S W E E T D I G S | 1 2 4 0 5 T H S T
''I
t's a tucked away, private oasis.
Not many people know about it." Real
estate agent Nick Schneider is talking
about a hidden slice of Manhattan
Beach: A quiet lane located a mere
block and a half east of Sepulveda Boulevard. "It
used to be an avocado orchard way back in the
day," he says of this tree-shrouded section of 5th
Street that ends in a cul-de-sac. "And it's one of
the only private streets in all of Manhattan Beach."
The exclusive collection of residences
making up this cloistered hub all have a
coveted trifecta of qualities: Space. Style. Secu-
rity. And the benefits of a pleasant neighborly
atmosphere where kids riding bikes, shooting
hoops or playing in their yards is an everyday
sight. "It's 'a community within the community
of Manhattan Beach,'" Schneider describes.
"People have lived on this street for 30, 40 and
50 years, because you get such large properties
that have literally everything."
ELEGANCE AND LIVABILITY
Like the big sunny residence at 1240 5th Street.
Poised on a 15,000-square-foot lot (approx-
imately .34 acres), the property has been
outfitted to make full use of its plum size and
location. Lush palm trees and a tidy green lawn
share space with a full-length pool and well-
crafted outdoor spaces, which have all been
designed for lounging and dining. "I've been
at the house when there's been 100 people in
attendance," says Schneider, "and it doesn't
feel like there's many people at all."
It's not always easy to craft a home for enter-
taining and family life—yet at this residence its
makers have struck the perfect balance between
everyday domestic life and a luxurious vein of
coastal style that makes it easy to invite a bunch
of friends home for an impromptu sunset gath-
ering after a day at the beach, which happens
to be only a mile away. "The owners love the
beach," says Schneider, describing how after
a day of beach volleyball and swimming, they
would regularly come home to enjoy more fresh-
air activities in their ample yard.
The desire to spend much of one's time
luxuriating in the California sunshine has been
translated in the home's design. After purchas-
ing the Louie Tomaro designed residence in
2017, the current homeowners, in tandem with
interior designer Bina Murphy, put the property
through a major re-working. "They put their
minds together and came up with just an incred-
ible design," says the agent, pointing out how
the remodel was extensive, down to furnishings
and furniture, many of which were individually
created for the home.
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