Inside a Classic Home on a Pacific Palisades Perch

In the early 20th century, the stunning coastal cliffs that edge the further northwest reaches of Los Angeles reminded its denizens of New York’s Hudson River Palisades—so much so that they named the region after its famous East Coast cousin. Today this area—still widely revered for its impressive heights and breathtaking outlooks on the majestic Pacific—is known as a thriving exclusive enclave whose homes hug the tops of the bluffs and rocky cliffs that afford them their enviable vistas.

Pacific Palisades, California | Barbara Boyle, Sotheby’s International Realty – Pacific Palisades Brokerage

One of the most significant properties on this rarefied perch, this traditional Nantucket-style home on roughly three-quarters of an acre also brings to mind the classicism of the East Coast, with its timeless wood shingles, gabled rooflines, Chippendale balcony railings, stone chimneys, and richly hued parquetry. Custom designed and constructed in 2009, it offers an effortless open floor plan of some 9,380 square feet, with living and entertaining spaces that are both refined and inviting. The formal living room boasts a coffered ceiling, a fireplace, and sets of French doors that blur the boundary between indoors and out—opening to a shady covered patio—and admit enviable ocean breezes. Not far off is a welcoming formal dining room. The kitchen is both elegant and expertly outfitted, featuring a marble-topped island, abundant storage, and stainless-steel appliances of superior caliber—along with doors opening to an idyllic arbored garden patio. In the adjoining family room, built-in bookshelves and an additional fireplace join a large windowed bay that gives way to the backyard pool terrace.

On the upper level, the primary suite is a water-view aerie with a dramatic arched window, doors to a private balcony, and a lavish marble-clad bath. In the nearby library—set in the home’s subtle turret—glorious sunlight from walls of windows and French doors contrasts with the handsome, deeply hued wood paneling. Each of the four additional bedrooms has its own delightful aesthetic and palette, and an upper-level study or office offers built-in desks and bookshelves for industrious moments. Completing the appealing picture are a billiards room, a wine cellar, staff quarters, a game room or exercise studio, and property gates that ensure privacy. From nearly every vantage point in the home, views stretch from Point Dume to the sparkling jewel-like lights that ring the Santa Monica Bay—familiarly known as the Queen’s Necklace.

Off the main-level living spaces, sunny terraces unfold toward a lush, meticulous lawn that envelops a refreshing swimming pool and a warming fire table. The swaths of emerald hasten the eye to the property’s 102 feet of frontage overlooking the sandy ocean beach below—an icon as enduring as the home itself.

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