Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Architecture Wednesday: Cliff May Pacific Palisades House

This Pacific Palisades home is perched above Old Ranch Road in coveted Sullivan Canyon, this Cliff May—a building designer best known for developing the suburban Post-war "dream home"—home exudes the integrity and rustic origins of a California ranch house.

Set off the street up a private drive on a tree-filled knoll with unparalleled privacy and breathtaking settings the home features vaulted wood ceilings, skylights, and terra-cotta tile floors and an open, free-flowing floorplan.

A central "great room" includes living, dining area and kitchen; the courtyard is surrounded on three sides by the great room and the primary suite on one side with the other bedrooms and baths on the others. Through French and sliding glass doors, each sun-drenched room opens to the tranquil and bucolic grounds canopied by mature sycamores and oaks.

This house is the epitome of cool, calm California living.

Dwell

33 comments:

  1. The front of the house is just a tad plain.... but the back of the house facing the little stream is spectacular. Actually love this house and it's design as it has that time gone by era feel. And I'm a sucker for those double stable doors. And what's not to like about all those windows opening to let in the fresh open air. I could live there.

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    1. And don't think I didn't notice the bar. Tell the owners they can take all their Furnishings but leave that there!

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    2. The bar and the yard are my favorite spots, and I like that it seems unassuming from the front.

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  2. Very nice. Not crazy about the Tiffany-style chandelier, or the Spanish tile flooring (though I know that's likely original), but I could live there. It's simply missing the pool for skinny dipping. 😁

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    1. I love the tile; great color. But it does need a swimmin' hole.

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    2. That it does. I mean the courtyard is perfectly situated for it. Somebody just done messed up.

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  3. Cleora Borealis10:21 AM

    🤩🤗 Yes, sir! I love EVERYTHING about this house 'cept where it's located! Pacific Palisades, for awhile at least, equals fire danger in my mind! I'm happy to stay in my high-desert oasis of El Paso! We long ago stopped trying to turn the desert into a lush/green/humid mess like some desert cities do. I feel certain a conflagration could not find a footing here...less vegetation and in most neighborhoods houses are separated by chest-high rock walls instead of chain-link fences or hedges. 🏜🏜

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    1. The Palisades are pretty but, yeah, burn friendly too!

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  4. I like the floor tiles and the open doors and stable doors. It must feel very airy.

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    1. I think that's why I like it, too.

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  5. Anonymous11:02 AM

    the dog's mother
    nice kitchen
    xoxo :-)

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    1. Not huge but open to everything.
      xoxo

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  6. This is my kind of house -- simple, lots of greenery. Probably also a firetrap, though.

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    1. I think you may be right, especially these days!

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  7. Oh yes, I could live there. One little nitpick, the one spare bedroom with the large television is a wee bit small. I'd make it into a craft room. :)

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    1. I wonder if that's just the angle of the photo, because, you're right, it doesn't seem like you can move around the bed much!

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  8. I like the plainness of the front and a wow factor when you walk in ---I love me a Dutch door---I would add some nice colorful ceramic planters of some type to welcome guests----- I could clear out everything, add some color, and pop--- I love the outside space for relaxing and dining al fresco---- I am hoping there is a shower in the place----

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    1. I'll take it and put my spin on it, and perhaps add even a plunge pool .

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  9. Did it survive the fire?

    Will Jay?

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    1. I used a website about the fires that tell you if the homes survived, but nothing came up at all.

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  10. Thank goodness it's in California. That drive would be a nightmare with snow.
    The house is very pretty. Kinda bland for curb appeal, but the backyard is fantastic! I am actually not against the tile floors? I think they are probably original to the house.

    XOXO

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    1. I love that kind of tile especially in this kind of home. And you're right about the outside being deceiving!

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  11. I like the bathtub.

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    1. That's a start ... 🛁🛁🛁

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  12. I think if I was showing that house I'd remove 90% of the clutter. Other than that it's a lovely property though!

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    1. There is a lot of stuff and it might look bigger with less!

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  13. Beautiful setting. Not my cup of tea.

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    1. I need a garage but, yeah, the property is beautiful.

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  14. Yes, I get rid of the tub, but other than that, I'm in.

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    1. I could do laps in that tub!

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  15. I love the terracotta floors. I could live in that, but it needs a garage and the driveway needs resurfacing.

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