Inside the Rossmore House

The streets of Los Angeles are strewn with a variety of lavish estates, from glorious Old World–inspired manors with roots in Hollywood’s golden era to iconic Mediterranean-style villas and sleek, chic newly constructed contemporary oases with crisp lines and walls of glass. This august redbrick residence in the prestigious Hancock Park neighborhood makes no bones about its kinship with the homes of the former group, with a provenance dating to the early 1920s, a readily apparent English influence, and a star-studded pedigree that includes ownership by the illustrious early-20th-century “American Beauty,” Katherine MacDonald, and serving as a short-term haven for Vivian Vance during her co-starring turn on “I Love Lucy.”

Los Angeles, California | Alexis Valentin Ramos, Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage

The home displays its dedication to classicism with its semicircular paver drive, graceful porte cochere, ornate carved stonework, divided light windows, and handsome brick façade. The interiors span an impressive 5,500 square feet of timelessly luxurious space where modernity—a fashionable palette for walls and cabinets, eye-catching tilework, and artful lighting—meets a decidedly vintage aesthetic—floors of elegant tile and richly hued hardwood, quintessential wainscoting, and decorative ironwork. Highlights include a sophisticated living room, a charming sunroom opening to an inviting courtyard, a refined dining room with French doors to the grounds, an expertly equipped kitchen with an oversized island and top-tier appliances, and a versatile den or home office. Of the three bedroom suites hidden at the top of a winding staircase, the owner’s quarters are a stylish getaway with vaulted beamed ceilings and an en suite bath with a “wet room” that offers a claw-foot tub and a soothing rain shower.

In keeping with the home’s golden-era ambience, the guesthouse comprises a supremely secluded bedroom and full bath on the upper level, a turreted tequila tasting room, and a speakeasy-style cocktail bar—all warm woods, burnished leather, and thoughtfully positioned lighting—that gives way to an alluring arbored outdoor living area with a brick fireplace. The verdant resort-caliber grounds boast a patio area with an additional fireplace, an outdoor kitchen with a stainless-steel grill built into a brick foundation, an open-air dining space ideal for alfresco fêtes, and a stunning saltwater pool and spa with deck jets and a fire feature surrounding a striking sculpture. Towering meticulously manicured hedges create a welcome curtain of privacy—in these rarefied environs, always a welcome amenity for a home of any age and style.

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