Los Angeles | $3.198 Million
A 1923 concrete-block house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot
This house, which has twice appeared on the cover of Architectural Digest, was designed by Lloyd Wright, after working with his father, Frank Lloyd Wright, on the Hollyhock House, one of Wright’s most significant Los Angeles buildings. It is half a block north of Sunset Boulevard, in the Sunset Square Historic Protection Overlay Zone. Hollywood & Highland, the shopping-and-dining complex, is a little more than a mile away. Driving to downtown Los Angeles takes about half an hour.
Size: 2,158 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,270
Indoors: This property is sheltered from the street by privacy hedges. A gate opens to the front lawn, a courtyard and the house, which is constructed of concrete blocks inspired by Mesoamerican architecture, a signature of both Wrights’ work during this period.
Inside is a sunny foyer. To the right is a living room with hardwood floors, a free-standing concrete-block fireplace and a couple of windowed nooks, one with room for two chairs and the other with room for a desk.
To the left is a dining room with hardwood floors, more concrete-block details and access to an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an original built-in seat under windows overlooking the yard.
A staircase in the foyer leads to three bedrooms on the second level. The primary bedroom, near the top of the stairs, is big enough to hold a king-size bed, with a separate sitting area. This bedroom and the one next door have access to a long balcony. The third bedroom is currently used as a den. All three bedrooms have the use of a bathroom with a combined shower and tub, finished in glossy black tile.
The fourth bedroom is on the main level, near the back of the house. It has a private patio framed by mature hedges and access to a full bathroom next door.
Outdoor space: Mr. Wright designed not only the house, but much of the original landscaping, some of which remains intact. In addition to the front patio, there is a covered patio at the far end of the grassy backyard. The driveway has room for two cars.
Taxes: $39,972 (estimated, but the home is eligible for reduced property taxes under the Mills Act)
Contact: Nate Cole, Modern California House, and Dalton Gomez, AKG Christie’s International Real Estate, 562-673-3550; uniquecaliforniaproperty.com or akgre.com
Sonoma | $3.195 Million
A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house built in 1984 and recently renovated, on a 0.2-acre lot
This house is a mile from Sonoma State Historic Park, a collection of 19th-century structures including an adobe-style hotel built in the mid-19th century. It is within walking or biking distance of the shopping and dining at Sonoma Plaza, as well as other popular restaurants and tasting rooms, many associated with the area’s wineries. A public park with a playground and picnic tables is a block away. Armstrong Park, which has a walking path and a barbecue area, is a five-minute walk.
Driving to Napa takes about 20 minutes. Sonoma State University is half an hour away. Santa Rosa is less than an hour’s drive. San Francisco is about hour and a half away.
Size: 2,200 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,452
Indoors: A path of paving stones leads across the front yard, which is landscaped with drought-tolerant plants and a mature tree, to the yellow front door, sheltered by a covered porch.
Straight ahead from the entry, past a staircase to the second level, is an open living space with wide-plank, white-oak floors. The sitting area, on one side, has a fireplace with a simple white mantel and glass doors that open to the backyard and pool area. The kitchen, on the other side of the space, has quartz counters and updated appliances, including a Bertazzoni gas range and a Bosch refrigerator. There is space for a dining table between the kitchen and sitting area, near more glass doors that open to the backyard.
The primary suite is on this level, to the right of the entry. The bedroom has access to the front porch through another set of glass doors; the en suite bathroom has a glass-walled, windowed shower and a long double vanity.
The other three bedrooms are on the second level. One has an en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower; the other two share a bathroom with a combined tub and shower.
A powder room and a laundry room with a stacked washer and dryer are off the foyer.
Outdoor space: The concrete patio behind the house is partially shaded by a roof overhang. The swimming pool, added during the recent renovation, gets plenty of direct sunlight. The attached garage holds two cars.
Taxes: $39,936 (estimated)
Contact: Caroline Sebastiani and Kristie Eddy, Sotheby’s International Realty, Wine Country Sonoma Brokerage, 415-290-3123 or 949-577-1717; sothebysrealty.com
Carmel | $3.175 Million
A 1993 house with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house sits on a hill in a gated community about 20 minutes from the heart of the city. The area is popular with golfers: Two golf courses are within a 10-minute drive, and Pebble Beach is half an hour away.
A shopping center with a Safeway grocery store and a hardware store is five minutes away. The wineries of Carmel Valley, which produce large quantities of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, are within a 15-minute drive. Monterey is about a half-hour away. Driving to Santa Cruz along Highway 1 takes just over an hour.
Size: 4,160 square feet
Price per square foot: $763
Indoors: Exterior stairs lead from the driveway up to the front door, which opens into a foyer with more steps leading upstairs and down.
The main living space is upstairs, on the top level, with high, beamed ceilings, tile floors, expansive windows and glass doors that open to a deck. A sitting area is in one corner, opposite a dining area with a fireplace. The adjacent kitchen, also part of this large space, has a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances, a pantry and access to a laundry room. A second sitting area with another fireplace is on the other side of the kitchen. A powder room is near the top of the stairs.
Three bedrooms are on the level below. The primary suite includes a large bedroom; a bathroom with a walk-in shower; and a private deck with a hot tub. The other two bedrooms share a deck; one has an en suite bathroom with a sleek porcelain soaking tub.
The fourth bedroom is on the lowest level of the house, along with a full bathroom and a wine cellar that holds 600 bottles.
Outdoor space: The main deck off the living area has plenty of space for entertaining. This deck and the private decks offer views of the surrounding landscape. The gated community’s amenities include tennis courts and hiking trails. The detached garage has two parking spots.
Taxes: $39,684 (estimated) and a $201 monthly homeowner association fee
Contact: Susan Cardinale, Coldwell Banker Realty, 831-277-7600; susancardinalerealestate.com
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