Frank Lloyd Wright Jr's 1928 Samuel-Novarro House Returns to Market

Elizabeth Stamp
Updated

The Samuel-Novarro House, a Los Angeles architectural landmark, has just come back on the market. Set in the Oaks, an exclusive area of Los Feliz, the home was designed by Lloyd Wright, a son of Frank Lloyd Wright and creator of many notable buildings in Southern California. The Mayan Revival home was completed in 1928 for Louis Samuel, the business manager of silent film star Ramon Novarro. The actor took possession of the property when he learned that Samuel was embezzling funds, and Novarro later hired Wright to expand the house and gardens. Novarro also called on legendary art director Cedric Gibbons to design the Art Deco interiors.

An aerial view shows the swimming pool in the backyard, as well as the back patio.
An aerial view shows the swimming pool in the backyard, as well as the back patio.

Novarro lived in the home until the late 1930s and since then it has been the residence of numerous Hollywood heavyweights including Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins, who rented it together while working on On the Town, as well as, at various times, actors Diane Keaton and Christina Ricci.

A look at the living room within the 2,700-square-foot home.
A look at the living room within the 2,700-square-foot home.

The house has been carefully renovated over the years to preserve its architectural details, including the oxidized copper accents that embellish the concrete exterior.

A look at the sunlit kitchen.
A look at the sunlit kitchen.

The 2,700-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bath home is made for indoor-outdoor living with a striking swimming pool set within a private courtyard, multi-level terraces, and lush gardens. Spread over four levels and set into a hillside, the home also features contemporary amenities including an updated kitchen and a minimalist concrete master bath. The home office is outfitted with custom built-ins with storage, work areas, and a bed. Large casement-style windows offer views of the landscape.

A look inside a bedroom that opens up to a balcony overlooking the swimming pool.
A look inside a bedroom that opens up to a balcony overlooking the swimming pool.

The property is designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument by the city and has an asking price of $4.295 million: a small price to pay to live in a Los Angeles landmark.

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