Curb appeal can mean something quite different depending on where you look. For example, you’d be hard-pressed to catch more than a glimpse of a home’s facade in parts of The Bird Streets, Beverly Hills, or Bel Air. In fact, all of the most stunning homes in these neighborhoods are almost always obscured from passing eyes. Sweeping lawns and decadent gardens are tucked behind looming hedgerows, monolithic gates, and snaking, secluded driveways that seem to simply disappear into the hillsides. Only guests see these beautiful houses. That’s absolutely intentional.
The Intersection of Fame and Privacy
Privacy has been a part of LA’s fabric virtually since its founding days. In 1913, developers introduced concepts for Los Feliz’s Laughlin Park, one of LA’s earliest gated communities. The promise of privacy, even then, was a draw for the city’s luminaries, such as Cecil B. DeMille, Charlie Chaplin, and W.C. Fields, all of whom opted for residence in gated neighborhoods. Even in the silent era, celebrities were celebrities, vulnerable to public scrutiny. And this, no doubt, fueled a desire among the wealthy to build inward. Over the decades, that sensibility increased. Today, high-profile residents are more likely to see a home clearly visible from the street as a liability than an asset.
Privacy as the Ultimate Luxury Feature
In LA’s luxury market, concealment is at least a selling point, if not the selling point. In Holmby Hills, forming a corner of the “Platinum Triangle” with Beverly Hills and Bel Air, beautiful homes are likewise obscured from the public. It’s an enclave renowned for its generous lots, tree-lined avenues, and uncompromising privacy.
Some have even turned privacy into something of an art form. Take Hidden Hills (no false advertising there), a gated community in the west San Fernando Valley, which took measures to ban Google’s Street View cars from entering its streets. You won’t find a single one of Hidden Hills’ homes in any online maps. But Hidden Hills isn’t alone in this commitment to privacy. California communities such as Bradbury and Bell Canyon, regarded among the most affluent neighborhoods in the country, have adopted a similar stance. Meanwhile, looming over the city, Beverly Park prohibits any photography within the community borders. You also won’t find any sidewalks in Beverly Park, a conscious decision to deter looky-loos.
The Hidden Architecture of Beautiful Houses
Of course, privacy isn’t just about where people build these beautiful homes. It’s also about how they build them. Many of these homes reveal their beauty gradually: a custom wrought-iron gate gives way to a winding driveway, then an accommodating motor court, and to the grand view of the home itself. Some of these homes emphasize interiors and outward views, considering a street-facing facade little more than an afterthought. From classic mansions to custom estates, these architectural wonders aren’t meant for the public.
It’s a phenomenon somewhat unique to Los Angeles. In major cities like Paris or New York, decadent architecture is a statement, often integrated into the streetscape itself. But in LA, the most beautiful houses face away from the casual onlooker, opting for canyons, city lights, or the Pacific Ocean.
The Highest Form of Luxury
Naturally, hunting for the most beautiful houses in LA requires a guide, because you won’t find the most lavish ones with the naked eye. These properties don’t advertise themselves, and several trade purely off-market. And that again, largely comes down to privacy and discretion. In a city that, even today, remains hinged on celebrity, privacy can be the highest form of luxury.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
