Lone grand mansion on Mayberry Street

Michael Locke

This 1927 Mediterranean in Silver Lake has been the lone grand mansion of Mayberry Street since it was built. The 2,564-square-foot house, perched above street level, has a full basement, an underground three-car garage and a rooftop sun porch. The estate is showing its years and is being sold "as is" for $999,900.

This 1927 Mediterranean in Silver Lake, a huge time capsule, is being sold 'as is.'

By Valli Herman
January 4, 2009

Sitting on a high perch on the border of Silver Lake and Echo Park, this stately Mediterranean house has been the lone grand mansion of Mayberry Street since it was built in 1927.

The 2,564-square-foot house is unique in this neighborhood of small, unassuming bungalows. Built above street level, the two-story home towers over the adjacent Mayberry Street Elementary School and has a rare full basement, an underground three-car garage and views of Silver Lake and city lights from its rooftop sun porch.

Inside, however, not much has changed in the five-bedroom home since Italian immigrant-made-good MichaleTogneri bought it in the early 1940s as a reminder of his Tuscan homeland.

In this 1927 time capsule, Art Deco chandeliers and wall sconces toss light onto glass prism knobs on built-in gumwood cabinets and French doors. In nearly every room, the original, hand-painted murals of kissing cherubs or delicate flora and fauna trail across walls, along ceilings and above the wood-burning fireplace.

Two of the bathrooms feature the era's hexagonal floor tile, brilliant blue wall tiles and period fixtures. Wrought-iron railings edge balconies, trace arched windows and frame the imposing front door. A citrus grove, remnants of a grape orchard and an olive tree give the large, flat backyard its Mediterranean look.

Though the house is showing its years and is being sold "as is," preservationists may appreciate that no significant remodeling has changed the period feel, not even in the kitchen, where a large, vintage Western-Holly oven stands as testament to the many family dinners produced there.

Members of the large Togneri clan, including two spinster sisters who were Silver Lake beauty salon operators, the late Gloria and Clara Togneri, lived in the house during the nearly 60 years it remained in the family, virtually untouched.

"When we walked into that home and closed the door, we were in another world," said Marie Togneri, granddaughter of Michale and Marina Togneri. "It was like being in Italy."

real.estate@latimes.com

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 Lauren Beale, Real Estate, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012. Questions may be sent to homeoftheweek@latimes.com.