John Elgin Woolf is considered the grandfather of the Hollywood Regency architectural vernacular and was the "who's who" of celebrity home designers after being discovered by Greta Garbo and Gladys Belzer. Woolf's personal life was also quite interesting as he adopted his partner in both business and life as his own son. Hoping one of you Central Valley queens has the chutzpah to snatch this one up and rehabilitate/refurbish (NOT RENOVATE) but I understand with the proliferation of sweatpants and IKEA that this may not be realistic. Attribution for the home (and an exhaustive list of his other projects) can be found in the Online Archive of California UC Santa Barbara John Elgin Woolf papers. I can post this in the comments if there is interest.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 8 | December 10, 2020 10:45 PM |
I actually like the entry way, powder room, and living room but then it all gets very dated with the kitchen and bedrooms. The grounds are nice enough. I’d get rid of the outdoor fire place pavilion thing with the benches. What’s the point of that?
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | December 10, 2020 8:56 PM |
Well, a would be quite a project.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | December 10, 2020 9:13 PM |
Super agent of the 70s, Sue Mengers, had an Elgin Wolff in Bev Hills. Fabulous. This one, well Fresno and very rundown kitchen and baths..... not so much. Add $200k to bring this up to date.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | December 10, 2020 9:26 PM |
R3 Sue's place (the Alphonzo Bell house) is absolutely fabulous. Unfortunately, the latest owners have filled in the central pool that was surrounded by louvered cabana doors and relocated it to the back. I think this eliminates the magic of the original design. I once read somewhere that a gay man was house sitting for Sue and his lover came over and they put leather harnesses on her Greek statues surrounding the pool. And I agree with R1 that it gets dated very quickly. Needs some drop-dead glamor.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | December 10, 2020 10:28 PM |
I thought that I'd love it, but it left me feeling meh. I did like the entry and living room.
The layout would probably drive me bonkers.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | December 10, 2020 10:38 PM |
Fresno? God, NO! Better to go down in the plane that actually arrive in Fresno.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | December 10, 2020 10:43 PM |
R6 I agree. It feels like Woolf-lite. I am wanting to see his signature Pullman-style doors and famous floating fireplace gimmick. Additionally, the location in Fresno is a negative. The story behind his home is probably pretty interesting. I wonder if Mr. Woolf mailed this design in because it wasn't a wealthy Los Angeles client.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | December 10, 2020 10:45 PM |
