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

Architecture Wednesday: Patrick Swayze’s Rancho Bizarro

This is Rancho Bizarro, the former estate of Patrick Swayze and it’s up for sale; the 3,516 square foot, 3 bedroom, four-and-one-a-half bath house sits on over four acres, with a barn and stables and a horse arena, and can be yours for $4.5 million.

Automatic gates tucked away at the end of a cul-de-sac reveal a unique and private retreat with expansive space to live, ride, work, and create amongst multiple structures. The primary residence is a charming 1940s California ranch-style house featuring three bedrooms, hardwood floors, and rustic exposed beams.  There is a large flex space that could easily house an extensive home gym, a fully furnished rehearsal space for dance or theater performance, or a light-filled art studio.

Across the lawn is a guest cottage with a bath, as well as an oversized detached garage and storage space. The grounds also include two round pens, a goat pen with resident goats Cocoa and Caramel, and two friendly ducks named Baby and Johnny who enjoy lounging under the lush trees on the property.

The ideal spot for a little Dirty Dancing.

 Dwell