S W E E T D I G S | 2 9 1 7 N P O I N S E T T I A
N
estled among leafy trees
on a charmed block of Manhat-
tan Beach stands a rare Tudor
Revival showpiece. A seldom
seen architectural style for the
area, this Tree Section home was designed
by architect William Taylor in the mid
1980s, representing one of only four such
homes he crafted in the South Bay. The
3,164-square-foot residence is eye-catching
with its authentic Tudor Revival details, and
boasts an airy 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom floor-
plan. Despite its classical European roots, it
serves modern family life particularly well
while embracing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle
that defines South Bay living.
"William Taylor was hired by a guy who came
to Manhattan Beach to upgrade Manhattan
Beach architecture," explains Marcia Whistler,
the home's longtime owner. Taylor understood
that at the time, professionals moving to the
area were seeking alternatives to typical beach
dwellings, and desiring homes that reflected
sophistication. As an architectural style, Tudor
Revival was a natural pick, mirroring the elegant
residences found in prestigious LA neighbor-
hoods such as Hancock Park, Mid-Wilshire and
Windsor Square, which includes the notable
Getty House, the official residence of the mayor
of Los Angeles, built in 1921.
OLD WORLD STYLE, MODERN LIVABILITY
The homeowners carefully balanced historical
faithfulness with features that enable comfort-
able day-to-day living—notably sunlight and
open-air spaces. The windows exemplify
this approach: faithfully designed to the
Tudor Revival style, yet perfectly adapted for
beachside living with an oversized scale and
ease of opening that captures ocean breezes
and fills the interior with natural light.
Custom distressed wood and natural stone
create old-world charm on the exterior, while
inside, the home feels bright, open, and thor-
oughly contemporary. Cathedral ceilings with
wood and open beams make the main living
spaces feel breezy and spacious—far from
the dark, enclosed feel one might expect from
traditional Tudor architecture.
The home's generous courtyard with stone
pavers creates seamless flow between inte-
rior and exterior spaces. This central outdoor
space, combined with mature green landscap-
ing and ivy-covered walls, creates an authentic
English countryside atmosphere while embrac-
ing casual, fresh-air living. "That area became
our welcoming area," Whistler recalls. "The
kids would play because there was a lot of
space. We put up a basketball hoop and had a
pool table in the garage."
A
R
C
H
I
T
E
C
T
U
R
E
+
D
E
S
I
G
N
52 DIGS.NET
| 6.27.25
