Internationally renowned artist Irina Alimanestianu built this three-story Venice abode at 224 3rd Avenue in 1991, where a small garage once stood at the top peak of the property.
Irina made extensive renovations to the home throughout the years, and most recently renovated the original front cottage in 2014 to create a one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage that had previously served as her art studio for 22 years. Famed landscape designer Jay Griffith and respected architect Alex Istanbullu were involved in the residence’s renovations.
The home is located just a few blocks from the beach, eclectic Abbot Kinney, and the Rose Avenue restaurant row. The entire property includes the main three-story residence and the updated cottage. The two houses are separated by a garden designed by Jay Griffith.
The main contemporary home overlooks the Pacific Ocean, with sweeping 200-degree views from both the living room and primary bedroom. It features four bedrooms and four bathrooms spread over 3,307 square feet.
Coleman Eisner and Isabelle Mizrahi in our Pacific Palisades office are listing agents for the property, offered at $4,395,000.
The house is on the highest point on the property, grandfathered in at its height of 30 feet, and is set back on the property hidden from the street. It has an open foyer with a generous stairwell that winds up past windowed walls of glass, bringing in lush views and speckled sunlight as one heads past the bedroom floor and up to the living room floor. The staircase has a hand-welded iron banister and Douglas fir treads.
In the main house, a bright open kitchen, living room with fireplace, and wall of glass opens to a wide 450-square foot deck with ocean views as it sits nestled in the privacy and shade of the large trees. The lower level of the main house office/den serves as an ideal space for work or exercise, with a grand view of the private courtyard garden.
The renovated cottage has the old-world charm of its original 1940s bungalow origins from the street view, and a contemporary smooth stucco volume from the courtyard garden. The living room boasts an original river-rock fireplace, with 1940s cupboard details in the breakfast nook.
The open-plan cottage embraces a large studio with 13-foot ceilings illuminated by a 30-foot skylight to draw in natural diffused, indirect light. The renovated cottage kitchen is comprised of subway tiles, marble counters, upscale appliances, and washer-dryer. The cottage bathroom embraces marble counters, a skylight, and Ann Sacks tiles.
Within the detached cottage/art studio, Irina enlisted the help of architect Alex Istanbullu to create the open floor plan, construct a custom skylight for the art space, which spans the width of the long room. He designed floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that embrace the skylight design.
The residence is shielded from public view thanks to the large sycamore trees in the garden. A cozy courtyard garden lies in the front of the home, adorned with a soothing water feature for a calming atmosphere.
Entertain guests with a distinct wood deck patio area that combines the home’s modern elements with lush greenery. Renowned landscape designer Jay Griffith developed the lush and poignant landscaping, combining flora with the contrasting modern elements of the home. Parking is plentiful, with space in the garage and rear end of the home.
Irina Alimanestianu, internationally celebrated artist, has long called Venice her home and constant source of inspiration, since moving into the home in 1988. She divides her time between Long Island and Venice, preferring to be close to water and nature, a primary source of inspiration for her art which she describes as a “sensory reading” of her surroundings. Irina’s work has been shown in museums around the world such as Los Angeles, New York, France, and many others.
A New York City transplant, and now a Los Angeles resident of 25 years, Coleman grew up in a family of builders. He has always possessed a strong interest and appreciation for architecture and design. He began developing high-end residential properties as part of his family business, constructing many homes on the streets of Venice and surrounding areas. The same focus and attention to detail that aided his success in building has enabled him to excel in real estate sales.
Isabelle’s tireless dedication to her clients’ needs has made her a top real estate producer each year for over two decades. In that time, she has achieved the distinction of being among the Top 100 agents company-wide, and is recognized among the top 0.5% nationally in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network. She is one of the few Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties agents who has earned the 15-year Legend Award for consistent performance.
Get in touch with Coleman Eisner and Isabelle Mizrahi today.
Photo credit: Paul Barnaby
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June 29th, 2022 at 11:00 am