Lorne Michaels’ Son Picks Up Midcentury Gem in the Hills

Henry Michaels — the eldest son of “Saturday Night Live” creator/producer Lorne Michaels — has purchased a stylish midcentury home in the Nichols Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles. Records show the TV writer’s new residence ran him just under $4.3 million, or around $265,000 over the original listing price.

Secluded behind a lengthy gated driveway, on a heavily wooded parcel spanning almost three-quarters of an acre, the boxy white stucco structure was built in 1954 and designed by the late modernist architect Val Powelson as his personal residence. A contractor-turned-architect who designed single-family residences mostly in the L.A. and Palm Springs areas, Powelson is probably best known for crafting Rancho Mirage’s famous Marantz House.

As for Michaels’ newly acquired home, the place was last sold to its current owners over three decades ago for a mere $639,000. It’s since been extensively renovated and updated in keeping with Powelson’s original vision, complete with a curving floating staircase heading to a second-story expansion sporting a fireside family room, an office space and en-suite bedroom.

Fronted by a motorcourt and an attached carport, the two-story house features four bedrooms and an equal number of baths in nearly 3,700 square feet of light-filled living space boasting floor-to-ceiling walls of glass. There are canyon and treetop vistas, along with a mix of hardwood and tile floors, whitewashed post-and-beam ceilings and built-in bookshelves throughout.

In addition to a spacious living room adorned with a gas fireplace and sliding glass doors spilling out to an al fresco dining deck, the main level holds a dining area that connects to a galley-style kitchen updated with high-end stainless appliances and an adjacent breakfast nook. Elsewhere is a cozy den, plus a master retreat that opens to a brick terrace holding a hot tub.

Outdoors, the private and hedge-lined backyard is spotlighted by a pool surrounded by a plenty of spots ideal for lounging and entertaining, along with a boulder-piled waterfall and fish pond created by Powelson himself. The property also is just minutes away from the Runyon Canyon trails.