2011 Palos Verdes Home Tour - Part 1

So I was one of the many that attended the annual Palos Verdes Home Tour, organized by the PV Art Center.  Each year, the Art Center picks three homes on the Peninsula to feature in the tour.  Homes in the past have been from various parts of the Peninsula, various architectural styles and various ages - including a few new-ish builds. For 2011, the featured homes were three historic Spanish residences in Palos Verdes Estates.

This year, the Art Center pre-sold over 1,000 tickets and sold quite a bit more during the two days of the tour.   The homes, while all 1920s-era Spanish homes, were actually quite different.  One home had spectacular views. Another was a grand estate (featured previously on this site), and the last was a comfortable home owned by the author of Arcadia Publishing's Palos Verdes Estates book.

So, sit back, relax as I take you through these homes.  Keep in mind that they didn't allow many pictures (none were allowed inside the homes).  So most of the photos I have are exteriors (which is where all the fun is anyway!).

The first stop - the Chadwick House.  Designed by Kirtland Cutter and built by R.R. Sutherland as a spec house in 1927, the home measures 5,941 square feet (per current assessor) and sits on an acre of steeply terraced hillside lot.  Note that the PV Home Tour materials say the house actually measures 10,000 square feet.  In any event, its big!  And although the original 35 acres that the home sat on have been since sold off to others, the grounds still retain their spectacular beauty (landscaping for the home was done by none other than Frederick Olmstead Jr.

(Source: NJC)

While there is a ton of historic info on this home, I'll choose instead to focus on some more modern facts about the home.  The current homeowners bought the home in 2005 for $4.52M and proceeded to restore the home to its former glory.  I have to say, while the home itself has great Spanish character, the most impressive aspect of the estate are the views!!!

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)


Those pictures don't even begin to do the actual view justice.  It's just breathtaking - even on a relatively hazy Los Angeles day.  From the home, you can see the PV Country Club, the Valmonte area of PVE, the rest of the South Bay and LA in the distance, as well as the ocean and Malibu.

The home itself features very classic and authentically Spanish features including a correctly pitched tile roof, a number of terraces and patios, wrought iron grill around several of the windows, etc.

(Source: NJC)

 (Source: NJC)

 (Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

You can see how steep the hillside is, as well as the expansive gardens surrounding the home below.

 (Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)


Overall, a very good example of Spanish architecture.  However, on its own, the home is quite nice - but what makes it truly special are the amazing views afforded by its delicate hilltop location overlooking Valmonte and the rest of the South Bay.

KEY STATS

Location: Valmonte, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built:  1927
Architect: Kirtland Cutter
Square footage: 5,941
Lot size: 40,080 (193x195)