Villa de Leon: An Architectural Gem

Wednesday was a busy day for Prudential John Aaroe realtor Randy Freeman. He started showing the historic Villa de Leon, a landmark estate on the bluffs of Castellammare, which went on the market Monday for $14,995,000, currently the highest listing in Pacific Palisades. Villa de Leon was designed in 1926 by renowned architect Kenneth MacDonald (Flood mansion in San Francisco) and took entrepreneur and wool magnet Leon Kauffman more than five years to build. It was featured in the 1928 issue of Architectural Digest and remains the most visible landmark along the Palisades-Malibu coastline, often mistaken for its tucked-away neighbor, the J. Paul Getty Villa. “This is one of the jewels of the Palisades and it just could never be duplicated today,” Freeman said of the Italianate mansion, listed as 12,000-plus sq. ft. with more than 35 rooms, including nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. Considered one of Southern California’s finest examples of old-world craftsmanship, Villa de Leon features hand-carved beams, molded corbels, pediments, hand-painted frescoes, double-vaulted arches, coffered ceilings and sculpted iron railings. “All the bathrooms still feature original tile and several rooms have actual gold grouting,” said Freeman, who has already received 20 to 25 inquiries about the listing and had four official showings and one preview on Tuesday. “People were absolutely blown away by the living room and quality of the workmanship.” Depending on the interest of individual clients, each showing requires about 45 minutes to an hour “just to walk the house and effectively see it.” Villa de Leon has three levels of living space, including a main salon with three handmade crystal chandeliers, a library, a circular formal dining room overlooking the ocean, a marble entrance hall with a sculpted circular staircase and a large attic. A private driveway leads to a seven-car garage and a car wash, or spinning pipes that you can attach a hose to, according to Freeman. A gated entrance leads up a grand staircase to sweeping terraces with unobstructed ocean and coastline views to the west, and courtyard areas with commanding mountain views to the east. “The type of detail, quality and craftsmanship belongs to an era gone by,” said Freeman, who first communicated with the property owners four or five years ago, and was selected from a group of interested real estate agents to represent the property. “I’ve been working towards this,” said Freeman, who’s been with Prudential for five years but has worked in real estate in the Palisades since 1990. He guessed that his expertise in the Palisades bluffs and hillside properties was probably what got him the listing. The property has changed hands several times over the last 50 years, and eight individuals currently share ownership of the palatial estate, which is occupied. “The owners of the property have lovingly restored as much as they could over the years,” Freeman said. “It’s an ongoing project. There have been some landslide issues over the years, but there are plenty of geological and structural reports available about the property.” Asked how long he thinks Villa de Leon will be on the market, Freeman said, “It’s so difficult to tell. It’s one of a kind. It will take someone who appreciates not only the historical [element] but the type [of house]’it’s not your normal Mediterranean type of home, it’s more like a museum than a home. It’s a piece of art.” Showings are by appointment only. For more information or to view photographs of Villa de Leon, visit www.portomarinaway.com/download. Call Randy Freeman at 230-3719.