Heaven in Hancock Park — Long Story Short

One of my favorite hobbies is aimlessly scrolling through real estate postings and pretending I could actually afford a four million dollar house. Unfortunately, I can’t. So instead I want to share the best houses on the market with you so we can all pretend that we live in a house that costs 100 times what we make in year.

This week I want to highlight old school Los Angeles. Anyone who doesn't live in L.A. (or who grew up in the Valley) thinks that the most elite housing is located in Beverly Hills or Bel Air; but unless you're a cast member of a Bravo TV show, you should know that some of the most beautiful homes are located outside the confines of Sunset and Doheny. For those who thrive on historic architecture, Hancock Park is a goldmine.

Hancock Park is located just south of Hollywood proper and west of Koreatown. The stunning neighborhood has always reminded me of the East Coast neighborhoods that I grew up in and around. The trees and lawns are well maintained without being too deliberate and the area is completely devoid of track homes. Its proximity to major production studios like Paramount made the neighborhood popular with many silent film stars. Even the British Consul General prefers Hancock to the more pretentious westside neighborhoods, as the U.K. has owned a property in the neighborhood since the 1950s.

Hancock Park’s gems are located all over the neighborhood. Built in a variety of styles, its basically a visual smorgusbourg for architecture nerds like myself. The stunners in the neighborhood rarely come up for sale, but when they do they REALLY do. This house in particular made me contemplate selling a few vital organs for a down payment.

Okay, you can pick your jaw up off the floor now.

This Victorian era mansion is everything I've ever dreamed of in a home. The 12,500 square foot structure is filled to the brim with ornate wood and plaster work. Built by the Van Nuys family in 1890 (yes that Van Nuys), the home was originally sited near downtown Los Angeles. After shifts in the downtown area led to an exit of the elite to newer neighborhoods, the family moved the home to Hancock Park where it is today. The house is (unfortunately) recognized most as the home of the Baker family in the 2003 Cheaper By The Dozen remake.

The home circa 1910 (pre off-white paint job) in its original location at 1445 W. 6th Street

With formal living areas like that, it's obvious that this house was built to show off the Van Nuys Family's money to rival Los Angeles aristocrats. How could anyone resist hosting a booze fueled party in that fresco ceilinged ball room? I'm imagining drunk ladies polka dancing in bustle dresses and gentlemen drinking out of their top hats (think Another Period.)

The Kitchen... P.S. that is an original photo of the house hanging above the vintage stove

The best part of this house is that the informal areas are just as superb as the formal rooms. The kitchen (although not my taste) suits the house and works perfectly alongside the Victorian architectural details. But the best part is the bathrooms...

Walls sheathed in slabs of marble circa 1915? I'd sell my first born child for that. Most homes this age don't necessarily have bathrooms that you'd want to... preserve, but this house surely does.

The Attic feat. an original raised performance stage for parties

Even the attic (yes that is the attic) is more beautiful than any home I will ever live in. Because who doesn't want mahogany paneling as a backdrop for their children's Xbox and ping pong table?

On the contrary to what the creators of Cheaper By The Dozen would like you to think, this home costs a pretty penny, 735,000,000 pennies to be exact. So if you have an extra $8,000,000 lying around, call up your local realtor and buy this baby... oh and if you do so, PLEASE INVITE ME OVER.

Follow this link if you're so inclined: http://www.trulia.com/property/3230508359-357-Lorraine-Blvd-Los-Angeles-CA-90020

Cheers,

Hugh