The art of the Venice loft
A three-story Abbot Kinney Boulevard work-live space is about as cool as real estate gets in red-hot Venice.
This brand-new, three-unit complex of artists’ lofts -- an Elaine Carhartt painted-tile mural depicting the area’s favorite pastimes spans the facade -- offers a street-level work studio with living quarters above it.
The lofts are geared to those who want to incorporate the neighborhood’s trendy cafes, art galleries, clubs and clothing boutiques into their domestic lives.
And one big extra: The beach is a stone’s throw away.
“Most people in L.A. have to venture outside for work, but the people living in these lofts don’t have to rely on driving,” said project developer Frank Murphy.
“Not just artists, but movie producers can work and live here. The location has everything you need: great restaurants and good commercial opportunities.”
About this home: Picture a typical urban loft, with high ceilings, exposed pipes, lots of glass, concrete and brick walls, natural light and open space.
Then add two more stories of the same, minus the downtown grit, plus the Venice boardwalk nearby.
At day’s end, close up the first-floor studio and simply walk up one flight of metal stairs to a gathering area (a living or family room, if you will) and a large, open kitchen that incorporates enough seating space for a banquet. Sleeping quarters are one flight above that.
Asking price: $3.45 million
Size: There are three bedrooms and two full and two half-bathrooms in 3,300 square feet.
Features: The green design by Jim Gelfat of Equinox Architecture includes radiant floor heating and solar panels. There is concrete flooring on the bottom level and bamboo flooring on the upper two levels; natural cooling from the ocean; custom-built street-level windows that open to the boulevard, creating an awning over the garden area; and professional kitchen appliances.
Where: The heart of Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice.
Listing agent: Tami Pardee, Re/Max Beach Cities, Venice, (310) 907-6517.
To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos with caption and credit information on a CD and a detailed description of the house to Ruth Ryon, Real Estate Section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012. Questions may be sent to homeoftheweek@ latimes.com.
