By Hannah Williams
For a dose of Hollywood history
It doesn’t get much more quintessentially Tinseltown than Castillo del Lago (main picture, top), a Spanish-style villa nestled beneath the Hollywood sign. Designed by architect John DeLario and built around 1926, the house has quite the pedigree, from its reputed use as a 1930s gambling den by mobster Bugsy Siegel to its purchase by Madonna in the early 90s. Inside, expect opulence: coffered ceilings, Andalusian-inspired tiles, grand fireplaces and a vintage wood-panelled lift. With a dramatic spiral staircase tower, a double-storey formal living room and a panelled library, this is a house fit for an epic. Castillo del Lago is for sale at $18.9mn.
For a room with a view
Find California dreamin’ with the unimpeded views of the city and ocean offered by 2287 Sunset Plaza Drive. Floor-to-ceiling windows and an airy, open-plan design flood this 5,337 sq ft house in natural light, while a pool with a retractable roof, large rooftop deck, ample outdoor space, chef’s kitchen and separate guest apartment make it the ideal space for hosting friends and family. The asking price is $6.15mn.
For the perfect pool
Set amid 3.5 acres of meadows, rose gardens and sports courts, the palm-fringed infinity pool at Ocho Manos is an aquaphile’s dream — and its elegant Spanish-style cabana and indoor-outdoor bar makes it perfect for entertaining. Built from Mallorcan stone, the accompanying 20,000 sq ft house offers a double-height living room and library, family bedrooms with homework areas, a guest apartment, separate family and catering kitchens, large gym, 1,200-bottle wine cellar, and even a dedicated gift-wrapping room. On sale for $69.5mn.
For contemporary zen
A sense of utter tranquillity imbues every inch of 7728 Woodrow Wilson Drive. Designed by architect Jeffrey Mills, the house was created to complement and blend in with its one-acre surroundings, and is a testimony to the attention paid to even the smallest of details. At the heart of the building is the kitchen, which features stone worktops, bespoke cabinets and a wood-burning pizza oven, as well as double French doors that open directly onto the waterfall garden. Lofty ceilings, picture windows and large sliding doors ensure maximum natural light, while outdoors there’s a heated pool, spa, custom-built cooking space and fire-pit seating area. On the market for $11.9mn.
For music buffs
Originally built for Robby Krieger, guitarist and founder member of The Doors, this Matthew Leizer-designed house offers mid-century modernism par excellence. With nods to the ground-breaking works of Frank Lloyd Wright and John Lautner, 461 Bellagio Terrace was sensitively renovated in 2018 for a fusion of past and present. The updated kitchen provides views across Los Angeles and towards the ocean, while a courtyard pool, outdoor bar, spa and fire pit offer opportunities for entertaining. And to salute the property’s musical bona fides, in the vaulted, terrazzo-floored living room you’ll find an original frieze depicting each of The Doors’ band members. The Bel Air property is on sale for $12.5mn.
Photography: Jim Bartsch; Juwan Li Photography/Christies International Real Estate; Anthony Barcelo/Leverage
