A rare and alluring Craftsman-style home designed by noted architect Henry Greene and built a century ago has just popped up for sale at $4.5 million in the coastal California town of Ventura, about 70 miles from Los Angeles, complete with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands.
Commissioned by farmer and attorney Thomas Gould Jr. and his wife Mabel back in the early 1920s at a cost of around $30,000 and meticulously maintained and updated through the years, the house was sold to its current and only second owner in 2007 for nearly $2.3 million. Believed to be the only residence in Ventura created by the legendary Arts and Crafts architect—half of the influential Greene & Greene duo with his brother Charles—it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Gated and sited at the end of a cul-de-sac amid three contiguous parcels of land spanning nearly two acres, the attractive olive-hued abode offers five bedrooms and four baths spread across roughly 4,300 square feet on two levels. Incorporated within the wood-sided and gable-roof structure are many of Greene’s original elements, including a mix of oak and maple floors, hand-carved wood details, stained-glass accents, and tons of built-ins.
Easily standing out upon entry is the spacious living room, which has plenty of natural light courtesy of a large bay window, as well as a striking Batchelder tile fireplace and an integrated bookcase. That space wraps around to a fireside den with a desk and a window seat, plus a dining area that has a buffet topped with custom leaded-glass panels sporting a butterfly and hummingbird motif. A butler’s pantry and a windowed breakfast nook each connect to the kitchen, which has been upgraded with newer appliances.
A lengthy main-level corridor heads to a trio of bedrooms, including two with their own baths and one with an adjoining sunroom, while the upper level holds the primary suite, an en-suite bedroom, and a sitting room boasting a vaulted wood-beam ceiling and a door opening to a suspended walkway that leads to a balcony. There’s also an unfinished basement with storage, a covered breezeway that empties out at a laundry room, and a detached four-car garage with a half-bath.
Picturesque grounds initially created by pioneering landscape artist Theodore Payne, who is credited with helping to establish the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, host a monarch butterfly habitat among mature oak and sycamore trees. Per the listing held by Toni Guy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, the property is also covered by the Mills Act, which offers significant property tax savings in exchange for preserving its historic appearance.
Click here for more photos of the Ventura residence.
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