Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Calls a Midcentury Stunner Home on Netflix’s ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’

In the initial “Lincoln Lawyer” novel, Haller says of his residence, “Everything about the house once you went through the door was ordinary and outdated. But the front porch and the view right above Hollywood Boulevard could launch a million dreams. I had used money from the last franchise case for a down payment. But once I was in and there wasn’t another franchise, I took the equity out in a second mortgage. The truth was I struggled every month just to pay the nut. I needed to get out from under it but that view off the front deck paralyzed me. I’d probably be staring out at the city when they came to take the key and foreclose on the place.”

The dwelling used as Mickey’s in the 2011 “Lincoln Lawyer” movie, which starred Matthew McConaughey in the title role, is a near-perfect embodiment of that description. But the residence ultimately selected for the Netflix show does not have a front deck, nor could it ever be characterized as “ordinary.” Positioned diagonally on its spacious lot with a whimsical winged roofline that looks like a butterfly about to take flight, the property is decidedly singular. It is also not located in L.A.’s Laurel Canyon area, as purported in the book, but in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Baldwin Hills at 5245 El Mirador Dr. (Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.)

The views to be had there are certainly capable of “launching a million dreams,” though!

According to building records, the spectacular property was originally commissioned in 1958 by Dr. Preston Joyce Stack, an ear, nose and throat specialist, and his wife, Maryann, who tasked the father/son architecture team of Kemper Nomland Sr. and Kemper Nomland Jr. to design it. Though largely unsung purveyors of the modernist movement, the duo’s works, which include Case Study House #10 in Pasadena, a 1957 redesign of UCLA’s Moore Hall and a slew of private homes, are bountiful throughout L.A. Nomland Jr.’s daughter, Erika Çilengir writes, “For many years, my father’s architectural gems have lived in anonymity. Unlike Richard Neutra, Pierre Koenig, and Charles and Ray Eames, who have become the stars of the Case Study House Program, my father has been one of the lesser-known figures in midcentury modern architecture. That was by design. Dad was the antithesis of a self-promoter. He preferred to work quietly on what mattered to him, unfettered from external demands. Yet as midcentury modern architecture continues to enjoy a renaissance, the public is discovering my father’s work. These days, realtors are keen to capitalize on his name recognition when one of his homes comes on the market.”

Ironically, when the Baldwin Hills property was last offered for sale in 2016, no mention of the Nomlands was made in the listing information, though that didn’t seem to hinder interest. Repped by the John Aaroe Group, the pad sold for $1.12 million just four months after hitting the market.

At the time, the interior of the two-bedroom, three-bath, 2,418-square-foot residence was cluttered (to say the least!) with décor, furnishings and ephemera of daily life, as evidenced by the MLS images. But underneath all of the cerulean-hued detritus, the pad’s excellent bones still managed to shine through.

Just past the double front doors, which are outfitted with crescent moon cutouts, is the central living area, a sprawling bullpen-like chamber capped by a towering peaked ceiling and consisting of a dining room, living room, family room and entry, all open to each other save for a long glass wall running the length of the space. A double-sided fireplace (obscured from view by a television above) and a fish tank built into the dining room wall serve as focal points.

Floor-to-ceiling windows line the entire rear side of the space, showcasing the property’s jaw-dropping jetliner views. The owners’ suite, also outfitted with beamed ceilings and walls of glass, takes full advantage of the sweeping vistas, as well. As noted in the 2016 listing, “The view from the master bedroom allows you to open your eyes to the sun coming up over the city and close them to the beautiful L.A. city lights.”

Referencing another of Nomland’s designs, his daughter Erika wrote, “My father’s dedication to art and the artistic impulse can be found in every corner of the Mt. Washington house. The thoughtful use of space that precludes a sense of being penned in. The ample walls to display art. The expansive views of downtown LA. The clean lines and geometric shapes.” Her words could just as easily be describing Haller’s residence, as well, and its exquisite application of space, shape and form.

The pad’s true selling point, though, is its sprawling 0.43-acre lot, the rear of which is comprised of a large pebble stone deck lined by an open railing that seems to float over the rolling hills below. Shaded by mature trees, the terrace certainly affords occupants an “‘I’m the King of the World’ feeling,” as suggested in the listing.

As such, it proved the perfect spot to play the home of Mickey Haller.

Both the interior and exterior of the residence are prominently featured throughout “The Lincoln Lawyer’s” first season, providing a decidedly “L.A.” backdrop for the decidedly “L.A.” storyline to unfold. 

From what is shown onscreen, it appears the 2016 buyers have done some updating since acquiring the property six years ago, namely in the kitchen, where the outdated appliances have been replaced with modern stainless steel versions. The black granite counters and simple white cabinetry visible in the MLS images remain in place, though.

With a second season of the series practically a given, here’s hoping we’ll be seeing a lot more of Mickey and his fabulous digs in the near future!