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Lovely 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival in Los Feliz by Louis Selden asking $1.75M

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Two time capsules in one!

By Pauline O'Connor
35 comments / new
A yellow Spanish-style with a bay window with stained glass, a sage green door, and a tiled roof.
The well-preserved home features a front courtyard and covered breezeway entrance.
Photos by Paul Barnaby and Michael Wilkerson, courtesy of Imraan Ali and Tanya Salinger

Usually when the term “time capsule” is applied to a house, it’s in reference to one with most of its original features intact. But here’s a case where the home not only possesses a high degree of architectural integrity, it also boasts a literal time capsule.

When the 1937 Spanish Colonial Revival in Los Feliz was being prepared for sale, listing agent Imraan Ali tells Curbed, the current owner had its chimney repaired. While performing the repairs, workers made a surprising discovery.

Hidden in the wall next to the chimney was a cache of documents. Among them were two vintage photos, one of the house and one of the couple that commissioned it, Nathan and Clara Pallow.

Also found in the buried treasure was an utterly delightful letter from the Pallows to the home’s future inhabitants. Kicking off with the prologue, “Life is compared to a relay race— you pick it up where we left off,” the handwritten letter, which can be viewed in full on the listing website, goes on to describe the joys and wonders of Los Angeles life circa 1940, complete with charming ink illustrations and corny jokes.

The newly discovered artifacts will be included in the sale of the home, and will also be on display at the upcoming open houses this weekend.

Located at 2303 Wayne Avenue a little north of Los Feliz Boulevard, the Pallows’ former abode was designed by Louis Selden, a local architect renowned for building period revival-style homes and apartment complexes of exceptional quality.

It contains three bedrooms and two bathrooms within its 1,821 square feet, and an abundance of fantastic period details. These include dentil moldings, hardwood floors with marquetry borders and tile inlays, steel casement windows, stained glass, stepped tray ceilings, brass hardware, and built-in vanities.

The property’s grounds feature a private, bougainvillea-shaded front courtyard and breezeway, a back garden patio with tile fountain, and a detached two-car garage. It’s listed with an asking price of $1.75 million.

The sunny living room is painted a cream color and features elaborate white beamed ceilings and a sage green fireplace mantel. Furnishings include an orangish red sofa, a bronze side table, and a white wood coffee table.
To the right of the entry foyer is a step-down living room with a stained glass window and the fireplace where the home’s original owners hid a letter to its future inhabitants.
The formal dining room overlooks the living room and features carved arches, dentil molding, wrought iron, and marquetry.
The formal dining room overlooks the living room and features carved arches, dentil molding, wrought iron, and marquetry.
The kitchen has been updated with butcher block countertops, white cabinets, open shelving, and stainless steel appliances. A window above the sink looks out greenery.
The kitchen has been updated with butcher block countertops and stainless steel appliances.
In the elegant master bedroom, you’ll find stepped tray ceilings, steel casement windows, and a dressing room with built-in vanity.
In the elegant master bedroom, you’ll find stepped tray ceilings, steel casement windows, and a dressing room with built-in vanity.
The master bath features leaded stained glass windows and painted Spanish tile. Through the doorway on the right is the dressing area with built-in vanity.
The master bath features leaded stained glass windows and painted Spanish tile. Through the doorway on the right is the dressing area with built-in vanity.
Just past the entry foyer is an atrium with built-in telephone nook and inlaid-tile centerpiece. Rooms branch off like spokes from a wheel.
Just past the entry foyer is an atrium with built-in telephone nook and inlaid-tile centerpiece. Rooms branch off like spokes from a wheel.
The backyard at sunset.
The backyard contains a tiled fountain and desert plantings.

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