This 1928 villa—the current home of acclaimed singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson—is suffused with timeless Mediterranean accents, the contemporary stylings of celebrity designer Francesca Grace, dramatic views, and a feeling of warmth and comfort
In her 2009 song “Are We There Yet,” acclaimed singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson muses about the idea of home and trying to find it, asking herself and the listener “We keep driving round in circles.… Are we there yet?” In real life, Michaelson knew what she was looking for—and found it here, in this 1928 home in the exclusive L.A. enclave of Outpost Estates, accredited to renowned developer Charles Toberman and impeccably updated.
Los Angeles, California | Eric Lavey, Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage
The timeless Spanish inspiration that pervades the estate begins at the front gate itself, an ornately embellished affair set in a vine-draped wall beneath a stalwart mature tree. In the remarkably private courtyard beyond, the Old World aesthetic continues in a barrel-tiled roofline, plaster walls that bear the marks of hand troweling, lush foliage, and hefty stepping stones that lead through gravel xeriscaping and past a placid water feature to a covered sitting area and the august antique door of the main entrance.
While the 3,520-square-foot interiors retain many of their glamorous early-20th-century detailing—wrought-iron stair railings, richly hued hardwood floors—they are nonetheless bright, airy, and of the moment. This modernity is due in no small part to staging by renowned designer Francesca Grace, who refined the ambience and created custom pieces for Michaelson—which are available to the new owner, if desired.
Highlights include a formal dining room with French doors and contemporary fixtures and an elegant living room with French doors on two sides, floods of inspiring light, and space for a grand piano—just the spot where, as Grace described in a recent interview, anyone would “love to lounge and listen to such a talented musician as Ingrid herself.” Accented with eye-catching tile and filled with a serene natural glow, the comfortable, inviting kitchen features a built-in breakfast banquette, a beamed ceiling, an apron sink, chic open wood shelving, and superior-caliber appliances, including a La Cornue range and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Windows throughout the home—even in the classically outfitted powder room—are illuminated by a painterly light, and the walls are especially suited for art. One small, contemplative space is dedicated to an office or writing room.
A quiet, private aerie, the serene owner’s suite includes a living area and is suffused with a dazzling natural glow thanks to a long bank of windows. The beautiful bright bath offers a spa-like shower and a soaking tub set in a dedicated alcove with a relaxing vista. The lavish en suite dressing room and walk-in closet is worthy of the most stylish of boutiques. Each of the two guest suites features a distinctive aesthetic and palette; one has, at times, served as Michaelson’s at-home recording studio.
Many spaces open breezily to a lofty terra-cotta-tiled balcony with a cinematic view of treetops, the Griffith Observatory, and the sparkling downtown L.A. skyline. A lower-level lounging terrace enjoys a similar view and feels ideal for a hammock, a swing, or chaises longues. French doors in the living room give way to a sunken terrace—a Mediterranean-reminiscent oasis with a tiled fountain, a wisteria-draped alfresco dining pavilion, and flourishing emerald greenery. The feeling throughout is one of undeniable warmth and welcome, of sophisticated comfort. This is a place where Michaelson’s insight—that “home is wherever you are”—easily becomes a reality.
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