A modest Spanish retreat

Today I thought I'd head back to Valmonte and check out another nice original PV home - one of my Top 10 actually.  The Paull Residence.

(Source: Pritzkat & Johnson)

(Source: PV Library)


Originally designed and built for Robert G. Paull (yes, two "L"s) in 1927 by Kirtland Cutter (of Gard Residence fame) and Francis Schellenberg respectively, the home measures 4,195 square feet and sits on a wedge shaped 13,520 square foot lot .  I have to say I'm a big fan of Cutter's California work.

Quick aside: Kirtland Cutter was a prolific architect in the Pacific Northwest (notably Spokane) and designed a great many structures during his tenure there in a variety of styles (though predominated by Arts & Crafts).  Amid financial problems in the early 1920s, he moved to California at the young age of 63 (!) in 1923 and began exploring his fascination of the Mediterranean style until his death at age 79.  Cutter was an admirer of George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff and others, California contemporaries at the time, who had spearheaded the California interpretation of Spanish/Italian design.  His first design in PV was that of Lunada Bay Plaza (which never came to fruition, see below).

(Source: PV Library)


In total, Cutter designed 16 homes in Palos Verdes.  The Paull residence was actually one of the first "spec" homes (speculative) in PV - funded and built by Schellenberg and later sold to Paull.  It faces the golf course and was one of the first homes to incorporate a large garage on the primary facade.

(Source: PV Library)

(Source: PV Library)


Normally, I'm not a fan of garages facing the street.  In select cases (like the Contratto Residence), the front facing garage actually works very nicely, largely because there are other elements of the facade that distract and overpower the garage door.  Such is the case here.  There are numerous points of interest on the facade.

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)


From the 35 degree angled room and covered second-floor porch to the alternating protrusions of the facade, there's so much to visually enjoy.  The vegetation and semi-circular driveway also contribute to the grand yet understated feel of the home.  The current owners purchased the home in 2001 for $1.9M and then hired Pritzkat & Johnson to assist with a remodel and facelift.  Notice subtle changes to the front facade.  No shutters on the first floor window. The addition on the left including a small chimney.  Lights around the front door.  The additional window on the second floor.  New attic/chimney vents on the front. More prominent secondary chimney.  Etc.  And notably, the addition of a semi-circular driveway (which I admit, may have already been added in a 1954 remodel according to public records).

(Source: NJC)


If we go to the rear of the home,  you'll see a very nice terraced courtyard with what looks to be a paved patio with a central fountain and a lower garden that leads to the pool area.

 (Source: Bing Maps)

 (Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)


Overall, I like the remodel.  Pritzkat kept the essence of the home and highlighted its strongest qualities - Cutter would have been proud! It feels elegant, timeless, and most of all, comfortable.

KEY STATS

Location: Valmonte, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built: 1927 / 1954 / 2000s
Architect: Kirtland Cutter / unknown /  Pritzkat & Johnson
Square footage: 4,195
Lot size: 13,520 (98x184..tapering to width of 57 feet)

New life for an Old World home

Looking through my notes over the years, I thought this time I'd write about one of the largest properties on the Peninsula: the Don Lawyer Residence.

(Source: ECB Associates)

(Source: PV Library)


Originally designed (and built) by John Byers in 1926 for Donald K. Lawyer and his wife (one of the original sales managers for the Palos Verdes project), the home sits on 3.2 acres, one of the largest parcels on the Peninsula.

(Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: PV Library)


Originally designed and built in 1926, the home underwent an extensive remodel and expansion in 2006.  The current owner, a retired telecom executive, purchased the original home in 2000 for $6.9M and proceeded to undertake the extensive $6M remodel shortly thereafter.  The new home features over 12,060 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a tennis court, swimming pool, long private driveway and circular motor court.  Unlike many other homes featured on this blog, this estate is very private and hidden from view by tall hedges and trees (although as you can see above, when the home was first built, there was very little vegetation in the area).

As you can see from the photos, Ed Beall took his stylistic cues from the original (more modest) home and underscored the informality of the Spanish design to compensate for the sheer size of the new home.  I think the Spanish style screams - or perhaps whispers - informality, familiarity, casualness.  It feels comfortable.  Like the fictional Montecito home of Meryl Streep's character in the movie It's Complicated.

(Source: ECB Associates)

(Source: PV Library)

(Source: PV Library)


As you can see above, much has changed in the front facade.  The most notable change is the addition of a tower above what was a single-story entry way.  Similarly the patio area off to the side has been enclosed and turned into a two-story extension of the main structure.  Other differences - the conversion of the old garage into what looks to be a guest house (thank god!) - the garage is now just off the motor court on the lower level of the home.

In the rear of the home, you can see even more drastic changes.

 (Source: ECB Associates)

(Source: PV Library)


Where to begin.  On the far right, you'll notice the addition of an arcaded walkway with thick arches. While they look nice, I fear they may be out of scale with the rest of the first floor - why???  To the left of the arches, the rear of the home (from the windows to overall silhouette) remain largely intact.  In the expansion on the left, Beall did a good job keeping the same angles in the covered patio and also kept the windows consistent with the original structure.  I don't quite understand why Beall didn't keep the arches in this walkway (instead he has square support columns).  In my mind, it makes the expansion look like a remodel done at a different point in time - it makes the home look mishmashed.  I also question why the roof over the walkway/patio terminates into a large stucco wall - shouldn't it terminate above the wall?

Overall, I like the home.  It's no Gard Residence to be sure, but its a very nice example of a rambling Spanish estate.  What do you think?

Update: This home will be part of the Palos Verdes Art Center's 2011 Home Tour Extraordinaire on April 15 & 16.  Ticket info and whatnot not yet available, but I'm guessing it'll be similar to last year's tour prices ($40-50) and you get to tour 3 amazing PV homes.  Let me know if you plan on going!

KEY STATS 

Location: Lunada, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built: 1926 / 2006
Architect: John Byers / Ed Beall
Square footage: 12,061
Lot size: 3.2 acres

Whooops, my bad!

Thanks to a reader for pointing out that my Comments settings were not user-friendly.  Hopefully I've fixed the problem so that people can post comments without any issues.  Let me know if its not working!

P.S. new post coming later today!  Have been swamped with 'real' work, but will post a nice new home tonight.  Stay tuned!