When John Shaffner and Joe Stewart first laid eyes on this striking 1960s-era home in the serene Wonderland Park Avenue enclave of Laurel Canyon almost three decades ago, they knew it was the perfect place to share their lives together … not to mention the perfect time capsule for showcasing their ever-growing Knoll and Herman Miller furniture collection, which all started with a Saarinen pedestal table.
Most importantly, the well-known production design duo thought the property would be an idyllic locale to build a studio addition, where they could work on their many Emmy-winning and nominated shows — from “Friends,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men,” to the “American Music Awards,” “Emmy Awards” and “Screen Actors Guild Awards,” just to name a few.
“Our first home was a short distance away, and in the search for a larger home with options for a studio addition, we looked from the 5 to the 405, from West Adams to Sherman Oaks,” says Shaffner. “Then we got the call from our agent: ‘Your new house is around the corner.’ The best news ever, as we had become accustomed to the central location.
“It made it so easy to go in any direction, from the home studio to CBS TV City, Aquarius Theatre, Warner Bros., Fox, Universal, etc., and most production offices we worked with,” he adds. “Likewise, our associates came from every direction, and The Mulholland Tennis Club nearby offered the ease of lunch and a view!”
Now, after racking up all of those accolades, the pair has chosen to leave their longtime home — originally envisioned in 1962 by the late L.A.-based artist Jean Edelstein, in collaboration with architect David Crompton and noted landscape architect Garrett Eckbo — to enjoy their three additional residences in the California desert, Montana and Louisiana. So, they’re placing the meticulously preserved dwelling, which they purchased in March 1992 for just $605,000, on the market for $3.65 million.