and textures throughout the two-storey home.
Spearheaded by French-Italian founder and main designer Tancred Vilucchi, grey cornices tie in with the entrance and the earthy tones of wooden floorboards and exposed ceiling beams.
This leads into the living room, where green hues converse with the verdant backyard and pool outside, while the clients’ extensive art collection correlates with playful multi-coloured upholstered chairs, adding a contemporary twist.
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The powder room adorned with large tropical prints that pay homage to the clients’ travels (Photo: Ema Peter Photography)
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The soothing colour palette extends into the powder room, adorned with large tropical prints that also pay homage to the clients’ travels.
Balancing sophistication with whimsy, the design incorporates high-quality natural materials–marble countertops and solid brass accents–playing off an array of statement pieces, such as the classic table and chandelier in the dining area, which nod to the home’s traditional influence.
Read more here
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6. A grand Bel-Air home inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema
A grand first impression of the home's majestic proportions and stunning architectural features (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
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Above The alluring living room with modular stacking table and chandelier (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
Above The brass finished bar is reminiscent of a luxurious speakeasy (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
The alluring living room with modular stacking table and chandelier (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
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To match the impressive exterior with grand Corinthian columns and classic window frames, the homeowners enlisted London-based designer Linda Boronkay to craft an interior that reflects their love for glamorous Middle Eastern hotels.
Drawing inspiration from the Hollywood Regency style of the 1920s to 1950s–the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, Boronkay imbued the 10,000 sq ft space with pomp that is “cinematic, detailed, transportive, elegant and empowering.”
Emphasising the home’s majestic proportions and stunning architectural features, the entrance hall sets the tone with a vintage glass chandelier floating above a double staircase, leading into rooms that are “gloriously opulent and yet highly functional.”
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Above The handsome study with an old-world charm (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
Above Blue hues lend a regal air to the guest room (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
The handsome study with an old-world charm (Photo: Pablo Enriquez)
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The formal living room is reminiscent of a luxurious speakeasy or members’ club, where a custom-made Venetian chandelier brings an enchanting glow to the brass finish of the bespoke coffee table and bar counter.
The handsome study continues the old-world charm with wooden joinery in the style of a grand library, and a curved desk with integrated storage and power plugs.
Finally, the husband’s wardrobe features a French-polished walnut joinery worthy of some of the most famous suit rooms seen on the silver screen.
Read more here
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7. A modernised John Elgin Woolf build from the 1960s in Sunset Strip
Originally built in the 1940s by American architect John Elgin Woolf (Photo: Sam Frost)
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Studio OSKLO has breathed new life into the Hollywood Regency-style home, built by John Elgin Woolf, and once owned by actor Michael York, located in the prestigious neighbourhood adjacent to Beverly Hills.
The 5,000 sq ft single-storey residence has undergone a glamorous remodel that preserves its architectural significance while embracing modern luxury.
While retaining the limestone hardscape façade, Pullman doors and impressive 11-foot-high ceilings, the modernised interior opens up to natural light through the floor-to-ceiling windows with afforded views of the Los Angeles skyline from Santa Monica to Griffith Park.
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Breathtaking views of the Los Angeles skyline from the outdoor terrace (Photo: Sam Frost)
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Inspired by the designers’ European travels, contemporary elements meld with antique accents to create a timeless ambiance permeating the home.
A neutral palette with black accents complements natural stone and light oak finishes, as polished nickel plumbing trims and oil-rubbed bronze door hardware provide elegant contrast.
Luxurious textural fabrics of mohair, sheepskin and boucle enhance the space, while rich earth tones of taupe, ivory, terracotta, and deep green foster a cosy environment ideal for large-scale entertaining and comfortable living.
Read more here
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8. A designer couple’s Hollywood Hills home mixing contemporary and mid-century architecture
The façade features Hinoki-inspired wood panelling and large wraparound colonnades (Photo: Nils Timms)
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Above The zen indoor garden in the middle of the house (Photo: Joe Fletcher)
Above A travertine dining table next to a 15-foot fireplace (Photo: Nils Timms)
The zen indoor garden in the middle of the house (Photo: Joe Fletcher)
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In the exclusive Bird Streets of Hollywood Hills, Studio OSKLO founders Arya and Michael Martin have created a modern masterpiece, coupling contemporary and mid-century architecture for the 8,325 sq ft residence they call home.
The exterior features a muted white palette with cream tones, softening the large wraparound colonnades inspired by 1960s LA architecture. This is paired with Hinoki-inspired wood panelling that makes up the interconnecting terraces, providing privacy for the three guest rooms on the second floor.
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The interconnecting terraces provide privacy for the three guest rooms (Photo: Nils Timms)
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Inside, the home is a harmonious mix of custom-designed furniture and Eastern antiquities, predominantly sourced from Tokyo; showcased amidst an interior palette that combines warm woods and natural stone against monotone taupe plaster walls.
A striking indoor-outdoor atrium, featuring mid-century club chairs and a 19th century Oushak rug, opens to an expansive backyard through 40-foot metal pocket doors.
The outdoor space boasts a zero-edge pool, a 12-person spa, and a private dining garden framed by citrus trees, with a travertine dining table next to a 15-foot fireplace.
Read more here
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Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
