Magical Los Angeles Setting With Designer Pedigree Seeks $21.5 Million

From choice interpretations of red carpet gowns to a new sustainable clothing line, Allen Schwartz and his ABS label have for years left an indelible mark on the fashion world. Now, the designer is ready to leave his mark on the Los Angeles housing market, where his longtime home in Brentwood is for sale at $21.5 million.

The Mandeville Canyon estate is equal parts a family home and a private park. Set on about 2 acres, the single-story house is surrounded by rolling lawn, gardens, specimen trees and a bubbling brook. Hilton & Hyland’s Todd Simons, a co-listing agent for the estate, said that it’s rare to have a property with such attention to detail and space — particularly flat space suitable for outdoor living.

“This is an incredibly unique property for anyone who wants a heritage property,” Simons said. “The expansion of the existing home or building your dream home is all in the realm of possibility.”

The market for properties with ample outdoor living space has increased significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the health crisis continues to reshape how people live their lives. According to a survey from the National Association of Realtors, the most common home features now identified by homebuyers are yard space for exercising and additional space to accommodate a family.

Simons said that indoor-outdoor living space has always been popular in Southern California but echoed the sentiments of the survey.

“People are spending more time at home entertaining,” he said, “This property embodies that — it’s a real indoor-outdoor haven.”

Built by Schwartz over the course of several decades, the magical setting unfolds in a series of thoughtful spaces and manicured garden settings, all of which are navigated by meandering stone paths. Outdoor amenities include an alfresco dining area, a stone fireplace, a lap pool and a lagoon-style swimming pool.

The home’s lighted clay tennis court, among the first of its kind in Southern California, has been used by John McEnroe.

The ranch-style main house, which dates to 1951, plays up the scenic views with walls of windows in the living areas and bedrooms. Wood-paneled ceilings with narrow skylights bring natural light into the chef’s kitchen, which incorporates rustic cabinetry and a butcher block-topped island. Stone and brickwork seen outdoors are echoed throughout the floor plan.

Including attached and detached guesthouses, there are six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and more than 3,500 square feet of living space.

The increased demand for outdoor living space also has some homebuyers reconsidering square footage, Simons noted.

“A lot of people prefer property over home size,” he said. “People don’t necessarily want to have the [larger] sized houses; they want smaller homes with pool houses and cabanas.”

Simons shares the listing with David Kramer, also with Hilton & Hyland.

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