exterior residence photos ©2006 schafphoto.com

The residence is a magnificent two-story, frame bungalow Craftsman, built between the years 1923 and 1924, designed by the owners and Henry Mather Greene of Greene & Greene Architects of Pasadena, CA and hand-built by local contractor Clark Still and his team. It is one of the last homes Henry Greene designed, and it is noted that Mr Greene liked the house and the family very well, exchanging Christmas cards with the family for years following the construction. Attention to detail is evident everywhere you look in the house; to be sure, as a consequence of the amount of tedious hand-sanding of the wood trim Henry demanded, the workmen would have to take off work a few days at a time to heal their hands.

The structure is approximately 4300 square feet in size, sited to take advantage of the views of the ocean in front and the Ventura hillsides behind. Just outside the front and back door are rock walls (so carefully laid that the workmen had to wear soft gloves when removing rocks in the back wall so as not to disturb the lichens that were growing there), terraces, a lily pond and native plants adorning the exterior. These rock walls were put together for the most part without cement or mortar and have stood for over 80 years. Noted landscape architect Theodore Payne worked closely with the owners to design, map out and choose specific native plants to place around the home, some still in evidence today.

Upon entering the front door you are greeted by a large and very open oak-floored living room with hand-made bookcases and mirror and a large Batchelder-tiled English fireplace, by Henry Greene's own hand, as well as 4 doors that lead to the rest of the house. The bay window looks out over the front porch's many plants and terraces. The sitting room or den is just beyond, with its own tiled fireplace, built-in desk, large windows and window seat.

To the side of the living room is the large dining room with its handmade leaded/stained glass china buffet by Henry Greene and a custom-made light fixture by Randell Makinson, the architect of the 1981 modifications to the home. All around the house custom redwood molding and baseboards are to be found, tying in and reemphasizing the country-home feel of the residence. The door insert panels generally are quarter-sawn oak or Port Arthur cedar. A view of the backyard's hand-placed rock wall can be had here, and the two doors that face the kitchen and butler's pantry make easy access to essentials.

In the kitchen, the breakfast nook and its small bay window afford a serene view of the back yard and a very comfortable eating area. The pine sub-floors were refinished and exposed in the kitchen, part of the 1981 remodel, and the large butler's pantry with its sliding glass doors and glass-front cabinets allows light to enter. The renovations in the early 80's make the kitchen only one of two areas in the house that may be altered by the new owner - the conservation easement specifically addresses this issue.

Walking straight through the living room the visitor comes to the first floor hallway with its maple flooring and barrel ceiling, leading to 3 of the 5 bedrooms in the home. Custom wood handles on the linen cabinets harks back to a simpler time in design architecture. The hall has 4 doors: 3 of them lead to the first floor master suite (with full bath and double-screened French doors leading to an outside patio), the 2nd bedroom suite (or den, as it has been used of recent) and the 3rd smaller bedroom, also with its own door to the east patio. Maple floors in all the first floor bedrooms and the distinctive cloud-lift trim on doors reemphasize Greene's hand in design and scale.

A doorway to the basement can be found in the hall as well, the basement running the entire length of the house with the central portion of it (approx 12' x 15') finished. Perfect place for that wine collection - there's even an old walk-in safe. Access to the walls of the first floor can be had through the basement, making proposed changes to electric and plumbing systems much more accessible.

To the right of the front door is the stairway to the second floor, with Henry Greene's handmade mirror and drawer pulls (actually hand built IN to the wood instead of added on later). The stairway leads to the second floor sitting area with its view of the back yard and mountains, along with a beveled glass window set. Upstairs are two additional master bedroom suites, both with ocean and mountain views and full bathrooms. Off the second floor sitting room is an outdoor runway that leads to the old water tank house which allowed the Goulds to choose between laundry with rainwater or city water.

Outside the back door is a covered breezeway with glass doors that runs from the main house to the laundry room. There are two patios in the rear right yard, one with the former canopy/awning braces still intact. The lily pond, currently filled in with flowering plants, greets you at the right rear of the property. To the left of the breezeway is the meandering pathway to the garage, bordered on the right by the hand-laid rock terraces put there by the family and their long-time friend "Old Doi." At the bottom of this page are downloadable documents detailing the floor plan as originally designed and other interesting facts about the residence and property.

2^nd curtains made for living, dining, sunrooms (redecorated - new colors)
 

1941

Stickley Dining room chairs & 2 sunroom chairs & stool recovered in fabric (originally were leather); rose in DR; green in SR

1944

April - H Greene designed Margaret's bookcases