John Wells, the executive producer and/or creator behind a host of mega-hit television series (“ER,” “The West Wing,” “Shameless,” “Animal Kingdom”) and an avid real estate investor, is looking to flip out of an elegant Hancock Park mansion he bought just last January. Sited mid-block on a prime street and partially obscured behind manicured hedges, two massive Italian cypresses, and two fantastically gnarled olive trees, the 5,300-square-foot house is saddled with a nearly $7.9 million pricetag, a profit-assuring amount over the $7 million paid by the Hollywood veteran last year.
Built in 1927 and described in listings held by Brett Lawyer of Hilton & Hyland as “French Mediterranean” and “reminiscent of the French countryside,” the two-story villa would indeed not look out of place in the hills along the Côte d’Azur or in Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief.” The tile-roofed structure packs four bedrooms and five bathrooms into its classically elegant bones, which are amplified by gorgeous formal gardens. Inside, however, things are far more contemporary than old-world, thanks to renovations performed by the prior owners — architect William Hefner and his late wife, Tokyo-born interior designer Kazuko Hoshino.
A quick comparison of photos from then and now reveals Wells has changed little about the Hoshino-designed interiors, save for a few splashes of paint in many rooms and a swap-out of some light fixtures. The decorative result, while decidedly restrained, manages to walk the fine line between formal and casual, nicely blending clean lines and subtle flourishes.
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Image Credit: Redfin A wee courtyard boasts a tranquil fountain and shaded seating area.
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Image Credit: Redfin Inside, a fireplace-equipped living room opens directly to the gardens and a terrace, per the listing, and includes limestone-sheathed windows.
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Image Credit: Redfin The formal dining room offers pale blue walls and direct access to an al fresco dining patio.
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Image Credit: Redfin The kitchen tries for a bit of Euro-chic minimalism; there are Calacatta marble countertops and luxe stainless appliances, Wells added the grayish blue paint to the cabinets. An adjoining casual dining area opens via French doors to the backyard.
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Image Credit: Redfin Upstairs, the lavish master suite is warmed by an oversized fireplace. A marble bathroom and closet with custom built-ins are also included, and dual “view terraces” have leafy views of the backyard’s massive sycamore tree.
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Image Credit: Redfin The .3-acre lot lap pool surrounded by patios and stunning gardens.
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Image Credit: Redfin There’s also a two-story guesthouse that includes a living room, fireplace, bedroom, two marble baths, and an upstairs bonus room currently configured as a gym.
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Image Credit: Redfin Wells, 64, is a longtime real estate aficionado whose portfolio is frequently in flux. In addition to his for-sale home, he owns a second Hancock Park mansion — this one English Tudor in style — that popped up for sale last year and was last offered at $9 million, though it’s since been removed from the market. The Virginia native also owns an estate in Vail, Colorado, and a 372-acre ranch spread on the Hawaiian island of Kuaui that remains available with a $40.5 million list price.
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