Four Homes On N Vermont Ave
How might you connect disparate stories that involve the TV show Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, a multiple Grammy-winner, and a family construction business that dates back to the late 1800s? Let’s zoom in on this stretch of N Vermont Avenue and find out.
Recently, I traveled up one of my favorite streets in Los Feliz — N Vermont Avenue. Why is it a favorite? Well, it’s a wide street with a grassy and treed median — and who doesn’t love a street with a median? It meanders up the hillside, curving this way and that, all to the beloved Greek Theater.
The houses we are looking at today are four in a row — 2340, 2344, 2350, and 2358 N Vermont Ave. All are quality examples of their individual architectural styles, built between 1935 and 1948. Tell me — which is your favorite, and why?
2340 N Vermont Ave
2340 is the oldest, and largest of the group, built in 1935. Designed by important period architect Williams Asa Hudson (who also designed the famous bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel), I would call it Mediterranean / Spanish Revival in style. Sited on an ample 14,102 SF lot, the house has over 6,000 SF of living space, and includes a two-story guest house. The most prominent feature of the house is the round entry tower, always signaling (whether true or not) a curving staircase within — in this case, true. The conical entry tower was a fairly common stylistic device in the 1930’s, much employed and adored! The house has a rather unusual front facing garage, which I am not sure is original — although it seems to work rather well. If you happen to know if the garage was originally located elsewhere, contact us.I have somewhat of a personal connection to this house, as I represented one set of buyers several years back, unexpectedly appearing on two episodes of Million Dollar Listing LA. As it turned out, the listing agents were the show’s hosts.
NEW HOLLYWOOD GLAM
A recent sale of this home included multiple Grammy-winner, music producer Mark Ronson. Details of the sale, along with photos of the interior, can be see on Dirt.com.
2344 N Vermont Ave
Next door at 2344 is a house built a few years later, 1938, in a style I would describe very broadly as East Coast Colonial Revival. A relatively modest 3,142 SqFt set on a nice parcel of 12,637 SqFt. The house itself is charming and rather unassuming. The detailing is quite simple, but well executed, particularly the front door vignette, with its archetypal pyramided pediment. The whole composition is monochromatic, but the horizontality of the siding, and the brick under the square bay window are great uses of texture. This house has been in the same family for more than 70 years.
The Colonial Revival hit the U.S. with the archaeological rediscovery of Colonial Williamsburg. Funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the nation was enchanted during the great depression with this look back at our history. Up to that point, the stylistic cues for American Homes, both architecture and interior design, was primarily European based — driven by the WWI exposure of so many Americans to the Continent. English, French, and Spanish style houses dominated the 1920’s. But with Williamsburg, an important shift was triggered.
The Colonial Revival hit the U.S. with the archaeological rediscovery of Colonial Williamsburg. Funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the nation was enchanted during the great depression with this look back at our history. Up to that point, the stylistic cues for American Homes, both architecture and interior design, was primarily European based — driven by the WWI exposure of so many Americans to the Continent. English, French, and Spanish style houses dominated the 1920’s. But with Williamsburg, an important shift was triggered.
2350 N Vermont Ave
Built a decade later (1948) than the previous home, this house is large, at 5,047 SF, on a 14,186 SqFt lot. Interestingly, there was an earlier (1927) house on the site that was Spanish Revival in style, designed by T.J. Sooth. The current house was designed by Lester Scherer for Dr. Milton Berry — who wanted a “colonial.” Scherer was a very accomplished architect of the time, who incidentally, designed one of Hancock Park’s greatest estates in 1927 — The William H. Mead house, aka “La Casa de Campanas” at 350 N June St (to be featured here soon, on Historic Havens).
It is very interesting to see how the decade between the two neighboring houses may have impacted the style. While still inspired by East Coast colonial precedents, this house is more stylized, manifesting features we now call Hollywood Regency — glamourizing colonial styles with more up-to-date Art Deco and Art Moderne influences. The elaborate door surround is exceptional, and the tented copper roofs on the symmetrically placed bow windows are magical. The current owners have been there since 1997.
It is very interesting to see how the decade between the two neighboring houses may have impacted the style. While still inspired by East Coast colonial precedents, this house is more stylized, manifesting features we now call Hollywood Regency — glamourizing colonial styles with more up-to-date Art Deco and Art Moderne influences. The elaborate door surround is exceptional, and the tented copper roofs on the symmetrically placed bow windows are magical. The current owners have been there since 1997.
2358 N Vermont Ave
Last but not least, we arrive at 2358 N Vermont Ave. Also built in 1938, it was designed by Arlos R. Sedgley, and I would describe the style as Mediterranean/Italianate Revival. Emile Pozzo, who was himself the head of the family construction business, built the house for his family. A 1940 Census page shows Mr. Pozzo residing at the house with his wife, two sons, two daughters, and maid. The Pozzo Family construction business dated to 1898 in downtown L.A. Emile was born in 1880, so it is likely the family business was started by his father, and it survived as an independent company into the 1980s.
Whereas 2340 is dominated by the round central tower, here we have an emphasis on the rectilinear. Although asymmetrical in nature, there is still a sense of balance and harmony. Above the front door, the large surmounted cartouche and squared-columned open loggia speaks to Italian precedents. Not overly embellished, (Hollywood Regency, for example), it is still more elaborate than 2340 — subtly so, but still noticeable. Sited on a large 15,777 SqFt lot, the house is ample-sized at 4,532 SqFt. While taking a closer look at these four homes on N Vermont Ave, I had the pleasure of meeting Margaret, the current owner. Margaret and her husband have been there since 1988. She recognizes that 2358 was well-built by the Pozzo’s, for their own use. And her love of the house and joy of ownership was contagious.
Whereas 2340 is dominated by the round central tower, here we have an emphasis on the rectilinear. Although asymmetrical in nature, there is still a sense of balance and harmony. Above the front door, the large surmounted cartouche and squared-columned open loggia speaks to Italian precedents. Not overly embellished, (Hollywood Regency, for example), it is still more elaborate than 2340 — subtly so, but still noticeable. Sited on a large 15,777 SqFt lot, the house is ample-sized at 4,532 SqFt. While taking a closer look at these four homes on N Vermont Ave, I had the pleasure of meeting Margaret, the current owner. Margaret and her husband have been there since 1988. She recognizes that 2358 was well-built by the Pozzo’s, for their own use. And her love of the house and joy of ownership was contagious.
