Some 60 years ago, rumor has it that James H. Duffy knocked on the door of this Spanish Colonial Revival residence unannounced and asked if the owners would be interested in selling. Turns out they were — and they sold to Duffy, whose father happened to be the artisanal blacksmith who had crafted the custom ornamental wrought-iron work for the Eagle Rock home way back in the 1920s, when it was first built.
Since then, the place has remained in the Duffy family; now the historic gem has popped up on the open market for the first time ever, asking a smidge over $2.9 million.
Originally designed and built in 1924 by noted builder/architect Godfrey Edwards of Edwards Wildey and Dixon, the three-story stucco and terracotta-roof structure has been extensively renovated through the years. Tucked away behind a gated wall, on a 0.6-acre parcel resting atop a knoll offering picturesque hillside views, the house has five bedrooms and five baths in a little over 3,700 square feet of modernized living space rife with period details like the original hardwood floors, mosaic tile and arched doorways.
A walkway flows through a manicured lawn before emptying into a front courtyard and an arched front door opening into a formal entry. From there, a sun-drenched living room sports a stacked-stone fireplace and a formal dining room has French doors spilling out to a screened loggia, while the gourmet kitchen is outfitted with quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, an apron-front sink and top-tier Bertazzoni appliances.
A walnut-paneled library with built-in bookshelves can also be found on the main level, along with three bedrooms that include a two-room primary suite boasting French doors leading to a veranda. Elsewhere in the house are two additional bedrooms — one on the lower level with its own entrance and bath, and an upstairs bell tower bedroom featuring a terrazzo-clad balcony.
Outdoors, the private backyard hosts a central courtyard offering plenty of room for al fresco dining and lounging alongside a cozy fire-pit, and custom brick and wood arbor. There’s also a detached two-car garage that’s been fully finished with wood-paneled walls and a bath.
Charlie Clark of Compass serves as the listing agent.