This Celeb-Pedigreed Hollywood Hills House Is Loaded With Charm

Rumored to have been occupied by adventure novelist Zane Grey (“Riders of the Purple Sage”) and also the longtime West Coast outpost of New York City-based actress Heather Graham (“Boogie Nights,” “The Hangover”), this house in the historic upper Beachwood Canyon area of L.A.’s Hollywood Hills was designed by noted starchitect Robert Finkelhor. Originally built in 1927 and sold by Graham a little over a year ago for $2.5 million — after she picked it up in 1998 for the bargain-basement price of $880,000 — the Spanish-style villa has returned to the market once again, this time asking nearly $3 million.

Nestled amid a steep hillside, on a 0.2-acre street-to-street parcel boasting picturesque canyon views, the terracotta-roof and white stucco structure rests underneath the iconic Hollywood sign. Inside, three bedrooms and five bathrooms are spread across just over 2,800 square feet of living space on three levels — all of it mixing classic details with modern-day conveniences.

A gated courtyard leads to the wooden front door, which opens to a stunningly tiled rotunda entry, where a wood-beam ceiling is accented with gold stenciling. From there, a two-story living room is spotlighted by a vaulted ceiling with carved and stenciled wood beams, picture windows and a wood-burning fireplace featuring the home’s original wooden mantel.

An enclosed sun porch adorned with patterned blue-and-white floor tiles spills into a cozy dining room. Plus there’s a windowed kitchen outfitted with updated stainless appliances, mint-green bead-board cabinetry, an eat-in peninsula and a colorful tile backsplash. There’s also a wood-paneled study containing built-in bookshelves and seating, and a lower-level brick cellar hosting a temperature-controlled area for wine storage.

A red brick staircase heads upstairs, where the master suite has a spacious sitting room and Juliette balcony offering up cross-canyon vistas. As for the compact yard, the grassy space packs in a brick al fresco dining terrace equipped with a built-in barbecue, plus a pool and spa flanked by a gazebo. Rounding it all out: a detached two-car garage that’s been converted into a one-bedroom guest house with a kitchen and bath.

Stephen Udoff of Coldwell Banker Realty holds the listing.