Edward H. Fickett Bright and Beautiful Nichols Canyon Rental

3122 Nichols Canyon Road, Los Angeles 90046 - Edward H. FIckett, F.A.I.A., architect, 1959 - $12,500 / month

This week, a gorgeous 1959 mid-century modern Edward H. Fickett, F.A.I.A. design in Nichols Canyon became available for rent.  The 4 bedroom and 4 bathroom modern is located at 3122 Nichols Canyon Road, Los Angeles 90046.  Fickett uses some of my most favorite breeze block to separate the driveway from the private garden area at the entry. 

This fully furnished home is being offered for $12,500 / month.  The double door entry greets you as you step upon the gorgeous terrazzo flooring and enter a wonderful world of modern design.  As you enter, you are also greeted by a central atrium allowing exponential natural light.  The rock-faced double-sided fireplace divides the living room from the family room.    

The spacious 2,510 square foot design is tastefully maintained and furnished beautifully.  

Synonymous with all of his work, there are floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, sliding glass doors, skylights and an abundance of natural light. The master suite is a tranquil retreat.

This lovely post and beam design resides on a large 8,406 square foot lot with a beautiful exterior back yard and entertaining area with a gorgeous pool.  If you are looking for a rental, please contact me to set up a showing.  This is a special home with beautiful design features throughout.

View Larger Map - Edward H. Fickett, F.A.I.A. 3122 Nichols Canyon Road, 90046

Some Photos and Listing courtesy MLS & Marcie Hartley-H&H

Brentwood Untouched 1960 Mid-Century Modern Comes Loaded With Charm

1331 Casiano Road, Brentwood - 1960 - $1,499,000

It is not often you find a well-preserved mid-century modern.  This 1960 design is loaded with original charm and architectural details.  The spacious one-owner, 3 bedroom and 2.5 bathroom home has 2,376 square feet of living space within its custom design.    The post and beam with it's low-slung roof line is a fine example of California Modern with it's indoor/outdoor flow. (Sure enough, it was designed by Edward H. Fickett, F.A.I.A.)

Before entering this home, you are greeted by your first atrium area with a cut-out skylight and a roof line that towers above.  As you land onto the terrazzo, the double door entry takes you indoors to a light, bright and cheerful interior.  Located on a very quiet street at 1331 Casiano Rd, Brentwood, 90049, this home is perfect for a family looking to spread out.

The terrazzo entry leads you inside where the light-filled foyer, provided by another atrium garden area is found.  The charm of original features is noted by the decorative wooden sliding screens that provide privacy and slight shade.

The living room boasts high ceilings with ample glass walls with clerestory windows, allowing maximum natural light.  The room is currently carpeted, but my suspicion leads me to believe there is terrazzo under that carpet.  From this room, the private atrium garden is also exposed. as the house seems to work around this area in its design.  Having the central portion of the home open to natural light allows for each room surrounding it a sense of the outdoors.  The entryway, living room kitchen and formal dining room take advantage of this garden area with slatted wood screen above to slightly diffuse light while casting architectural shadows throughout the day.  Skylights are found throughout the home.

The vintage kitchen has been styled with cabinets painted in a Wedgewood blue.  Original appliances accompany the original kitchen layout.  A skylight just off the kitchen provides lovely natural light into the kitchen.  You will also find some wood paneling in the kitchen area to give texture to the wall.  The original lighting globes are still intact.  The kitchen area can be closed off with additional sliding wood screens.  Off of the kitchen, you will find a large laundry room, which connects to a two-car carport.

In keeping with the flow of the design, across from the kitchen is the formal dining room, equipped with  the decorative screens for partial privacy.  Below you can see the effect of the screens open and closed.  As with the living room and entryway, the dining room also takes advantage of the interior atrium and sliding glass doors to the back patio area, which runs along the house and allows access from all the public rooms.

Off the kitchen is the family room / den with a prominent rock-faced fireplace to help keep you warm on the chilly Southern California evenings.  The wall carries itself from the interior to the exterior through the use of unframed glass merging with the rock.  The cozy nature of this room off the kitchen provides a close eye from mom in the kitchen on the kids in the family room, something the modern architects always kept in mind.

The master bedroom is located in the back area of the house and has access to the back garden area.  Sliding glass walls, corner window and clerestory windows provide beautiful light.  The room also features wood paneled walls that provide a different textural tone.  With plenty of closets, the master bedroom also has a light-filled master bath which includes terrazzo flooring and a shower with large glass panel which opens to another private garden.

The home has spacious second and third bedrooms with access to the outdoors through sliding glass doors.  The second bathroom includes the original blue fixtures, terrazzo floors and a floor to ceiling window next to the original vanity.

Even though the home does not have a pool, the outdoor areas and private gardens are enough to allow you the enjoyment of nature.  The home is currently listed for $1,499,000, which breaks down to a $631 per square foot deal!  This home begs you to run and not walk!  Kudos to the owner for keeping the home well-maintained and in original condition.

Listing and photos courtesy of MLS and Larry Young, Pru-BH

Vidal Sassoon's "The Singleton House", Hits Market Again

The Singleton House, Richard Neutra, FAIA, 1959

After a few years of this prominent modernist home left the market with a price tag of $14,995,000, it only makes sense the estate of Vidal Sassoon brings it back to market now with a current list price of $17,995,000, as mid-century modern homes of this caliber demand the offer price. 

Vidal and Ronnie Sassoon for Architectural Digest, Todd Eberle Photo

Origins:

Originally, "The Singleton House" was built for the wealthy industrialist Henry Earl Singleton (Teledyne Corp.) in 1959, by noted architect Richard Neutra. Singleton was an electrical engineer, business executive, and rancher/land owner who made significant contributions to aircraft inertial guidance and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.  It is only fitting that an engineer would employ the work of Neutra for this spectacular 4 bedroom 5 bathroom estate.  Originally, the home was built with 3 bedrooms within 3,392sf of living space.

With it's clean architectural lines and a roof seemingly floating on glass, The Singleton House is a fine example of "glass box" modernist architecture. 

Rennovation Back-story:
When the Sasson's purchased the house, which was unoccupied for two years prior, it was in such poor condition that a section of the roof collapsed two weeks after closing. A couple of months later, part of the property slid into a neighbor's yard. However, Ronnie was determined to restore the house. She began familiarizing herself with Neutra's work and studying pictures of the Singleton House taken by Julius Shulman when the home was new.  The home's renovation was chronicled in Architectural Digest in their article, "Vidal Sassoon's Modernist Retreat".

Due to the extensive abuse by nature and time, Ronnie Sassoon poured her heart and soul into the renovation and thoughtful addition to the house in order to restore the original luster of the house.  Ronnie worked with contractor Scott Werker of GW Associates of L.A. to achieve sublime design results.  They replaced damaged ceilings and poured new terrazzo floors.  At the same time, the team removed a number of walls in order to create larger, brighter interior spaces. They added a master bedroom suite, which Ronnie designed with Werker and building planner Tim Campbell.  The result is an example of taste and thoughtfulness without destroying the integrity of a mid-century modern beauty.

As soon as you enter the house, you are greeted with a living space with cozy built-in furnishings, massive stone fireplace and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass with expansive views.

The  home now has an expansive 6,400sf living space and adorned with terrazzo flooring, jalousie windows and sliders, as the ceiling floats atop of the structural I-beams.  I enjoy seeing the built-in bookcases and furnishings still intact.

The formal living room includes walls of windows and of course, a sunken bar area for entertaining during those cocktail hours of the late 50s, early 60s.

Around the corner from the stone fireplace rests the dining area which adjoins to the kitchen and eating area with plenty of inviting indoor-outdoor access to the pool area.

Unequivocally, this chic home is perfect for anyone looking to entertain large parties or anyone looking for a home abutting an nature reserve.  I really enjoy homes with water features as the Singleton House has. 

The beautiful soffit lighting in the eaves, creates a subtle awareness of the architecture.  An additional bedroom is located on the opposite wall from the eating area in the kitchen.

The enclosed breezeway connects the main living area to the additional sleeping area and media room.

There is a media room with a private garden area outside it's sliding glass wall.

The master bedroom is surrounded by glass with built-in features along with terrazzo floors.

The master bathroom was designed by Ronnie Sassoon and includes a spectacular bath tub made of stone.  The wall of windows can be open to make you feel as if you are bathing in the outdoors.

Ronnie Sassoon's Master Bathroom design, Architectural Digest, Todd Eberle Photo

The outdoor area in the back of the house has a beautiful large pool and mature landscaping.

The "glass-box" estate sits on a promontory at the head of Stone Canyon Rd. where it meets Mulholland Dr.

Due to the position of the house on over 5 acres with it's 225,000sf lot, it is not able to be seen off the road, which is perfect for any person looking for optimum privacy. 

If you are interested in viewing this home, get your Pre-Qualification letter handy. Only those pre-qualified are invited per the MLS listing.

View Larger Map

Steve Ward
Realtor®, SFR®, ABR®
Mid-Century Specialist

Historian & Preservation Advocate

Edward H. Fickett, FAIA Estate
Keller Williams Realty - Los Feliz
 

213.305.8537 direct
modernhomeslosangeles.com 

 

DRE Lic #01871422

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest and the MLS with listing held by Kurt Rappoport, WEA.