Wallace Neff is considered the first architect to the Hollywood stars and designed a number of estates under his belt. The Straus House is one of his designs and was on the market priced at $32.75 million.
The hacienda-style house is measured at 14,000 square feet with five bedrooms and five bathrooms divided between the two wings. The house also has a completely refurbished chef’s kitchen, a dining room with ocean views, a theater, a wine cellar, a den with a fireplace, a guest house, and 27 miles of riding trails.
The Straus House that was designed by Wallace Neff is listed by Weston Littlefield, Dalton Gomez, and Aaron Kirman of the Aaron Kirman Group at Compass.
This is a close look at the driveway from the vantage of the outer gate with dark flooring. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a view of the main entry archway from the driveway with white exterior walls and arched windows. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a nighttime view of the small courtyard of the entrance of the house with a shiny dark floor and warm lighting on the landscaping. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a full view of the large and spacious living room with a tall cathedral ceiling and an open wall on the far side. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a close look at the living room’s white sofas flanking a small round coffee table. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The central living room area of the white sofas is surrounded by various sitting areas with an open-style plan. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This view of the living room showcases the sliding glass doors and exposed wooden beams of the tall ceiling. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the formal dining room with a large glass-top dining table surrounded by dark chairs that stand out against the bright walls brightened by the natural lights. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a close look at the kitchen with dark brown tones and dark modern appliances that match the exposed beams. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the home theater room with exposed beams at the ceiling and paneled walls with the wall-mounted TV across from the sofas. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the small den by the theater with dark brown chairs to match the walls. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a cozy family room with a shed beamed ceiling and comfortable sofas under decorative lights. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the den of the house with dark gray chairs, paneled walls and a wall-mounted TV on the far wall. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bedroom has a bed with a large cushioned headboard by the large glass wall that shows the landscape outside. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a bedroom that has a large tufted and cushioned bed frame for the bed topped with a shed beamed ceiling with decorative lighting. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other bedroom has white walls contrasted by the large colorful wall art beside the bed with bedside tables. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a close look at the bathroom with a large two-sink vanity topped with wall-mounted mirrors on dark walls that match the countertop. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the spacious and bright walk-in closet with matching white cushioned chairs. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the patio of the house with a dark flooring and outdoor sofas. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is another view of the swimming pool area that showcases the landscape and the view. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the modern fire pit and its chairs that stand out against the dark flooring. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a daytime view of the fire pit by the swimming pool area surrounded by comfortable outdoor chairs. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the swimming pool area of the back of the house with a alrge pool surrounded by a large lawn of grass. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a daytime view of the guest house shaded by a large tree and complemented by the large grass lawn. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a nighttime view of the guest house with a warm glow to its open walls and windows showcasing the interiors. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a side of the house that showcases the lush landscaping with concrete walkways and tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an aerial of the house showcasing the sweeping view beyond the backyard along with tall trees of the landscape. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an aerial view of the house showcasing its earthy clay roof tiles and bright exterior walls that contrast the dark floors of the patio. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an aerial view of the full house showcasing the landscaping of the back of the house along with the large swimming pool. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
One of the first architects for the Hollywood stars as Wallace Neff, who designed a number of Southern California’s most important homes including the Pickfair estate for Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, the Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston of the 1920s. Pickfair was the first Beverly Hills celebrity mansion, the longtime hot spot for Hollywood’s movers and shakers, had the first residential swimming pool in Los Angeles, and was compared to the White House by Life magazine.
Although Pickfair was demolished in 1990, Neff had a long home-designing career from the 1920s until his death in 1982. He is often credited with creating the California style of homes with vaulted ceilings, courtyards, lush landscapes, and lots of glass. Neff was a favorite of celebrities who bought his homes including Charlie Chaplin, Darryl Zanuck, Bob Newhart, Madonna, and Diane Keaton.
One of his later designs was the Straus House built in 1970 for Macy’s department store heir Robert Straus. Restored, expanded, and modernized over a 10-year period, the Straus House is now for sale. Previously priced at $32.75 million in 2017, the listing agency has not yet publicized the new price, it is only available by request.
Eye-catching with a black circular driveway paired against the stark white of the building, the Straus House is located in the small and highly regarded equestrian-and-seaside community of Hope Ranch in Santa Barbara County’s Montecito neighborhood. Behind the stylized wrought-iron gates that open to a courtyard, the hacienda-style house spans 14,000 square feet in an “H” floor plan on one floor and big ocean views.
The center section is a massive gathering room with a vaulted ceiling of floor-to-ceiling glass facing the Pacific with the Neff-designed raised fireplace. There are five bedrooms and five baths divided between the two wings, a completely refurbished chef’s kitchen, a dining room with ocean views, a theater, a wine cellar, and a den with a fireplace.
One of the home’s most interesting features is the guest house that is under the back lawn’s first level, which leaves the view completely unobstructed. Many homeowners in Hope Ranch are horse owners who enjoy its 27 miles of riding trails.
Mr. Strauss had previously been living in a home in Bel Air that Neff designed in the 1920s, and they liked it so much that they hired him for their Montecito home. Almost 50 years later, the current owner worked closely with the Santa Barbara historical committee on all aspects of preserving the integrity of the design and inspiration of Neff’s work while simultaneously creating an estate of comfort and luxury.
Montecito sometimes referred to as “Beverly Hills North,” has surged in both price and popularity in recent years, the hometown for big stars including Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. With its mild climate, world-class beaches, and natural beauty stretching from the ocean to the mountains, Montecito has been a popular backdrop for the movie industry with over 1,000 movies filmed there since the early 1900s. According to local real estate agents, Montecito home prices have more than doubled in the last few years.
The listing agents are Weston Littlefield, Dalton Gomez, and Aaron Kirman of the Aaron Kirman Group at Compass.
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