Mega Home Improvement in Hollywoodland
September 22, 2010 § 1 Comment
Castillo del Lago 9/20/10/All photos Hope Anderson Productions
Nothing endears a new homeowner to the neighborhood like an exterior renovation. I found this out in 2005 when, shortly after moving into my Beachwood Canyon house, I had the peeling garage and fence repainted. When I finally scraped up the money to repaint the house itself last summer, my neighbors were nearly as happy as I.
On a far grander scale, the exteriors of two famous Hollywoodland houses are being tranformed at the same moment. Castillo del Lago, which finally sold in July for $7 million (down from $14.95) is losing its terra cotta paint; the red ochre stripes on the retaining wall have been painted over. (I miss you already, striped wall!) At present, the new paint is pale yellow but that might be a base coat.
After
Before
At the other end of the trail, Wolf’s Lair’s exterior transformation is much more ambitious. It has been re-roofed and is undergoing a partial reframing. Some of the turrets are being rebuilt, after which a massive re-stucco job will begin. There’s nothing better than a house-proud new owner!
Wolf's Lair 9/20/10
Under the Hollywood Sign 
Wolf’s Lair is in good hands with Mr. Moby; an owner sensitive to the things worth being sensitive to, architecturally speaking. Happy to see the first wash of primer over the Castillo as well – I can only imagine how relieved the house itself must be.