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1925 Beverly Hills home frozen in time
Another slow week of news and a bit of a break to enjoy the early Spring weather and have something of a rest has meant that it has been a while since my last blog post but, like buses, a few things have come along in the last couple of days that I intend to feature here.
This first story is reminiscent of the 100-year old French mansion and 1930s Parisian flat that were both left untouched for decades and which were reported on a year or two ago. This time, though, it is a house of 1925 vintage that has remained unchanged for the last 87 years, the result of the late owner being the daughter of the couple who built it in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
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One of the "Mediterranean" styles of house that proved so popular among the rich and famous of California throughout the 1920s and '30s, Winter House is even more remarkable for retaining all of its period features. Copper window shutters, staff buzzers and intercoms, telephone recesses, the original cooker & boilers and even a 78rpm record library (above) all still remain just as they did in 1925. It is a truly amazing snapshot of 1920s Los Angeles and now for the first time in its 87-year history it is up for sale.
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A cool $5½million (£3.4million) is the asking price for this Beverly Hills gem, so well within the reach of a good many residents I should imagine - although quite beyond the purse of this poor blogger.
If we were to take the type of person who appears on "reality" shows and celebrity gossip programmes as the average Beverly Hills denizen one might be worried for the future of such a wonderful building, but judging by this article in the LA Times the estate agents seem to be well aware of the significance of what they've got and the interest expressed so far sounds beneficial. Since the success of The Artist Hollywood has become more aware and protective of its heritage and I feel sure that Winter House will be more appreciated and sympathetically restored as a result.
...come and listen to a story 'bout a man named Jed..."
ReplyDeleteJust teasing. That house is wonderful! If it were mine I would let it just the way it is for as long as I could. Then I really enjoy the old stuff. Lester Flatt died in the 70s or was it about 1980? (I think) and we just lost Earl Scruggs a few days ago. Sad. I also like Bluegrass.
£3.4 million you say? I shall have to rummage down the back of a few more sofas...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful house, ah the 20's my favorite time period. Thank you for sharing Bruce.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we all put our 'sofa money' together? Beautiful house, hope they can keep it maintained. X
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely house. It looks pretty much perfect as it is - I'd build a little telly hut in the garden and all would be well!
ReplyDeleteWow what an amazing place, I really hope it goes to someone who won't rip all the fixtures out!
ReplyDeleteVery classy, that's far from how I picture Beverly Hills today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning home, thank you for sharing it!
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