The Hollywood Hills have long been home to architectural landmarks that echo the glamour of early Los Angeles. One such gem sits on lower Sunset Plaza Drive, a 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival residence that has been painstakingly revived by AD100-designated interior architect Ross Cassidy. Purchased in 2020 for $3.3 million, the property underwent a two-and-a-half-year transformation that honored its historic fabric while integrating contemporary comforts. Today, Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California lists the house at $8 million, inviting a new owner to inherit a piece of cinematic history.
Location and historic background
Set amid the mature pine canopy of the Hollywood Hills, the estate occupies a 9,028-square-foot lot at 1563 Sunset Plaza Drive, zip code 90069. Built during the boom of 1927, the home embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival style that defined Los Angeles’s luxury market in the pre-Depression era. Original features such as leaded windows, wrought-iron railings, carved ceilings, and hand-painted wooden beams survive intact, offering a tangible link to the city’s architectural past. The property’s proximity to Sunset Boulevard places it within a coveted enclave where city lights and hillside seclusion coexist.
Renovation vision and design details
Cassidy approached the project with a clear mantra: preserve the soul of the house while making it livable for today’s standards. The renovation re-imagined the floor plan, converting a once-isolated guest room into a formal dining space that opens onto the garden. A double-height library was split into two levels, creating a family room beneath the primary suite. Throughout, modern amenities—including a chef’s kitchen with sage-green cabinetry, veined marble countertops, and Subzero-Wolf-Miele appliances—coexist with historic elements like marble-cased doorways and hand-poured terrazzo flooring.
The interior palette balances vintage charm with luxury finishes. Hand-crafted Sapele wood cabinets receive a marine varnish, while walls alternate between plaster, lime wash, linen, and even handmade Japanese paper in the TV room. Lighting fixtures, sourced from vintage Italian and French collections, highlight the house’s layered textures. Three wood-burning fireplaces—situated in the living room, family room, and an outdoor pergola—provide focal points that echo the home’s original warmth.
Current features and market listing
The residence spans roughly 5,083 square feet and offers five bedrooms and five full baths plus two half baths. The primary suite on the second floor includes a yellow upholstered bed, mirrored panels, and expansive tree-view windows. Additional bedroom suites are distributed across the main and upper levels, and a separate bungalow above the garage supplies a flexible space for guests or a home office. A lower level houses laundry facilities and ample storage.
Outdoor amenities complement the indoor luxury. A partially recessed pool, framed by custom rusticated stone, sits beneath a pergola that shelters a raised-hearth fireplace and bar area—perfect for entertaining under the California sky. Mature citrus trees, clipped hedges, and a ramada add to the garden’s serenity. Parking is a rarity on the hills, with a two-car garage and driveway space for up to four additional vehicles.
Listed at $7,995,000, the home promises a blend of historic prestige and turnkey modernity. As Cassidy notes, “They aren’t making more century-old houses in LA; my goal is to honor, preserve, and rehabilitate the ones we have.” The property stands as a testament to how a designer’s personal residence can become their finest work, allowing meticulous attention to every detail.
