Inside an Elegant European-Inspired Estate in Beverly Hills
Constructed in the 1980s, this Beverly Hills manor has been rejuvenated by celebrated designer Michael S. Smith to blend refined European style with luxurious American modernism
Stately magnolias, august privacy hedges, manicured greenery, and an ornate iron gate create an appropriately distinguished milieu for this elegant traditional-style home in the heart of Beverly Hills, long renowned as one of the world’s most exclusive, sophisticated locales. Originally constructed in the 1980s, the 7,448-square-foot manor has since been painstakingly reimagined and rejuvenated by award-winning designer and author Michael S. Smith. Celebrated for his ability to blend classic European style with American modernism, Smith has orchestrated numerous refined residences, fashionable international hotels, and a renovation of the White House during the Obama administration.
Beverly Hills, California | Antonio Bruno, Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage
Now offering an alluring variety of spaces for living and entertaining as well as five restful bedrooms, the interiors are serenely sophisticated, featuring delicate touches of classical refinement that bring to mind stylistic predecessors in the Old World: a Mansard roof; arched windows; richly hued woods; and timeless wall paneling, wainscoting, and moldings. Every space on the two levels is suffused with a self-assured elegance.
Quiet private moments or soigné soirees occur with equal ease in a living room with a striking marble fireplace, gentle natural light filtered through enveloping greenery, and French doors to the ground as well as an opulent formal dining room with a windowed bay, an embellished chandelier, and silver and white wall treatments in a botanical pattern. Vast and bright thanks to windows on two sides, the chef’s kitchen features an oversized island, impressively generous storage, ample counter space, superior-caliber stainless-steel appliances—including a professional-grade Caliber range—and an inviting casual dining area. Warm wood, creamy stone hues, and décor in calming organic tones contribute to the relaxed comfort of the adjoining family room, which is anchored by a fireplace and opens through steel-framed French doors to a backyard loggia. For more contemplative moments, a handsome wood-paneled office gazes through a tall window out over the half-acre property.
A classic skylit stairway with a decorative iron rail ascends from the foyer to the private quarters above. Spacious, regal, and filled with a serene gentle glow, the owner’s suite includes a windowed living area, a fireplace surrounded by an mirrored wall, an adjoining office or study, and an enviable private terrace overlooking the vibrant realm. The bath offers a luxurious tub and vanity clad in eye-catching marble, a stunning marble-walled shower, a soothing sauna, and an impeccable walk-in closet with a wealth of built-ins and welcome natural light. The four guest bedrooms are equally enchanting and adorned with lovely wall treatments reminiscent of those in Regency-era chambers. Each is accompanied by a stylish en suite bath, and one features bursts of sunlight thanks to two French doors opening to a breezy balcony.
Ringed with privacy hedges, the backyard is a picturesque oasis boasting swaths of green lawn; a lounging ramada with a fireplace; an alfresco grilling area and kitchen; a sun-washed terrace; a cool, shady loggia, and a refreshing swimming pool with a Baja shelf and a spa. The pool flows directly up to a versatile pool house, guest casita, or gym with disappearing doors, a vaulted beamed ceiling, a fireplace, counter and cabinet space, and a mirrored wall. For moments when the outside world beckons, a two-car garage houses vehicles that ease access to Beverly Hills and its spirited shops and restaurants, mere moments away.
This article was originally published in Sotheby’s International Realty Extraordinary Living Blog in February 2025
