The Inspiration – Maison Lucile’s namesake, Lucile Roos Klinger, was the daughter of French immigrant Jacques Roos, who, in the 19th century, was a part of Los Angeles’ politically and economically influential French colony. Lucile’s travels to France, both as a child and later as an adult, informed her desire to create a home that would capture the aesthetics and beauty of this special region.

The Architect – As a young man, Nicholas A. Kabush (1900-1995) immigrated to the United States from Manchuria. Kabush worked as a stuntman in many silent films to support his education at USC, where he earned a degree in architecture. Additionally, he was a highly sought-after set designer, working with Hollywood’s top Art Directors, including Cedric Gibbons, at Paramount Studios, as well as at MGM and Columbia Pictures. Kabush developed a friendship with Academy Award-winning actor Fredric March and his wife Florence Eldridge. The couple was building a house on Ridgedale, with architect Wallace Neff and recommended Kabush to Lucile, who was looking to find the right architect to design her home.

Magical MAISON LUCILE is an iconic French Norman-Eclectic Revival estate nestled in a bucolic setting on a coveted cul-de-sac along star-studded Ridgedale Drive. A rare offering and one of the best preservation and restoration opportunities to come to the real estate market in Beverly Hills. On a street known for its legendary entertainment industry cachet, the exquisite residence was designed by architect Nicholas A. Kabush in 1935. The estate retains an excellent level of original historical integrity and detail. The property reflects an appreciation for classical beauty with its design inspired by medieval French architecture and the rural vernacular style found in the countryside of the Normandy region.

The compound features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an expansive pool, and verdant gardens on a prime .6-acre lot in one of Beverly Hills’ most exclusive neighborhoods. The timeless exterior boasts a steeply pitched slate-clad roof with steeple-like finials, round towers with conical roofs, decorative half-timbering, distinctive stonework, leaded glass windows, and the original whimsical bird weathervane. A detached garage and a gated circular drive complement the home’s asymmetrical façade. Additionally, there is a lower level with a sitting room, bedroom, private bath, and separate entrance.

Enter the residence through a formal foyer with original scraped herringbone floors, intricate details, wood paneling, and hand-hewn beams that speak to the beauty of Old-World craftsmanship. The public spaces include a step-down formal living room, highlighted by an 18th-century French marble fireplace surround, a generous formal dining room, and a galley kitchen with exposed beamed ceilings. Enjoy the casual breakfast room with decorative details and charming built-ins. A character-filled family room offers views of the sculpture garden below. Perfect for small gatherings or intimate evenings at home, the wood-paneled library/sitting room features a copper and stone fireplace and a full bar.

A circular staircase leads to the upper level with three bedrooms and three bathrooms in a traditional plan. Dramatic 16plus-ft vaulted ceilings highlight the primary suite, complete with dual baths and private dressing areas. The second bedroom includes a unique loft space, a double-height ceiling, and a dormer window, which fills the space with bright natural light. From the third bedroom, there is direct access to a bath and a private outdoor terrace with serene treetop views. Two deco-style bathrooms retain their 1930s fixtures and design.

Prominent early 20th-century California landscape architect Edward Huntsman-Trout was brought in to create the picturesque landscape design. His work at the estate reflects his penchant for mixing European classical garden design with California-style plantings. The home beautifully integrates with the surrounding landscape, with most of Huntsman-Trout’s original design remaining intact. The grounds are lushly planted with greenery, towering shade trees, and a classic English rose garden. Meandering boxwood-lined pathways provide picturesque views and vistas throughout the garden, leading to a tranquil destination pool.

On the border between Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills – this street-to-street lot residence is surrounded by $30M-$60 M estates. Embodying Old-World style, Maison Lucile’s unparalleled location and historic architectural design combine to create the ultimate opportunity to preserve and restore this iconic estate.