Historic Hollywood Mediterranean Villa

About the Space

Built in 1923, this 100 year old Historic Hollywood Villa boasts an original blue mosaic tile pool/hot tub. Villa Hillcrest was home to three Academy Award winning actresses; here, you can live your Hollywood dream. Tucked into the hillside of Whitley Heights, this nearly all original Mediterranean villa will not only take you back in time but transport you to the Italian Riviera. The Villa is a stunning example of The Golden Age of Hollywood and is a protected historic building. From the moment you enter the wrought iron and wood gate, the space is all yours. Completely private and nearly all original from 1923, you enter by crossing a scrolled iron footbridge and enter the home on the second story. The bedroom is located on the entry level along with a dressing room and full bathroom with porcelain tub and shower. Down the carved wood and scrolled iron staircase you enter The Villa. With 25ft ceilings, the room is stunning. On one end, looking out onto the mosaic cobalt tile wading pool is a giant arched window topping out at 20ft flanked by two sets of 9ft French doors that open onto the sundeck. The grand living room is centered around the 20ft tall imposing fireplace furnished with eclectic furniture from around the world collected over the past century. Off the grand living room is a dining room with charming intricately carved built-ins that has French doors that open out onto the wood deck and staircase that leads down to the lower garden terrace where you're surrounded by California tropicals, banana palms and a huge pomegranate tree. The garden is furnished with a dining table and chairs for the perfect dinner outside under the stars. Off the lower dining terrace is the basement laundry room with washer & dryer. Also off the grand living room is a full kitchen and half bathroom. The charming kitchen looks right out of a storybook with painted tile, farmhouse fixtures and ornate built-ins. Right off the kitchen is the upper dining terrace tucked into the hillside, the ideal spot for an al fresco brunch overlooking our modest citrus collection of lemon, mandarin, orange, cumquat and yuzu trees that are planted down the terraced hillside. The Hollywood history of the estate is astounding. Previous residents include Academy Award winning actors Norma Shearer, Janet Gaynor and Barbara Stanwyck as well as Academy Award winning producer and head of MGM Irving Thalberg. Maybe the most iconic figure to have resided here is the MGM fashion designer, Adrian. Most famous for his collaboration with Joan Crawford and his costume designs for The Wizard of Oz. The neighborhood was home to actors like Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Carole Lombard and many many more. Take a walk around the Whitley Heights hill and you can see all the incredible historic architecture and truly feel like you've stepped back in time. This is a one bedroom home with an option to create a second bedroom space in the dining area. The dining table is shifted to the main living room and a queen size bed can be set up. The space is curtained off from the living room and kitchen. The second bedroom is set up BY REQUEST ONLY.