According to Kesling Modern Structures: Popularizing Modern Design in Southern California 1934-1962, “For one year, beginning in November 1935, William Kesling was by far and away Los Angeles’ most prolific and successful practitioner of Streamline Moderne design, breaking ground on more than twenty projects.” The Estes Residence is one of the few that remain standing.
Built in 1935 with curved forms, straight lines, and art deco details, the residence stands on a curved corner lot located at 3817 Broadlawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills.
Inside, the three-bedroom, three-and-a-quarter-bath home opens to a living room with light filtering through a bank of original steel casement windows framing the green scenery of the canyon. A flagstone fireplace mimics the curving lines, with the material flowing around the bend, connecting to the galley-style kitchen.
While Kesling’s most notable residences include the Skinner House, two homes in and near West Hollywood for Wallace Beery, the Ulm House, the Hunter Residence, and the Wilson House, this one grabbed the attention of photographer Julius Shulman and was published in books and design magazines.
This hard-to-find architectural treasure was last sold in 2017 for $1,639,500. With room for a pool and a detached one-car garage with additional parking spaces behind the house, the residence is now listed for $2,098,000.
