Modern Precision And Coastal Warmth Sync Up In A KAA Design Classic On The Strand With Panoramic Views Of The Pacific And Manhattan Beach Pier
An architectural tour de force facing Manhattan Beach Pier with spectacular views from Palos Verdes to Malibu, 1204 The Strand exemplifies quintessential California coastal living with three floors of refined living spaces balancing privacy and openness for an effortless flow and feel.
Built by Baldwin Construction and designed by KAA Design Group, the house is a showcase, spanning 5,372 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 4.5-baths, including a plush master suite with a private office, a gourmet kitchen, and a vibrant entertaining space with an ocean-view patio beyond.
Combining the clarity of vision of the architect behind it with an aspirational location, this house is the 2nd block north of the pier—less than five minutes from top Manhattan Beach touchstones, including restaurants The Arthur J and Fishing With Dynamite.
“Proximity is a huge plus of this property,” says agent Mike Pennings of Estate Properties. “It doesn’t get better than this.”
Defined by long sculptural lines, with a modern façade of concrete, stucco and steel, the residence is responsive to its coastal setting and classic KAA Design—clean and contemporary, an architecture wrapped in extravagant glass that frames a soaring, almost cinematic expanse.
“The view stops you in your tracks,” Mike Pennings says. “It’s one of the best views of the pier from a residential property that I’ve ever seen.”
Whether one is taking in pleasure-seekers at the beach from the bright, airy interior or watching the annual fireworks show light up Manhattan Beach from the private master suite balcony, the tranquil second-floor terrace, or the Strand-level patio, the view looms large and luxurious on every level of the house.
With this backdrop both broad and dominant, the interior is one of quiet refinement, marked by high 9-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass with bronze framing complemented by fine stone finishes, rich walnut hardwood, and mahogany accents for a lavish coastal warmth.
“Everything in this house is top of the line,” Mike Pennings says of this meticulously tailored mix. “No expense was spared—none.”
No opportunity to make a statement was overlooked, either—whether it was centering the design around the home’s magnificent Pacific panorama, finishing the interior with an array of exquisite lighting, or creating an architectural sensation with a striking modern steel staircase.
But all drama begins at the front door, where the entry level is flooded with sunlight and scenery.
“It’s like something out of a movie,” Mike Pennings says of this breathtaking first impression. “The views are so amazing, they don’t seem real.”
Not only are they real, but they are also an astonishment—beckoning from behind light-capturing glass that helps dissolve the division between indoors and out.
At the heart of entry level is a succession of gracious social spaces that flow, easy as an ocean breeze, one after another. Of these, the open-plan kitchen and adjacent formal dining area, both with dazzling designer lighting, form a hospitable centerpiece within convenient conversational distance of the luxe living room, featuring a contemporary built-in fireplace with a floating stone hearth, that opens to the covered outdoor terrace beyond.
Equipped for casual and formal dining alike, the gourmet kitchen is sophisticated and sleek, with an expansive, eat-in kitchen island and high-end appliances, streamlined cabinetry, and a graphic backsplash that lends aesthetic tension to the space’s clean lines and subdued design. A fabulous home bar, meanwhile, is perfectly poised for a cocktail party that gathers in the living room and gravitates to the outdoor terrace, beckoned by the picturesque setting of swaying palms, sparkling sea, and the iconic pier.
Upstairs, the first-class master suite is a spectacle all its own. Splendid with sanctuary and luminous with light, it commands the bulk of the top level.
“It’s beautiful,” Mike Pennings says of the space, which is fixed in floor-to-ceiling glass and opens to the private ocean-view balcony for a serene reprieve at any hour.
The bedroom, sitting area, and private office are the individual parts of a harmonious whole that also includes the sumptuous master bath with dual sink vanity, stone-finished shower with built-in bench and two generous walk-in closets—one an absolute dream at 15 feet deep. An exercise room (or additional flex space, if desired), another bedroom, and a laundry room help finish off this floor.
At the Strand level, the home supports a livelier vibe. Conceived as an entertainer’s space, every set piece is in place for a vibrant good time. Along with the relaxing lounge area is a full kitchenette with a stunning beach bar with seating and, the coup de grâce, direct access to the resplendent outdoor patio—an ocean-view oasis full of pleasures, including a built-in barbecue, a lounge area with a contemporary fireplace, and an en plein air dining space.
And, in response to easy and immediate access to the Strand and beach beyond, the patio also provides a beach bath and an outdoor shower for washing off the sand and surf. Two more bedrooms and a separate laundry room, meanwhile, are bonuses of this floor.
Combining pedigree and a plum location with much-coveted proximity to Downtown Manhattan Beach, plus cutting-edge systems, a three-stop elevator, and a three-car garage, 1204 The Strand is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—but second to none.
Mike Pennings | 310.266.9600 | DRE 00990231
Estate Properties
Listed At: $24,500,000
Photography by Dana Thompson
