Few places in Southern California inspire the “if you know, you know” reaction of San Marino.
Tucked beside Pasadena but often overlooked by outsiders, the city has long been prized by architecture lovers, old-money families and entertainment executives seeking grand historic homes without the fanfare of Beverly Hills or Bel-Air.
Listed for $10.5 million, this 1931 Italian-inspired villa occupies 1.75 acres overlooking San Marino’s beloved 30-acre Lacy Park, combining old-world craftsmanship with one of the area’s most coveted settings.
“San Marino is one sort of last nugget of greatness that I don’t think has been fully recognized,” said George Penner of Compass, who holds the listing along with Greg Holcomb. Built in 1931 by architect Edwin L. Westberg, the six-bedroom estate takes its inspiration from Florence’s 14th-century Palazzo Davanzati. The current owners spent two decades painstakingly restoring the dwelling.
Working with interior design firm Madeline Stuart Associates, they obtained Westberg’s original architectural drawings from the Huntington Library, a world-renowned collection of rare books and printed materials, which, along with an art museum and botanical gardens, sits on a 130-acre expanse just 5 minutes away — and used them as the blueprint for an exhaustive restoration. According to Penner, the project recreated everything from the original tile patterns to the ironwork and carved wood details.
Hidden behind gates at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, the home unfolds across grand public rooms, hand-forged ironwork, redwood coffered ceilings, intricate period tilework and oversized French doors that open to sweeping terraces overlooking the park.
“It’s extremely rare to be on such a small street that ultimately ends up as a cul-de-sac,” he said. “It’s very, very private and gets almost zero traffic whatsoever. ” The privacy extends well beyond the driveway. The property sits on a rare street-to-street lot perched above Lacy Park, giving owners direct pedestrian access to one of Southern California’s most picturesque green spaces.
“People are unaware of how glorious this park is,” Penner said. “It’s like a garden at your back door. ” The home’s signature blend of authenticity and modern livability continues throughout the nearly century-old residence. A chef’s kitchen anchors the main level alongside a sunporch, a formal dining room, a library, a family room and a living room with soaring ceilings.
Upstairs, a wraparound gallery leads to a secluded primary suite with its own three-sided balcony, dual walk-in closets and vintage-inspired tiled bathroom, while four additional ensuite bedrooms occupy the opposite wing. A finished lower level houses a gym and flexible bonus space, while modern upgrades include four-zone HVAC, solar power, a security system with cameras and intercom, EV charging and plans for a future 800-square-foot accessory dwelling unit. Outside, the grounds are every bit as theatrical as the architecture.
A stone terrace overlooks a resort-style swimming pool, and elsewhere on the property are mature oak trees and a rose garden. For a city whose greatest luxury may be remaining a secret, this villa represents one of its grandest expressions.
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