This 1920s Los Angeles Estate Was Once Home to Ava Gardner and Laurence Olivier
Nothing says old Hollywood glamour like a celebrity-connected estate in Los Angeles. Originally built in 1927, this Spanish-style pad in the Hollywood Hills has housed a slew of stars in its nearly century-long history including Oscar-nominated actress Ava Gardner and cinema legend Laurence Olivier. Fun fact: It’s also the former residence of English comedian Stan Laurel. On the market with Hilton & Hyland and Forbes Global Properties, 3351 N Knoll Drive is currently listed as a rental asking a cool $18,500 a month.
Designed by Franz Herding, the hillside oasis has five bedrooms and six bathrooms across a spacious 5,839 square feet. The Swiss-born architect moved to Los Angeles in 1923 where he became the city planning engineer before he died in 1968. According to the Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD), Herding and his family actually lived next door at 3355 N Knoll Drive.
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Given its location in the Hollywood Knolls neighborhood near Lake Hollywood, the boundaries between indoors and outdoors are intentionally blurred, so you never feel too far from the natural surroundings . A broad, curvilinear terrace along the back of the house offers 180-degree views over the neighborhood and below, the terraced gardens include hedge-lined walking paths and steps that lead down to a small stretch of grass.
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The multi-story abode is loaded with swoon-worthy period details including a speakeasy butler’s bar with a wine cellar. Elsewhere, you’ll find traditional Spanish elements such as wood-beamed ceilings, polished hardwood floors, casement picture windows, and terracotta tile accents. The fireside living room is bright and airy with a leafy view, while the formal dining room opens onto the expansive elevated terrace and provides even more incentive to hang outdoors. Upstairs, the primary suite is kitted out with a massive walk-in closet, more beamed ceilings, a sitting area, and a private terrace.
The Hollywood Hills has long been a sought-after locale for celebrities. Beloved for its hill-hugging homes, epic vistas, and rolling landscape, it continues to draw hordes of A-listers to its narrow, winding street. English comedian and Get Him To the Greek actor Russell Brand is currently selling his home in the Outpost Estates area—interestingly, he once owned a castle-like home that previously belonged to Olivier—and, in the same area, the home where Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom once resided recently hit the market for $5 million.
Click here to see more photos of 3351 N Knoll Drive.
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