$12.5 Million Beverly Hills Midcentury Modern Boldly Embraces The 21st Century

An architecturally sensitive top-to-bottom renovation has a brought a Midcentury Modern classic in Beverly Hills stylishly into the 21^st century.

The 1957 single-story was originally designed by Alfred T. Wilkes, whose homes can be found in such Los Angeles area locales as Bel-Air, Hancock Park and Holmby Hills. Located at 1027 Cove Way, it’s now on the market for $12.5 million.

Through the artful efforts of designer Sophie Goineau, a contemporary polish has been applied to the original lines of the house while maintaining the indoor-outdoor intent.

Even from the street it’s apparent that the house is high design. Uplighting and large address signage give the gated post-and-beam structure a dramatic flair.

Inside, the eye is drawn to a variety of wall treatments bringing warmth and a sense of luxury to the rooms. Walnut paneling is integrated with plaster. Intricate room partitions, heavy beams and teak ceilings further the ambiance.

Equally striking are the luscious curved shapes incorporated throughout, according to listing agent Lisa Optican of Hilton & Hyland. A hint of this design element within is at the front door, which displays a prominent, segmented circular door pull. The main living area of the house has a rounded wall of glass opening up to the irregular, crescent-like swimming pool at the back of the house and the garden beyond. One side of the pool follows the shape of the living room.

“The curve of the living room that sits right against the edge of the pool with floor-to-ceiling glass is a showstopper,” Optican explains.

The curves continue in the rounded wet bar and the tile bathroom walls. A circular skylight tops one of the showers.

The custom kitchen is beyond anything a 1950s home cook could imagine. A long two-level island contains a sleek integrated cooktop, storage and seating for four. White cabinetry blends with wood cupboards and shiny black surfaces. A large window over the sink looks out onto landscaping.

A formal dining room, a library with built-ins and a roomy covered lounging patio are among other living spaces that retain the architectural integrity of a home. Wide overhangs created shaded areas fronting the swimming pool, which is set against a backdrop of stone.

The four-bedroom, six-bathroom home features terrazzo floors with brass inlay, sliding doors to the outside and a surveillance system. Clerestory windows bring natural light into many of the rooms while maintaining privacy.

“From the walnut and teak woodwork to the plumbing fixtures to the tiles in the bathroom, everything is top-of-the-line, and you feel it the minute you walk into the house,” Optican adds.

The nearly half-acre lot, which sits across from the six-acre Virginia Robinson Gardens and historic estate, takes in wooded views. Its location is considered one of the most desirable in Beverly Hills, according to Optican, with close access to the Beverly Hills Hotel, shopping and restaurants.

Following an active third quarter, Optican predicts that the Los Angeles market will continue to see high-dollar sales and a continued price creep. “There are a great number of luxury buyers searching for the right home. As long as inventory remains low and rates remain low, we will see a number of high-end sales and prices will continue to stay on the higher side.”

Hilton & Hyland is a founding member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.