64 DIGS.NET
| 6.3.2022
M
A
R
K
E
T
S W E E T D I G S | 3 0 8 T H E S T R A N D
sky. "At 308 it's right in the heart of the bullseye of the Strand
in South Manhattan Beach," remarks Stroyke. "You literally walk
out of your house, cross the Strand and you're right on the beach."
Also ideal is the home's location, he points out; just a short walk
to downtown restaurants and shops, but far enough to avoid the
spillover of traffic and beach activity that is part of downtown.
Or you can stay indoors and slip into the bubbling blue waters of
the spool—a hybrid pool and spa—while music pipes in and flames
flicker in the fireplace. Like many atmospheres of the home, it's a
place of duality. You can close the louvered screens for a private,
cocoon-like experience; or let the glass doors disappear and enjoin
the place with the sunny beachfront while friends mingle at the
bar or gather in the living room.
"The first three floors of this home are exceptional living areas,"
says Stroyke, "but then you go to the lower floor and that's where
you get the extras—and they're all world-class extras." It's another
level dedicated to diversion, where you can be entertained in the
plushy nine-person movie theater, peruse two dedicated wine clos-
ets for a favorite vintage, or work out in a gym stocked with pro
equipment. "I've never seen a gym this good in a house," Stroyke
points out. "It wants for nothing."
It's not unlike the house itself, which smoothly unites all the
different moods and settings of luxurious beach living under its
masterfully sculpted roof. One built to last eons, and always leave
you feeling better for having walked through its doors. "I have a
KAA-designed home myself, and have admired Grant's work for
years," notes Stroyke. "There's a Zen to it where you can feel
yourself relax. My theory on this, and I've done a lot of thinking on
this, is that there's so much attention to detail in the KAA design
process that the resulting homes have a symmetry and a perfection
that hit you on a subconscious level; and when you drink in that
aesthetic visually, it calms you. You can literally feel the stress of
the day slough right off."
