It’s Like Saks, on an Intimate Scale
Paul Williams, one of L.A.’s premier architects, designed hundreds of impressive Southland buildings--among them elegant houses in Beverly Hills, Hancock Park, Pasadena, La Canada-Flintridge, Bel-Air and Holmby Hills.
He designed only a dozen houses, however, in Orange County. Built in 1960, this residence was one of a few he designed in Laguna Beach.
Owned by the same family since 1971, this home belonged to Melvin A. Ellsworth, former president of Fluor Corp., and his wife, Aladine, until they died. He died in January 1990. She died in October 2000. Current owners are their grown son and daughter.
About this home: One step inside and it’s like revisiting Saks Fifth Avenue on a far more intimate scale. Williams’ design touches are unmistakable, whether in a Beverly Hills department store or a Laguna residence.
Yet Williams was adventuresome in using a variety of architectural styles and prolific. He designed an estimated 3,000 buildings from the ‘20s until he died in 1980, and these included mansions for such stars as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Cary Grant.
Williams designed this home for an executive of Fluor, who kept it in the Fluor “family” by selling it to the Ellsworths.
Asking price: $7.9 million
Size: Six bedrooms, including two master suites, and 6.5 bathrooms in 5,870 square feet with about 135 feet of ocean frontage; 10,000-square-foot property.
Features: Ocean, coastline and whitewater views; formal dining room and living room; spacious family room and two ocean-view decks looking down on sandy beaches and the sea; an elevator; step-down wet bar; foyer with marble flooring and coffered ceiling with recessed lighting; air-conditioning.
Where: In the guard-gated community of Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach; common amenities include a private beach, a pool, a basketball court and six tennis courts.
Contact: Ray McAfoose, Coldwell Banker Previews, Laguna Beach South, (949) 499-8927
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To be considered as a candidate for Home of the Week, please send color interior and exterior photos (copies only, please; we cannot return the pictures) and a brief description of the house, including what makes the property unusual, to Ruth Ryon, Real Estate Section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; or e-mail homeoftheweek@latimes.com.
