There are beautiful houses, historic houses, and houses with a story so remarkable that they become part of the history of a place.
This is one of them.
Tucked behind private gates in the coveted Deodar neighborhood of La Cañada Flintridge, this extraordinary residence was designed in 1925 by celebrated Los Angeles architect Arthur Kelly as his own home. Nearly eighty years later, renowned architect Michael Burch, FAIA and his wife (also an architect), expanded the residence to more than twice its original size, creating a remarkable second chapter while preserving the character and spirit of Kelly’s work.
The connection between the two architects is more than architectural. It is personal, familial, and unexpectedly intertwined across generations, a story that would only come fully to light after Burch completed the addition.
The result is a residence of rare provenance: a home shaped by two generations of architects and builders, lovingly expanded rather than simply renovated, and imbued with a sense of history that cannot be replicated.
Beyond its gates, the property feels wonderfully removed from the pace of Los Angeles.
Mature landscaping surrounds the home, while three expansive terraces open toward a bucolic canyon and extraordinary views stretching toward Downtown Los Angeles and, on clear days, Catalina Island. A pool and spa create a private setting for leisurely afternoons, sunset gatherings, and evenings beneath the stars.
Yet the location is remarkably convenient. Palm Crest Elementary School, a top-ranked National Blue Ribbon school, is within walking distance, while Pasadena, Burbank studios, Hollywood, and Downtown Los Angeles are all just minutes away.
The home combines the romance and craftsmanship of its 1925 origins with the thoughtful scale and livability of its 2005 expansion.
Formal and informal spaces flow naturally from one to another. A gracious dining room opens to the living room and terraces beyond. A library with an overlooking loft, fireplaces, multiple bedroom suites, private entrances, and flexible additional rooms give the residence an unusual ability to adapt to family life, entertaining, guests, work, and creative pursuits.
The principal suite includes two separate bathrooms, while four additional bedroom suites and three additional rooms with adjacent bathrooms offer remarkable flexibility. In all, the home has eight bathrooms.
The kitchen brings modern convenience to the historic setting with a 48-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, Thermador Professional range, Miele dishwasher, and built-in microwave.
A walkout lower level, additional bedroom suite with private entrance, three-car garage, and two additional gated parking spaces further enhance the home’s extraordinary versatility.
But the most remarkable quality of this residence cannot be measured in square feet or counted in rooms.
It is the feeling of being somewhere with a past.
A place conceived by Arthur Kelly nearly a century ago. A place later expanded by Michael Burch, one of the great modern practitioners of the Spanish Colonial Revival. A place where two architectural legacies unexpectedly converged—and where the history of the families behind them became part of the story.
This is more than a historic home.
It is a piece of Southern California architectural history, still very much alive.
Welcome.