An Elegant Estate Near the Lower Village

Noteworthy new listings….

The 1923 estate at 1084 Golf Road ($33.5 million) was renovated attractively in 2016; it’s understated and elegant. The six-bedroom main house isn’t quite as grand as it looks from below, because the rooms tend not to be oversized in the modern way, and you could easily live on the main level alone, as long as you’re OK with the wine storage being downstairs. The big draw here, however, is the 3.16-acre lot—which accommodates a two-bedroom guest house, pool cabana, and tennis court with plenty of room to spare—combined with the proximity to Coast Village Road. While I’d gladly move in tomorrow, I do have two qualms: the houses on either side are more visible than you’d expect, and the sole south-facing outdoor seating area off the main house is by the front door, overlooking the motor court. P.S. Love the shag carpet in the primary closet.

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The 1997 Mediterranean main house at 2475 Bella Vista Drive ($8.65 million) is fine, if not super interesting—the view carries the day. The outbuildings are another story: there’s an adorable two-bedroom guest house and an even more adorable former stable. And the pool gives off resort vibes. It’s worth paying attention, however, to how close the neighboring 999 Romero Canyon Road feels.

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It’s rare for spec renovators to get credited in a listing, but the Cove House Design folks have a successful track record, a knack for making renovations seem fun, and a signature style on full view at their latest reveal, 845 Alameda Padre Serra ($4.25 million). They paid $2.6 million for the 1954 house last January and cleaned it way up—they have a wonderful sense of light and color. Unless you’re planning on buying it furnished, which I assume is an option, ignore their beautiful taste in decor and think about how you’ll live in the space—e.g., the location of the living room fireplace forces the seating to be away from the gorgeous view, and the sublime minimalism will be impacted by window treatments. The half-acre of land, almost all of which is below the house, is pretty sumptuous. P.S. The primary bathroom’s shower for two is handsome, if you don’t mind company, and there’s a transparent strip in the opaque window so you can peek out.

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985 Las Palmas Drive ($5.25 million), a 1948 house on Hope Ranch’s main drag, sold for $4.195 million in August 2022, and it looked better then, before the paint salesman came calling. (The first shot below dates from the previous listing; the house is now beige.) That’s fixable, of course, but the floor plan remains a little baffling; the “family room” feels like it should be a dining room, except for the powder room on one side. I can’t help but think that the house is still waiting for a thorough renovation—one that pops the ceilings, makes one big great room, and does more with the landscaping.

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And a few others worth checking out:
••• 246 Toro Canyon Road ($4.495 million): 1963 six-bedroom on a private lane; according to the listing, it’s “the essence of Hawaiian living” (below).
••• 748 Mission Canyon Road ($3.895 million): 1949 house with guest house at the end of a wooded private lane.
••• 702 E. Calle Laureles ($4.25 million): 1988 house in need of updating on 3.12 acres, much of which is hillside.

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