DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
Issue link: https://www.southbaydiggs.com/i/1202958
S W E E T D I G S | 3 0 9 2 0 T H S T R E E T M A R K E T C alifornia coastal homes have undergone a stylish revival in the last decade due to game-changing updates in materials and design approaches. Walking along 20th Street—one of Manhattan Beach's most idyllic walk streets—one finds a best-in- class take on the genre: a five-bedroom home that's a perfect balance of elegance and accessibility, thanks to an efficient floor plan and au courant styling. The newly completed property is approximately 4,200 square feet and was designed by prolific South Bay architect Doug Leach and developed by Ken Johnson, who also helped with its design. The interior has been styled by Paul L'Esperance, whose award-winning portfolio includes showcase residences, along with commercial projects like Crustacean Beverly Hills and Greystone Mansion. "It's just a beautiful home," says real estate agent Audrey Judson. "It's great for entertaining and wonderful for family living." Paramount to its appeal is the location, which puts one an equal walk, just five minutes, from the sand or downtown Manhattan Beach. "In addition," says Judson, "this home is also just a few doors to Live Oak Park. A convenient staircase located at the top of the hill leads to basketball and tennis courts, a baseball field, playgrounds, art and community centers, and additional free parking. I'm not sure people initially realize what a wonderful location this is until they move in." After battling Los Angeles traffic during the work week, the promise of leaving one's car parked in the garage all weekend, and walking or biking to the town's upmarket bevy of grocery stores, restaurants and shops, is an alluring one. For its aesthetic allure, one turns to the home's façade, which is fresh and trim, from its flat roof with overhanging eaves to an eye-catching mix of exterior textures, including horizontal cladding, brick and stone. Then there are the judicious touches of bold color found on the front door and the window and door trim—an elegant cast of colonial blue. "What I love about this house is the way it was built," points out Judson. The use of steel was plentiful on the third floor, which is home to everyday living spaces—an island kitchen, plus dining and gathering places—along with stellar oceanside views. This uppermost level is the heart of the house, and due to steel engineering hasn't had to be divvied up by supporting columns, or walls. The result is an inviting, sunlit expanse; a place with a glow of natural light that reads differently depending on the hour of day. At sunset it's hard to feel anything but cheerful as rays of orange, pink and yellow stream through the home. "This home offers a great, open feeling," describes Judson. "You can stand on the south side of the house, look to the north, and view the majestic mountains above Malibu. Or gaze down the walk street towards the beautiful Pacific Ocean." The kitchen is the heart of this home, and the first place one's eyes rest when reaching the top level. The pleasantly roomy space is decked out with a softly veined stone island, placed in its center and featuring a base of bold blue. L'Esperance's chic, refined touch is seen in unique design features like the gray stone backsplash that runs the length of the counters,