Kip Drive

Inspired by luxurious villas of Tuscany, this 20,000 square foot home on a 7-acre property with panoramic views from downtown LA to Santa Monica Bay, has been reinterpreted for a Southern California lifestyle.

A gated, olive tree-lined drive traverses the Benedict Canyon hillside and terminates in a brick-paved motor court. A carved-stone fountain and porte-cochere complete the arrival. The home’s symmetrical façade and raised entry loggia features yellow ochre plaster walls, antique clay tile roofs, stone corner quoining, mahogany windows and doors, and wrought-iron balconies. A Florentine-style arched doorway with elaborate wrought iron and glass leads to the two-story foyer with its dramatic winding staircase. 

Inside, Venetian plaster walls, distressed stone, terracotta tile and waxed wood beams recall the materials of Italian country homes. Large formal rooms flanked by wide galleries lead to terraces and loggias that overlook the gardens and city beyond. The family room, with its sunken bar, transforms into a screening room with the push of a button. A subterranean wine cellar and tasting room is vaulted in brick to give the feel of an ancient cave.

Wood trellises with stone columns shade South- and West-facing interior rooms from the harsh California sun and connect the residence to its gardens. With extensive grounds, its formal gardens are adorned with fountains and sculptures. A pool pavilion doubles as a guesthouse and overlooks the custom-designed sunburst glass mosaic pool.  In all, a sun-drenched villa.